Fun and shopping in Qatar

By Kelvin Kaume

We board the flight to Qatar at around 3:30pm from JKIA. It takes five hours to get to Doha, the capital city. There are different flights to Qatar but with connections to other cities in the Middle East.

As we approach the airport, one can see the beauty of the city. The airport has ultra modern facilities and a very wide area with duty free shops.

Our bags are thoroughly searched by airport security, their main concern being alcohol, which is restricted in this country unless one has a license.

Perfect destination

Jokingly, we tell our guide, Naeem, that we are on honeymoon and he tells us: "A perfect couple deserves a perfect honeymoon. Qatar is the perfect destination. Our tours are specially designed to take care of the needs of a newly married couple."

The facilities at the hotel are fantastic. Our room is spacious fully fitted with a big bed, pay television, a mini fridge and air conditioning.

After checking in, the staff welcome us for dinner, wide serving of delicious food ranging from African to international dishes.

The next morning, we got up early. It is summer here and with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees, not much activity takes place from late morning until mid afternoon. We are advised to be back in our room by 11:00am.

Our guide takes us to various shopping malls in town. Here we are welcomed by the Doha skyline with towering skyscrapers, clusters of gleaming lights that are visible during the day, fast zooming vehicles that conjure up charming scenery and the ever-friendly and generous Qatar people.

Qatar is a paradise for shopping enthusiasts. You can choose the perfect gift for your lover from a plethora of items available.

After a whole morning shopping spree, we head back to the hotel for a mid-day siesta and lunch.

Stroll on beach

In the afternoon we head to the Corniche Bay, a seven kilometre long stretch that runs along the coastline of Arabian Gulf. Here we take a stroll along the beach as we interact with other holidaymakers who are playing beach games, cycling or relaxing.

There are many parks along this stretch and one notable one is Al-Rumaila Park, whose greenery will soothe your eyes.

The tour guide takes us for a dhow ride and fishing expedition where we are meant to fish and take our catch as the supper for the day. Unluckily, the day ends without any major catch but the experience is worth it.

The next day, we take a desert drive and race in the never-ending sun dunes. This keeps us busy throughout the evening. We sum it up with a campfire where we cook Arabian food out in the desert.

The rest of the days are spent relaxing and meeting friends. We are informed of an African musician performing in one of the restaurants and when we arrive there, the large number of Kenyans living in this area surprises us.

Adventurous couples honeymooning here can also try their hand at various exciting and thrilling activities like water sports.

The cost of rooms is from Sh8,000 per night per person sharing and the flights cost from Sh50,000 per person. Visas are required and can be issued by the airline.