Isabelle in Doha
A French expatriate in Qatar from March 2008 to February 2009Archive for desert
Fuwairit, its deserted village, its beach and coast
We went back to the north of Qatar, looking for the Fuwairit beach (see our last adventures). The village is half deserted, except for a sheep breeding next to a big villa and it seems that the inhabitants have suddenly deserted, leaving their cars here and there, doors half open. At sunset, these turned yellow from the dust and sand houses and their rusty doors, the cars also, were very attractive subjects for photography (see also other pictures of the village).
Window in Fuwairit
Then we went and saw the beach, there was a little bit of wind at sunset. Many tents were installed facing the sea. It is visibly an entertainly place for the locals, to drive and skid in the small sand dunes. Apparently indifferent to the near landscape, several 4WD appeared, men sit on the windows and the open roof, all lights on and driving fast, later, men on quads enjoyed the place too.
On Fuwairit beach
At sunset, we drove along the coast, the ground was made mainly of rocks, certain passages were delicate for the CR-V (which is not really a big 4WD). At one moment, we were facing a wide land made of sand and rocks, turning our backs to the sea, in a rose oranged light.
Desert near Fuwairit
Adventures on the beach, on trails and in the dunes
Autumn is here, even in Doha. It is hot but windy, it is bearable, especially when you leave the city.
We head for the north, looking for a beach called Fuwairit, which we found too late, at night fall. The signposts are much irregular and we arrived on another beach, not so beautiful. Plus, we venture too much and directly strand the front of the CR-V! Fortunately, there are people and a Qatari man offers help, sits at the steering wheel and reverse the car driving it back from there in a few seconds, phew! Night is coming quickly and we end up in the heart of an deserted village, with wrecked cars (See here some pictures of the site taken by François).
The day after, head for the south of Doha, after Messaied and the industrial city. We arrive at the Sealine Beach Resort. We are at the end of the road, after that there are only sand trails, more or less packed down by the passing 4WD, quads and other local leisure engines… The resort is not worth the price: 100 Qatari Riyals (20 €) per adult and 25 QR (5 €) for the car – children under 12 pay 50 QR (10 €) . There are two swimming pools, a big lawn, rooms and bungalows on each side, a cafe restaurant outside and another inside the main building, but the beach is not very beautiful.
Sealine beach resort entrance
After a quick tour of the resort and on the beach, we leave for the trails with the CR-V, to try a bit its 4 wheel drive… It skids a little in the soft sand, it jumps on the bumps, we even try to drive up and down some dunes, a foretaste of a future desert drive…
Dune, route and desert
Heading for Al Khor
Al Khor is a small sea resort town about 35 kilometers north to Doha, on the east coast of Qatar.
The road to Al Khor shows how dry and desertic is the Qatar land, nothing can grow there.
The road to Al Khor
In Al Khor live those who work in Ras Laffan, the industrial city up north and fishers. At the end of the day, you can watch their boats in the haven and the fishers fixing theirs nets.
Al Khor haven and the fishers at the end of the day
