Madagascar

[Jazzy Daddy]

If you're going from or coming in anywhere near Rue Independence, you'll have to detour (which is challenging) probably an extra 45 to 60 minute. Everything still calm except for the closure, business as usual happening with all the usual suspects.

[SouthEaster]

I find it amusing that you are attacking Neddy for staying in Tulear from, Tulear! You don't see the irony? As for what happens once you are in a box, who gives a fuck where they burn or bury you, it's game over anyway and you are beyond caring. When is the pay for view cage match? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Golfinho]

As I wrote before. I'm not staying in Tulear because it's cheaper than other places. I stayed in Tana 5 months. LOL. The most I've ever paid for accommodation in subsaharan Africa was I believe 20 $ a night. On average my budget for accommodation is 10 $ a night. If you know what you're doing. I spent the same 10 $ to 13 $ in Antananarivo Tamatave Nosy Be Diego Fianarantsoa and Antsirabe. And for that matter you can get very decent hotel rooms for 10 to 13 in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Stone Town, Entebbe, Kampala, Kigali. Only West Africa is a tad more expensive. Calculate 15 $ to 20 $. So. You're staying than in a 100 $ place I suppose. LOL. I never made a secret out of my budget. Food. I spend a maximum of 300 $ a month. When I cook myself I get by with less. Breakfast in Africa is in comparison to the main meal relative expensive. But that depends. Street food like Rolex in Kampala goes for 1. 50 $. I love Analakely for the cheap street food options. I found delicious joints where I pay for omelette coffee and fresh pain batard 5000 MGA. I used that place for 5 months. Right smack at the escaliers de Ambondrona. Girl prices. I never pay more in Madagascar for ST 30.000 to 40.000 MGA. LT 60.000 MGA. 2 times I paid 70.000 MGA. Equally in Uganda Kenya Tanzania Rwanda. The taxi fare I pay is 10 $ to 20 $. That's it. The most I ever paid which was in Nairobi and one time in Dar was 30 $.

That's it.

Yes, you have a budget and you must live as cheaply as possible. And you've found a place where you can do that and you call it roaming free. We appreciate your perspective for what it is. Keep doing it until they take you out in a box. Actually given the costs, you'd be staying in Africa.

[SouthEaster]

I have tried searching but damned if I can find it. Some time back there was mention of some banks that now dispense 1,200,000 ariary. Anybody know which ones?

[SouthEaster]

Thanks for the update. I arrive in a couple of days and was wondering just what the hell I was wandering into! No guarantee it will stay that way but good to hear. What the hell does one do if curfews are imposed? The whole point of going to Mada is being able to go out in the evening for a look around, a meal and some "attractive femmes"!

[Tinte]

To me it was a exzellent place to stay. Very good value if not the best in Mada so far. Very good location.

Yes, the checked the ID very close and no inlet without on. I like the "confirmation" about fake ID, there was a article about it some weeks ago and the arestation of some French expats ho ended up officially prosecuted. Every place on earth has its law you have to follow accordingly, it is as simpel as that.

[Jazzy Daddy]

Rolled in last night around 9 pm. Looks like the same as when I left. Girls standing alone or in groups on Independence, not much police / army present. This morning's walk to independence revealed more security forces on corners and in front of the government building, but other than that life proceeds as usual from my observations. People walking to work, vendors selling their wares, children begging for scraps nothing new. I did see a handful of quite attractive femmes, which is always a good sign.

[Neddy69]

For anyone needs help reading between the lines: the man stays here for three months because for one reason. It is cheap. It is existing at the lowest common denominator and could hardly be called living, but it is something that he can afford. Are there girls? Of course, there are girls everywhere. No mystery there.

There is tourism, otherwise why are the planes full of older, somewhat affluent-looking French people, primarily couples? Because less than an hour away in both directions along the coast there is good-quality hostelry with European proprietors and of course European pricing. Anticipate 100 euros per day, much more actually as you would be taking meals there.

But to stay in dusty dead Tulear for three months you have to be someone who functions at the lowest level of human experience.

As I wrote before. I'm not staying in Tulear because it's cheaper than other places. I stayed in Tana 5 months. LOL. The most I've ever paid for accommodation in subsaharan Africa was I believe 20 $ a night. On average my budget for accommodation is 10 $ a night. If you know what you're doing. I spent the same 10 $ to 13 $ in Antananarivo Tamatave Nosy Be Diego Fianarantsoa and Antsirabe. And for that matter you can get very decent hotel rooms for 10 to 13€ in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Stone Town, Entebbe, Kampala, Kigali. Only West Africa is a tad more expensive. Calculate 15 $ to 20 $. So. You're staying than in a 100 $ place I suppose. LOL. I never made a secret out of my budget. Food. I spend a maximum of 300 $ a month. When I cook myself I get by with less. Breakfast in Africa is in comparison to the main meal relative expensive. But that depends. Street food like Rolex in Kampala goes for 1. 50 $. I love Analakely for the cheap street food options. I found delicious joints where I pay for omelette coffee and fresh pain batard 5000 MGA. I used that place for 5 months. Right smack at the escaliers de Ambondrona. Girl prices. I never pay more in Madagascar for ST 30.000 to 40.000 MGA. LT 60.000 MGA. 2 times I paid 70.000 MGA. Equally in Uganda Kenya Tanzania Rwanda. The taxi fare I pay is 10 $ to 20 $. That's it. The most I ever paid which was in Nairobi and one time in Dar was 30 $.

