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.

The last few days in Doha, Qatar, have been very hectic. I ventured into the desserts of Doha and then into the Salem Beach. Having explored most of its opulent malls with my friend Taleb Mirza, I have gotten a good idea of the city and the country as a whole.

But moving from the hot temperatures of about 35 degrees in the afternoon to my cold, air-conditioned hotel room had taken its toll on me as I woke up with a chill, a temperature, and a cold in the morning. I could feel my body aching, and I had a bit of a runny nose, so I had to tell my taxi driver that I would be taking a break today. I stayed in bed till the wee hours of the afternoon. But I could not muster the courage to go out into the street to a pharmacy to grab some medicine that would soothe my ache and pain and settle my temperature.

Luckily, my cleaner, who had come to clean up my room, gave me a few tablets of Panadol that helped my fever settle and relieved me from the cold. All I had was mushroom soup the whole day with brown bread as I did not feel hungry due to my temperature.

I managed to have a Chicken Madrooba, a traditional Qatari Speciality. It’s like a chicken stew, which was best for me in these conditions. 

By the late evening, my cold and cough had settled a bit, but only after I had taken a hot shower. I called my friend Taleb Mirza, and we made plans to meet tomorrow for coffee, as tomorrow would be my last day in Doha before proceeding to Egypt, my next destination in this part of the world. Until then, enjoy the pictures of the traditional Qatari dish Chicken Madrooba.

It was early morning, and I was aching to explore Doha fully. I had made a deal with a Bangladeshi Taxi Driver named Zahiruddin, who promised to take me around Doha. I had to pay him 200 rials a day, and he would fizz me around in his taxi for five hours every day wherever I wanted to go in Doha.

Our first spot today was the sandy beaches of Salem Beach in Doha. It was an hour’s drive to the beach as we navigated the plush highways of the city, meandering through markets and passing through large mosques. The town’s roads are broad, and Doha is an immaculate city. There is a fine if you split and litter in the town.

Giant camels are on display just before the beach, and the tourists can take camel rides. But I was more tested in taking a Jeep ride into the shady desserts, which I duly did.

The Jeep ride cost a hundred rials, and my driver, a Pakistani guy named Imam, took me for a roller coaster ride up and down the shady hills of Salem Beach. It was like sitting on the merry-go-round as I bowed up and down the dunes. It was fun but scary, too, as I felt we might overturn at any point.

Just in front of Salem Beach is a vast LPG gas and oil refinery, one of the largest in the country; one can see poisonous gas being burnt and large flames appearing from its chimney.
“We burn the poisonous gas as it is not good for the people’s lungs .” My Pakistani driver lamented.

After touching the salty waters off the beach with my hands, I took a short dip before climbing back on the dusty beach.

But the highlight of the evening was flying the desert falcon. I wire a leather glove and let the sizeable majestic bird climb on my glove. The Falcon stared at me in wonder for a while and then flew a few distance before it came back to me and sat on my leather glove again. I took more pictures, which I want you to sit back and enjoy. It’s been two days in the city, and I am getting a real taste of Doha and the city of Qatar.

Souq Waqif is a hugely popular tourist spot in Doha. It is famous for its coffee shops, eateries, and markets selling traditional clothing and other artifacts denoting Qatar’s cultural heritage. I enjoyed coffee and some Tiramisu before entering a painting exhibition to see paintings. I also walked into a famous movie theatre for popcorn.

Qatar is a prosperous and famous country with a vibrant trade of almost 18 billion dollars with India. It sells LPG Gas to India and imports rice, food items, and spices from India. This is a trade partner of India.

Yesterday, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Doha and was given a state welcome by the Emir of Qatar. Modi was here to negotiate the release of eight Indian Navy workers who had been in prison for over a year and had been convicted to be hanged for espionage. Narendra Modi used his diplomatic channels to get these eight Navy officers released.

