Sunny Garden Antananarivo

... people I have learnt to expect when travelling in developing countries but not one approach was made, there were a couple of curious glances but no other sign of interest. The Manoir Rouge looked very grand against the back drop of wooden shacks and unpaved road but in reality it was a basic concrete construction with faded paint giving it more of a Southern European rustic look than African.

... at the tomb of the king of the mountain involving rum which he was reluctant to share with the rest of us. About half way through the walk the heavens opened up soaking us completely. We spent that night in a typical rural village which was very different. - From the village we continued down the highway to a wildlife reserve run by a french couple where we got to see the Milne-Edwards Sifakas and Red fronted ...

... the city and figure out what I'm going to do while I'm here. At the entrance to the hotel, I'm once again swarmed by guys trying to sell me maps, magazines, newspapers, vanilla sticks, marijuana, and tours. After using my now patented phrase "non merci" about 100 times, I stop as one speaks English to me. We talk and I he says he will meet me at the hotel later in the day for him to try and sell me on a guided tour as he is a guide ...

... was living with home: the queen. The others he visited once a month. The palace is constructed by a French engineer Laborde in 1870. It still contains the original furniture. Like: a cupboard full of mirrors: the queen always had to keep an eye on her guests in the mirror, to be sure they did not poison her. It is all very primitive, actually: very small beds. The Madagascar sleep in fetus position (even nowadays, our guide explains) : they think it is bad luck to ...

... spelled and horribly grammared that C felt it was her duty to offer them her services. [still haven't heard a thing] Then it was off to La Verangue -absolutely the best restaurant on the entire island- where they supped on Zebu Carpaccio, Foie Gras and Oily Fish [still haven't found out the real name] helped along with a fabulous French red wine and some cinnamon rum for afters. And then some vanilla rum. And then some chocolate rum...

... satellite tv and internet out (it's a really nice house we were staying at) so T and I sat on the couch and drank a glass of the wine. Then we started hearing the debris bang against the house. I prayed again for our house, then cursed myself for not hauling that sand onto the roof. I was happy we weren't there, either way. When I got up Thursday morning, the storm was still going, but slowing. So I thought. One hour later ...

Salaama! My last day in Madagascar...it's raining and I leave this afternoon for jo-burg for a night, then off to tanzania! This has been a great 10 days, which is definitely not enough time for such a huge island. But I managed to see alot due to hiring a guide, john, and a driver, george. They took me on a whirlwind trip to the south, passing through the highlands with visits to towns and national parks ...

... we celebrated a friend's birthday. I made the Duncan Hines cake my mom sent. With the chocolate fudge icing. The Malagasy were skeptical at first of any food coming out of a box and made me add fresh vanilla beans. Once they tried the cake, though, they were quite impressed. I've been telling them that sometimes processed products are just as good as natural ingredients, if not always for taste then for convenience sake. They were having a hard time believing me, but the cake helped ...

hi fam, I tried to attach pictures, but it was taking a long time and I got tired of waiting for it to down load :( So I will send the memory card home since I got the new one in the mail!!!! We are in Tana now and it's nice to see Alannah and speak some English!!! We went to the bank and then mom host mom called and we met her downtown! It was random, but good to see her. She said that all the kids and her ...

... in the dirt in the backyard. We are going to need to patch up the fence before we plant our garden or there won't be anything left. Getting water is hard though- there are only a few hours during the day when the pumps are working and when they are there is a line of like 20 people! Often the pump by our house dries out and we have to walk down the hill rather far to fetch water. I thought I'd die the first time I carried it back to the house, but I ...