Madagascar

[Tinte]

A few hours drive by taxi brousse from Tamatave gets you there for cheap. You get the choice of a abundance of beach Bungalows, mine costed me 60 K. Nice endless clean beach and good food. All very clean and tidy. You can visit the fort.

End of the story.

Groups of upper class Malagasy absolute cool and not friendly. Food rather expensive and since the Gassy do not eat at the beach restaurants the owners having a hard time chasing the last few vahazas in a rather aggressive way, same applies for beach activities and the massages performed by old chubby ladies. " mora mora, I am staying here two weeks" that stops it. LOL.

The town is nice with a few places to eat and drink. All people nicely dressed. Interestingly, no beggars at all! No old, no young.

Having said this, no girls to bee seen waiting for vahazas. But it fits all together nicely and tells you something.

It has been said bevor, bring your girl from Tamatave with you.

Thats not mine for more than two nights. By by!

[Tinte]

Just minutes after my arrival at the hotel I hit the road again for LE Glacier. Welcome back: A icy cold THB raining down my dusty throat, but no, a poor selection of girls and no interesting vahaza to talk with. So just after emptying my bottle I walked down Lalana Refotana towards Sole Hotel where around campus France a street vendor girl got my attention. I stoppend looked back and smiled, she smiled back. I went back and said Bonjour, she replied and made a quick conversation with her parents (. She got up, I asked her for a walk and off we went together.

Twenty minutes after we were under the warm shower with she could enjoy endlessly. The deed was just fine and after I gave her 20 K. She happy again and left.

Welcome to Madagaskar, me with a smile on my face.

[Tinte]

The place is a institution, in Tana the place to bee at any open time. To me has not chanced a lot, except this year very few vahazas. Any time you can meet cute girls from all over Mada but the majority are a bit outdated.

Have a talk with the friendly Basque man often sitting next to the entrance. He tells you facts about the feeling of being a expat in Tana on a budget and the girls and the business in general. Just opposite, Gastro pizza: a good variety of clean food for cheap. Lots of middle class locals Familys in groups, not paying any attention to you at all.

[Tinte]

As for me, I have spend some time in Mada again and felt more settled in than ever. One could still tell me I had no clue, but I do give a shit for that. As I would recommend do do so for other forum members too. As each of us has a different approach, taste, skills, POV. You name it.

Just go and visit or read the posts here and make up your mind.

[Tinte]

In the past I flew in with AF, the ex colonist.

This time Ethiopian from Europe for cheap 830 EUR. Food and Bord Entertainment is low class. But no other complains. By the way the run a office just next to LE glacier.

The real decision maker is the arrival time, mid day!

You get a taxi for 40 K to the center or as I did, take the city bus line the for as low as 8 K. Mora mora! The one I jumped on asked for 14 K and the handled me twice over to a other bus. Pas du probleme! No rip off, nice city tour.

[Pokeris]

Visited BMOI bank in Nosy Be (Hellville) and saw a new sign on the ATM that it now accepts MasterCard. So I attempted to withdraw 800.000ar with my MasterCard, and it worked. The machine dispensed 40 bills of 20.000ar in a single transaction.

When I returned to Ambatoaloka, I tried again with my MasterCard at the BMOI machine. It also worked.

Very convenient. No longer need to travel to LeaderPrice (MCB bank) for MasterCard withdrawals.

Its worked for me today also with mastercard 1. 2 million in one go no charges near pharmacy at ambatoaloka also it gives very good exchange rate for mastercard.

[Tinte]

Perhaps that's why they are so crazy about it. Down the ladder is WhatsApp next to SMS.

With a actual clue about Mada and its girls you won't need that at all.

[Kako123]

Yes they are crazy about facebook in Madagascar!!

Seems you don't have any clue what you are talking about or you never been Madagascar! If you saying Madagascar girls is not active on facebook!!

[Pokeris]

Start to look for local university pages and groups. You add some girls from there, then Facebook will suggest a few more, and you'll connect with friends of friends. But in Africa you don't need Facebook. Facebook is good for Colombia, because girls are very active on Facebook there.

