When the going get tough, the old get going!
There is no greater joy than being able to reach one’s goal despite suffering numerous setbacks. I should say today I felt like I was the first granny atop the Mount Everest, despite me having done nothing more than travel about 104kilometres through landscape which showed not a hint of a climb anywhere.
Greeker’s picture of the world’s first Red Fort stadium in Al Shamal, Qatar was inspiring. I wanted to see the place for myself. I set out on my cross-country trip on Friday – a day usually reserved for my grandchildren. The problems began right there. While my grandchildren sulked, my son was unhappy he had to make a trip much longer than the ones he usually makes to the family fridge, on a holiday.
I wouldn’t have bothered him, had my trusted Indian friend not made alternate plans for the day (I don’t blame him. I admit I should have given him prior notice). I didn’t want to take the kids along as I was unsure of the hardships involved.
I convinced my son and off we went, at 7 in the morning. When the car’s tyre burst at kilometre 43, my son gave me the stare he usually reserves for his rugby buddies, when he ends up on the losing side. I let my scout training instincts take over and bravely jumped out in full song. I cheerfully started helping my not-too-cheerful son change tyres when a land cruiser screeched to a halt besides us.
For the first time in my 15-year stay in Doha, two Qatari youngsters (I’m assuming they’re Qatari from their traditional dress) jumped out, offering help. They had loud Arabic music blaring out of open windows and they could not have been more helpful. They discarded their head gear and helped roll the tyres onto the road. They lay a cloth on the road near the punctured tyre, knelt down and helped us change the burst tyre. It was all over in five minutes flat. My smug expression was in stark contrast to my son’s thunderstruck stare. We both thanked them profusely and took pictures, but promised I would never post them publicly.
The road to Shamal was like a never-ending construction zone. However we saw the fort from about three kilometres away and what I saw took my breath away. It was regal, majestic and so in sync with this country. I was staring at a perfect specimen )or replica) of a royal fort.
We took a slight deviation off the road (I suggest authorities put up a board on the road saying ‘turn here’ or something) and went in. Close up, it was much more magnificent than what I had imagined. I noticed with a satisfied grin my son’s awed expression.
Despite it being a Friday, there were a few people around working (hallelujah for that). One of them spoke English and he explained about the fort. The stadium is set to be officially open by September 1. The plan is to shift Shamal football club’s home matches in the Qatar Stars League to this venue. The grass has already been planted and the greens are set to appear in about 14 days.
The idea for the stadium came when one of the higher authorities in the country visited India, saw Taj Mahal and was struck by the structure and its durability.
So they imported red stones from India and made a fort out of it – an exact replica of Fort Zubarah. This is the world’s only example of a football stadium constructed within a fort. It will have a seating capacity of 5,000 people. There is a separate VIP entrance being constructed. The ENTIRE structure is made of red stone (funny that I thought the fort was cement and stone with a thin outer red-stone coating).
The lights atop the fort are retractable. It will be used only when a game is in progress. It will all be pulled down when there are no games. They also boast of a multi-purpose hall where different teams can train. It’s a mesmerising undertaking all in all.
Qatar’s bigger idea is to develop the area around the fort into a tourist as well as sports destination. They want people to realise that Qatar is not only about Doha. I salute their grand ambitions. Once the stadium starts functioning, it’ll quickly grow itself into an institution in itself.
Even though I am no native of Qatar, I came away with a sense of immense pride. Whatever people may say, they are putting their money where their mouth is. They are making an attempt to change. I’m glad I made that trip, despite having had so many reasons not to.
Once the stadium opens, I suggest you make the trip too. I will assure that it will not be a wasted one. Doubters and naysayers may ask my son and thus, I rest my case.
How the HELL I miss this thread for longgg three days...
Wanderer Your narrative skill is awesome..
nice
I'm indeed honoured. Thank you once again for all your kind comments. It is such a pleasure to hear all your kind words...