One US dollar equals 3.64 Qatari Riyal. That way, the currency is powerful. Qatar is a total of Opulent Mall selling all sorts of luxury goods and thus is a paradise for shoppers. The country has a large population of Indian expats, who make up almost 25% of the population. Most of them are from Kerala and work here as immigrant workers in hotels or driving taxis.

Qatar also has a vast population of Bangladeshi and Pakistani people, most running shops and other small businesses. So, for me, connecting with the locals was easy as everyone spoke Hindustani, and thus, navigating my way through the city was easy. 

I spent the evening with my friend Taleb Mirza and his wife at one of the luxury malls in the city. I had sushi after a long while and enjoyed some great conversations with old-school friends.

My first impressions of the city are that it is excellent: it is clean, opulent, rich, and regal, and it’s straightforward to navigate one’s way through the city center. One can also use a metro to move about the city, but I choose to ride around in a Taxi cab instead.

Tomorrow will be more exploration of the same till then, enjoy the pictures and videos of the city center of Doha.

After saying bye-bye to Amman, I was all set to reach Doha, the capital of Qatar. My Qatar Airways flight from Queen Alia International Airport was on time, and I got a real taste of luxury when I boarded my flight. I was served Champagne and dates as I sat comfortably on the plane.

Qatar is abundant, and the City has a wealthy look. I stayed in a five-star hotel and was lucky to be upgraded to a sizeable king-size room.

The first thing that I did after settling into my room was to call up my dear friend Taleb Mirza, an Iraqi Khurd who worked as a doctor in this country. Doha is the Capital city of Qatar, and the place is famous for its malls and shopping arcades. 

The City also has a large population of Indians from Kerala and a lot of folks from Bangladesh. These Asians keep the place running and do most of the menial chores in the City, like working as waiters and other staff in plush hotels. 

I spent most of my day in my hotel room and ventured out a few times to get a pack of cigarettes. My honest exploration will start tomorrow when I book with my old school pal, Taleb Mirza. But till then, enjoy the pictures of the sheer luxury of my hotel room and get the view of the City from my window.

The day began with a ride with Issam to the countryside to explore a Methodist church. I stood in front of the image of Mother Mary to say my prayers and lit a candle for her. It was very comforting, as I felt very near to God.

I looked a bit messy as my hair was long, and I had lost my ribbon to make a ponytail out of my hair. The countryside was littered with sheep and donkeys. The nomads of Jordan are sheepherders and live on hilltops where they live in large Igloo-type tents.

Lunch was at the famous Jammu Kashmir restaurant. I had promised Issam that I would dine with him at an Indian restaurant on my last day in Jordon, and this was indeed my last day in the city. After enjoying Keema and Naan, we decided to venture further into the city. As it was my previous day, Issam got a bit emotional and gave me his precious ring .” This is for you, Anuj sir, my unique ring, you will remember me by this ring .” said he placed the ring on my fingers.

After lunch, we ventured into another hot spot called Mount Nebo Siyagha Memorial of Moses; this was a holy place for the Christians and a place that honors Moses as one of the Prophets of God.

Now, I am all set for my onward journey to Doha. This is going to be my last day, and I have a stack full of memories that I carry with me.

Jerash is a city situated north of the Capital of Jordan, Amman . It is an hours drive from Amman and four and a half hours drive from Aqaba. The city of Jerash was where Jesus Christ passed through and performed an exorcism on a man possessed by demons .

Jerash is a Greco-Roman wonder and a world heritage site with old ruins and pillars. It was a once thriving city dating back to the Bronze Age, over two thousand years old. It has classical Roman Columns, temples, and fountains. Named Gerasa, it is the second most popular city in Jordon.

On the extreme side of the site is an arch called the Hadrian Arch, also known as the Triumphal Arch, which was built in AD 129 in honor of the visit of Emperor Hadrian. Behind the arch is the Hippodrome, which hosted chariot races in front of up to 15000 spectators. Fifty-six iconic columns surround the paved limestone Plaza, linking the cardio maximum with the temple of Zeus.

