FREEDOMtravel is hosted by Anna, who lives in Doha, Qatar, and runs the wonderful blog lifeaccordingtoskog.devote.se.
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ShareI live in Qatar and most of the time nobody knows where it is. Is it Dubai? Is it a country? Do you have to wear a burka? Football fans often know because Qatar is hosting the 2022 World Cup. Apparently, someone at FIFA missed the fact that it gets 50 degrees in the summer. But Qatar has several ideas to solve the problem.
The only limit is your imagination
As one of the richest countries in the world due to its vast reserves of natural gas, the only limit to how they solve their challenges is their imagination. New stadiums are being planned around the capital Doha, one in the sea, another with a movable roof to create shade, and somewhere an action figure will spray air conditioning on the players.
Cultural mix
If you want to experience the real Middle East, Qatar is the perfect destination. It's not im-a-barbie-girl-Dubai or let's-go-back-to-the-Great-Age-Saudi, but a mix of skyscrapers and Arabic tradition. After a few hours in Doha, you're in a delightful mix of Asian, Arab and Western atmospheres. You'll meet everything from full-figured women in black abayas to Americans in jeans and t-shirts.
Sometimes it feels like we are living in India or the Philippines. The local population is not in the majority in their own country because of all the guest workers. The Qataris themselves don't work very much because they have money anyway and it's more like a sideline. The state's money from oil and gas is generously distributed to the inhabitants every month. Like child benefit with a few extra zeros.
Welcome to Qatar!
Despite the importance of tradition in Qatar, we don't ride camels to work. However, I pass a bunch every morning outside the Emir's palace, as they take their morning walk. Well, it's not the Emir's palace. It's his office. I'm not sure which of the 500 rooms is his.
Driving a car here is a different story. I don't know how many lives I have or how many I have left but in my year here in Doha and countless kilometres driven, it is surprising that I still have all body parts and car parts intact. Well, maybe not all car parts but most of them. Small crashes don't count. If you feel like visiting, just come. A free, guided tour is promised to the person who manages to smuggle the most bacon. Welcome!
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Ditte says:
Great reading! Have of course added as a bookmark.
Thanks for this tip!
13 May 2013 - 19:34
BP says:
Thanks for the blog tip! The girl writes great. God how I laughed!
13 May 2013 - 19:59
Lottiz Photographing mum of four says:
Looks absolutely marvellous there. Never heard of the city before.
Wanted to ask for some help. My daughter and I could win a trip to Legoland. It would mean so much if you would vote for us and help us win. We need to be within the first 10 places. You vote here: bloggbussen.bloggportalen.se/top-list on Lottizdays Fotograferande vierbarnsmamma by clicking on +1 to the right of our name. Have also written posts in my blog where you can vote via http://lottizdays.blogg.se/2013/may/deppade-ihop-gjorde-det-jag-behovde-och-nu-maste-jag-ta-till-fight-2.html It would mean a lot if you could help us and ask your friends and family to vote. Voting runs until 23:59 on 16 May. Thank you in advance.
13 May 2013 - 22:13
Marina says:
Can only agree! Great blog!
14 May 2013 - 1:52
Frankie & Co says:
Wonderful reading! 🙂
14 May 2013 - 7:30
Ninni, Henrik and the Hjulius motorhome says:
Haha great!!! What a wonderful read! I'm poking my bag full of bacon and coming right away 😉.
14 May 2013 - 9:29
Janne / Maggie says:
We already know that you're amazing, but all these superlatives?
maybe you should change your job ( Correspondents will probably welcome you with open arms ) Good job, hugs Janne & Maggie.
14 May 2013 - 11:48
admin says:
Ninni, haha I also got a little hungry for it... I hope you don't get put in jail for "unauthorised importation of bacon" or something like that.
😉
14 May 2013 - 18:36
Your ATM buddy says:
Great fun as always, Anna!
14 May 2013 - 22:53
Aisha says:
With such thoughts as that Saudi Arabia would strive back to the cave age only shows that you yourself are in the cave age with your ignorance. There is something called general education, which you apparently lack because if the Muslims had not invented medicine and hospitals, you probably would not have been able to get medical care in case of illness, if the Muslims had not invented maths, you probably would not have been able to count and a thousand more inventions that you can google about.
21 October 2014 - 11:16