Friday 12 June 2015

Doha: The Ecstasy of Middle East



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By now you must have come to know about Qatar hosting a FIFA World Cup 2022 and it is more than determined to be one of the best hosts of this most celebrated event on the planet. The preparations have already started with a bang and the Middle-East gem is going through a massive and rapid transformations. Swathes of ultra-luxurious hotels, mesmerizing art complexes, gigantic skyscrapers and soothing recreational centers are proliferating in the capital city of Doha. The ditto incarnation of the Venetian town here, has dropped the jaws of the millions. It has been designed with such perfection that for a moment you will think that you have been teleported to Venice.

Qatar is a small country fringed by Iran and Saudi Arabia and it can be easily overlooked on the map. But it’s not always the size that matters; its capital is fast gaining the reputation of the modern-day epicenter of Renaissance. Though admittedly it has lesser tourist attraction compared to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but if you delve into its culture you are bound to get stroke of serendipity. 

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Doha’s weather is marked by prickling heat and excessive humidity for most parts of the year. Moreover its vulnerability to sand storms has eventually made it an indoors city. The best way to blend up air-conditioned indoors with awe-inspiring culture is a visit to Museum of Islamic Arts. Placed dramatically on the southern tip of the bay, MIA boasts about exotic setting and exteriors. The artifacts aren’t average either; Quran with golden manuscripts, Swords and helmets of Ottoman Knights and enigmatically painted Persian pottery are only some of the highlights of the interiors.

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There are numerous souqs speckled all over the city but the locals and the expats are fond of meandering in the huge shopping centers among which Villagio is the most prominent. The Villagio might not be as flamboyant and glamorous like the shopping malls of Emirates, but a gondola ride in its Venetian canal will pamper your senses. The canal passes through some of the best designer brands outlets and the extravagant jewellery stores. This replica of Venice, craves to be photographed.

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Spend you evenings in the legendary Souq Waqif, and submit yourself to the euphoric bustles of the locals and tourist. Stroll through the main thoroughfare and inhale plumes of scented smoke from sheesha, gawp at souvenir shops and savor a black tea at any random café and grasp the ecstasies spread out in the air.

Courtesy - TraveleZe

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