That's it. And I'm mongering now in Subsaharan Africa for more than 12 years. If you like to pay overpriced tourist accommodation. Go ahead. You have my blessing. LOL.

La Buse.

LE dreg of the world.

Who'll roam Africa to my last breathe.

[Amadeuss]

Tulear, a hotbed for UA sex. Fake ID s are cheap like a cup of rice. Hotel LE Receive a famos meeting point. But many eyes watching the non french speaking Tourist. Once you are up in the room, the call to the gendarms will happen and later the zebu thieves will share the bribe money for your freedom with them.

Also, stroll along the dirty beach watching half naked girls after school swimming, a Gang of kids will pester you as their warehouse but without cashier. Don't even think to catch them running away in the sand with your valuables.

Its a pirate's bay.

[Golfinho]

I was down there 3 months from March to June. The place became more desperate over the years. The bit of tourism they had is now all but dead. There were lots of people sleeping rough in the streets. Refugees from the South and people from villages displaced by floods. I arrived with the first plane after the last major cyclone passed overhead. The totally drunken one which proceeded to hit Mozambique. People were using walls to p* and sh**t. All in all I spent 5 months in Tana and 3 months in Tulear. When I get around I'll write some more. But what to say. It is what it is. The best pussy on this planet. But. As I wrote countless times. Nothing for the US Eastern Seaboard warrior or Thai / Phillys Sextourist. Only for Ex Pirates Ex SOF Operators Ex Legionnaires Ex Organized crime members. I even met a genuine Taliban in Tana. And people know what they know, know that a brother of Bin Laden was killed trading gemstones in Ilakaka. Last genuine place for adventure on this planet. Except DRC.

LE dreg of the world.

La Buse.

For anyone needs help reading between the lines: the man stays here for three months because for one reason. It is cheap. It is existing at the lowest common denominator and could hardly be called living, but it is something that he can afford. Are there girls? Of course, there are girls everywhere. No mystery there.

There is tourism, otherwise why are the planes full of older, somewhat affluent-looking French people, primarily couples? Because less than an hour away in both directions along the coast there is good-quality hostelry with European proprietors and of course European pricing. Anticipate 100 euros per day, much more actually as you would be taking meals there.

But to stay in dusty dead Tulear for three months you have to be someone who functions at the lowest level of human experience.

[Neddy69]

I was down there 3 months from March to June. The place became more desperate over the years. The bit of tourism they had is now all but dead. There were lots of people sleeping rough in the streets. Refugees from the South and people from villages displaced by floods. I arrived with the first plane after the last major cyclone passed overhead. The totally drunken one which proceeded to hit Mozambique. People were using walls to p* and sh**t. All in all I spent 5 months in Tana and 3 months in Tulear. When I get around I'll write some more. But what to say. It is what it is. The best pussy on this planet. But. As I wrote countless times. Nothing for the US Eastern Seaboard warrior or Thai / Phillys Sextourist. Only for Ex Pirates Ex SOF Operators Ex Legionnaires Ex Organized crime members. I even met a genuine Taliban in Tana. And people know what they know, know that a brother of Bin Laden was killed trading gemstones in Ilakaka. Last genuine place for adventure on this planet. Except DRC.

LE dreg of the world.

La Buse.

[Golfinho]

Seeing the theatrics in Tulear over the weekend, strikers marching with their banners with gendarmerie blocking the boulevard. Neither side seemed know what to do. It was almost like a scripted show. Eventually the tear gas canisters are flying, kids running all over. Different from Tana where watching from the hotel seeing gendarmes and demonstrators beating each other with clubs and sticks.

[Neddy69]

2022 is a long time ago LOL and LOL some more. President made his talk in 2023. You evidently don't come very often.

Two functioning aircraft at the moment. Don't plan making tight connections even more as per usual.

I'm getting old. I even mix up years. I flew down in March 2023 of course. They have seven serviceable ATRs. What does it mean? If they have no money for spare parts. Or no money at all. I wouldn't worry too much. Everybody who knows air mad knows what I'm talking about anything can happen. It's more like a taxi Brousse. Be happy when it flies und you arrive alive. Booking is subject to change and cancellation.

La Buse.

[SouthEaster]

I was booked on one of those Embraer aircraft for a flight in 2 weeks to Diego. Last week they sent me a change (surprise). Flight is now 5 hours earlier and switched to an ATR72. Hope the tape doesn't fall off.

Jazzy, looking forward to your take on real time in Tana. I arrive next week.

[Golfinho]

The problem of Air Madagascar is. No aircraft. Right now they operate only ATR72 in various stages of decay. When I was flying down I noticed one of the prop blades was patched up. They supposed to lease 2 regional aircraft Embraer. They don't have enough capacity right now. I remember there was a be 737 operating. There's enough rich people who fly. Tourists. Rich Karane and do gooders NGOs. Malagasy people have money too. The Highlands people who live their pockets. And lastly. Government flies for free. Also the diaspora. The biggest problem is graft. We all know that.

La Buse.

Tulear? I spent 3 months down there. Right a week after the last cyclone passed. Tulear? They're always talking of direct flights to South Africa. It's all bullshit. The Malagasy powers (Merina) to be only pay lip service. They don't want development. They don't want competition. They want to protect their permanently bankrupt national carrier.

Which Tulear Airport project? The airport hasn't changed since I landed there back in 2015 and now 2022. LOL.

2022 is a long time ago LOL and LOL some more. President made his talk in 2023. You evidently don't come very often.

Two functioning aircraft at the moment. Don't plan making tight connections even more as per usual.