Doha Pearl Man

There are opportunities for adventure in Qatar.

Each weekend we try to take the opportunity to explore and find something different about the city or the country.  It isn't a big place, but there are a few gems to discover.

In early December we heard about the Pearl Man.  A lady we met told us about the man and the general location.

If you know anything about Doha or the Middle East, that is about all the information you ever get.  Most things are passed by word of mouth as very little is recorded, except about the major malls and ministries.

All we knew was go two round abouts past the Oryx Round About and make a U-turn.  The park is on the right.  He is in a small white building.

So, off we went in search of the Pearl Man.

In Rumailah Park there is a long water feature with a pool at each end and a long water canal.  Between the two water features is a row of shops.  Shops that at one point must have been very nice and in service.  Today they are mostly vacant and will be demolished when the Doha Grand Park is built.  We entered the shops from the south side and walked all along one row of shops to the end.  Not seeing the Pearl Man we started up the other side.  Almost near the end where we entered, we spotted a Qatari sitting inside a shop.  We asked him about the Pearl man.  He came out and pointed two shops down to an arab that was standing outside smoking.  Ah, could that be the Pearl Man.

We walked down and asked "Are you the Pearl Man?"  With a nod we knew we had found him.

The Pearl Man's Shop Door

He explained he travels around the world to find pearls (mostly Australia and China).  He has them made into strands and sells them to the "market" and in his shop.

You won't find a better price anywhere in Doha.

Having found a color that interested Cathy he sent her out in to the sun to see the real color.  No, no, no, you must go down there (about 100 yards away) to look at them in the sun.
Then he shoved another six strands in my hand and said go show these to her too.  I walked down to where she was standing and said, "He wants you to look at these also".  Then we looked at each other and started to laugh.  Where in the U.S. of A. would someone send you down the street with six strands of pearls "to look at them in the sun"???

So many to choose from

We went back to the shop and Cathy started to work her way through the decision making process.  I left to get cash, of course a transaction like this was "cash only".  When I returned she was having tea with the Pearl Man and looking over her final selections.

Oh, you are having tea I see.  Of course, like any good Arab, he offered tea and there was a cup for me.  Sweet black tea.  Very nice.

We left the store and half way back to the car when we returned to look at another strand.  The value was so good, you couldn't just leave with one purchase.  We were given a tour of the shop and his late father's art work.

In the excitement of the transaction, Cathy forgot she had put the pearls on in the picture and were forgotten until the Pearl man commented how nice they were.  After a brief moment of embarrassment the strand of pearls were returned to him.

We found the Pearl Man and he was happy to see us.  Another successful Qatari adventure.

Cathy and the "Pearl Man"