Isabelle in Doha
A French expatriate in Qatar from March 2008 to February 2009Archive for December, 2008
Qatar National Day
In France, for National Day take place military parade on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, fireworks in every town of France and firefighters’ dancing balls everywhere.
In Qatar, you can see several days before and several days after December 18th small flags on the cars, in the hands or on the faces. There are feasts all day until night: military parade, water and light works and fireworks.
It is National Day!
The Qatar has been celebrating its independance every year on September 3rd since 1971. December 18th has been chosen in 2007 as Qatar National Day in honour of Cheikh Jassem bin Mohamed bin Thani, foundler of the State of Qatar, on Decembre 18th, 1878.
In case of an unexpected projectile, little bump or traffic accident…
The Qatar, and more particularly Doha, is a country where you can quickly be victim of a traffic accident, a little bump or even an unexpected projectile! Your car is not sheltered from this type of accident, you could even scratch the body when driving out a car park.
In every case, you will have to get a police report, on the spot and without moving any car(s) if it is a serious accident or in one of the traffic department office of the city, the nearest one from the accident spot. In our case, the CR-V front bumper was hit by a piece of tyre or metal projected by a car, driving from the opposite direction on one of the main roads exiting Doha. No witness (cars driving at 100 km/h on an express road), no responsible, no victim and no traffic department office around…
Several days later, we go to the traffic department office, near the express road entrance, to get the police report. After a certain time, my husband comes back with the report and tells me we need to come back the day after, to get the administrative and fiscal part of the report. The second time seems to be the last, he comes back with two sheets of paper entirely written in arabic (not easy for those who do not read it).
Some time later, i go to the Honda repairer, with the police report and the road permit and the insurance certificate. There, i learn that the police report is incomplete – there are a signing and a stamp missing on the second sheet! and that i need to go to the insurance office to file a claim and come back then with a certificate to start the repair.
The day after, i come back to the traffic department office. Out of four police officers, only one speaks English and says that i need to buy tax stamps in order that he can stamp them and sign… I do so and ask why my husband was not told so the first time?
Then, i go to the insurance office, in the middle of the building sites and the dust, i reverse in a car park quite far,hoping that no one will scratch the car when driving along while i will be at the insurance office (that would beat everything!). At the traffic accident office, there are only men waiting… and piles of white and pink files, some up to the ceiling – what can make shudder the archivist in me! I have Iris in my arms, so i am pushed first, a qatari man behind his desk opens a pink file, asks for copies of the police report, insurance certificate and the road permit and takes me to another insurance company man who is in charge of taking pictures of the car and signing the certificate for the repair. We come back to the car, he takes pictures and gives me back the paper.
Check-up: one unexpected projectile, three half-days of administrative procedure before going for the repair…
Eid Mubarak!
Each year, in France, the Muslims celebrate the Eid el Kebir, the great celebration. Here, in Qatar, it is the Eid ul Adha, the sacrifice celebration. This is when the sheep is sacrificed, following the muslim rite and in memory of Abraham’s story, ready to sacrifice his son, and so, to submit himself to God.
Last evening, the muezzins called differently to the prayer and also early this morning. Three days are not worked and everyone is celebrating. It is also nearly time for the holidays, Christmas and the new year, shops and malls are decorated in this way…
Eid Mubarak and Happy Holidays!
Rain and thunderstorm in Qatar!
A week ago, in the morning, some raindrops fell on Doha and on Qatar… it has happened, once!, since my arrival in early March… yesterday morning, big clouds began to gather in the sky, then the rain fell, light at first then heavy, the sky very dark, lightnings and claps of thunder were heard!
Streets were quickly full of water – no evacuation of a so rare rain during the year – and the car drivers were driving with their warning lights on. In France, we have our dimmed headlights on to be seen, not our warning lights. Because of the slippery road, small bumps and car accidents occurred more than once everywhere…
Rain!
Colours were different on Doha, towers and trees seemed to be washed, cleaner – which is not the case of the cars with the dust mud! Time to take pictures…
West Bay after the rain
Old fishermen villages
Alike Al Jemail, Al Areesh and Al Khuwair are two old fishermen villages, located on the north coast of Qatar.
These villages in ruins have only few walls or stairs still standing and their mosque’s minaret.
Al Areesh’s mosque
The adjoining beaches are soiled by lots of garbage carried by the sea ; however the view is very beautiful.
The view from Al Areesh
At Al Areesh, there is a little mangrove.
The mangrove
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See the villages’ file on the Heritage of Qatar website.
Al-Areesh N 26° 03′ 03.42″ E 51° 03′ 24.57″
Al-Khuwair N 26° 04′ 07.38″ E 51° 05′ 02.30″
Umm Slal Mohammed towers and fortress
On the north road, about twenty kilometers from Doha, the town of Umm Slal Mohammed possesses two towers and a fortress.
Barzan Towers
The Barzan towers, built in 1910 and restored in 2003, used to be guard towers and observation post. Next to them, is a little mosque and a building used as majlis, to welcome guests.
The mosque’s minaret
Further west, the fortress is partly in ruins, the other part is used as lodging. There is also a palm grove, partly destroyed.
The fortress and the palm grove
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To go further,
- Barzan towers’ coordinates 25°25’5.24″N 51°24’47.44″E ; see the file on the Heritage of Qatar website ;
- Fortress’ coordinates 25°25’2.99″N 51°24’15.01″E.
Qatar Mosques
Every day life in Qatar is punctuated by muezzins’ prayer calls, five times a day. During celebrations (Eid el Fitr, Eid al Adha ou Eid el Kebir), it is different, it lasts longer and intonations change, it seems that they sing and answer to each other.
Al Khor’s Mosque
Mosques are a very important part of the qatari landscape. There is none identical to another, the minaret is particularly taken care over, sometimes simple for the villages’ mosques, sometimes very finely worked for more important mosques.
The Heritage of Qatar website lists two historical mosques, one in Simaisma, built in 1938 and still used and one in Al Wakra, today surrounded by building sites, which is from 1940.
Simaisma’s Mosque – 1938
Al Wakra’s Mosque – 1940
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Simaisma’s Mosque’s coordinates : N 25° 34′ 28.78″ E 51° 29′ 16.08″ ; see the file on the Heritage of Qatar website.
Al Wakra’s Mosque’s coordinates : N 25° 10′ 11.51″ E 51° 36′ 32.13″ ; see the file on the Heritage of Qatar website.
