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Doha - land of never-ending sand. Funny but true. When I was young my uncle told me about stories in the middle east. He told us "go anywhere in the world except for middle east". He told us that its not safe especially for the women. After so many years, I set foot in the sands of Doha. How did it hapened. I will tell you the story. Once upon a time, Doha office needed 2 structural drafters for different projects in Doha. I was one of the lucky ones to be choosen. My flight was scheduled last Nov. 26, 2011, my STIA states that I will be staying for only 3 weeks for the completion of The North Gate Mall project. I knew there were a liquor ban, so before leaving Manila, I attended our company's christmas party. I drank a lot of beers . Still sober from the party, I started my journey to Ad Dawha. Qatar Airlines was my official air carrier without any stopover. We left Manila at past 6pm food was okay but I still like Singapore Airlines. I arrived at Doha International Airport at around 10:30pm (+5 hrs). It was a little bit hot than I imagined. The doha airport is still in the process of renovation so we took the bus to reached the Passenger Terminal Building. I am so nervous that time because its my first time to travel in Middle East. There were many negative thoughts that lingered in my precious mind. What if I was denied entry, what am I gonna do? That was some of the few questions I had in mind. But after a few minutes in immigration, I left Doha airport in perfect condition. A friend of mine once told me that Doha is a small place, indeed he was right.
My first impression of Doha was not a good one. I saw the native Qatari wearing their tradition dress, for the men, they wear a thobe - a long white shirt over loose pants. They also wear a loose headdress, called gutra, in white or red and white cloth, held on with a black rope known as the agal. While Qatari women cover their head with a black headdress called shayla, their body with a long black dress called an abayha. Some cover their faces with black bourga, sometimes the eyes is the only part that was left uncovered. I was afraid of the women especially at night. They look like a black lady that will attack you. But after a few days, I got used to it.
My accomodation was near the office and I was sharing it with 2 other officemates in manila. It was winter when I got there and I loved it. I love cold climates unlucky for me Doha doesn't experienced snow, just cold wind and sand storms. We were required to work from Sunday -Thursday and off on Fridays and Saturdays. My first stop after getting my allowance was to go shopping for stuff I need for 3 weeks. We went to the nearest mall, The Landmark. It was a small one with some familiar stores like Gap, Starbucks, Marks and Spencer and others. We went to the groceries to buy some food.
My first week in Doha was a boring one. I just stayed at home because I was sick. My second week was a bit okay. A friend from my previous company invited me to atted mass, so he picked me up and we went to his friends. After mass, we headed to Souq Waqif (a market with souvenirs, garments, and restaurant) to experienced Shisha (an instrument use for smoking flavored tobacco). I enjoyed it with coffee. The three weeks became 3 weeks and 2 months. And yes I celebrated Christmas in Doha. What it is like? A lonely christmas. For us Filipinos, christmas is the best part of the year wherein people rejoices, receives and gives gifts, reunions, feasts, parties and family gatherings. It is always a 3 months celebration not only on Christmas Day itself, it always started early September. But back to my lonely christmas, Riu, my friend invited me to spend christmas with them and the other Filipinos living in Doha. It was a nice party with eating and drinking. But I still miss my folks and my twin nephews. If my christmas was a bit boring, New Years eve, I was sick and didn't had a chance to attend the filo party. And the next day, January 1, I was stucked in the office working with our mall project. Exciting isn't it.
Aside from malls like Landmark, City Center, Lulu and Villagio (the Venetian themed mall with gondola), what I like most in Doha are the lighted buildings at night located in the business district, the cornice, souq and The Museum of Islamic Arts designed by I.M Pei. We also went to Katara and the Pearl. My favorite was when I saw Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in action at ExxonMobil Tennis Tournament. Maybe my next visit to Doha, I will experience a new adventure of my life.
"The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are." - Samuel Johnson
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