Awake at 2am after a restless three hour sleep despite taking a sleeping pill. Bloody jet lag. I make use of the time and I’m out the door by 5am to head to the National Museum of Qatar. The temperature is pleasant at this time and I slowly meander through the streets, stopping to take the odd photo.
The museum is an architectural wonder. According to Google, the architect was inspired by the desert rose crystal which can be found in Qatar. Constructed out of sand coloured concrete blocks, it looks like numerous discs are interlocked to create a random pattern.
I head to the Corniche to walk along the water back to the hotel. I am absolutely drenched by the time I get back and it’s only 7:30am. I know, I know. I’ve been griping about the heat for the last two days. Shut up already Jenn.
After getting cleaned up I take an Uber to the fish market and WOW! I have never seen a fish market that looks like this. A stain glass roof depicting the ocean and its inhabitants is the main attraction along with decorative tile throughout. It is the prettiest interior I’ve seen here so far. Because I arrived as soon as it opened, it’s only myself and a couple of employees so I can snap away. Arabic music is echoing throughout the building and lobster, crab, prawns and various species of fish are lying on a thick layer of ice. There’s no fishy smell and I feel like I’m in a ritzy shopping mall instead of a seafood market.
Back to the hotel for breaky where I’m greeted by name. The staff here are amazing and I’ve really enjoyed my stay. I stock up on snacks in the secret ziploc compartment in my purse so I don’t go hungry later. The host, Omar, suggests that I visit the Al Wakrah Souq as it’s right on the water and very picturesque.
“You must go! You are professional photographer! You will love it.”
I had planned on just visiting the mosque and then relaxing before catching my flight but now I’m intrigued and have FOMO, so I book an Uber and drive 25 minutes out of the city with Mohammad, from Bangladesh, as my driver. We chat about politics in his home country (very corrupt apparently), Justin Trudeau, and how safe it is in Qatar. His strong accent is difficult to decipher at times, so I’m just nodding in agreement to everything he says.
Wakrah Souq is constructed out of sand-coloured adobe with weathered, carved wooden doors. The blast of heat emanating from the walls is making me feel like I’ve caught on fire. I check the temperature and it’s registering at 45 degrees. Holy mother of God. And of course, I am literally the only person stupid enough to be here at this time of day. All the shops and restaurants are shut so I wander the narrow alleys searching for shade where I can. I exit onto a stunning white sand beach and bright turquoise waters. I’ll brave the heat for this view. I meet Mohammad, a Pakistani, who’s been living in Qatar for the last 12 years and now works as security for the souq. He gives me an impromptu private walking tour of the scenic spots which is very generous considering he could be relaxing in an air conditioned office right now. I mention that I really want to visit Pakistan and he says he will offer to be my guide. After an hour, I’ve had all I can take of the relentless sun and another Bangladeshi Uber driver transports me to Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque.
This is the largest mosque in Qatar and holds up to 30,000 worshippers. On a Friday, it’s full. The smaller mosques shut on Fridays as it’s encouraged for people to pray together in large groups. It’s not ornate like other mosques I’ve visited and has simple lines and graceful arches. Earth-coloured marble keeps the floors cool and the corridors are shaded by 93 small domes. The guide takes myself and a young Japanese visitor into the prayer hall and explains Islam in broad strokes. The hall is wonderfully cool and my bare feet sink into the thick, red carpet while I gaze upward at the domed ceiling. I’m not a religious person but there’s nothing I enjoy more than visiting churches and mosques. I find it so peaceful and calming amid the hustle and bustle of a city.
My Uber arrives to take me back to my hotel and my driver is…you guessed it…from Bangladesh. He tells me that 99% of the Uber drivers are from there as they work in the mornings at manual labour jobs and then trade in their overalls for street clothes and become Uber drivers for the rest of the day. In Doha, it’s illegal for employees working outside to work past 9am due to the extreme heat. Normally I would use public transport but Uber is so cheap here ($5 CAD for a 25 min ride) and they arrive in less than 2 minutes, so I’m happy to take advantage.
I get packed up (God, my bloody backpack is heavy) and check out. The hotel staff offer to help me with my camera backpack which is strapped to my front but I tell them that if they remove one of the packs I’m going to tip over. I’m perfectly balanced with the both of them on my shoulders😄
I’m off to Tashkent, Uzbekistan!
