Qatar in the olden days(barely 7 years ago!)
While surfing the net, I came to browse this site of a couple who were into an adventure around the world. So, they happened to passed by in Qatar and I was amazed how Qatar was viewed in the eyes of a foreigner before:
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April 10, 2002
Late last night we flew into Qatar, a country with a cool name, an excellent airline service (Qatar Airlines) and huge tourist potential (if you’re a camel). Qatar is a little emirate that sits on the Persian Gulf. The country shares the same shape as Florida, except it juts northward into the water. Qatar lacks ancient history, ruins, or archaeological sites, which means you’re free to sit back and enjoy Qatari life without feeling guilty about missing history. During our stay we see that most people are foreign imports, mainly Asian. Roughly 640,000 people live here but only 25% of them are native Qataris. The rest come here for the nightlife, or rather a good night’s sleep because no nightlife exists. Qatari society holds a middle ground between the extremes of ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia and liberal UAE. Most people wear Western style clothes; Jill goes unveiled. Alcohol can be bought and consumed but Qatar has no national brewery, the mark of a great nation. Since Qatar struck enough oil to eliminate poverty among its small population, we don’t see beggars or homeless people. It’s a hassle-free place since no one asks for handouts.
http://www.fullpassport.com/Trip2002/Diary/apr-10.html
http://www.fullpassport.com/index.html
when Doha roads were not so crowded yet. Some fellow expats who pioneered here told me the same story too. And I can imagine how smooth the traffic around Corniche when only Sheraton Hotel was the tallest structure one can see from afar.
speed racers (I included myself in this group at the time) had their own lane. You never saw these little sunny and Kia cars on the road then and people weren't so pokey. I don't remember EVER being stuck in traffic unless I was going to the (now closed) old Thai Kitchen on Nasr Street or down to National near Electricity on a weekend night.
I really miss old Doha :-(
I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM
I used to love driving in Qatar -- until about 2005 when they started tearing the roads up for the Asian games and the number of people driving increased dramatically.
I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM
that was the life only 7 years ago????!!!!!!!!!!!!
it was a nice time to live in Qatar..but now and after 7 years u can really feel the deference
of any cars in the roads. I wonder why? So, when did these land cruisers started their rule in Doha streets then?