Doha Delights: A Radar-Worthy Travel Destination

QATAR

Country 117, you’ve impressed me. If you’re the kind who’s dreamed of walking on a set of Star Wars, a visit to the National Museum of Qatar should make that bucket list too. Intended to represent a desert rose, the sand-coloured petals seemed reminiscent of squashed Junior mints, each precariously placed in patterns perpendicular and parallel, like playing cards positioned in a vision that demands your attention. This is the way architecture rolls around here. 

Quickly, I see an emphasis on identity and the balance of culture that sways softly from past to present to a future that hasn’t been left to chance, secularity only or the whims of the world – instead, it’s carefully crafted with an imperative for beauty, next level creativity and tasteful elegance.  I found the people to be as warm and friendly as they are organized and thoughtful. 

The innate value on positivity, playfulness and pluralism was palpable, offering a refresh on the mainstream narrative.  

In a hot and humid desert, the interplay between built and natural environment ensured their wide streets and green spaces could cool, connect and catalyze contemplation, which could beget even more thinking and co-mingling.  

Inside the work of art exteriors, the clandestine intestines had much to digest.  As I moved through the many museums, the flavours varied.  Like a child in a gelato shop, I sampled the stories, artifacts, scenes and splendor, wishing I could scoop more into my mind and onto my agenda.  

To my right, the Museum of Islamic Art which houses collections over centuries; in front, I can’t help but think of the infamous verse that says ‘if the oceans were ink …’

From the exhibit on Al Jazeera as the inaugural independent voice of journalism in the Middle East, to Islamic Art across the centuries (both inside the museum and outside, in its adjacent park and soccer domed pop up exhibitions), I was inspired by the storytellers’ pursuits and perspectives.  What a blessing to have this time to imbibe!

Museum of Islamic Art: Entrance; Piece on War (medium - card decks); Rock Crystal Vase

From the runways of Valentino’s flamboyant fashions, to urban planning designs that either froze in ideation or were implemented to add punctuation to modern day Doha, the stage was set to leave this audience member in awe.

‘Forever Valentino’ showcasing 34 dresses in red - the colour of “optimism and auspiciousness, of authority and abundance, of passion and love”.

With such diversity of Doha’s delights, the options could cater to a plethora of palates.  The immersive ‘A to Z’ (from where they were to where they are) journey through the National Museum though, was a highlight like no other – a definite must do if you’re ever in Doha.

I had to hustle to see the sites for there are more than many that lift an eyebrow.

The "Miraculous Journey" showcases the evolution from conception to birth via 14 bronze sculptures at Sidra Hospital

If your thing is mosques, they’ve got variety in the ingenuity. Fanar mosque, like an opened party popper, reminded me of an upside-down screw, its threads twisting into the sky, serving as the beacon icon in Souq Waqif.  This, by the way, was the go-to busy bazaar where domes and deals are as available as animals at one end, to dining delicacies that serve the spectrum of shishi to squished-in at the other.  Yes, even with strangers (who support your or even another’s team, no matter) there was communal style sharing, almost a prerequisite to getting a seat to eat! 

Fanar mosque by night where nearby Souq Waqif tempts you (and your belly) to wander over

Of course, there was the more traditional style Qatar State Grand Mosque, which offered tokens to appreciate the visitor’s interest and fuel ongoing curiosity.  Like no other, ‘Education City Mosque’ underscored values that are valued. The psychedelic design (maybe of a mushroom meets spaceship?), shrouded with mosaic, gardens and calligraphic finishing touches ensured a 3D-5 senses experience.   

Top: Grand Mosque has 93 domes and holds up to 30k worshippers. Bottom: Iraqi architect of Education City Mosque uses minarets with vertical calligraphy to take the viewer’s eye up and heavenward.

The uber kempt streets and sites with intermittent wafts of oud, made it known that I alighted onto obvious luxury.  Once highly connected to the land as nomadic pearl divers, the country’s current state made me muse on the overlap and distinction between being rich and having wealth. 

The latter seemed to command a powerful panache to not only climb Maslow’s ladder for epic views of the city, but also to have the space and satiation from the secular, which then allows a steeper deeper examination of the skyline of one’s soul (and its relation to Oneness). 

Qatar has been a total delight and while FIFA has supersized this journey, it’s a country that offers an oasis and opportunity for truly tantalizing times.

Katara Cultural Centre ~ where art galleries, shops and theaters meet the beach!

May you find an oasis at home, abroad and in your dreams,