Relatively unknown until recently, the tiny Persian Gulf State of Qatar has received plenty of attention lately as US military HQ for the Iraq war and for hosting the famous Arab Language cable station, Al Jazeera. It is also one of the most democratic of the Arab states.

Doha, the capital of Qatar, has a number of interesting attractions including the Qatar National Museum which was once a palace and now contains a two level aquarium and information about the Qatari people. Also in Doha are the Ethnographic Museum, the city fortress, and Aladdin?s palace, an amusement park, featuring the only roller coaster in the Persian Gulf area.

Umm Salal Ali, just north of Doha, has an ancient field of grave mounds. Dating from 3rd millennium BC, these mounds are fascinating. Further north is Al-Khor, which contains a small museum, several ruined watchtowers and a mosque with a beautiful view of the ocean.

When looking for entertainment, the capital Doha is really your only option. It is a relatively modern city with most of the amenities found in western cities, including hotels and restaurants with food from around the world.

Doha Airport offers direct flights to cities around the Gulf, New York, Athens, London, Bangkok, Melbourne and several other cities. Qatar can be reached by automobile from its bordering countries, UAE and Saudi Arabia, if you have a valid visa.