Instead of Tesco, Monoprix, Dean & Deluca, or Park-n-Shop, Doha has its fish, vegetable, goats and camels open-air market. Apparently, a difference without a distinction. Here's where people pick up their daily needs (or luxuries).
The Doha Wholesale Market is one of the liveliest places in Doha. Being Chinese, I am no stranger to tables of fresh fish and meat in wide arrays of species and colours, but I was determined to see one section of the market that would amuse me: the Animal market.
Here is where sheep and camels are traded. Stalls after stalls of sheep, goats, lambs of black and white varieties are "exhibited" in plain sight, where customers are free to choose whichever they would like to bring home. For some extra money, I was actually offered a lamb, killed and grilled on the spot for me. The next section is dedicated to animal feeds. Behind the sheep market is the camel market. This is a much larger open air market place set on a sandy plot - perhaps to make them feel more at home. One of the camels escaped the fences, and the owner was forced to chase around the market place for a good half hour. What a sight!
The Wholesale Market is easy to find on the map, but it is not in the immediate centre of Doha. Take a taxi, and make sure you negotiate a rate for him to take you back to the centre, as there is no way you can get a taxi easily at the Market (and under 40 °C / 104°F desert sun).
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