On my recent flight from Washington DC to Chengdu, I had an 8-hour layover in Doha, Qatar. I had never been in Qatar before but knew it to be a newly-rich Arab nation attempting to challenge Dubai’s ostentatious reputation with their own over-the-top luxuries. Although I was only in the city for an evening, it was eye opening and not like anywhere else I’d ever been.

For starters, it seemed that most people I encountered fell into two categories: fantastically wealthy and clutching a gold iPhone in pristine white robes, or a poor immigrant.

I passed the time by exploring the sprawling Souq Waqif market, drinking mint tea, and smoking peach shisha in the hot evening air. Here are a few photos from Souq Waqif.