Photoessay II – Walking to work

As I promised, here is the second of a series of photoessays documenting ‘A day in the life Dan.’ Each of these offers a little insight in to my life, either in Doha or on travels elsewhere. The next one will be to document a little of the 36 hours it took me to get home to Australia at the start of this week.. so.. Here goes Part Deux.

Since I moved into a new apartment about 6 weeks ago I have started walking to work whenever possible. Its not a long walk, only about 15 minutes, but when I make the effort my day definitely passes quicker and I feel a lot better about the world. Never, ever underestimate how good it is to have some alone time.

Leaving home, I pass yet another Doha construction site. Well, 2 actually, back to back. Thankfully these are on the other side of the building to my apartment, so no pesky concrete trucks or jackhammers wake me up in the morning.

I cross Mansoura Street into my favourite alley/laneway in Doha, it just feels so real. So much of Doha feels contrived and over the top – too busy, too lush or just surreal. This laneway is home to a couple of Qatari families and a number of indian and pakistani men. There are cats, dogs, roosters and chickens that you can hear from the street. There are trees. Real people living real lives. With just a hint of mystery.

At the end of this street I start weaving my way through progressively busier streets. This particular morning though, the only soul was one of the thousands of Q-Kleen workers who keep this city tidy and clean up after those lazy people who don’t care enough about the city they live in to keep it tidy.

Another turn and there is more construction.  This time peaking through a wall.

Then yet another encounter with the most visible symbol of Islam, a mosque. Mosques are on almost every corner of Doha, and some have said that there are more mosques per person here than in any other country.

I pass more apartment blocks, with occasional trees brightening the landscape:

I emerge from the maze of streets and alleys to hit C-Ring Road, Doha’s major artery. This road carries thousands of people to and from work and play each day. Our office is in a new building on C-Ring and the construction doesn’t even stop here. For the past 6 months there has been constant renovation works going on around us… But, insh’allah they are almost over.

~ by danavard on February 27, 2008.