12 Hours of Doha

Finally...the journey begins...

This time around we took Qatar Airways...just for the most simple argument...it offered the best deal in town during the period of time we wanted to travel...it was an open-jaw ticket...flying in to Paris and flying out from London...it cost RM2,800...it will be much cheaper if we took the return ticket to Paris which was RM2,300...but considering the logistics nightmare...i decided that flying out from London will be the best bet...

For this entry...it will be all about Doha...i had intentionally took the flight with the 12 hours layover time so that we will arrive in Paris in the morning...and at the same time will be able to just venture around Doha...we landed in Doha at about 1pm and we immediately went to the arrival terminal and paid QAR100~RM91 per person for the Visa On Arrival (VOA) to enter Doha...luckily Malaysians are among the few who can do this...you have to check the visa requirement if you are not Malaysian...because for some country...you need to apply for a visa in the embassy of respective country beforehand...

I have one of my ex school mates working in Doha...so it was a relief...he pick us up from the airport and we went to have lunch in one of the restaurant in town...Doha is quite pricey and you have to prepare yourself to pay in Qatar Riyal or have credit card in hand...after the scrumptious lunch...we went to Doha Corniche waterfront promenade extending for several kilometers along the Doha Bay in the capital city of Doha...it offers a magnificent view of the new city built on the reclaim land by the sea...kinda remind me Hong Kong in a way with the skyscrapers filling the view...

My friend then took us to Katara Doha...it is a cultural village in the city...also built by the sea side and we had some tea time and breeze walk with the locals who also filled the area...katara offers a different side of Doha...it retains the aesthetic value of the culture merged with the modern soul...hahaha...i don't know what i am talking about...but it was a lively place indeed...when we were there...they even have some stage for a concert...ermmm...Doha certainly not conservative at all...

Finally as the pit stop before we went back to the airport...what is a visit to a country in the middle east without going to the Souq...it is the place to buy souvenirs and enjoy some local flavours...but i had the feeling that it is hard to bargain your way to it...unless for certain shops...my friend bought me and my wife the jubah and abaya as our wedding gift...i seriously don't know when will i be able to wear it...perhaps the next Ramadhan i will wear it to terawih...hehehe...again we just stop by one of the cafe in the souq and have some relaxing time...my friend introduced us to his favourite drink called Mandarin...wowieee...it is definitely something else...

Done with the sightseeing...my friend sent us back to the airport and we said good byes...i had booked lounge access in Doha airport...just for both of to shower and rest before waiting for our connecting flight to Paris...it was USD40~RM140 for 6 hours access...seriously if anyone have to transit more than 6 hours in Doha Airport...do consider buying the lounge access pass...as they offers drinks and some light refreshments as well as the most important part of all...shower!!!

We took our time resting in the lounge until the announcement for our flight...then we immediately headed to the departure gate and resume with our journey...

For short period of time...i had experience Doha...it is truly a different experience...it has that same feel as Dubai but it also comes with its own characteristic that you immediately feel it was worth the experience...my wife certainly enjoyed our short transit there mostly due to the fact that my friend took his time entertaining us...but i enjoyed it for a different reason altogether...most importantly...i have another foreign stamp in my passport...and the memory imprinted at the back of my mind which i can certainly tell my children in the future...how their mother and i experience it...the 12 hours of Doha...

T.Y.S