My First Stamps Out of Africa

by Moratiwa Jaabosigo (South Africa)

A leap into the unknown South Africa

April 20, 2017, Thursday 13:15pm. Departure- Capetown - Doha Qatar. Application for online visa was approved, flight tickets book and confirmed to fly with Qatar Airways business class. I was a nervous wreck, the thought of flying international for the first time, especially for 9 hours flight. I was excited and nervous at the same as it was a leap into the unknown. Here we go, I went through our customs at Capetown International and got my first stamp on departure. It wasn't as bad as I anticipated. My first impressions was how the food was galore at the slow lounge, I did indulge before the flight. Shortly there was the announcement to board and Qatar Airways became the most comfortable airline of choice at that time. I felt like royalty. My first time ever flying business class and international. I loved the personalized service from the cabin crew, the captain's too. The food, the wine. Actually the signature cocktail accompanied by nuts. The movies whilst on board. I found myself overwhelmed to a point wherever I didn't sleep a wink throughout the flight. I kept myself entertained by the line of movies they had onboard. I was addressed as ma'am throughout the flight. 23:25pm, I arrived at Hamad International Airport in Doha. My first impressions about this airport was how large it was as compared to our Capetown International Airport. The humid air which immediately got my hair all freezy as soon as I checked out the airport customs exactly at 00:15am on a Friday, midnight with a 1 hour time difference at the time between Doha and Capetown. I was in the unknown, but shortly after the chauffeur took me to the Grand Hyatt Hotel inside Doha where I stayed over for 1 night. That is when I knew that my traveling experience has begun. At this stage I had received my second stamp upon arrival. The smile on my face at the time. My passport has finally received its stamps. I knew that I was destined to travel, to be an explorer, to see the world and create memories which I began to document in my mini journal at the time. I started documenting everything, the times, the places, the food I ate, and taking pictures of almost anything to capture beautiful memories of this world which felt unknown to me at the time. April 21, 2017. I woke up from the fresh satin sheets and opened the window to ooze in the breeze of the new world, the dusty roads, the beautiful deserts of Qatar. I hopped into the shower getting ready for my first breakfast in this new world. The beauty of this hotel. My first love. I wanted to stay over few more days, but unfortunately it was a stop over. But I fell in love with Doha to a point whereby I continued to make a stop over from time to time whenever I fly Qatar Airways. 10:30am after breakfast, I walked across the road whereby you find a mall called Lagoona, just opposite the hotel. Upon arrival that morning the shops were still closed, I asked around as I thought that since shops back at home open around 9:00am, perhaps they might not open at all on this day. I was informed that the shops open on at 14:00pm on Fridays. It was unfortunate as I had to walk around exploring whilst the shops where closed. I couldn't stay until they opened as I had the desert tour booked and confirmed for 14:00pm with the tour guide by the name of Mohammed who will be at the hotel exactly at that agreed time to collect me immediately after my late check out at 13:00pm. Mohammed arrived with his luxurious white Lexus SUV which had very beautiful leather interior. A very friendly man from Syria who also came to Doha to make a living as a tour guide. My plan was to do the desert tour before in Doha before I depart to my second destination as I had almost a month trip planned. Doha became a dream driving around with Mohammed and I cannot wait to share more of my story.