The city lives from one Id to the other. During Ramadaan (ramzaan in India) the city practically comes to a standstill for a month during the day. After sundown the Iftaar (breaking of fast) begins with dates and juice followed by a feast fit for kings consisting of hummus (a paste made from chickpeas and sesame seeds), ghuzi (a whole roast lamb served on a bed of rice with pine-nuts), and shawarma, grilled slivers of lamb or chicken, wrapped with salad in a pocket of Arab bread, machbous (spiced lamb with rice), hareis (slowcooked wheat and lamb). Of course the sight of a whole roasted lamb complete with head full of teeth served on a bed of rice can be an appetite killer for some.

The whole country wears a festive look during the night which culminates in seven day festivities of Id Ul fitr. The other Id is Id al adha (bakrid in India) when the city is again festive.

To understand the country better I enrolled in an Arabic class run by QCPI (Qatar Centre for Presentation of Islam) which is an attempt by the Qatari government to popularise and clear misconceptions about Islam.

If you think that I can read and write poetry in Arabic after taking those lessons you are sadly mistaken. I can just about write my name and can read billboards like a five year old. In my first level of spoken Qatari I secured 93%, though my spoken skills are limited to hello and good bye with a few pleasantries thrown in between.

I can just about say 'Kayf haalkum…… Shakhbaarkum?' How are all of u and what's new(s)? 'Ihnaa bi kahir'…..we are fine.

They took us to a couple of field trips. The first one to a Mosque, and gave us a full demonstration of their prayer ritual.

The other field trip was to a desert camp and was very enjoyable. We stuffed ourselves with food and played traditional Arabic games. Of course the desert camps are not what they used to be. Fully furnished portacabins complete with satellite dish and microwave resided alongside traditional tents. And four wheel drives stood besides the camels and Falcons. What used to be a way of life fifty years back is now a weekend get away.

If you are in the Middle East Desert Safari and dune bashing is a must. If you like rollercoaster rides you will surely enjoy this. I must tell you about this elderly couple visiting their son. The son wanted to give his parents a memorable holiday. So he bought them a trip to a desert safari.

'But where are the animals?' asked the elderly lady to the driver of the SUV.

'What animals?' asked the confused driver.

The elderly couple got on to the four wheel drive thinking that they would get a closer look at the animals like in the Kenyan safari. Imagine their shock when the vehicle went up to the sand "cliff" and drove down the slope at near-90 degrees vertical with an amazing speed and just before it reached the bottom, the driver revved up and there was a big spray of sand around the Land Cruiser. I don't know if the parents disowned the son after that. If you are a fainthearted person please stay away.

Before we realised, three years had passed in a jiffy and time had come to bid farewell to the tiny oasis called Doha. It was with a heavy heart that we said goodbye to our friends who had become our extended family.