“Home is behind, the world ahead and there are many paths to tread, through shadows to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight.”
― The Lord of the Rings
My journey began with a few obstacles. After boarding the plane to Qatar, it took more than three hours for the departure. First, we went for the mandatory de-icing. Then, there was a medical emergency on board, which took so long that a second de-icing was necessary. Safety goes first, and it was all beyond control, but it's been exhausting nonetheless. Now, let's talk about things one can influence: why did we all suddenly stop caring about basic hygienic behavior soon after Covid-19 "was over"? It was the biggest coughing concerto I've heard in months, and no one cared about wearing a mask or even using their sleeves as cover. I wore my mask for almost nine hours, which fortunately prevented any transmittance.
Fortunately, all of that would be soon forgotten 😊
Souq Waqif is a traditional market in the center of Doha — calm during the day and vibrant in the evening. While it is slightly touristy, locals also buy their groceries here. There's also a bird market, with all kinds of birds (like parrots, chicken and pigeons). I went there a few times, as my hotel was nearby, and it was a great experience each time.
Katara is a cultural center in Doha. The complex is amazing in itself. Like many parts of the city, everything is new/modern, but with a traditional look. There are many places to visit, most (if not all) for free. I went to a fine-art gallery and a post stamp exposition (mostly due to a colleague being a collector himself), but my highlight was a photography exposition. Not only was it about street photography, but it offered an interesting twist: two works from two different photographers were presented as a diptych — a juxtaposition of two independent images with shared properties.
The Pearl Island is an artificial island and rather posh. There was a full moon the day I visited, which offered some additional photographic opportunities.
The Qanat Quartier, located on the Pearl Island, is a Venice-inspired district (including a small Rialto bridge replica). It was nice and I did get some Venice vibes, but I wouldn't consider it a must-see spot.
I didn't visit the Museum of Islamic Art, but the building and the surrounding park are amazing.
I did however visit the National Museum of Qatar. The architecture is spectacular and can be admired for free. The museum offers an interactive insights into the Qatar history, fauna and flora.
Before catching my flight to Auckland, I went to the Box Park with its colorful containers.
Next to the Box Park is the Mina District, and boy do I wish I had discovered it earlier. It's a treasure for all the minimalism and/or street photographers.
The time was too short to do any thrilling activities, but I still had a few heart-stopping encounters. While the public transportation in Doha is great and dirt cheap, the city is not built for pedestrians.
After taking some dubious paths on the Pearl Island, I arrived at a roundabout with a constant car flow. While a British couple turned around, I moved on, knowing there was no other option without walking back a long way. On the way to the National Museum of Qatar, I got stuck for some time between two busy three-lane roadways, along with a tourist couple.
The most common bird I've seen was — unsurprisingly — the pigeon. But I'm always up for a good pigeon shot, and this one I like in particular:
I've also spotted a laughing dove:
A bird, that I've seen for the first time (and then pretty much everywhere) was the common myna. Unfortunately, it is an invasive species, and like many countries, Qatar is actively hunting them to lower their population.
Apart from birds, there were lots of stray cats roaming the streets. Here's a funny juxtaposition (no, the person did not try to catch the cat):
It wouldn't be a travel without trying some local food. Here are some noteworthy mentions:
The last two I've got from the Souq Waqif street food ladies.
As a preparation for my 16-hour flight to New Zealand, my plan was to sleep late. The plan worked too well, as I nearly missed my check-out time after ignoring both my alarm clocks. But that was just a beginning, as my pick-up driver in Auckland asked me if I was already past the immigration. Let's just say: the next time that I will travel to a destination with a significant time difference, I will tripple-check the booking dates 😅 After letting my hotel know that I will check-in a day later, I moved on slightly annoyed at myself.
As someone who has only traveled twice outside of Europe (both time to India, work-related), it took me a little time to adjust and overcome the sensory overload. Some of my observations:
After spending almost three days in Doha, Qatar, I wish I had planned one or two more days. I had some more spots on my list that I didn't manage to visit, e.g., Education City or Banana Island (gotta love the names).
All in all, it's been a great start to my sabbatical!
You'll notice that it took me exactly one post to abandon the highlight/lowlight/learning section, as it's difficult to name just one. I was considering a chronological journal, but using categories might make more sense. Let's see how it goes.
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