An illustration of Fiona's profile. She has light skin, shoulder-length black hair, a mole under her left eye, and is wearing a light yellow shirt.

Reporting from… Doha! 🐫🐫 by Fiona L. '27

ft: the first time I ever rode on a camel

This winter, before arriving at my GTL⁠01 Global Teaching Labs, a program that gives MIT students the chance to teach students in various locations around the world in Kazakhstan, I decided to visit Doha, Qatar, with Jade B ’26, a friend also going to Kazakhstan for GTL. Doha was the most common layover when traveling to Kazakhstan, and we thought the weather would be very pleasant at this time of year. 02 a correct assumption, as I went around the city in just a sweater and sweatpants. short sleeves and shorts weren't socially acceptable to wear there, so I can only imagine how hard it would be for summer tourists In addition, Qatar Airways offers a “stopover program,” for multi-day layovers with free/heavily discounted hotel bookings in Doha.

Here’s a recount of my adventure! Hopefully, this will be the start to a fruitful series of Fiona Travel Blogs.

Day 0 – 1/2

I arrived at Hamad International Airport with Jade, 03 I met up with her at baggage claim and made it through customs, where I got the first stamp on my brand new passport! Afterwards, we checked into our hotel and dropped off our luggage. We decided that our first destination would be Souq Waqif, a Qatari marketplace. On the outskirts, it felt similar to a fancy/quirky mall, but there was a part on the inside that looked historic, as if it had been preserved for many years, with only the exterior changing with time. I got a fridge magnet to add to my ever growing collection, and we saw arrays of spices, golden camel charms, and fake designer bags.

A long, narrow hallway with decorative, colorful lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The walls are adorned with traditional patterns.
an artists' space at Souq Waqif!
A variety of colorful, decorative figurines, including camels and teapots, displayed on shelves in a shop.
little camels!
A lively night scene in a traditional market area, with people walking and dining outside. A bright, ornate building with arches and balconies is visible on the left, with a glowing minaret in the background. A golden thumb sculpture stands prominently in the distance, surrounded by the bustling crowd.
an image of Souq Waqif, filled with tourists and locals (but mostly tourists)
A close-up view of a large golden thumb sculpture at night, illuminated by artificial lighting. The shiny metallic surface reflects light and surrounding structures, showcasing intricate details and textures of the sculpture against a dark sky.
a giant thumb!
The image captures an overhead view of numerous hanging lanterns in varying shapes and sizes, predominantly round and bulbous. The lanterns display vibrant colors, including reds, blues, greens, and yellows, with intricate mosaic patterns. They are suspended by chains from a wooden framework, surrounded by ambient lighting, creating a layered visual effect. Reflections can be seen in nearby surfaces, enhancing the atmosphere of the market setting.
a shop filled with beautiful lights
This nighttime photograph showcases a large building highlighted in yellow light, revealing its multi-layered design and prominent tower, which extends upward. The foreground consists of a dark tiled plaza, where shadows of people walking can be seen. The plaza is illuminated by surrounding lights, with a mix of modern buildings visible in the background, creating a contrast between historic architecture and contemporary urban scenery.
a glowing building at night: the islamic cultural center

We ate dinner at “The Village,” a restaurant that served both Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine, then went back to the hotel to collapse in our beds⁠04 After a 14 hour flight for me... ;-; .

