Our First Souq Adventure

Headed off to The Mall this evening… more just to check out one of the few remaining shopping centres we had yet to venture to. Really nothing fantastic nor really any different than the others. I think it is one of the older ones and at the end of the day there a far better places to go shopping when the need or urge arises.

Given that “urge” and the fact we were not too far from that part of town, we decided to make the overall evening adventure more worth while by heading into the main souq area to have a bit of a fossick around and see what bargains we could find.

Souq shopping is an experience not to be missed. We have heard that the souqs here in Doha aren’t as good as one place or another, but with nothing to compare to they are a good introduction to walking in and out of little pokey stores filled to the brim with everything and anything… and bartering! Bartering basically translates into everything being priced above what you are expected to pay, so while you as a customer may feel happy with that price, the trick is to actually find the middle ground price that the store owner really expects you to pay.

Most shops are grouped according to product category which makes the process a little easier, but it is not unusual to have your own personal shop assistant follow you around from the moment you enter a store (which can be a little annoying coming from a culture where we no longer even like sales assistants walking up to us asking if we would like any help).

Stores range from two-storey places (still seemingly over-stocked), to little stores that seem about the size of a broom closet once inside. When I say they are grouped according to product category that is by a very loose definition. Electronics for example, basically translate into anything that plugs into a wall or runs by batteries… so stores in that grouping will have things ranging from the usual electronic products through to very tacky battery operated toys and such kitschy wonders as mosque clocks (which we have decided is a must have although have yet to find the perfect one).