Postcard from Al Khor

I took the drive to Al Khor some days back; a route that I would take often, when I lived in Al Khor. As a family we had lots of fond memories of the place and it was great to visit some of the key places that we were attached to 13 years back. The Al Khor Community has expanded and matured, and therefore changed somewhat, as all places do, but it remained very familiar, and navigating my way round was not that difficult. I include a couple of snaps and a Google Map showing my journey from Doha. 

Arabian Nights: Souk Waqif

Souk Waqif has been shaped, in part by the Iranian tradesmen who settled in Doha.  When I was last there (around 2001), it was a jumble of shops selling rugs, spices, cloth and copperware. Today it has been smartened up with hotels and outdoor coffee shops, where the smell of perfume and shisha hangs in the air. It still retains the old souk feel with its narrow alleyed streets, Arabian craftshops, Rajasthani storytellers and Iranian barrowmen. Worth a visit on fresh summers night.

Read more on Trip Advisor.

 

 

Photography: Samsung Galaxy S4

Qatar قطر

I first arrived in Qatar in the year before the turn of the new millenium. It was for me the first time that I'd lived in a new place and was, for three years, my home. After the initial settling in period, I grew to love the place as did my young family and we have fond memories of our time living in Al Khor in the north and discovering a new and exciting region. In the interim, I have lived and worked in other places, and passed through Qatar, staying in Doha en route to the UAE where I also made my home. Today I return to the country that was once home, with an older family, and to a much changed country. I am here this time for a family event, but amongst the most exciting aspects I hope to experience, will be to return to those places that were familiar, when, fifteen years ago, this was a fledgling country with a mere population of 600,000. The Gulf isn't quite out of my system, I confess. For example, when I send an email, I edit the signature tag that still carries my old cell number.  Also, when I write this blog, whilst the dates are accurate, the times that are published by each posting actually reflect Gulf Standard Time. Memories perhaps?

Qatar. I am home. Enjoy the film.