But all that changed recently when the good-natured and outgoing Ritchie Tuaño, Qatar Airways district sales manager for Southern Philippines, invited the media to discover what the latest international airline to open in Cebu has to offer Cebuanos and other travelers from neighboring islands.
Every aspect of this more-than-just-a-tour was meticulously thought out and implemented with utmost care by our always-on-the-go-but-never-harassed-anyone-along-the-way travel companion, the dependable and amiable Gidget Diez, the airline’s marketing and pricing officer. But that’s going ahead of our travelogue. First things first.
Once we stepped inside the business class compartment of the Airbus, we were immediately impressed. We liked what we saw and loved what we experienced. The wide seats with adjustable headrests, lumbar support and footrests, reclined to almost a full bed that helped support every part of our bodies. Throughout the flight, we were pampered in more ways than one is accustomed to by the very accommodating and truly gracious cabin crew, who somehow seemed to continuously serve us with an extensive menu, ranging from a hard-to-say no-thank-you full course feast of a meal to a simple snack, accompanied naturally with the finest selection of wine and beverages.
Upon arrival in Doha, we breezed through immigration and customs and in no time found ourselves checking in at the luxurious Marriott Hotel, our home for the next few days.
My spacious ocean-view room – oh, how I relish all that space – with overtones of sheer elegance, which is synonymous to class and style, was fully equipped with the latest electronic entertainment, perhaps reason enough for some guests not to venture anywhere else in the city. It likewise featured a complementary 24-hour Internet access, which we most welcomed.
With barely three full days, and let’s not forget the nights, to learn about Qatar’s traditions, we had no choice but to move fast and rapidly immersed ourselves in the local scene and experience its arts and culture. Here is what we discovered.
It was the Eid Festival, the host country’s answer to our Easter celebration when we arrived. The center of the public celebration was at Aladdin’s Kingdom Park, where all carnival rides, games galore and side shows were for free, while jugglers, illusionists and acrobats entertained the vast crowd. Traditional food was available everywhere and music filled the air.
Meanwhile, across town, men immaculately clad in white thawbs, or long-sleeved floor-length shirts, and flowing headgear gathered at the seven-kilometer Corniche, the most famous place for promenading and unwinding.
How can I ever forget my first true-to-life encounter with the great desert? It was in Khor Al Adaid, an inland sea of sand in the southeast of the peninsula, where some of the grand and spectacular barchan (crescent-shaped) sand dunes are found.
Our accomplished drivers and highly qualified personal tour guides from Arabian Adventures, the preferred tour operators, skillfully and effortlessly maneuvered the Toyota Land Cruiser that glided through the stunning terrain. They loomed so very high that at a quick first glance they appeared like a range of barren hills.
Halfway through the exciting never-had-anything-like-it-before, four-hour drive, we stopped for a breather. I hastily plunged both my hands on the surface of the dunes and the sand flowed right through my fingers to magically regain their seamless form in the desert. As night fell, with a campfire lighting the desert expanse, we settled into a carpeted tent overlooking Saudi Arabia. Over lamb barbeque and kebabs with lots of wine, we marveled at the silence of the desert, its limitless nightscape, where stars hang like gold and silver vines, utterly awed by the beauty that unfolded right before our very eyes.
The trip would not have been complete without indulging in one of the favorite pastimes of most Filipinos – shopping. Doha has a variety of popular souks – the bazaars of the Middle East. The most traditional is a maze of alleyways crammed full of merchandize that sell anything and everything from general hardware to Persian rugs to spices to incense, sweets and nuts. There was also the animal and falconry market that traded in camels and sheep, as well as ducks, chickens, rabbits and domestic pets. Oh yes, gold is a good buy at the gold souk, with an unlimited selection of rings and earrings, bracelets and necklaces.
And before we knew it, it was time to say our goodbyes.
The country in general and the city of Doha in particular will always be a beautiful memory of unforgettable exciting adventure, delightful camaraderie and delectable cuisine, amidst lots of fun and never-ending laughter.