Today we decided to head off to have a look at yet another shopping centre, Landmark Mall. There are only a few to check out still… There really are a lot of shopping centres and pockets of stores spread out all over the city. It all just emphasises how much shopping plays in peoples lives here, whether it is considered entertainment, socialising, family time, or whatever. As far as the actual shopping malls go, they all seem to have at least some aspect that is targeted to towards “the family”. Landmark is no different with the typical large food court and amusement area off to one side. As far as the actual shops there go, there is nothing different than most although the specialty stores seem a little more upmarket than some.
Around the Landmark is another area of major construction, with roads cut off and diverted everywhere. I suppose we should be getting used to all this by now, but when you are heading towards a major roundabout and realise one of the major roads heading the direction you want to go is blocked off, it always comes as a little bit of a surprise.
Anyway after having a walk around we sat down to eat some large, lush and rather filling cinnamon scrolls for lunch. Can’t remember the name of the place, but I know they had the slogan “Seattle’s Best Coffee” or something along those lines. Why is there a store in the food court that has “Seattle’s Best Coffee”? Your guess is as good as mine, but you do have to feel sorry for those who still live in Seattle and can no long get their best coffee because it has gone to Doha!
After Landmark we headed towards the souq area, not that anything would be open being the middle of the day. At least with the roads being quite it would give us a chance to actually explore a little. The main souqs are more or less the middle of Old Doha, which is kind of just back from the southern reaches of the
Corniche. Souq Waqif is the old one and is undergoing a major reconstruction to bring it back to something that is more authentic. I think they have realised that with all the new development around Doha also needs something that ties the city and it’s people to the past.The whole souq area actually has a number of “souqs”, with that
word basically translating to “market”. Waqif looks old and authentic on one side of the main road, while a number of other souqs are clustered together on the surrounding roads… there is a bit of an “Asian” feel to the other souqs… dirty, tacky, but with an endless list of different products and bargains to be had everywhere. I think one of things I like about it all is that it isn’t targeted at tourists… Well I don’t think it is, otherwise it wouldn’t resemble disorganised chaos with very expensive gold in one store right next door to cheap and scary looking electronics, and the tackiest plastic toys you have every seen on the other.
There was one major store open “Miss India” which is just across the road from the McSouq (not really a McSouq, but it does have a 2-story McDonalds on the corner… very authentic). Of course we stopped, Kerry entered, and Kerry walked out with a bag. Apparently she woke up the guy who runs the store as he was snoozing down the back somewhere (I don’t even know if it was actually supposed to be open or not).
Also saw the brand new (we think) spirally mosque up close… it is one of the things that seems to dominate the skyline on the southern reach of the bay at the moment. Looks all nice, new and shiny so it must be new!Anyway there is a lot to see and investigate… I am just glad we are not here on a short holiday, as you really wouldn’t have the time to investigate and experience the place properly.
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