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"Land Cruisers and Gold" a Qatar Travel Page by hjohnso4

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"Land Cruisers and Gold" a Qatar Travel Page by hjohnso4

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hjohnso4    
Better be merry with the fruitful grape...


Real Name: Hal
Lives In: Kabul, AF
Member Since: Nov 13, 2001
VT Rank: 3882

 

Page Views: 9,281            Last Visit to Qatar: September, 2006      I Used To Live Here

Land Cruisers and Gold

by hjohnso4 - last update: Jan 15, 2007

Welcome to Qatar
UPDATE: I recently returned to Doha after a three year absence and was amazed by the changes. In anticipation of the 2006 Asian Games Qatar is suffering a building boom as hasn't been since the 1970s. The New Doha is quite remarkable: a few nightclubs and bars have opened; traffic has increased threefold; the number of namebrand shops has doubled. I could go on. Having recently completed a multi-billion dollar natural gas infrastructure project, the money is rolling into the country and the air is heavy with the sound of 'investment.' A downside is that whatever traditional architecture has survived the wrecking crane so far will likely disapear.

Qatar is a fascinatingly dull country. Unless your idea of a good time is lounging about 5-star hotel lobbies, or driving Land Cruisers to the mall, you shouldn't visit.

Little known fact: Qatar has a 'slave' economy. Workers are 'imported' from India. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Phillipines, to name a few, are paid perhaps $200/month and are housed, worked and treated rather poorly, to say the least. This is the case in all of the Petroleum States of the Arabian Gulf. Building booms are not possible without cheap labor.

Even the Desert, which covers the entire country, is marginal and unexceptional. Go to the UAE or Oman if desert adventure and impressive sand dunes are what you are after.

Qatar is sitting on the largest known natural gas deposit and will sooun be wealthier than Kuwait. The gilded, nouveau-riche, vulgarity will only spread...

> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]

Pros:"Excellent, Tax-Free Income"
Cons:"Boredom"
In A Nutshell:"Worth a Try"
hjohnso4's Qatar Travel Tips

OverviewThings to Do
Tips: 3 - Photos: 3
 
RestaurantsHotels & Accommodations
Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
 
NightlifeOff The Beaten Path
Tips: 2 - Photos: 1
 
Tourist TrapsWarnings Or Dangers
Tips: 1
 
Transportation
Tips: 2 - Photos: 1
Local Customs
 
Packing ListsShopping
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
 
Sports TravelGeneral Tips

hjohnso4's Qatar Travelogues
Title [Click to view]Travel YearPictures
PHOTOS- 6
Doha2002 4

Comments for hjohnso4 about Qatar
MM212 Thu Sep 28, 2006 21:29 UTC
 Very interesting perspective on Doha and Gulf region in general. Thanks for sharing!
Groverdean Thu Jan 6, 2005 06:23 UTC
 Interesting to read about your perspective on the place. Hey there is something to see....you managed to get together a few tips!LOL
freya_heaven Sun Aug 10, 2003 13:59 UTC
 Interesting pages, thanks. Hoping to visit Oman relatively soon.
dsantosh Mon May 26, 2003 14:38 UTC
 nice page..good info
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