By Ayman Adly/Staff Reporter
Parks and other open spaces started receiving visitors from early yesterday, the second day of Eid al-Fitr, as families headed there to give their children a chance to enjoy the outdoors.
Some decided to delay their trip to parks and similar places until the evening as they wanted to avoid the hot conditions.
“The activities at malls are amazing and we enjoy them a lot. At the same time, a trip to a park or a beach is highly refreshing for the family, though it has to be cut short because of the hot weather. During the Eid holidays, such a trip is a must for any family with kids,” said Lauren, a Western
expatriate.
A number of families, along with their friends and relatives, chose to enjoy the outdoors by braving the weather at parks across the country.
“The parks and beaches of Qatar are destinations that should not be missed. Irrespective of the weather, the Eid holidays are a good opportunity to bring children and friends together and enjoy the open spaces,” said Majed, an Arab expatriate, pointing out that many families like to visit beaches outside Doha such as Sealine, Al Khor, Wakrah and Dukhan.
Some took the opportunity to call for more such places with shaded areas and outdoor cooling solutions like
misting fans.
Meanwhile, a large number of workers – mostly residents of the Industrial Area - were seen heading towards central Doha to enjoy the Eid holidays with their friends and compatriots.
As a majority of these workers do not have their own vehicles, buses plying such routes were in high demand. Some of them also decided to share taxis.
Meanwhile, some construction workers chose to spend the day in the vicinity of their accommodation, using the vacant plots there to play sports, particularly cricket, which is a big draw among South Asian
expatriates.
“The Eid holidays provide a good opportunity to enjoy life here in Qatar. Three days without work are a good time to play, shop and talk to my family back home. Also, as the salary was paid earlier this month, I could send some money to my family in my home country to make their life easier and more comfortable,” said a construction worker from Nepal.
Thanks to moderate rates for international phone calls and free Wi-Fi in some public areas, many workers were able to spend some quality time with their loved ones, chatting and exchanging greetings.
“Eid here has a different meaning for many as this place offers stable jobs and is safe to live in. Also, despite being away from family members and relatives, one could still make them happy through both words and the money that is sent to help them,” said an Arab expatriate.