Just when you thought, I had disappeared into oblivion, here I am, somewhere in the desert of the middle east soaking in the culture and heritage. A walk down the traditional souq takes me on a journey filled with wafting fragrances of the local perfumes. As I have a shisha under the moonlight, I realize that I am part of an Arabian fairytale complete with ethereal lamps, carpets and regal sheiks . Everything around me is so enchanting, so surreal and so magical. I am in Doha.
Yesterday, when I was on the way to the museum of Islamic arts, the taxi driver told me about Katara cultural village. Located on the seaside, Katara has been built with emphasis on culture and heritage. World class restaurants, museums, art centers, cafes and an Amphitheatre are some of the things you can find here.
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| The Mosque |
After getting dropped off at the lobby, I was taken for a complimentary tour around Katara in a buggy . My friendly guide explained the various attractions and at the end dropped me at the mosque from where I started exploring on foot.
The mosque was built in Arabic style with colorful blue motifs as the sand colored pillars exuded a regal opulence . This by far is the most breathtaking part of Katara as the colorful motifs stand out in splendor against the bright blue sky.
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| The blue mosaic and me |
I must add that the sky in the middle east has a vivid blue color which instantly brightens up the pictures and adds vibrant hues to it. A photographer's dream come true!
On the side of the mosque is this tower used for the call of prayer.The intricate motifs and carvings on the pillar looked truly majestic. The color blue and brown is amply used in the architecture which is inspired by the sky and the desert.
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| The Pigeon towers |
Next to the mosque are two sand colored pillars. The guide said that these were the pigeon towers . aptly named, the tower is home to beautiful white pigeons that sat on the ledges and looked striking against the background.
While walking around, I came across many restaurants and cafes . Some were located on the beach and some were next to the amphitheater. Inspired by the roman colosseum, the Amphitheatre is the crowning glory of Katara. Many cultural shows and festivals are held here throughout the year. The entire amphitheater is massive and truly magnificent.
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| Et Moi Gladiator |
And here is the gladiator, well, no that's just me :D
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| A splash of blue |
On a cold Sunday morning, I enjoyed walking around the amphitheater . There weren't many people around and it felt like I had the whole village to myself. During the evening, crowds will pour in and enjoy the opulence and the scenic ambience.
Climbing up the stairs of the amphitheater , one is treated to a view of the entire village and the ocean beyond. if you are like me , you may want to indulge in a few vain shots and go wheeee! :D
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| Wheeee! |
After taking a few timer shots (I was traveling solo), I headed down to earth. The timer shots can be a bit tricky with my point and shoot camera. Sometimes, it likes to focus on me (like the one above) which is fine, but sometimes it just blurs me out! Lol.
After coming out of the amphitheater, I reached the long pavement next to the ocean. These colorful benches were scattered across overlooking the turquoise ocean. Colorful blue and green benches add speck of color to the landscape. During late afternoon and early evening, families stroll here enjoying the cool breeze.
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| L'wzaar seafood market |
The sidewalk is filled with restaurants serving international cuisine. You name it and they have it. From the seafood market to Indian, the multitude of flavors will tantalize your taste buds. The L'wzaar seafood market pictured above focuses on succulent fresh seafood . Housed in another traditional building, the restaurant is a eye candy for photographers.
Props like these handmade boats reminded me of the dhow cruise. Dhow boats are symbolic to Qatar. Handmade to this very day , the Dhow boats offer cruises to pearl island or just around the bay from where you can appreciate the breathtaking skyline of Doha.
Blue, coral and teal are my favorite colors and everything around me had subtle hues. I absolutely loved the burst of colors around me!
Among the many unique buildings, this one in particular caught my attention. Draped in a golden façade, the building glittered in the sunlight and looked absolutely magnificent. I was intriqued by the glistening exterior and went up the stairs to take a closer look.
The building houses an electrical room but its the exterior that sparkles and looks ethereal. The gold color, the roman styled amphiteatre , the sand colored buildings and the blue sky... captivating to say the least!
Here's me, looking like a gangster :D
I ended my day at Katara by sitting next to the beach and appreciating the view before my eyes. Who knew that you could find turquoise colors in a desert! Well, turns out the ocean is even more beautiful in a desert... more scenic.. more vibrant!
West Bay Lagoon area of Doha,
Doha, Qatar