Tribune News Network
Doha
An Englishman man, who was anxious about travelling to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup, had his misgivings changed after what he described as a "very special” trip.
Gary Fuller from Ipswich, the UK, came to Qatar as a solo traveller to support the Three Lions and was touched by his experiences in Qatar.
"I was very anxious and nervous travelling to Qatar because of all the negativity and bad publicity being thrown around by the western press. From the moment I touched down at the Doha airport, everyone (I mean everyone) was polite, hospitable, gracious and welcoming,” Fuller wrote to Qatar Tribune in an email.
He said every Uber taxi he booked had "friendly and helpful” drivers and interacting with locals and other nationalities in tourist as well as not-so-tourist areas was not a problem.
"The people of Qatar made this trip a very special event for me,” he said, regretting the image being projected by the "western press”.
"[The experiences have] taught me never to believe what the western media publish.”
Fuller, who he says is an older type gentleman, was also touched by what he saw on a Doha Metro train and the way people address each other in Qatar.
"On the trains, a young lady offered me a seat when she saw I was standing. I thought this [was] very kind but I am not that old surely … I saw other youngsters offering seats to other members of the public [as well].”
Fuller noted that the people in Qatar do not greet one another with "sir” or "madam” but as brother or sister "as if you were part of their family”.
Fuller, who works as a warranty manager overseeing four franchise brands at various dealerships, attended seven games and was pleased with the way they were run.
"I will be coming back to Qatar to visit even if [it is] just [for] a few days because Qatar has made me feel safe and been very gracious towards me. I can only thank you all in Qatar for possibly the best trip I have been on.”