Wanderer, Thank you for the nicely written post & wonderful shots
Guys, be cautious when crossing the shemal road. As there are major road work with many turns & twists. There have been many accidents lately in that road
usually when i read what Greeker rights i'm enthralled and i get the adrenaline rush tha tells me i gotta go and experience and see what he saw!!! so i understand how u felt Wanderer.. but seriously that is one Fantastic piece of writing! you and Greeker should get a blog going!!!
Greeker... pls pls pls pls.. i'll give u my number.. give me a call when ur off on such adventures.. please.. i would love to join! i got a big map of Qatar and my plan was to explore and area every friday.. even if it means starting before dawn...
WYSIWYG
Thanks for the pics , I passed that building one friday, a while back, while out for a drive and wandered what it was. Heres a link with more info on the football team that is going to call it home.....http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?team=226
I've had several experiences with young locals when I have had car trouble... somehow car trouble seems to bring out the best in them :-)
Although, you should never let them do anything on your car besides changing the tyre or checking the oil level especially if your car is not Japanese...
You have become my favorite QL'er at present. And Greeker too..
I always make it a point to read your posts when I notice them. I cherish them.
Now thanks to you, I have had a virtual tour of the stadium.
Wanderer.....Very good adventure for a Granny!
I wish I can maintain that zeal for adventure as I grow old!
thank you wanderer..for taking us to some places we don't know its there,opening our eyes to small things we could hardly notice.Great work!
wanderer always do nice shots... thanks for the post.
"I don't go back on my words, that's my way of ninja"
nice post wanderer....really like your narrative style of writing :).....great pics too!
My grandchild just gave me another lesson on how to be a 'techno-savvy grandmom'. And hence ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you... Wanderer's new and first-ever signature, handpicked from about 276 others, by a grand jury consisting of two (young children)...
Tadaaa... (drum roll, applause, cheers and sighs all around)
LOL!
Greeker… (serene smile), LOL.
(And in reply to the comment a few responses later) “Now don’t you go making me feel like Susan Boyle all over again. You’re the one who has talent. You write nice. Stick with it, will you?”
Formatted Soul… My grandkids are the light of my elderly life. I’m hoping they are as happy to have me as a grandma as I am to have them as my grand children. Seriously, they don’t come any better. :)
Drsam… You’re a dear. Thank you for your kind words. And no, that is not blue marble. It is actually cemented. They will be fixing plastic chairs upon it soon. That is what they told me.
Britexpat… Amen to that.
friedUnicorn… That’s a unique name and I like it. If I wave my magic wooden wand and say “Expecto Patronum”, I would probably conjure a perfect little, ethereal unicorn, LOL… My grandkids have put the Harry Potter charm on me too…
Weasel… Thank you for your kind words. I used a very basic Sony Cyber shot camera. The software I have used is Picasa. I never mastered using Photoshop. I’m only gradually getting used to Picasa and have no intention of going higher. I know how difficult it is for me to do at least this little much.
Abynel… thank you for reading. It’s only when a person reads what you’ve written does one feel like writing more. Thanks again, for reading and commenting.
Jackmohan… You have a way about speaking kind words and at the same time surprising me too. I confess Greeker sent me to the fish market as well as the library. LOL. You surprised me with the ‘er’ theory. I had a hearty laugh. Very nice thinking indeed. Since I have not been on QL for long, I had to go back, search and read what Greeker had written. He’s a fine writer. I just might bump into him in a stadium somewhere some day…
Eagleemmanuel… The Qatari boys were such dears. They even called my son in the evening to ensure we had reached home safely.
rMs_000… thank you, dearie.
Platini… Glad you enjoyed what I’d written. Salute accepted with all due respects. At ease, soldier. LOL.
your better then the local press all put together.....
you've given us news,options for our weekends, a picnic spot,a tourist attraction and lots more to think about...
Salute!
Brilliant observation. I'm stumped!
User-Ids with er at the end ...turn out to be "writers"
eg:
Greek-er....Wander-er.....etc :-)
Jack, Wanderer is the person of the hour. Don't take her glory away from her by saying good things about me (not that I am complaining, hehe).
