After 17 hours of travel I arrive in Doha a bit delirious from lack of sleep, but happy to be here along with my luggage. Mohammad picks me up from the airport and during the short ride, we chat about life in Doha as a Bangladeshi immigrant. He’s lived here for the last five years along with his wife due to a lack of jobs for young people. I ask him how he’s treated by the locals here and if he’s happy to have immigrated.
“They are quite friendly and I can make double what I could make in Bangladesh so I’m happy to provide for my family.”
He offers to provide his driving services while I’m here and we exchange numbers.
I dump my bags, grab my camera and walk across the street to the Souq Waqif. Although it’s evening, the temperature is still a humid 31 degrees and I’ve quickly sweated through my shirt. The souq is busy with tourists shopping for trinkets and locals perusing clothing and jewellery. Children run from their parents when they see the men selling lit up balloons, begging to have one. Restaurant patios have their portable aircon units blasting as patrons wilt in the heat while eating their dinner.
Every shop I pass I’m greeted with a “Hello, you come look. Just looking.” I enter a shop owned by a young man who introduces himself as Milak. He’s very handsome with thick black eyelashes, deep brown eyes and a bright white smile. His shop is stuffed with ceramics, carved wood chess boards, hideous fake gold camels and…stuffed animals, including a Rottweiler. Um, what the hell? He says his family stuffs them but I don’t ask where the Rottweiler came from as I’d rather not know. I glance down and give a yelp. A giant, stuffed yellow snake. Jesus help me! I am terrified of snakes dead or alive and I take a quick few steps back so it’s out of my vision. Milak and I have a chat speaking about Canada and what life is like in Doha for him and his family. He’s originally from here and owns several shops throughout the souq and business is good. He tells me that whatever I want he will give me a good deal since now we are friends.
I’m fading fast and I head back to the hotel to try and get some sleep as I want to get out early tomorrow before the heat of the day hits.
