Next Stop: France

After leaving la Réunion on April 7, I spent time with Morgane and Monty in Paris. Here are Morgane and I at Giverny, Monet’s home and gardens.

Volcano Eruption

My last week in la Réunion saw the pretty substantial eruption of Piton de la Fournaise, the very much active volcano on the island. Here you can see the lava flow down the hillside and into the ocean, producing an enormous column of steam as it hits the sea. The lava that flowed out that it crossed the national highway blocking it in 2 places. In fact, there was so much lava that it significantly increased the land area of the eastern side of the island. Crazy! Also, the lava that spilled into the ocean heated up the water so much that it killed a lot of fish. Many new species were recently discovered (found floating on the ocean surface!). The next photo shows the eruption spewing lava. Lastly, the eruption, steam column, and viewers. I love this photo. It reminds me a bit of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. And, of course, there’s me loving my first volcano erupting experience.

Madagascar

Madagascar is perhaps the most fascinating place I have ever been. It is one of the world’s poorest nations, yet the people do not seem to feel sorry for themselves. Instead they work hard, rebuild after tragedy (i.e. cyclones and flooding) and are friendly and generous of foreigners (the Malagasy word for foreigner is vasa). I was amazed that everyone in Madagascar smiles. Perhaps this was the contrast of living in la Réunion. Spending 3 weeks (early-late March 2007) was a real lesson in humility and gratitude.

These photos (and those to follow) give you a very brief overview of the beauty in nature and people that I experienced. 1- View of Antananarivo, the capital city. Called “Tana” by locals and foreigners who have a hard time saying “Antananarivo.” 3- The church on a hillside of Tana. Reminiscent of Eastern European architecture. 4- Monty admiring the stained-glass window light shining through in the church.

Madagascar

Madagascar is perhaps the most fascinating place I have ever been. It is one of the world’s poorest nations, yet the people do not seem to feel sorry for themselves. Instead they work hard, rebuild after tragedy (i.e. cyclones and flooding) and are friendly and generous of foreigners (vasa). I was amazed that everyone in Madagascar smiles. Perhaps this was the contrast of living in la Réunion. Spending 3 weeks (early-late March 2007) was a real lesson in humility and gratitude.

The following photos give you a very brief overview of the beauty in nature and people that I experienced. Photos (not necessarily in this order- they load funny…) 1- View of Antananarivo, the capital city. Called “Tana” by locals and foreigners who have a hard time saying “Antananarivo.” 2- Me and my travel partner (and honey) Monty. We were both assistants at the same school in la Réunion. 3- The church on a hillside of Tana. Reminiscent of Eastern European architecture. 4- Monty admiring the stained-glass window light shining through in the church.

Outside Tana

1-Taxi brousse. The best way to get around Madagascar. They don’t really have roads (they have what I call “not roads”), so you’ve got to risk it on sketchy roads in a van filled to the brim with other passengers. You throw your stuff on top, hope it makes the journey, and ride for hours in cramped quarters.

2- Another mode of transportation, the Pousse-Pousse. Probably my least favorite. They’re basically a type of rickshaw- you sit in it and you are pulled by the “driver.” I wasn’t really comfortable with the idea of being pulled around town by another human being seeing as I am perfectly capable of walking. Had to do it a couple times under duress.

3- View of some houses in the central-east Tana.

4- We biked 7km to this lake one day. Can you see the fishermen?

5- Madagascar produces lots of sugar and rice. Sadly and ironically, they export so much rice that many of their people are starving.

The Faces of Madagascar

1-Children playing in the street. No kids that we saw had shoes.
2- A boy by some greenery in Tana. Adorable.
3- The Malagasy are amazing- they carry EVERYTHING on their heads! I maybe saw 3 people the whole time I was there carrying stuff in their hands- and that’s only because they already had stuff on their head.

A Walk On The Wild Side

1- Black and White Ruffed Lemur. My favorite! Look at his little beard… he’s ruffed!
2- The Safika- if you see a furry guy with gold legs, this is the Safika. Refuses to eat bananas offered to him, only likes the goyavier. Oh la la.
3- The largest of the lemur species, the Indri. Like a 4-year-old in a panda suit!
4- Rrribbit! A frog on our night walk.
5- Katie with a Brown Lemur on her shoulders. Check out his little hands. Proof enough for evolution in my mind.