As today was going to be my last day in Doha, I was determined to see most of the hotspots of the City City, and my day started early, at around 10:00 am. The taxi driver with whom I had made a deal arrived on time. I would pay him 250 Qatari Riyal to tour me around the City for six hours at a stretch. Our first destination was Pearl Island, an area of four square kilometers, the first freehold land mass available to foreigners to develop. It has the City’s most high-class luxury shops, restaurants, and exclusive living areas. I was fascinated by the enormous skyscrapers with the most unique shapes. I even walked into the Ferrari and Royce showrooms. There were exclusive showrooms of all the luxury brands from around the world: Gucci, Prada, Zara, Apple, you name the brand, they were all there. This is an area where the Uber-rich people of the City live.
The City also walked around the area’s most abundant and beautiful mosque, which reminded me of India’s famous Taj Mahal monument in its richness and splendor. The Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani Mosque is a pure white marble structure with rich architecture and beautifully carved walls.
The next stop was the Islamic Museum building, next to a pristine water body. There was a vast garden where people were resting and enjoying the sun. I walked around the opulent and plush green gardens of the area.
Taking a picture in front of the Raffle Doha Hotel was another experience. The hotel’s shape is a wonder as it looks like the horns of a buffalo. My taxi driver told me that once, a trapeze artist had tied a rope from one side of the building to the other and walked on the tightrope across the two poles as people watched him do the act from the ground below.
Lunch was at the Sushi Library at the largest and most exclusive mall in Doha City, the Bendon Mall. I had a meal of Sushi and Lemonade and shopped for some exclusive perfume after watching a Grand display of fountains streaming jets of water in the air.
But the highlight of the day was a visit to the Katara Mosque. I managed to get inside the mosque and also managed to pray there. I was also enthralled by the way the walls of the mouse were painted and decorated in true Islamic fashion.
My fever had gotten better after popping a few more Panadol tablets. I managed to keep my fever in check. The day was hectic, but I got an authentic taste of the City and its science today.
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