In a nation where more than 75% of the population lives in the capital city, you would think that getting a feel for Doha, Qatar would be a straightforward affair. Developing at a rate unmatched elsewhere in the world yet still in the shadows of Dubai, Doha is a city I’ve struggled to find, yet found it in its struggles. As much as it would like to be, Doha is much more than reflective skyscraper glass and World Cup construction. Rather, Doha is a place to treat your stomach, camera, and lungs by slightly shocking each one.

Starting With Souq Waqif

The word ‘souk’ – an Arab bazaar – misleads you to believe that one of Doha’s most famous travel destinations is anything close to the modern market is has come to be. Sure, Souq Waqif is wearing an Arabesque veil, but it’s not much cover for the steel construction and freshly dried plaster its shops are made of. Imagine an American strip mall having an “Arabian Nights” theme and you might come up with something close to what Souq Waqif looks like – but you’ll be nowhere near what it tastes like.

1,001 Arabian Nights Bites

The path through Souq Waqif is like eating your way around half the world – Moroccan soup at Tagine, dishes from Yemen, and wonderfully spicy roller coasters of Malaysian curries. You haven’t been to Souq Waqif if you haven’t eaten there. At least several times. Or more.

The Tense Side Streets Of Doha’s Workforce

Over 60% of the people living in Qatar are foreign citizens, mostly coming from southeast Asia to power the machines that are actively building the city. As I mentioned on my night walks along Doha’s deceptive streets, these communities are generally isolated physically and socioeconomically. Both Qataris and immigrants mentioned that living with the other was often an uneasy balance of necessity. Though somewhat intimidating, you should take the opportunity to walk through the Nepalese, Bangladeshi, and other neighborhoods; treating your stomach and wallet at the same time.

You can easily enjoy a meal for less than 10 Qatari riyals (~$2.75) in one of the many ethic restaurants that are filled to the edges after working hours. Your travel budget will thank you while visiting the second most expensive city in the Arab world. I drew quite a bit of attention whenever I walked into one of these smaller places to eat. This actually made it easier to engage people who were curious as to what this (Arab-looking) guy was doing in a neighborhood an Arab Qatari might never eat in.

Great Views And Collection At Doha’s Museum Of Islamic Art

Most museums tend to leave you disappointed; a feeling that’s only amplified the more of them you see. I still go to museums in most of the cities I visit in the hopes of finding a gem and Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art is certainly one of them. Several stories high with an impressive collection of artifacts, artwork, and exhibits from all over the Muslim world, the Museum of Islamic Art also happens to be one of the best places to photograph Doha from.

The museum sits along Doha’s corniche (a close second in my book to Muscat’s version) with different heights and angles to take pictures of the city, Persian Gulf, and the interior of the museum itself.

Using All The Senses You Aren’t Supposed To

It’s not difficult to get stuck on Doha’s concrete forest and glamorous glass in the making, so rather than force your eyes to guide you, take a page from the forgetful traveler’s book. Work with your other senses – tasting the international cuisine and moving away from the lights to give you a flavor of what Doha’s steel buildings are really built upon.

There are several traits many people associate with frequent travelers – excellent navigational skills, a steal-trap memory, with perhaps a knack for organization. The truth is that you can thwart the best intentions of any GPS, forget your middle name on a regular basis, and not know where you’re going until you get there – while at the same time enhancing your travels.

Although some of the following might cause you problems in your day to day existence (forgetting that important client meeting or to pick up your kids from…wait, where did you leave them…?) Traveling is an art of making the most out of anything, including what could be considered weaknesses.

1. A Terrible Sense Of Direction

Being good with directions gets you to where you want to go quicker but getting lost on a regular basis guarantees you interesting and unpredictable routes. Most of my memorable travel experiences have come about because I couldn’t find exactly where I wanted to go. Getting lost not only helps to increase the chances you’ll find a new favorite spot you weren’t expecting, it often forces you to interact with locals. A few hours of trying to find your hostel in central Santiago will have you brushing off your rusty Spanish against all reluctance.

2. Having The Memory Of A Goldfish

It’s a myth that goldfish have 5-minute memories (rather more along the lines of 3 months) – and having a good memory is not a hindrance in the least. Yet those of you with short attention spans and lazy neurons can take comfort in some research from the University of Chicago [PDF]. Researchers have found those with poor memories tend to have more diffuse attention focus. Simply put, these folks tend to notice things others don’t and be more flexible problem solvers as well. So you might not remember visiting La Moneda Palace quite clearly but can order a lomito backward – in your sleep – with that rusty Spanish of yours.

“The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time” -Friedrich Nietzsche

3. Being As Organized As Vincent Van Gogh

Traveling is really much easier than many people imagine or make it to be. I realize that everyone can’t travel but for those who can, doing so is a fairly easy process. Save, travel, and off you go – keeping these 4 things every non-planning traveler should be prepared for in mind. Big or small, you can overcome the obstacles to travel the world, on your terms, by accomplishing your dreams piece by piece.

Being disorganized is a good example of a trait that works against you in an office and many other jobs since it introduces entropy to the system. What makes your work-life less efficient increases the randomness of any trip. Being disorganized lead me to Essouria, Morocco, got me drunk with a group of cab drivers in Argentina, and keeps my backpack on a diet. The less you carry, the less there is to manage.

Rather than try to become more organized, simply have less to organize in the first place. Call it laziness or efficiency, they tend to overlap more often than not.

Don’t Forget To Be Flexible

Much of this might sound like I’m trying to make you us forgetful, disorganized bunch of travelers who can’t read maps feel better but really, it’s an exercise in working toward your strengths. Or, in this case, what might be considered weaknesses in places that are designed to keep you in one place, rather than everywhere you want to be.

[top photo by: JoeBenjamin (two confused guys)]