It has been eight years since I have been living in Qatar and till now I have admired the beauty of this country– it is one of its kind. Every time you step out of your house, I can assure you that you will find something amazing to capture and preserve that moment in your camera.
The steeped-in-tradition Qatar has many stories to tell, you can learn about the ancient pursuit of falconry, watch camels race across the desert and admire traditional dhows (wooden cargo boats) bobbing on the water. But the country is developing rapidly, with the capital Doha a world-class city in the making, thanks to its spectacular modern skyline, peerless Museum of Islamic Art, a fine and expansive traditional souq, and burgeoning arts and culinary scenes.
On any given day you could sample a portfolio of sophisticated restaurants and then watch the sunset over sand dunes that seem to spring from a fairy tale.
In the middle of nowhere, sand stretches ahead of you for miles before this ferocious fortress comes into sight. The fortress’ beauty lies in its lonesomeness, and you can approach it on a camel-back at a leisurely pace. As you stand beneath this fortress, you will feel a sense of being connected to an exciting and influential history.
To help you understand the history of the fortress better, Al-Zubarah often holds exhibitions on the site. This fortress will have you feeling humbled; you will feel that there is something wonderful about realising your own insignificance.
– Text and photos by Joel John Mathew
Photo by Joel John Mathew
