Tom’s Madagascar Blog

Thanks to Glenn Quanbeck and his Facebook post for this video on Madagascar.

Below is a powerful video clip put together by MAF. This brings back a rush of memories for me as I was fortunate to partner with MAF on many of our healthcare outreach programs. In fact, one year we organized the building of an airstrip in Marolambo on the top of a mountain. The Malagasy from the Marolambo area spent the better part of a year leveling the top of the mountain.  I recall visiting it mid progress with my good friend and architect, Charlie.  In the middle of the strip was a 5 meter high portion of the mountain that had yet to be removed.  In the end, the strip was about 300-400M strip, depending how you measured it since it had a slight “S” shape.  Only the brave – and half crazy – pilots used this strip. A couple years later Helimission joined the outreach in Madagascar and the use of the airstrip declined. Enjoy the clip.

Libanona holds a special place in my heart.  It is the location of lots of memories, including where I met Melissa.  Above Libanona beach, the mission had a retreat center with cottages up on the pennisula covered with Norwegian pines.  The retreat center had an incredible view overlooking the Indian Ocean to the east and the panoramic beach with tropical rain forest mountains in the background to the west.  A year after I met Melissa and she returned for a Christmas visit, we got engaged on the terrace of the Miramar restaurant overlooking the beack.  Sweet memories indeed.

The picture below, taken at the center of the reef protected beach, is a 360 panorama image.  Click and drag inside the window to explore the beach from this spot.

Vinanibe is located just west of Fort Dauphin where the Manampanihy river forms a small lake called Andriambe.  Vinanibe was a favorite location to go sledding in January…down sand dunes.

The panorama below gives a full 360 degree view of this southern beach.  I can just feel the warm sand on my toes.

Lakora is located just 20 minutes (if that) drive north of Fort Dauphin.  It is a beautiful location of pristine beaches and nearby Malagasy village. It was a favorite day hike trip from Fort Dauphin.  I recall seeing lots of “Madagascar Pitcher Plants”, a plant that eats insects.

The picture below, taken at the high point on the Lokaro pennisula, is a 360 panorama image. Click and drag inside the window to explore the beach from this spot.

After ~20 years of evaluation, political positioning and changes in market opportunity, Tolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) is finally seeing the impact – mostly positive – of the mineral investment made by OMM.  Below are 2 good video summaries of the efforts to bring this development to southeastern Madagascar.

QMM comes online:

Okay, this blog never quite took off like I imagined.  Not from a lack of interest, just the natural trade off with other activities, mostly family related.

Times are very tough in Madagascar.  The country is in crisis with the change of presidential power and the gridlock it has brought to the country, including the port of Toamasina for the importation of goods.  I find one of the best sources for news is France24 which is available in English as well as French.  For local news, L’Express de Madagascar is available as is the Midi Madagscar for those interested in a mix of news in French and Malagasy.

I am also on a path to convert my 1000+ 35mm slides to digital scans.  I will work them into this blog and my SmugMug account over time.  Stay tuned.

Tom

Antanifotsy is a small village just outside of Antananarivo.  This video does a nice job of showing life in the highlands and how life revolves around the rice seasons.

Nosy Be is an island on the NW coast of Madagascar.  It is a beautiful lay-back kind of place:

The Indian Ocean Games are being held in Madagascar again. When I heard this, I thought of an experience Melissa and I had at the last games hosted by Madagascar:

About 10 years ago, Melissa and I were sitting with Todd and Patsy McGregor in Mahamasina stadium in Tana watching the closing ceremony. There was great excitement in the stands and in the city that hadn’t had much to cheer about for some time. Tana had pulled out all its available stops with newly paved roads, flags all around town and a spruced up stadium. High anticipation was in the air as Rossy and other local bands provided the music as the athletes made their tour around the track.

Just prior to the closing ceremony, we had watch France defeat Cameroon in the football final. It was one of those few times when Madagascar was proud to be African. Unfortunately Africa came out on the wrong side of the score. Nonetheless, there was so much to cheer for as Tana had pulled off what many said it couldn’t successfully do.

At the end of the ceremony, with the light of the tropical sun fading, the four of us were able to make our way through the crowds to the center of the field. The music had led thousands to join in an open dance party on the grounds. Melissa, being more the dancer than me (ha!), led the way to the center of the crowd. Before I knew it, we were surrounded by tens and hundreds of young Malagasy – many of them looking at me! It wasn’t my dancing that impressed them – never has impressed anyone… But my physique sportif had me pegged for an athlete! Yes, they all wanted my autograph. So what was I to do but to sign autograph after autograph.

Ahh…the simple pleasures…

Tom