Qatar + Dubai 2017

Hello friends! A few weeks ago was spring break and for the first time in forever, I didn’t spend it at home relaxing…

For years I have never been the type of person who likes to travel. I’m such a homebody who likes to stick to a schedule. Traveling to places, especially overseas, for long periods of time takes me wayyy out of my comfort zone. I made the decision at the beginning of 2017 to add some adventure to my life, challenge myself, and hopefully mature along the way. After spending a week in Qatar and Dubai, I have definitely got the travel bug and cannot wait to experience more of the world.

My dad and I traveled to Doha, Qatar to spend time with my aunt, uncle, and cousins that live there. Doha is a small city that has so much to offer. We spent time at Katara beach where we took a boat out on the Gulf, got on paddle boats shaped like swans, played in the sand, and ate ice cream from a shop near the beach.

We walked around Souq Waqif, an area of shops, restaurants, and shisha lounges, where we smelled spices, walked through an art museum, and drank karak tea. One of the best restaurants we ate at was Burj Al Hamam on The Pearl. While we were there, a news reporter from Al Jazeera was interviewing people on why they chose the restaurant and what they loved about Lebanese food. Me, looking as American as can be, was interviewed! (haha) I’ve never seen it aired anywhere but thought it was pretty cool.

After being in Doha for a few days, I hopped on a short 45 minute plane to visit a cousin in Dubai for the rest of the week. It was my first time traveling alone, and going through the Dubai airport was an experience in itself! Once I landed, my cousin Ghada drove us to her apartment on The Palm, the island shaped like a palm tree. We had dinner that night at Nobu in The Atlantis resort and walked through the aquarium. We ended the night early (with macaroons for dessert hehe) because jet lag got the best of me.

Outfit details: top // trousers // sneakers // backpack

Visiting Dubai for the first time included lots of touristy adventures. We went to old Dubai and took an abra (water taxi) to spice markets where we shopped for trinkets and loose leaf teas. My cousin dropped me off at Madinat Jumeirah, a resort of 3 hotels recreated to feel like ancient Arabia. I spent the afternoon there drinking tea with a view of Burj Al Arab (the fourth tallest hotel in the world) and the beach. We spent time at Global Village, Miracle Garden, and ate lunch in the Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world).

Outfit details: dress // shoes 

One of the most memorable experiences I had in Dubai was visiting the Butterfly Garden, which is right across from the Miracle Garden. We went through four domes where butterflies flew around us. There are sitting areas in the middle of each dome where you can hold butterflies. It was amazing to see so many different kinds up close, and I even got to hold a few!

Visiting so many amazing places in a short amount of time was completely worth every moment! If I ever get the chance to travel, no matter the amount of time, I will take it. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat and I hope one day I’m able to. I hope you enjoyed my adventures through these pictures, but they did not do it justice!

Until next time Qatar + Dubai! XOXO