Monday, 29th September, 2008
From Ranomafana we drove south to Ambalavao along RN7, the highway which follows a general North South direction through the centre of the island. On this Sunday morning there were groups of people in their Sunday best outside the large Catholic church. The Malagasy are mostly Christian divided fairly evenly between Catholic and Protestant.
We stopped at the Hotel Bougainvillees for lunch and in the gardens surrounding the hotel was an 'open air' factory making Antamairo paper from the bark of the avoha tree.
We continued on the RN7 until the village at the turnoff to the Tsara camp in the Tsaranoro Valley. Here we transferred to a 4WD troop carrier and took more than an hour to drive the last 15 kms or so.
The camp was very civilised and in a magnificent setting on the edge of the Andringitra National Park. In the morning, we walked into the park. It was hot, but the stunning scenery and the lure of finding lemurs gave us energy.
We stopped at the Hotel Bougainvillees for lunch and in the gardens surrounding the hotel was an 'open air' factory making Antamairo paper from the bark of the avoha tree.
We continued on the RN7 until the village at the turnoff to the Tsara camp in the Tsaranoro Valley. Here we transferred to a 4WD troop carrier and took more than an hour to drive the last 15 kms or so.
The camp was very civilised and in a magnificent setting on the edge of the Andringitra National Park. In the morning, we walked into the park. It was hot, but the stunning scenery and the lure of finding lemurs gave us energy.
Roadside observers
Well dressed Malagasy chatting outside a church in Ambalavao
Pressing dried flowers into sheets of Antamairo paper which are then dried in the sun.
Each tent in Tsara camp has an 'ensuite' shower with Solar Hot Water. It is advisable to have a shower in the afternoon.
Typical village near Tsara camp.
School children in front of the school in the village. The camp contributes to the school, but if the children want to go to secondary school, they have to go to Ambalavao and it is only possible if they have relatives to stay with in the city.
Playing jacks with stones or marbles - one of those universal games At my school we played with sheep's knucklebones which are softer than stone.
A zebu team working in a paddy field. The goal is to aerate the soil.
Collecting firewood
Pounding grain ?
A road gang poses for a photo!
Ramon, the guide who took me looking for lemurs
Ring tailed lemur
Is this a lizard or an iguana?
Reflections in the river beside Tsara camp
Loading our luggage back onto the troop carrier for the trip out of Tsaranoro Valley
Great photos, as we've come to expect! Particularly love the reflections.
ReplyDeleteThe flower paper looks lovely - did you buy some?
I did buy some cards and envelopes, must hunt for them. The reflections were beautiful. We did our washing in that river - much prettier surroundings than my laundry at home, but it is harder work!
ReplyDelete