A Forest Between Flights: My Walk Through the Orchard at Hamad Airport

#hellohalloween I didn’t expect to find a forest in an airport. But at Hamad International, nestled within the terminal’s heart, lies The Orchard—a tropical indoor garden that feels like a portal to another world. It’s not just greenery—it’s a living gallery, a sanctuary of art, nature, and sound. As I stepped in, the air shifted. The hum of travel gave way to the soft rustle of leaves and the gentle trickle of water. Trees rose toward the glass ceiling, their branches casting dappled shadows on polished stone. Beneath them, a neon-lit fountain danced—its arcs of water catching rainbow hues, as if the garden itself were breathing light. Then I saw it: “The Wild Table of Love”, a surreal sculpture where animals from every corner of the earth gathered around a massive bronze table. Elephants, lions, tortoises, and birds—some native, some endangered—all frozen in a moment of communion. I sat briefly at the table’s edge, feeling like a guest in a council of the wild. It wasn’t just art—it was a message: of coexistence, of reverence, of shared belonging.