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| Isalo National Park |
Pachypodium plant, Isalo National Park |
| On the way back, bought some rubber stamps, made from old tyres, from a market trader. Had lunch of bread, cheese, tomatoes etc, with strawberries to follow. Late in the afternoon the truck was fixed and we set off. Most of the journey was in darkness and I was fairly sick when we arrived. Stayed at a hotel which we had all to ourselves - very comfortable. Went to a Chinese restaurant up the road and had 'chat au champignons' - dreadful.
Thu 17th: Filmed the rickshaws and bullock carts in the street outside the hotel. Drove to Lake Tritriva, where there were dozens of children selling raffia hats. |
Crab, Anakao |
Red Tailed Tropic bird, Anakao |
Filmed them singing. Went back to the town and its market, to shop for vegetables, harassed by beggars. Set off on the road south and had a picnic lunch at the roadside. Stopped at Ambositra and bought some carvings from a souvenir shop. A girl gave me her name and address and I took her photo. After several hours driving, stopped for drinks in a village crowded with very noisy people. After a long drive over a very rough road, we arrived after dark at Ranomafana. Had dinner (an omelette), then had a walk along the forest road, but saw very little. The beds were very hard and far too short. |
| Fri 18th: Drove to the reserve entrance, then walked into the forest. Saw several interesting plants, then some red-bellied lemurs, some nocturnal woolly lemurs, trying to sleep, then brown lemurs. Stopped for a banana at an excellent viewpoint. Saw a boa constrictor at the park entrance. Drove a few miles up the road to a waterfall, where we had lunch. Drove on to Fianarantsoa, arriving mid-afternoon. Checked in at the Hotel Moderne, then walked through the town with Tony to a patisserie where we had tea and Danish pastries. Returned to the hotel for a hot shower. Dinner of coq au vin was reasonably good. |
Mahafaly tomb, Tulear |
Mahafaly tomb, Tulear |
Sat 19th: Drove up to a viewpoint looking out over Fianarantsoa. A girl there had a pet ring-tailed lemur. Then went to the market to buy vegetables, supervised by Rosemary. Took some video film in the market. Set off on the road south. Stopped for lunch at another viewpoint at the roadside. A shepherd wrapped in a lamba watched us eat. In the afternoon we visited a vineyard and walked about on top of the vats, sampling some. Then went on to a paper making factory at Ambalovao. Bought some 'Antaimoro' paper, hand made from mulberry bark. Camped by the roadside near Ihosy. It was a very windy night. Tutu cooked banana flambé. |
Ox cart near Isalo |
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Ox cart near Isalo |
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