Purple Island
Our visit to Purple Island was a way to experience a little of the geographic diversity of the country. It was perhaps the only place that was naturally green that I saw during my trip. It isn't purple. That was a little disappointing. I had to look it up to figure out its name--the island was named after an ancient dye industry. Reportedly, the maroon color of Qatar's flag came from the purple dye that was made on this island. I have no legitimate source for that claim, just an online post from a visitor--so don't hold me responsible if I'm wrong. It also doesn't really feel like an island. The water that separates the mainland from the island doesn't look more than a foot deep. In fact, I had to go back and check it out on a map to confirm that it is, in fact, an island. There are three big draws to Purple Island: the mangroves, the wildlife, and kayaking. First, the mangroves. I have to admit that I fell into the trap of overgeneralized expectations. I though...