And they're off!

---

We made it out of the country! Leaving was a bit stressful - it felt like we were moving house at the same time as packing to go travelling. Anyway everything got done just in time and as you can see from the photo the cats (well Spud anyway) didn't seem too stressed about the upheaval going on around the house!!! . So after a 24 hour journey to Madagascar via Paris we arrived in Antananarivo (Tana), well Ifaty anyway on the outskirts. Another 24 hours later - giving a Lexa a bit of time to acclimitise we were in a local hotely (restuarant) ordering in fluent Frangmalagenglisch... no they didn't know what it was either... Anway with a bit of help from a local we got what we wanted. We left the next day by taxi, heading east to Andasibe National Park for our first lemur encounters including the rare Indri Indri, the biggest (and loudest) as they screech in the morning mist. Other highlights were the cool Parson's chameleon, tree frogs and the leaf tailed gecko. After returning to Tana, we embarked on a 10 day trip south to Toliara with our driver Joce, through Antasirabe, Ambositra, Ranomafana, Ambalavao and Ranohira. This saw us battling with the cattle shed toilets and omnipresent Pousse-Pousse men of Antasirabe, being chased by small boys with unwilling stick-mounted chameleons for photos and suffering an unfortunate meal of zebu at Ambalavao which rendered us useless (and the toilets) for 48 hours... On a more positive note we had amazing encounters with bamboo and ringtail lemurs, swam in idyllic natural swiming pools at Isalo National Park, saw lots of Malagasy life and learnt a little (kely) of the language. One of the first words we picked up was 'vazaha' pronounced 'wazzaaar!!' - shouted by all the kids and meaning European/rich man, all very light hearted though. Throughout Madagascar you are never far from someone with very little and the standard of living that some people have and still smile is something everyone should witness. Even an empty plastic bottle was grabbed with fervour, to be used as a container - remember that the next time you are filling up the recycling bin!
We're now in Toliara, due to leave tomorrow for a 4 day hop south to the beaches of Anakao and St Augustine. We then return to Toliara to meet up with the others on the dive project and head north to Andavodoaka on the 10th Aug.
So, lots more to say but all this staring at a computer is for you workers ...! Hope you are all doing fine and good luck to Lexa's parents on their trip Stateside for their reunion with the Wokersien's of Idaho (strangely they are playing country music in this Cybercafe at the moment!!)

Veloma Geoff + Lexa xxxx

PS If you ever find yourself hungry in a Malagasy village, try this one:

"Salama, Roa zebu sy vary, coca cola lehbey aza fady" we used it to confuse people everywhere...

---

Photos

Mr. Spud kicking back
Mr. Spud takes one too many chill pills

Tree frog
Tree frog in Andasibe National Park

Comments

[Dad Wokersien]

Double Dutch
Well good to hear you are not suffering to much. The driver/guide sounds a bit luxurious to me. Language sounds double dutch to me. Food sounds intersting. 2 1/2days till we go stateside. All well at home and our preparations well in hand. Good like with the Dive project and hope it all turns at as you hope for. Lots of Love Mum and Dad XXX

[martin]

crazy guys
Reading your last entry I got a bit lost with the words. I couldn't work out which was animal, vegetable or mineral!!! Were you eating a Zebra or is that just me misredaing it?? Are you going diving in a shed which also doubles as a toilet....no I think I'm wrong again! Seriously, the wildlife sounds amazing and the people sound like a lot of fun too. keep livin the dream!