 Professional landing!-City Center Mall, Doha by bpwillet | Reviews and photos of Doha attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Doha sightseeing. Doha Map |
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 Driving on the Corniche by ElCidRuggerLeave a Comment Directions: Along the water front.
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If you happen to be in Doha during the annual Doha Cultural Festival, be sure to check it out. It lasts for a week or two, during which there are performances, lectures, and other events happening throughout the city. Finding out details about these can be a challenge, but you can start with the festival's website. Some performances require tickets, which can be bought at the door or ahead of time at two of the local shopping malls - City Centre or the one that's creatively named The Mall.
One thing that doesn't require tickets is the heritage village in Al Bidda park. This is a reconstruction of what a Qatari village was like a hundred years ago. Actually, this is probably just about what Doha was like a hundred years ago! Local crafts and foods are sold here, and demonstrations are given on aspects of local culture, such as pearl diving. Singing and dancing performances are held here in the evening.
This was written during the 2006 festival, which was held in late March/early April. Remember things can easily change in subsequent years, so do your own research. Address: Al-Bidda park and many other locationsDirections: Al-Bidda park is a large "families only" park just across from the Corniche, not far from the main post office. It's a nice place to go even when the festival is not on, and it's always crowded with families on weekend (Friday and Saturday) afternoons.Website: http://www.dohafestival.net/english.html
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Orry the oryx, the mascot for the 15th Asian Games to be held in Doha in December 2006, is popping up all over town. On banners and life-size statues, on buildings and watertowers, Orry is showing off his skills in all 39 sports that will be part of the Games. Here's just a sample of the Orrys around town; see how many you can spot!
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 KDF Islamic Centre by jungles |
If you find yourself in Doha during Ramadan, make sure to visit a Ramadan tent. This is a local tradition in which families set up tents outside their homes and invite friends and family over for iftar, the meal taken at sunset to break the fast. The eating, sheesha, and socialising often continue through the wee hours of the morning.
While it might be difficult to get invited to one of these family tents if you don't know any locals, all the major hotels around town have their own version of the Ramadan tent, some of which are quite glamorous. The price varies, as does the quality. You may be able to find one for as little as QR25, but this will probably just get you a bit of finger food. The tent at the Ramada serves dinner for QR50, but it's just an average tent. If you have a little extra money to splash out, at QR90 the Ritz-Carlton has the best tent in town in my opinion. For this you get a huge buffett, live entertainment (musicians, whirling dervishes, fire twirlers, etc.) and it's all in a beautiful setting that will make you feel like royalty. Sheesha and drinks (non-alcoholic) are extra, as is the 17% tax. The Four Seasons has one that's QR115 plus tax, but it's much smaller and in my opinion not as good as the Ritz-Carlton. Phone: 4848000Directions: Follow the Corniche all the way to the end. It's just after the new island real estate development The Pearl (currently under construction).
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 by jungles |
 Palace building, now houses
medals and jewelry by jungles
In the 'wedding room,' for example, there is a nuptial bed and a mannequin dressed as a bride, but no groom. Hmm, I think some more explanation is needed there. The folk medicine display also has a rather graphic photo display about 'cupping,' which Google tells me is a treatment for disease that involves drawing blood by applying a heated cup to the scratched skin.
But while the present museum may be lacking, this is not the finished product. The well-known French architect Jean Nouvel has been hired to redesign the museum, and an entire new exhibition space is being built underground, beneath the old palace (built in 1901) that serves as the museum today. This new museum is set to be completed in 2006 in time for the Asian Games, and will also include an aquarium. For info on this and other new museums set to open soon in Qatar, see the website below. Enrance is free.
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While I love to see different species of animals from all over the world, I believe that those animals deserve to roam free in their natural habitat, so I'm generally not a huge fan of zoos. They can serve a positive purpose if done well, though, and if they do things like captive breeding programs and conservation education. While the Doha Zoo is not the best zoo I've seen, it's certainly not the worst. Most of the animals have decent-sized enclosures and seem to be healthy. And it's not often you get to see lions, tigers, leopards, and elephants all for less than US$1.50! The zoo is set to expand to twice the size it is now, and there are plans to include a free-flight aviary, a marine world, and 'jungle adventures.' I'm not sure how they're going to create a jungle in the middle of the Qatari desert; that might be worth coming back to Doha in a couple of years just to see!
In addition to the animals mentioned above, you can also see giraffes, chimpanzees, oryx, flamingoes, zebras, a rhinoceros, lots of baboons, various deer and antelope species, as well as several nocturnal species that are kept in a special dimly-lit area so that you can see them when they're active.
Entrance is only QR 5. Opening hours are 7:30-11:30am and 3:30-8:30pm daily except Friday mornings. Tuesday afternoons are for ladies and children only; Wednesday afternoons are for families only. Opening hours can vary according to season so it's best to call ahead. Phone: 468 2610Directions: On Al Furousiya Street near the Doha Racing and Equestrian Club. Some written sources say it is 20km outside Doha but this is incorrect. There is construction (surprise!) at the entrance, but despite how it looks the zoo is open.
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 Al Koot Fort by jungles |
 Park with flowers by jungles |
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- Moevenpick Tower & Suites Doha
West Bay Area P. O. Box 22752, Doha - Grand Regency Hotel
Al-Sadd Area, Sports Roundabout, Doha - LE MIRAGE SUITE
Handasa Street PO Box 24398, Doha - Al Sadd Suites
Jawaan Street 1, Doha - Retaj Residence
PO Box 24595 Near Hamad Hospital, Doha - Royal Qatar Hotel
Al Asmakh St PO Box 9488, Doha - Movenpick Hotel Doha
Corniche Road P.O. Box 24220, Doha - Mercure Grand Hotel Doha City Centre
Musherib St, Doha - Sheraton Hotel Doha
Al Corniche Street, Doha - Rydges Plaza Doha
Abu Firas St Al Bidda, Doha - Regency
10 Al-Asmakh, Doha - Ritz-Carlton Doha
PO Box 23400, Doha - Merweb Hotel
9 Al Sadd St, Doha - Gulf Paradise Hotel
Gulf St, Doha - Inter-Continental Doha
Al Istiqlal Road, Doha
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