I’ve been wandering around this desert thinking Doha was the sleepiest and most conservative of towns. Not much exciting to this town. Reminds me of a hotter, more humid version of my hometown…not much to do but walk around the mall, eat dinner, and go to the movies. It’s Ramadan on top of that so amazingly, streets have reduced traffic.Now, it’s impossible to talk about this region of the world during this time of year without talking about the weather. I thought living and traveling throughout the Gulf Coast of America’s south I knew a little bit of something about some humidity and high temperatures. Doha reassured me, I don’t know squat about heat or humidity. There is no hair product that can stand up against this humidity. I kinda think that’s one of the reasons why the local girls keep their hair covered under a hijab. On top of that, it’s impossible to spend more that 15 minutes without AC. I just don’t know how they survived before this technology.Anyway, the guys and I went downtown to the Souqs and found this fabulous, exquisite restaurant in the boutique hotel collection with some serious ambiance. The was Middle Eastern mood was set with seductive regional music, plush sofas, and dim jewel-toned lighting. The service was impeccable…I mean chairs were pulled out for me, waiters kept my water glass filled even though the water bottle was right on the table for me. the food was affordable and came in huge helpings. We had the restaurant to ourselves.
I’m just realizing, Doha comes alive after dark…which it should considering it is 119 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Just as I had to learn to adapt to Stuttgart’s frigid temperatures, I have to learn to adapt to Doha’s sweltering heat. And seeing as though people have been inhabiting this land since before Jesus came, there are methods to survive.
Let me reiterate how obnoxiously, ridiculously, oppressively hot it is here. It’s seriously, unfathomably humid and uncomfortable every single day. The air conditioners stay over taxed.
It’s no wonder folks stay resting in the AC most of the day and come out after the sun goes down to run their erruns. The earth is still hot at 8pm after the sun fades. 11pm or midnight makes the best time to go running when its around 80 degrees or cooler. Of course that cuts into sleep time for normal day dwellers. It’s quite the adjustment from Stuttgart but I look forward to adapting and making this city my own.
