Residence Lapasoa Antananarivo

... to beach), and the bungalow is built in the Malagasy style, with a carved four-poster bed, windows that open directly onto the ocean, with separate tiny bathroom (with hot shower and proper loo). The bungalow has a private stone-paved garden to one side, and a lovely lawn (shared with the owner) right on the edge of the ...

... Passports" - to reassure himself that we had our entry visa [had made the payment], "You may go!' So now we head to the exit. Here there are 3 more officials waiting for us and our trolley. "Passports", one final check that we had not reached this stage of the process and may be about to escape, without having paid our entry visa 65 EUROS! - which after all is probably what pays their salaries... Finally we are officially released into Madagascar! Yippee!

... to take us to the airport and ... booked this hotel for another 2 nights when we come back. www.hotel-du-louvre.com OK, OK, the internet is not that good but it usually works, it is well located (also on top of a big supermarket), has a nice breakkie, a coffee machine and fridge in the room. With a bit over 100 Euro an enormous amount for Madagascar. According to our guide the average ANNUAL income here is 300 Euro ... . Talk to you in Nosy Be.

... towards the Queens Summer Palace where Mamy gave us a potted history of the country.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to sight Madagascar in 1500 but hostile locals and disease prevented settlement by them or later by the French and english, although there is evidence of an earlier Arab settlement. By the early 1700s, the island was a haven for pirates and slave-traders.

The island itself was ruled by a number of tribes who constantly ...

... to make a chicken aroused". Gerber assumed they would have no such probem, since they don't really have much of a 'slogan' to speak of. We all recognise Gerber by the angelic looking child on the label of their tiny glass jars of baby food. When they decided to break into the African market, their adorable little logo was plastered all over the jars, much to the horror of the African population. Since most ...

... were nice. Mind you, there was a large panga sort of knife on the wall above Liv's bed, about which I was a little concerned... We met up with Lisa at Sakamanga and after some time spent sitting in the cafe having a drink and catching up, Liv and I both went for a much needed afternoon nap. Lisa had booked dinner for that evening, and we wanted to be awake enough to enjoy it. The restaurant was Le Rossini, which was only a ...

... a zebu cart(3 brahma bull type creatures) travelling 6 kilometers (felt like 60)over the ruttiest muddiest semblance of a road I have ever seen. Was I black and blue. After an hour and a half I ended up splattered with mud at a hotel complex of small cabins. ; &nbs p; ; ;   ; ; ; On the 4th day we took a 150 kilometer trip in a 4 wheel ...

I wondered what form of propaganda would be used for the upcoming presidential elections. It's a pick up truck, plastered with candidates posters and big, loud speakers, that blare music and messages about the candidate, and does about 45 mph on the streets. Which may not sound very fast, but certainly feels it when the roads are rather narrow and also being used by school children, goats, and myself on bicycle. I have also seen a pickup truck filled with people wearing canidates t ...

... lives in, which is only accessible by wading through the river, crossing several rice fields and then climbing a hill. The valley is full of rice fields, mountains surround the entire area, white egrets fly through the valley and perch in trees, zebu's graze in the fields and a river winds through the middle with banana trees & Traveler's Palms on each side. It is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. You can stand there and hear nothing but silence and the sounds ...

... made sense to make the most of electricity before it became an unpredictable and expensive luxury.. but I didn't use the mains supply so I'm a lemon.. I can't say my preparation for this trip has been that great. I didn't have a backpack until the day before I left, or walking boots, or sandals or a sleeping bag. Got my visa a week before which was good! And a million jabs.. also wisley chose the malaria medecation that doesn't work and makes you go ...