There are Morden souvenir shops, and the entrance ticket is ten rials, which is reasonable. Guides are also available who will take you around on a tour.

I managed to chat up a few shop owners and, as usual, sat down with them, showing my Bollywood videos of my acting with Shah Rukh Khan, who is very popular in this part of the world.

Jerash, no doubt, was enchanting, and my visit to the old excavation site was very fulfilling.

I had slept late as my sandboarding experience was very exhausting; sliding down the dusty slopes of the desserts of Wadi Rum had been tiring for me. So what was needed was a hot shower and a long bath to soothe all the aches and pains in my body. My hotel was very comfortable, and I soon ordered a lasagna and pizza. 

I was fascinated by the election results that had just been announced in Pakistan. I was glued to YouTube all night, trying to get as much information as I could by watching regular updates.

I Visa 

 I had just discovered a great new visa site called I Visa. They specialize in getting visa approvals online. I had applied for a Visa for Turkey and Morocco. My view was simple. I had enjoyed the desert lands of Jordan. I wanted to continue the journey further into other countries of North Africa with similar terrain. I applied for a visa for Egypt and Morocco. The process is straightforward. One must upload color copies of one’s passport and photographs and pay the requisite Visa Fee online. Then, one has to wait for approval from the respective governments. Once that is done, an electronic Visa document is emailed directly. I managed to get a Visa that way for both Egypt and Morocco. It took less than five working days, and the process was straightforward.

Once the vista is done, one can plan and book hotels and flights through booking.com, a reliable and safe site. It’s all at the touch of a button, and I loved the ease with which I managed to get my Visa done.

The Red Sea 

After floating around the Dead Sea, it was time for me to go Jet Skiing; along with a two-hour journey on the boat, the whole deal cost me 180 rials, but I thought it was worth it. Buzzing over the pristine blue waters was a sheer delight. I ate a meal of chicken and rice, and then, with my taxi driver friend Inaam, I walked on the beachfront in the evening, capturing some great pictures. The Red Sea is vast and pristine; on the other side is the land of Israel.

It was early morning, almost 7:00 am. Issam, my dedicated driver, was ready to pick me up. We were all set for a four-hour drive to the Dead Sea. This would be a long excursion, and I ensured I had breakfast in the morning as I would have to go hungry through the journey. This was my first taste of the countryside of Jordon. I got a real taste of the dunes of the desert, and I first had a glimpse of the nomadic life of the people who lived there. These were sheepherders, camel owners, and nomads who lived in mud-baked houses. We listened to hit super songs from the film Pathan throughout the drive. Shah Rukh Khan is a big star here. Almost everyone in Jordon knows Shah Rukh Khan and all his songs and movies are dubbed in Arabic and played on television; he is an absolute superstar. When we were getting stopped at the police check posts along with my passport, I would show the policeman my videos of my acting with Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi; that was all I needed as an introduction; no more questions were asked off me and we where given free passage with a smile and salute. That is the natural soft power of Bollywood, and I used that power all through my journey in Jordon. I never got hassled at any police checkpoints, and neither did Issam.

I would often stop to take pictures with camels and local nomads; the dry, hot desert dunes were perfect backdrops to take photos. I also saw the drip irrigation technique used to grow vegetables and farm in the desert sand. This is a unique way of farming that is only used in the desert. Occasionally, I would stop over at mosques to pay my respects. The journey was long but fun. This was Jordon, the honest Jordon, far away from the city life and the Urban Jungle of Amman; thus, it was the natural dessert of Arabia where Arab culture was in its full pomp and show. We were now venturing into the Dead Sea territory from the emerald-blue Red Sea of Aqaba. The Dead Sea is known for its heavily slated waters, where one can float at will as the salted water has a lot of buoyancy.