The image features a top-down view of a dining table composed of white wooden slats. In the center, there is a round, white bowl of hummus with olive oil and whole chickpeas in the middle. To the left, a metal basket contains five pieces of warm pita bread, slightly toasted with golden-brown flecks. Two empty white plates are positioned centrally on either side of the hummus, with a fork and knife to the left of the plates. A decorative table mat with a subtle pattern is beneath the dishes.
some bread and hummus
The image shows a white rectangular plate arranged with grilled chicken skewers at the bottom. Above the skewers, there are three round mounds of rice: yellow saffron rice stained with red berries on the left, green rice in the center, and plain white rice on the right. To the left of the skewers, thinly sliced onions and green chilies are arranged alongside shredded pink pickled vegetables. On the right, a roasted tomato, a lemon wedge, sliced carrots, and pickled cucumbers complete the dish. The setting features a light-colored wooden table with visible utensil shadows.
yum...
The image shows a top-down view of a table setting. A circular white bowl in the center contains a deep red soup with a lighter yellow cream swirl creating a decorative pattern on its surface. The bowl is positioned on a white striped tabletop. To the left, a stainless steel spoon and a fork are resting on the table. To the right, a white plate holds smooth, beige hummus with a drizzle of olive oil, accompanied by torn bread pieces on another white plate. Soft shadows create depth in the image.
butter chicken !!

While we were waiting to be checked in, I watched the TV in the lobby. A woman reached into the desert to pick up a rock formation, the sand falling in streams over her palms, revealing the rock formation she had found: a collection of round intersecting spines, all the same beige-yellow as the desert sand. The spines intersected in a way that resembled the rock’s namesake: the desert rose.

Day 1 – 1/3

Our only full day in Doha! We started off the day by eating lunch at Saasna, a restaurant that had been recommended in a travel guide in our hotel.

The image features a top-down view of a round white plate containing a mound of saffron-colored dessert, likely made of vermicelli, adorned with scattered almond flakes. To the right of the plate, a clear glass dish in the shape of a leaf holds a yellow sauce. The background consists of a polished wooden table with a dark blue woven placemat partially visible. The lighting is natural, emphasizing the vibrant colors of the dish.
🤤
The image features a top-down view of a round white plate containing a mound of saffron-colored dessert, likely made of vermicelli, adorned with scattered almond flakes. To the right of the plate, a clear glass dish in the shape of a leaf holds a yellow sauce. The background consists of a polished wooden table with a dark blue woven placemat partially visible. The lighting is natural, emphasizing the vibrant colors of the dish.
the qatari biryani >>>>

Afterwards, we walked to the Museum of Islamic Art Park, then caught a taxi in time to watch the sunset at Pearl Island, a small artificial island north of the main city. Along the way, we passed by a beautiful mosque and saw dhows, a type of traditional Qatari boat. Pearl Island was beautiful at sunset, filled with multi-colored Western-style apartments and hotels. Come nighttime, we got to see the Corniche, a street lined with Doha’s most interestingly-shaped skyscrapers, lit up with every color of the rainbow.

The image captures a waterway at dusk, framed by high-rise buildings on both sides. The foreground features a calm water surface with a subtle reflection of the surrounding structures. A central bridge, illuminated with blue lights, spans the water. The background showcases multiple high-rise buildings with lighted windows, set against a gradient sky that shifts from orange to deep blue, indicating sunset. The composition leads the viewer's eye from the foreground to the horizon, creating a sense of depth.
sunset at pearl island 🌇
The composition captures a beach at night, with golden sand occupying the lower third of the frame and a calm body of water reflecting city lights, which occupy the upper two-thirds. The skyline is composed of tall buildings on the left and right sides, with a gradient of deep blue transitioning to lighter blue near the horizon. The lighting enhances the tranquil atmosphere, inviting a sense of calm. Footprints are subtly visible in the sand, adding a human element to the natural scene.
the corniche at night

Then, we took a taxi to Katara Cultural Village and had dinner⁠05 shawarma in a cup? a novel idea at “Tasty Street”.

