Photo's are of rice paddies on the outskirts of Mahajunga and everyone moving there produce to market day by zebu carts.
I've got a new driver, wish I could keep the same one all the time, and we head north. I have never been north, I know where some mining takes place but a lot depends of the driver talking to locals in every village/town we go.
There is some great scenery on the first part of the drive, lots of mountains and the country side looks like Australia in a lot of places, red dirt and gum trees. After decending off the plateau we stop at Maevatanana, at a local restaurant (for want of a better name) for lunch and it is quite good. Small meat portions but lots of sauce and rice. Who can argue with the price 8000ar ($4) for two people with drinks.
Its a hot high 20'sC and a very tropical look to the landscape, with lots of creeks and river crossings. At one I copped quite an eyeful, about seven 18 year olds? washing in the river. They certainly weren't shy happily waving to me and the driver. Every water point we are crossing has the locals bathing, so nudity is very casual here.
Reach the junction where I can either continue north or head for Mahajanga on the coast. The driver tells me there is not much in the way of hotels north, that we can reach before dark, so we head for the coast. The road is bad in stretches but we eventually arrive about 5pm.
I need to work with the driver on what constitutes a good hotel. The first he takes me to is about -3stars. We eventually end up at the Sunny Hotel which is very good. Great food, cold very cold beer, a/c and mossie nets. The last is a must here as even in winter there are clouds of mossies. The only other tourist were a couple of older French guys with there young companions. This getting to be a common sight, sex tourism.
We haven't seen much stone and what there was was all quartz.
There is some great scenery on the first part of the drive, lots of mountains and the country side looks like Australia in a lot of places, red dirt and gum trees. After decending off the plateau we stop at Maevatanana, at a local restaurant (for want of a better name) for lunch and it is quite good. Small meat portions but lots of sauce and rice. Who can argue with the price 8000ar ($4) for two people with drinks.
Its a hot high 20'sC and a very tropical look to the landscape, with lots of creeks and river crossings. At one I copped quite an eyeful, about seven 18 year olds? washing in the river. They certainly weren't shy happily waving to me and the driver. Every water point we are crossing has the locals bathing, so nudity is very casual here.
Reach the junction where I can either continue north or head for Mahajanga on the coast. The driver tells me there is not much in the way of hotels north, that we can reach before dark, so we head for the coast. The road is bad in stretches but we eventually arrive about 5pm.
I need to work with the driver on what constitutes a good hotel. The first he takes me to is about -3stars. We eventually end up at the Sunny Hotel which is very good. Great food, cold very cold beer, a/c and mossie nets. The last is a must here as even in winter there are clouds of mossies. The only other tourist were a couple of older French guys with there young companions. This getting to be a common sight, sex tourism.
We haven't seen much stone and what there was was all quartz.
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