By the afternoon, we reached the Dead Sea; we got off at the Ramada Hotel and then took a minibus to the beach, where the Dead Sea began. I had already bought some swimming trucks and was advised by the local beach divers not to put my face into the water as the salted water would burn my eyes. But like a fool, I did not listen and plunged hard into the water. The result was that my eyes began to hurt as the salty water caused a lot of irritation. I started rubbing my eyes, and that created even more problems. The diver was watching me and came running to me with a bottle full of fresh water, which he sprayed on my eyes, and finally, I was able to get the salt water off my face. After floating around in the dead sea for an hour, I returned to the beach and was duly given a mud bath. The mud from the Dead Sea is meant to be therapeutic and great for the skin; I rubbed it all over my body, black mud all over my body, and finally soaked the sun for an hour before washing it off. 

The afternoon lunch of chicken and rice was all I desired, and I did some curio shopping simultaneously. The drive back was refreshing as I felt reinvigorated after my mud bath, which had a healing effect on the essential body and soul. To my delight, we reached Aqaba just before sunrise and captured some breathtaking sunset pictures. Aqaba sunset next to the sea is an absolute delight and a treat. 

So enjoy my pictures and get a natural feel of Jordan and its Arab Life.

More than anything, Wadi Rum’s vast desert landscape makes it a wonder. Its moon-like surface is littered with huge rock formations, making it look like a Martian surface. It is around an hour’s drive from Aqaba and a desert wonder. Today, I ventured into the deep deserts of Wadi Rum. My driver, Issam, had to drop his car on the way because a car cannot travel deep into the desert, navigating its jagged rocks.

We finally took a truck with an open back to venture deep into the red sandy desserts crisscrossing the sandy dunes. I sat at the back of the Toyota Truck with Issam. The most amazing thing was seeing the large rock formations. Their sheer, huge Igloo-like tents were all over the desert terrain. These were to emanate for travelers and nomads who wanted to stay back and enjoy the night sky of the desert.

We then saw a large column of camels moving along with their nomadic keepers across the desserts.

The best part was venturing into the echo valley. This is a gorge where the echo comes back to you if you shout your name or clap your hands. It gets cold when one walks deep into the gorge, and there is a welcome tent made out for travelers who are served tea and khajur. 

Sandboarding is the most exciting sport, apart from camel rides. This is where young kids carry large sake boards and sit over the dunes down a steep slope. Sandboarding is similar to skateboarding. The only difference is that it has over-slope dunes instead of ocean waves of icy slopes. This was the first time I saw sand skateboarding, and I loved it. I also walked to the top of a sandhill to enjoy the wondrous view from the top of a rock.

Wadi Rum is 60 Km from the city of Aqaba and is a wonder of sandstones and red rock. Wadi Rum is also mentioned as the city of Irum in the Quran.

We then ventured into a part of Wadi Rum where the shooting of Lawrence of Arabia took place. On the red sandstone is carved the face of Lawrence Olivia, who played the iconic role.

This was a place where the Nabetians once lived and thrived. There are huge tents that serve food and tea to fellow travelers, and they manage to catch a conversation with some local Sheiks, who are big fans of Shah Rukh Khan and Bollywood Films. Again, my role in the movie Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi played a significant part in forming friendships. The locals were intrigued to see a Bollywood city in this part of the world.” I also took a picture with Amitabh Bachan. He had come here years ago for a film shoot; I even managed to sell that picture for 500 rials, “a sheik told me getting very excited.

I walked with Issam deep into the rocky valley and finally found a huge rock, a perfect spot where I could just sit and meditate. I meditated full OSHO style, seated like a spiritual Guru on top of this rock, all the while Issam was making my videos.

We spent four hours just wandering around the valley, walking on its dark red sandy dunes. My shoes got covered in dust, but the experience was worth it. The price of hiring a guide is 75 riyal, and if one so wishes, one can also spend the night under the stars in the valley; there are enough igloo-like Martian tests in the area.

We returned by the evening, but the experience was worth it, and I was excited to see another wonder of Jordon, the desert and rocky terrains of Wadi Rum. It was the first time I saw people doing sandboarding, a new learning.