FREE COPY Dazzling Daycations In Qatar August 2015 ARE YOU ACTUALLY ADDICTED to your cell phone? TITBITS ABOUT YOUR ZITS EXPLORING GRAZ TOP GEAR: HYUNDAI VELOSTER TURBO Malabar Gold Society Magazine DPS Mine AD Qatar.ai 1 7/2/15 3:19 PM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Malabar Gold Society Magazine DPS Mine AD Qatar.ai 1 7/2/15 3:19 PM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K RAISING TECH-SAVVY KIDS WITH A BALANCE P. 34 Editor’s Note In its Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015, the World Economic Forum has ranked Qatar as the second most tourism-friendly destination in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. The rankings were based on a variety of parameters, including international openness, business environment, health and hygiene, ground and port infrastructure, to name a few. Simultaneously, Qatar was ranked second for safety and security and third for having a supportive business environment. When one considers tourism in Qatar, especially in light of the National Vision, it becomes quickly clear that Qatar is not necessarily a tourist destination, rather it is a cultural destination. Every year, it runs a cultural exchange programme that serves as a bridge between Qatar and an international audience. Through a variety of exhibitions, festivals, competitions and events, Qatar promotes mutual understanding, recognition and appreciation between countries across the globe. Stephanie Akkaoui Hughes in her article ‘On a Cultural Safari’ (Page 31) states that every visit to Qatar, whatever its original purpose, naturally morphs into what can be called a cultural safari. According to her, Qatar has at least three interacting forms of culture; a national curated culture, an ‘un-curated’ street culture, and a curated culture of the streets. These three cultural forms make of Doha a ‘Cultural Tripolis’, a three dimensional city, made of three intertwined cultural versions. Among the three, national curated culture is a city of various cultural events; un-curated street culture depicting the population mix, while curated culture of the streets boasts touristic and natural sites. In fact, these triple dynamics of an intentionally cultivated culture not only attract a more enlightened and knowledge-oriented type of tourist, but also contribute to educating tourists, as well as locals and residents. Having said that, whatever be the motive for your visit — and all the more if you reside in Qatar — it is very hard to resist a visit to the landmark Museum of Islamic Art, a tour of the old souk or an evening at one of the many cultural events around town. And if you want to try a daycation in Qatar where you can spend a few hours by a crystal-clear pool, go for a picnic, take a dhow cruise, or savour delicious cuisine, rightly turn to Page 26 and find out our pick of the best days out. Happy reading! P. 31 P. 26 and stress involved. Get in the mood and Take a Museum tour FLAIR explore Qatar making this daaycation Qatar’s love for art and culture makes it committed to house world class On a Cultural art & worth it. piece of arts for art lovers. Accessible to art lovers, the group of museums, architecture art galleries and cultural sites demonstrate the continuous work to en- TOP 10 While you stay back, do not let your usual courage, build up and sustain the cultural inheritance. Qatar has number business slurp your time, get in the mood of state of art museums and galleries open for residents and tourists. Safari and plan your day differently. Few days Museum of Islamic Art (MIA as we all know) is a landmark for Doha city. Exploring how Qatar encourages the enlightened tourists planned leave could be a way to get into House of traditional Islamic treasures like manuscripts, textiles, Jewellery DAYCATIONS IN the mood, have some time and explore and metalwork is a delight to gaze at. Every little thing on display has a the unexplored! If not splurge, at least story to tell. Privately owned and managed “The Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim By Stephanie Akkaoui Hughes indulge a speck. Ignore the home kitchen, Al Thani Museum” is an extravagant display of personal collections where vintage cars undone laundry, incomplete assign- 1tops the list. The museum also houses Islamic art treasures that include textile, jew- ments, etc. You don’t do it all when away ellery, metalwork, coins, antique woodwork, Islamic manuscripts and archaeological ripping onto my seat for dear constant developments, you are stim- dragging flip-flops and hanging camera. In for a vacation, so why not here, making finds. Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art, located in Doha’s education city, is a house life, I try to look around hoping ulated to “keep your eyes open at all fact, Qatar is encouraging a new type of ‘tour- it a leisurely stay. Here is our list of things of Modern Arab art showcasing Arab perspective on international art. All these muse- Gto spot the end of it. But the ‘end’ times”, take it all in, visit every event, ist’, a more enlightened tourist so to speak. that can add some spice to your holiday ums are open for public view for a defined time. It’s best to check on the open hours is nowhere to be seen. Trapped in an absorb every culture. An excitement Whatever the motive for your visit - and all at home. before you hop on your wheels. Most local tour operators offer Museum tour packages in case, guided tour is what you enjoy. overactive Jeep, climbing up and down, always accompanied by a quite the more if you reside in Qatar - it is very hard QATARNo time for a holiday but still want to relax? Why not try a daycation where you can sideways and around sand dunes in opposite silent breathless admiration. to resist a visit to the landmark Museum spend a few hours by a crystal-clear pool, go for a picnic, take a dhow cruise, or sa- the Qatari desert, we are in the middle Every visit to Qatar, whatever its orig- of Islamic Art, a tour of the old souk or an vour delicious cuisine? Here’s our pick of the best days out of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but inal purpose, naturally morphs into evening at one of the many cultural events golden sand, as far as the eye can see. what can be called a cultural safari. around town. By Renu Oommen While my two colleagues and I can no longer restrain our screams, it seems that Even if the purpose of your visit to In fact, it is my personal theory that Qatar as our reactions get louder, the driver is Qatar is business, you cannot help has at least three interacting forms of culture; acations are the most desirable, much needed going faster, higher and harder; obviously but become a “tourist” for at least a a National curated culture, an ‘un-curated’ and awaited break you need from your routine life. To make it happen, lots of factors need to not his first time, he seemed well amused few hours. I would personally hope street culture, and a curated culture of the V be aligned and even if it’s a last minute travel, it will still by our “tourists’” lack of experience. But that this does not entail you embody- streets. These three cultural forms make of need some planning. Family vacation times are only suddenly, in the midst of the excitement, ing the stereotypical tourist look with Doha a ‘cultural Tripolis’, a three dimension- when the schools are on a break, and being the peak a change of scenery: a peaceful blue the baseball cap, camel-colour shorts, al city, made of three intertwined cultural season for travel industry any good deal could still Darwish S. Ahmed burn the pockets. Do we still have a second option? appears. The golden dunes give way to a versions. This is the time your kids are free to travel and explore blissful surface of water. We have reached the world, this is the time when a mother gets a break the south coast of Qatar, its inland sea from packing those lunch boxes, and this is the time across which appears the tip of Saudi a father keeps his gadgets away to spend quality time Arabia. with his family and friends. Far from being the ‘sit-back and observe’ Nevertheless, you can still do it all sticking around the place you live. Whatever be the reason, if you have safari that you may expect from sub-saha- Editor-in-Chief dropped the idea of a holiday away from Qatar this ran Africa examples, a safari on the Arab summer, enjoy your summer break right here. Dayca- Peninsula is more of a live interactive tions are excellent alternatives with very little planning and real-life ‘Space Mountain’ ride, amid golden sand dunes and the occasional desert shrubs. Even though we were sur- rounded by nothing but dunes for most of the ride, I needed to keep my eyes open at all times and wanted to take it all in, every Renu Oommen is a passionate freelance writer by dune, every shrub, every ray of sunshine. choice. She has worked for leading online job portals and a well-known The ride was physically exhilarating, vis- Indian multinational IT Consulting & System Integration company before she ually inspiring and simply overwhelming; moved to Qatar. She loves to spend her free time with her family and friends evoking at once active excitement and because she thinks social circle is the ultimate source of contentment and peaceful awe.