Originally Posted on Nov. 19, 2021

I normally wait a couple days before sitting down at the keyboard to write in detail about an experience—and even though it’s now midnight—I couldn’t wait until sunup.

The evening began at 7 o’clock at Subzero Café, where I entered a -10-degree room of pure ice tables, booths, and sculptures, including a boat, camel, clam, car, and horse.

The ice shimmered under the changing blue, pink, and purple lights. I even stood inside an igloo for the first time.

Bundled up in a thick, brown coat with a snow hat and gloves—all provided by the café—I sat down with my friend who mentioned that the ice is a reminder of what he’s not missing in Scotland.

We both laughed just as the server entered the room with our drinks.

My hot chocolate was topped with thick froth and a snowflake of cinnamon—and for the first time in a year, I held my cold, red nose up to the latte for warmth.

“This makes me miss watching Hallmark movies with my mama,” I said.

He looked confused.

“You haven’t seen Hallmark? The cheesy, comforting movies with the same endings?” I asked. “My mama records them for the girls and I to watch when we’re together.”

My friend maintained a puzzled look on his face as the server brought out the “Elsa” skillet cookie topped with ice cream.

After I could no longer feel my fingers and toes, we exited the humungous freezer and all its ice décor and headed back into the real world of 75 degrees on the east side of the globe.

We instantly transitioned from ice cubes and shivers to palm trees and a warm breeze—and crowds of people posing in front of luxury boats as part of the Qatar International Boat Show.

Strobe lights, blaring music, and voices speaking in various accents surrounded us as we made our way down to the dock to look inside the boats—which I had only previously seen from afar.

The journalist in me wanted to be on official business with a recorder on hand and unlimited access to conducting interviews with the boat owners, visitors, and vendors—ranging from Rebel Energy Drink to United Development Company (UDC), a public Qatari shareholding company that invests in Qatar’s continual beautification.

We took our time stopping at each boat and admiring its distinct features; among all the features, the lights were the most impressive. Under each boat, the water lit up a different color, from turquoise and green to red and blue.

While exploring the inside of a two-story boat with twinkle lights, one of the hosts offered me a cup of tea, which I carried up the stairs to the deck—which was a whole new world.

A few minutes past, then the twinkle lights dimmed; that was our signal to climb off. But I didn’t want the night to end.

I wanted to freeze time and sleep under the city lights.