But really, Wanderer has a way with words. And I salute you. I'd like to read more in the future.
nice writing (as usual) and nice pix as well..
--
tEaCh Me RuLeS, i'Ll TeAcH hOw To BrEaK iT ..
rMs..!!
Great read. Thank you very much. :0)
And see? Those Qatari youngsters are a credit to their family and faith.
Greeker has this habit of "sending people places"...only God knows how many he sent to the Fishmarket after one of his posts....lol....and then again the Library one...lol
Wanderer nice post....regarding the Indian Guys comment I think he must have meant the RED FORT instead of Taj Mahal.
Red Fort is the place where the India's Independence Day Speeches are made from (watch out for it this 15th August).
This fort of Red Bricks seems to have existed from 1080AD...and its still relatively well kept.
Red Fort Agra:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra_Fort
Wanderer now you also gonna send people places...well done!
You are truly inspiring! Every time you post, there is more of Qatar I want to see. Thanx! :-)
Thanks for posting....i love it
just to look at the first picture, the mere stones and dust look like jems on the ground!
Great reporting, as always. Wanderer - what camera / editing software did you use for these pics? Except for pic. no. 5 the others look heavily post processed. I love the first one, it has colours and tonality reminiscent of a Leica. I suspect you shot it with a Leica D-lux or its sister camera Panasonic LX series??
You will be a tough competition to any travel writer. Will look forward to more from you, Brilliant work! Thanks!
Source:
- A study Conducted by FriedUnicorn - Vol I (September,1999)
Excellent... Than you very much.
Many a time we live in a country and hardly ever get out to see its real beauty.
tell ur son shame on u on my behalf...and thks too!
if i impatiently wait for ur thread, he must be much more thankfull to have a mom like u!
no wonder ur grand children strive for ur stories!
r u a story-teller? do u tell them bed time stories?
i'm sure they have sweet dreams afterward!
very nice thread, photos and text!
i was wondwering if the tower was coated or fully build with bricks! now i know. i'm glad it is made as a genuine replica of old architectural/engineering ways.
what's the "gradins" or in english the steps where the supporters sit, are made of? is this blue marble?
nice to know the red bricks were imported. i was wondering that all doha is white colored rocks. is the north part of the country red?
i loved the 2 young qataris helping hand. that's what EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE should do. specialy on a deserted road.
finaly, the hurdles u encounter make the goal more attractive, and its achievement a lot more sweeter!
"a vaincre sans peril, on triomphe sans gloire" Le Cid-Corneille
Nice pics...superb story...wanderer its realy good read your stories...your grandkids must be proud to have a granda like you.:)
Thanks to Greeker too!!
I didn't know this was your intention when you asked me for directions to the fort, hehe. Mighty nice write-up. Kewl pictures too. Glad I could be of help.
Rock on!
Devil davil, I would suggest visiting the place after September 1. By that time, the place will be laid with grass and the contrast of red stone and green grass will be even more stunning. Just a suggestion, though.
Stone Cold, you just need to go straight in Al Shamal direction. No turns necessary, just keep going straight. After about 100kilometres, you see the fort straight ahead.
Nadzmyrah, WOW, that is high praise indeed.
Stevethetyke, thank you for the information about the team. That was nice of you.
Mandilulur, you make me blush, LOL. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Mjamille, Thanks for the complements. Sharing makes the world go around, is it not?
Labda, thank you for the kind words. Go to the stadium after September 1. It will be even more beautiful.
Honeybunch, you can say that again. Everything should be done to let people know more about this country.
Wow! Thanks for sharing..
nice pics
wonderful........very nice thing you have explore..thank God the Qatar govt has realise that Doha is not the only place in Qatar....
Life is a play with out a script ...
Wanderer I love your threads!! I'll def. put going to the stadium on my must do list!
great pics.. thanks for sharing...
Fantastic story, Wanderer! Encore, encore!
Mandi
Reading this is a good thing to start the day with!:)
Would be nice if location is shown in google earth for all visitors. Good place to see.
thanks for posting this...i think i will visit this place soon...nice pix btw