Levant Lure Journey. Day 8-9: Amman, Jordan

Katara Mosque, Doha

We chose to stay in Madaba because it was close to the Queen Alia Airport. It was just about 20 kilometers to the west of the airport. There were several Qasr (palaces) nearby that were worth visiting. Qasr al-Mushatta, an unfinished 8th-century Umayyad winter palace, is located just north of Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan. Our itinerary did not include a visit to the palace; however, upon our arrival, the site was undergoing extensive restoration. Scaffoldings and nets covered the building. Leaving the sites, we went to a smaller palace called Qasr al-Qastal.

As I mentioned in an early post, Jordan is not on our bucket list, despite knowing that Petra is listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Link. When my wife got an offer for outbound research at the APCO facilities in Jordan, I was thinking that there were only a few intriguing places to visit. So we decided to buy flight tickets with a stopover in Doha. However, I would think that our usual 10-day vacation doesn't have to include Doha since the place itself has many things to offer, such as cultural sites, shopping experiences, and local cuisine that we could explore during our short stay.

The Qatar Airways flight to Doha was scheduled for 2 p.m., and we were at the airport before noon. The officers stopped us and insisted on checking our luggage. Upon thorough checking, they pointed out that the small daggers we bought as souvenirs were not permissible. The object was blunt, and we had kept it in our checked luggage, as it has been a general guideline for any airline. It was the first security checkpoint when we entered the airport. After seeing my frustrated face and my mumbling mouth, the officers allowed us to pass through. What the heck!

The flight safely landed at the Hamad International Airport, Doha, about 3 hours later. My wife bought a stopover package that included three nights at the Central Inn Hotel and the flight tickets. It was just about a 15-minute drive, and we took a taxi. The stay package did not include my ticket, so I had to pay the extra person charges, as I expected. The hotel decorations were lovely, as was the friendly staff. The room was a satisfactory size, although it felt a bit small; however, its location in Souq Waqif and proximity to the metro station were big advantages.

Cuci dulu sebelum dipulangkan

Qasr Al-Qastal

Babai, Jordan...

Oryx, the internet provider

Hidangan sewaktu makan tengah hari

We started our first day in Doha by visiting the Katara Cultural Village. We took the Gold Line metro and changed to the Red Line at the Msheireb station towards Lusail. After disembarking at the Katara station, we walked beside the Lafayette shopping mall towards the Cultural Village. Since the hotel stay was without breakfast, we grabbed sandwiches and coffees at one of the hipster cafes.

As we approached the Cultural Village, we unexpectedly discovered the Katara International Hunting and Falcon Exhibition. It takes place from the 10th to the 14th of September, and entry is free for all visitors! With excitement, we approached the registration counter and received delightful little goodies. The event spaces were thoughtfully divided into various sections, featuring captivating falcon exhibitions, intriguing firearms displays, and various jungle-themed shows.

Suka la persekitaran hotel ni

Metro Souq Waqif

Doha Children's Museum

Galeri Lafayette

Gannas tak?

Mempelajari sejarah dan usaha mengekalkan hobi burung helang

Koleksi topi burung

After the show, we walked beside the opera house, heading to the Katara Mosque. The stunning turquoise and purple mosaic tiles of the inside, also known as the Blue Mosque, captivated us. Right beside it stands the Pigeon Tower. Not far from the spot, we hopped into the Arab Postal Stamps Museum, searching for traces of Malaysia. At the epicenter, the journey leads to the stunning Greek-inspired Katara Amphitheatre, used to hold many cultural events. Not far from the amphitheater, we walked towards Katara Beach; however, it wasn't open to the public until the evening. One of the workers informed us. Strange!

Opera House

The Blue Mosque of Doha

The Pigeon Tower

Lorong di perkampungan budaya

Kami kecewa tak dapat berjalan-jalan di tepi pantai

Rekaan moden, berbeza dengan lawatan ke tempat bersejarah

Kelab Al-Gannas

Ruang solat Masjid Emas

Keemasan...

Kehijauan...

After exploring the Katara Cultural Village for 2 hours, we took the red line metro to Lusail. The Lusail Stadium, one of the venues for the 2022 World Cup, is a must-visit attraction. Despite the scorching afternoon sun, we made our way to the stadium, conveniently located near the metro station.

However, we succumbed to the scorching sun and decided to take the tram bus. The tram route will circle the city of Lusail, along a row of modern buildings. We managed to get off for a while on the boulevard to take some memorable photos.

Berlatar-belakangkan Stadium Lusail

Merenung masa hadapan

Hentian tram

Kita nak ke boulevard

Lusail Plaza Towers

Tram kosong (free service)

Next, we visited the Place Vendôme, an extravagant 1,150,000 square meter plaza inspired by classic French architecture. The four-floored, open-concept mall houses high-end and mid-range stores, including every global fashion brand.

Around 2pm we headed back to the hotel. Due to exhaustion and the hot weather, there were a few places we skipped, such as Porto Arabia Marina and Qanat Quartier, which is also known as the "Venice of Doha."