Seems you don't have any clue what you are talking about or you never been Madagascar! If you saying Madagascar girls is not active on facebook!!

[Incrociatore]

First you need add some mada girls as your friends or just find girls profiles from mada go to their friend list look the other girls profies you like and send friend reguest for them and start to chat. It take time to make your own list with girls but it worth it!! Look I share photo with some girls names from madagascar so you can start from it and create your own list slowly.

Start to look for local university pages and groups. You add some girls from there, then Facebook will suggest a few more, and you'll connect with friends of friends. But in Africa you don't need Facebook. Facebook is good for Colombia, because girls are very active on Facebook there.

[Pokeris]

Visited BMOI bank in Nosy Be (Hellville) and saw a new sign on the ATM that it now accepts MasterCard. So I attempted to withdraw 800.000ar with my MasterCard, and it worked. The machine dispensed 40 bills of 20.000ar in a single transaction.

When I returned to Ambatoaloka, I tried again with my MasterCard at the BMOI machine. It also worked.

Very convenient. No longer need to travel to LeaderPrice (MCB bank) for MasterCard withdrawals.

I tried today BNI cash machine the one close to djembe disco at nosybe today seems they start accepting mastercard again after 2-3 years gap but the problem they introduce 12 k charge on the top which is written on screen before you accept it. Exchange rate was perfect for mastercard its much better which I am getting from BMOI cash machine with my other visa card. Mastercard gives better exchange rates when visa most of the times. Its good news BMOi start accepting mastercard I even didint notice it and was using visa card instead. Will try after few days the one near pharmacy at ambatoaloka and will look what exchange rate I am getting. If you still at nosybe give me a shout I will stay here till after Christmas.

[ChocolateHuntr]

Visited BMOI bank in Nosy Be (Hellville) and saw a new sign on the ATM that it now accepts MasterCard. So I attempted to withdraw 800.000ar with my MasterCard, and it worked. The machine dispensed 40 bills of 20.000ar in a single transaction.

When I returned to Ambatoaloka, I tried again with my MasterCard at the BMOI machine. It also worked.

Very convenient. No longer need to travel to LeaderPrice (MCB bank) for MasterCard withdrawals.

[Neddy69]

By and large a good report. Except. I'd NEVER WALK 3 am in the morning. You can be robbed in any town in Madagascar. Never walk on foot. Of course the roads are deserted. Even the police locks themselves in after 10 pm. Only because nothing happened to you doesn't mean it's safe. I never walk on foot after 9 pm. Take a posse or taxi or tuktuk.

La Buse.

[Neddy69]

Now I am going back for another month. I am hesitating between Tamatave (Toamasina) and Mahaganga (Majunga). Consideration:

- Food.

- Cost of accommodation (my budget is 25 usd / night).

- Cost of transportation (velo pousse or only taxi?

- Girls.

- Weather.

I heard good things about Mahaganga, but the weather now is 35 degree and 90% humidity! Not great.

Actually I prefer the mountains, but I don't think there is much more for me to see there.

Any andvice? Also looking for tip on which hotel to stay at in these towns.

You have the choice. Tamatave is of course cooler as is the whole east coast. But. It also has the highest precipitation in all Madagascar. Expect rains and lots of it. Mahajanga is stifling hot. Mafan Be. I'd only visit between April and September. The best place to spend Cyclone / rain season is actually Antananarivo. Take your pick.

La Buse.

[DanielDuran]

Now I am going back for another month. I am hesitating between Tamatave (Toamasina) and Mahaganga (Majunga). Consideration:

- Food.

- Cost of accommodation (my budget is 25 usd / night).

- Cost of transportation (velo pousse or only taxi?

- Girls.

- Weather.

I heard good things about Mahaganga, but the weather now is 35 degree and 90% humidity! Not great.

Actually I prefer the mountains, but I don't think there is much more for me to see there.

Any andvice? Also looking for tip on which hotel to stay at in these towns.