Some more images of around the Sol Y Mar Hotel in Vohemar and my room, nothing flash but it all worked.
We set at about 6am and are told at the servo that there has been no rain since we arrived and road has dried out, boy I hope they are right. Early indications are that they are correct. We make good time to a ville about 3 hours away, no name, where I am going to be looking at some sphene. We stop breifly to let a convoy of 4 landcriusers and a hilux go past. Two cruisers front and rear with weapons obvious and the hilux is so weighted down on its springs. the driver tells me its a gold convoy. Now Garry will be able to tell you what at least a tonne of gold is worth and by the way the hilux is sitting on its springs there is more than that.
The sphene is very nice but the miner must think its like diamonds in value, nothing I say can budge him on price, $50us/ct. Its a lovely lime green colour with some in spectactular crystal form, arrowheads, but not at 1/10th of that price. In the end I laugh, throw up the hands and give up.
As we are walking past a small roadside food stop I get a hello from two Canadian backpakers that have been waiting all morning for a bus. pleased to hear another english speaker I offer them a lift to Ambolibe. Dave and Lisa have been visiting a small reserve and are now headed back to the other side of the island. They've been here for about a month in various places and have a week or so to go.
The journey across is a lot quicker, there are graders working on the worst sections. We stop at Ambolibe for a late lunch, and after lunch they decide they are going to the Island of Nosy Bey for some diving. Since its on the way back to Tana they come with me, and I'm glad of the company. We get to the junction of the road to Port Akiney, where they will catch the boat to Nosy Bey, and Ambanja, the place I stayed at the polices request. I know there is bugger all accommodation there so decide to take them to Port Ankiny and see if there is a decent hotel there, its only 17km.
Great decision Hotel Boabob is a beautiful sight right on the beach. Individual bungelows, mine had a king and a half bed, it could have slept 5.
No time to settle in as Italy and Ghana have just kicked off. Nosy Bey has direct flights from Milan so there are a few Italians staying here. Since the Italians knocked us out of the last world cup, I'm supporting Ghana with locals. Its a pretty good couple of hours with lots of beer and wine. The Italians are good sorts, although I'm probably lucky I don't understand some of the things they say when I'm cheering the Ghana Goals. Afterwards they invite us to look at chamelions at night with their guide, fun blundering around with some half cut Italians, but we only saw one.
The food is great and as usual cheap, even in an up market hotel. I go to sleep to the sounds of the sea, literally at my doorstep. I've found out I have the honeymoon bungelow, hence the huge bed.
The sphene is very nice but the miner must think its like diamonds in value, nothing I say can budge him on price, $50us/ct. Its a lovely lime green colour with some in spectactular crystal form, arrowheads, but not at 1/10th of that price. In the end I laugh, throw up the hands and give up.
As we are walking past a small roadside food stop I get a hello from two Canadian backpakers that have been waiting all morning for a bus. pleased to hear another english speaker I offer them a lift to Ambolibe. Dave and Lisa have been visiting a small reserve and are now headed back to the other side of the island. They've been here for about a month in various places and have a week or so to go.
The journey across is a lot quicker, there are graders working on the worst sections. We stop at Ambolibe for a late lunch, and after lunch they decide they are going to the Island of Nosy Bey for some diving. Since its on the way back to Tana they come with me, and I'm glad of the company. We get to the junction of the road to Port Akiney, where they will catch the boat to Nosy Bey, and Ambanja, the place I stayed at the polices request. I know there is bugger all accommodation there so decide to take them to Port Ankiny and see if there is a decent hotel there, its only 17km.
Great decision Hotel Boabob is a beautiful sight right on the beach. Individual bungelows, mine had a king and a half bed, it could have slept 5.
No time to settle in as Italy and Ghana have just kicked off. Nosy Bey has direct flights from Milan so there are a few Italians staying here. Since the Italians knocked us out of the last world cup, I'm supporting Ghana with locals. Its a pretty good couple of hours with lots of beer and wine. The Italians are good sorts, although I'm probably lucky I don't understand some of the things they say when I'm cheering the Ghana Goals. Afterwards they invite us to look at chamelions at night with their guide, fun blundering around with some half cut Italians, but we only saw one.
The food is great and as usual cheap, even in an up market hotel. I go to sleep to the sounds of the sea, literally at my doorstep. I've found out I have the honeymoon bungelow, hence the huge bed.
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