Doha is the capital of Qatar. It is a modern and rapidly developing city and, considering the money being poured into construction. Doha looks set to become one of the premier cities in the Gulf within a few years. I visited Doha in my stop over to and from Maldives. Among the fact that part of the city looks like a construction site it is also a place of evident contrast between the modern and the traditional. The first photo shows the modern buildings in Doha along the Corniche. The Corniche is the visual highlight of Doha is Al-Corniche, a long seaside promenade that curves around Doha Bay and affords pretty views of Palm Tree Island and the city's skyscrapers. In the afternoons you will see plenty of locals strolling along the Corniche, often trying to get out of the way of the odd crazy Western ex-pat on rollerblades. It's also a good place for jogging. Cycling is prohibited! The second photo shows the traditional part of Doha. The famous Souqs and the typical Middle Eastern activity in the afternoons are the most precious thing and the best shopping experiences. Not far from the Corniche near an HSBC branch and a landmark spiral tower is the Souq Waqif (also referred to as the Iranian Souq or Old Souq), a good place to pick up souvenirs and to see falcons for sale with a pleasant ambience. Another souq worth visiting is the Omani Souq on Haloul St, parallel to Salwa Road. There you can buy things like spices, incense and woven baskets, where I took this photo.
