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February 19, 2005
A desert interlude
Qatar is a country of strange contrasts - the sea is incredibly clear, the desert very dry and the colour of sand. Here and there stand small clumps of vegetation, but they are dwarfed by the expanse of sand. The people are friendly and warm; the contrasts, though, spread through them as well.
On the one hand you have men dressed in their flowing white robes and head-gear, and women in their head-to-toe black Burkhas. But not all the women wear the Burkha and not all the men wear the dishdash! And then there are the mosques with their exquisite architecture and delicate tracery of decoration right alongside both the drab and the opulent.
I shall post one or two photographs when I am able to upload them; perhaps you will see what I find interesting here. Not least is the architecture, the blend of the ultra modern with the traditional decorative style of the architectural detailing. Again, pictures will show more clearly what I mean. Yet, there is almost an absence of understanding of the things which make these modern buildings safe to use - the codes are followed only in part, because there is no understanding of the safety principles.
There is much to see and much that is valuable. As ever, I find myself enjoying the company of these people and their friendship.
I shall be sad to leave on Friday, but I know that, in the words of Arnie the Terminator, "I'll be back!"
Posted by The Gray Monk at February 19, 2005 09:14 AM