Current residence: Antananarivo Just returned from three weeks spent in Moramanga conducting field research on free-tailed bats living in public buildings in Moramanga. here is a morseau des les choix que je faire durant ces temps: [View Full Entry]

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We got a little later start the next morning after our bike ride to Betafo, at the time it seemed worth it with a relaxing morning and breakfast served in the room. We got to the bus station (a row of huts where malagasy drivers try and sway you to ride in their lovely van) around noon. After a bit of bargaining we bought a bus ticket to Ranamafano- they threw our bags on top and we were set to leave around 2. Not so bad we thought- there were alreadly people waiting in the van so it looked promising. [View Full Entry]

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SALAAM! My friends and countrymen; We awoke in the misty fog rainforest of Ranamafano- not a sound was heard but the slight trickle of the water starved river outside of our bungalow. We hitched a ride to the entrance of the National Park and bought an expensive ticket in and guide to go along. Believe me my penny pinching friends if there was a way to avoid the fees and sneak in like any good young adventurer should do, we would have. But this place was on lock down. We joined two Italian doctors to split the cost of the guide. [View Full Entry]

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After the jungle we planned to head to the coast, but as the omens fell we decided not to take the last train east to the coast but instead head West into the mountains were we would do some trekking. A long bus ride and a 40km 4x4 of bumpy road got us to the front gate of Andringitra National Park. Again slammed with entry fees, guide and this time even a porter. I know; our two young healthy bodies needed a porter to help carry our Americanised materials. We had him carry the food. We did have 50 plus pound [View Full Entry]

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Commander Colin here! Our second half to our full day in Antananarivo ended with us taking a taxi to the old royal get away, perched on a hill 20km from town, looking over all of the rice paddies and surrounding villages. Highlight was deinitely the chameleons hanging out in the trees. We took the taxi back and called it an early evening at about seven thirty. We Woke nice qnd early to catch a bus to Antsirabe. The bus was made for 15 but we were able to smash in 20. It was a snuggly three hour ride through beautiful highland [View Full Entry]

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We arrived safely in Tana Madagascar yesterday afternoon. What a trip it has been already - after over 24 hrs of flight time we were a bit jet lagged to say the least. In Tana we made it through customs only to be immediately bombarded by taxi drivers and tourist operators. After finding our airport shuttle was not there we found a new taxi - he put a little bit of gas in the car and we were off. So it is true that the scariest part of a new country is usually the traffic - but there always seems to [View Full Entry]

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Assessing conflict between synanthropic bats and people in Moramanga Bat Communities in Civil Service Buildings: Population size, frequency, and Human Relations I will be studying the free-tailed bats (Molossidae)that roost in public buildings, particularly schools and hospitals, in the eastern town of Moramanga. The objective of the study is to determine what buildings are inhabited by bat colonies, and the perception of the local people to the bats. The study will help to determine the extent of the problem (if one exists) the bat populations pose to the community. I will be working with [View Full Entry]

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Tomorrow I leave Tana, the big city for a the begining of my ISP period (of which I previously posted). here lies a recap of the last few weeks, since Oct. 23: We have been staying in the hotel Raphia, a lovely hotel with an Idian theme that serves delicious food, occasionally smells of raw sewage, and we hear the beautiful song of the call to prayer each day. Many people thus far have been terribly sick. so far, three people have had malaria and my other friend, Danielle, has had both ameobic and bacterial dysentary. Thankfully I have been relatively [View Full Entry]

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Tulear, Madagascar meat of choice: sea turtle current weather: hole in the ozone hot mode of transport: man-pulled 'puspus' ocupation: student today is our last day in Tulear, we leave for our 8 day tour of Protected Areas tomorrow which is quite exciting for that means camping all week! and treaking through the jungle. this past week has been our marine studies unit which has consisted of marine mammals, coral reefs, mangroves, and the very real experiental learning and actually going to visit all of these things. Swimming in the mangroves was surreal with the water on the top being [View Full Entry]

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09/10/2008 Tana-Johannesbourg Nous passons quattre jours à Johannesbourg en attendant le vol pour l'Inde. Nous sommes hébergés par nos amis Danny et Claire, rencontrés au début de notre voyage en Afrique du sud. Ils nous emmènent même grimper dans le « Magalisburg » sur une petite falaise sympa au frais à deux heures de voiture de Johannesbourg. 08/10/2008 Antananarivo Nicolas profite de l'abondance de nourriture pour faire une indigestion aux échalottes, ce que je ne souhaiterais même pas...à mon pire ennemi, vu l'odeur qui émane de sa bouche (entre autre) ... pendant quattre [View Full Entry]

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