Qatar 2018

I visited Qatar on the return trip from Mount Everest. While at Everest Base Camp I came down with High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) a serious and sometimes fatal physical condition.

Treatment for HAPE is to immediately descend from high altitude and receive oxygen. I evacuated via helicopter to Katmandu and spend a few days in recovery.

Following that my plans changed and I spent a few days in Doha, Qatar. This city was preparing for the World Cup in 2022 and under an immense amount of construction.

The sea side sort I stayed at was polished to the point where I felt “out of place”. I had walked in wearing trekking clothes and a backpack.

Muhammad my driver for a Sand Dune excursion

A side trip I took was to the desert wasteland South of Doha. This is a popular diversion from Doha and many locals partake in letting air out of their SUV and car tires before sand dune blasting. Ultimately we ended up at a sea side Bedouin encampment where I dined on local foods and tea.

Qatar, a desert country, imports everything you can imagine, especially Western food and food products.

Qatar at night! A city of lights…