The image captures a panoramic view of a city skyline at night, showcasing several high-rise buildings illuminated in various colors with a dominant blue and warm yellow glow. The foreground consists of vibrant, blooming pink flowers against dark green foliage, positioned in the lower third of the frame, with the cityscape occupying the upper two-thirds. The sky is a gradient transitioning from a deep blue at the horizon to dark at the top, indicating a tranquil night ambiance.

the view from katara cultural village

At night, we booked a tour where we went “dune bashing”: basically, we went in a jeep/offroad type car whose wheels were deflated to drive on the sand. The sand was so bumpy! I got some slight motion sickness, but the excitement of the whole thing kept me from becoming very very sick. We also had a short camel ride. Although I was almost falling asleep at that point, I seemed to gain a new sense of vigor when I saw the camp full of camels, all with saddles on their humps. The ride was very wiggly, and right after getting on the camel was the hardest part, since the camels would always lift their hind legs first, making me feel like I was going to fall sharply forward. There was a guide who led both the camels by ropes, and the whole ride was only 5-10 minutes, with us only walking a little ways outside the camp. But overall, Jade and I were pretty excited the whole time. “I can’t believe we’re riding on camels right now!” we said through our exchanged glances (and through words).

The image captures a nighttime setting with multiple camels positioned in a sandy area, primarily grazing or resting. The foreground features a clear sandy surface showing distinct footprints. Bright overhead lights illuminate the scene, creating a stark contrast between the camels and the dark sky. In the background, several tents are silhouetted against the ambient glow, while distant streetlights contribute to the overall luminosity, enhancing the atmosphere. The composition relies on natural and artificial light sources to define the space.

camels !! (right before we rode them)

The tour concluded with seeing the Inland Sea, a lake in the middle of the desert, that looked absolutely beautiful under the stars. I wondered how surprised the first person to discover the Inland Sea must have been. A sea, appearing without explanation, in the middle of a vast desert–how surprising was that?

We then drove to the ocean and the tour guide pointed out some lights on the other side of the water. “That’s Saudi Arabia,” he said, to my awe and amazement.

 

A long exposure photograph capturing a nighttime beach scene. The foreground shows a dark sandy beach that gently curves into the ocean. The waves are faintly lit, reflecting light from the horizon. The background features a dimly lit shoreline with distant lights, while the sky is predominantly dark with scattered stars, creating a moody and tranquil composition. The overall feel is calm and mysterious, emphasizing the contrast between the dark beach and the illuminated water.

the inland sea, with Saudi Arabia on the other side

Day 2 – 1/4

Last day in Qatar! We ate lunch at the Museum of Islamic Art Cafe, which presented a stunning view of The Corniche during the day. Then, we checked out the museum, which was filled with different types of art from around the world, all sorted into a bunch of galleries by region. Fun fact, the exterior of the museum was actually designed by I.M. Pei ’40!

a white rectangular building on the water, in front of a park.
the museum of islamic art
a collection of hanging art pieces, all made with thread
a blue monkey sculpture stares into your soul.
a blue monkey stares into your soul.
the interior of a display room with very fancy windows and artifacts displayed behind glass
a room of artifacts!
a beautiful carpet, the middle being red, full of an array of different animals attacking each other.

Afterwards, Jade and I got desert roses from the gift shop. Desert roses, or gypsum roses, were a source of fascination to me ever since I first saw the video in the hotel. I wanted nothing more than to hold one in my own hand, a phenomenon that I thought too carefully calculated to have been produced by nature. I noticed that every single desert rose in the gift shop was unique, 06 hopefully a sign that they were real and not fake?? and I picked one to my liking to join me on the next leg of my adventure.

a bunch of rocks, gypsum roses, on a white shelf.

desert roses!

 

  1. Global Teaching Labs, a program that gives MIT students the chance to teach students in various locations around the world⁠ ↑
  2. a correct assumption, as I went around the city in just a sweater and sweatpants. short sleeves and shorts weren't socially acceptable to wear there, so I can only imagine how hard it would be for summer tourists⁠ ↑
  3. I met up with her at baggage claim⁠ ↑
  4. After a 14 hour flight for me... ;-;⁠ ↑
  5. shawarma in a cup? a novel idea⁠ ↑
  6. hopefully a sign that they were real and not fake??⁠ ↑