This morning we got up in the dark. Not really any earlier than usual, but our “eco-lodge” has no power in the morning, so we had to get up and pack our bags by candlelight.
We arrived at breakfast … but we were the only ones there. The staff starting rolling in a few minutes later and began hunting around in the dark with their phones to find the necessary to begin breakfast. We had nearly finished by the time they remembered to bring us some plates! That has happened in a few places though! Life here in Madagascar is beautifully laid back!
After breakfast we loaded our bags in the car (Zo was to meet us later at the end on our walk) and then we began our walk, from the camp, with our guide Emmanuel.
We had opted for the easier walk that stayed in the valley. We began by walking through the forest and had some good views of the Chameleon mountain that we had chosen not to climb.
Emmanuel showed us how they got sap from a tree which was like superglue which could mend tyres, showing us how by sticking his fingers together!
He also demonstrated how to make rope from Sisal which was fascinating.
Eventually we arrived at a natural swimming hole but it wasn’t so inviting as well as being chilly so we didnt swim. There were some ladies there selling necklaces made from seeds – negotiations happened and we left a few Ariary lighter and a few seeds richer.
Our walk then continued through the valley to the local village, seeing the rice fields and threshing areas. The little stones in the middle are what they thresh the rice on.
There were nonstop beautiful views on the walk.
After the village we walked down to the river to see a couple of small waterfall where we stopped for some sugar cane from Emmanuel’s family crop!
..before finally arriving at the car for a picnic lunch. After lunch we began the afternoon journey towards our next hotel. The landscape changed slowly as we climbed into the ‘highlands ” and we actually saw clouds and later a little rain!
On the way we stopped at 3 places in Ambalavao. The first was a workshop that made its own paper from the bark of the Avoha tree. We were given a short tour to see how the paper was made and then we were let loose in the shop. Again a few Ariary changed hands.
Our second stop was a small enterprise that grew silk worms and made silk and subsequently used it to weave simple products like scarves. We were shown the silk worms and how they dried them for a week, boiled them for 3 days with soap, and dried them another week before spinning them, colouring and weaving. Sue and Helen then succumbed to buying the beautiful silk scarves. 60k Ar for the smallest upto 180k.
Our third stop was a roadside stall selling flavoured rums and other similar local products. Need I say more? David and Keith succumbed this time!
Then we continued to our hotel, the Villa Sylvestre, in Fianarantsoa which turns out to be a really comfortable hotel in the middle of town with a lovely room, electricity & internet.
