Exotic Qatar !

Travelling to the ancient land of Qatar with our 8 year old Kidsetter was awe inspiring ! It was our first time travelling to the middle east with our Kidsetter and we couldn’t wait to share their diverse culture with him.

We were staying at Mondrian Doha and the hotel impressed us from the very first moment. Marcel Wanders, a world-renowned Dutch designer drew inspiration from 1001 Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales and stories with a mission to evoke excitement, invincibility and glamour.

Whilst waiting for a taxi outside of the hotel to take us to the souq, our Kidsetter struck up a conversation with the Valet whom happened to be from Kenya. Our Kidsetter piped up “My daddy’s from Zimbabwe.” The Valet named Charles had such an infectious smile and a bond was formed between them. As it was winter time, the wind was freezing and intense. They were chatting away and Charles was feeling the cold like us and our Kidsetter decides to give him the largest and warmest hug. Charles was pleasantly shocked and reciprocated the hug. Walking to the taxi our Kidsetter said “I like to make people feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.” Wow !

Our taxi dropped us at Souq Waqif, “the standing market”. The souq was founded at least a century ago and was a gathering place where Bedouins and locals would trade a variety of goods, primarily livestock goods.

Several streets that appear as mazes with no defined geometric pattern are characteristic of these Middle-Eastern markets (souq). The Souq offers several small shops lined along these paths with a dazzling array of Middle Eastern merchandise from spices and seasonal delicacies to perfumes, jewellery, clothing and handicrafts. Traditional music, art and cultural shows add to the ambience of this historic place.

Qatar is a country where falcons are respected and loved. Falcons have traditionally been used for hunting, and this tradition still exists today. The falcon souq is located within Souq Waqif where we were able to admire these expensive birds.

After a fabulous evening at the souq we returned to our hotel where Charles was there to welcome us. Our Kidsetter runs up to him with open arms to give him another hug. Charles squeezed him so tightly he was raised in the air. The other Valets laughed and were shocked to witness such a special occurrence between 2 strangers.

The following morning we ate breakfast in Mondrian’s, CUT by acclaimed chef Wolfgang Puck. Making a dramatic entrance CUT offers locally sourced ingredients and cooked simply.

Next, swimming time. Entering the pool vicinity, felt like we had transcended into a scene from Alice and Wonderland. We had the entire space to ourselves and our Kidsetter was beyond thrilled !

Next, we had booked a half day city tour with the hotel. Our first stop was Katara (cultural village) located on the eastern coast between West Bay and the Pearl.

The gem of the cultural village, the Katara Amphitheatre is a crafted balance between the classical Greek theatre concept and the everlasting Islamic features. It stands firm in the heart of Katara, under the clear blue sky, overlooking the radiant blue sea.

The Golden Masjid was garnished with extremely small golden chips, and it represents Ottoman style.

Next, we visited Pearl of Qatar which is an artificial island spanning nearly 4 square kilometers. It is the first land in Qatar to be available for freehold ownership by foreign nationals.

The name “The Pearl” was chosen because the island is being built on one of Qatar‘s previous major pearl diving sites. Qatar was one of the major pearl traders of Asia before the Japanese introduced cheaper more affordable pearls just before Qatar‘s oil boom. The Pearl-Qatar helps to represent Qatar‘s rich past in the pearl industry. The Pearl is said to resemble a string of pearls.

Back at Mondrian we indulged at the infamous EllaMia café enjoying a high tea. Our Kidsetter was promptly becoming bored, so I asked him to plump up all the cushions in the lobby to help the staff (so it bought us time to eat our cakes !)

Unbeknownst to us, the EllaMia manager had noticed our Kidsetter helping out and asked him over to the counter. She offered him a cake of his choosing to take back to our room with him !

Naturally whilst in Qatar, sand dune bashing was a must ! We were collected in 4 wheel drive vehicle and driven out to the dessert.

I asked our Bedouin driver to go easy. Hmm…. Should not have said this… He drove not only down the steepest of sand dunes but backwards ! Our Kidsetter loved every moment of it, although I thought we’d actually die. Don’t do this with your Kidsetters. Too crazy.

Afterwards, it was time for a relaxing and peaceful activity – a camel ride. Much better.

After our camel ride we were able to hold a magnificent falcon. They weigh greater than expected and are so regal.

To finish a wonderful experience, we sat with a few Bedouins for a coffee and chat.

Returning to Mondrian we had worked up an appetite. We dined at Walima, a delicious Middle Eastern cuisine.

Stunning ambience and Qatari hospitality at it’s best. The outside terrace is decorated by Arabic tents, where oversized Shishas can be enjoyed as the sun sets over West Bay Lagoon.

We visited the National Museum of Qatar. The museum tells the story of Qatar’s country and it’s people, exploring the rich history from the earliest times to the present day. The story unfolds in three chapters, over eleven galleries.

Chapter one focuses on the geology, archaeology and natural environment of Qatar.

Chapter two, explores the history of life in Qatar, looking at how people lived on the land and on the coast for centuries before the discovery of oil.

The final chapter of the Museum tells the story of how Qatar became the nation that we know today. From the 1500’s to the present day.

Unfortunately, we only spent 3 hours here and it was incredibly interactive and educational for Kidsetters alike. It was time to depart Qatar and we headed to Hamad International Airport.