Madagascar

[Golfinho]

The Francophone Sommet is on now with African Nations Tennis starting, plus its cold in Tana. Many, many armed military and police presence everywhere. There are a few in uniform with rifles at front of every good or big hotel 24 hours. Not many sex tourists this time of year, but not many girls either -- the hardcore regular, but provincial girls don't usually visit their relatives in Tana in winter and don't drop in LE Glacier. July is a better time to be in one of the coastal cities.

[Member #4178]

Just arrive to Tana from Bangkok. After two weeks in Pattaya. I stay in Raphia hotel for 36000 ariary. Very nice hotel which I stayed 10 years ago at my first trip.

I am sitting with my facebook girl in the hotel Colbert cafe. Very clean and we can see many girls coming into the hotel looking for vahazas?

The airport was a horror. Very inefficient, 3 lines one for visa one for immigration and one for helth card.

I took a 45 euro visa for 3 month. And a taxi from the airport for 40000 ariary to hotel.

Pattaya was great place to buy a new clothes, luggage and so many gift to the girls. As a result I came with 30 gk.

Taking photos? Well I came here for 3 month's with a mini studio. Dslr flash lenses. Name it.

Facebook. I used it to Pattaya to get new friend but most of them from majunga. I had time to rethink my route so instead the vanilla cost again I am going to Majunga nosy be and Diego.

So this is my second day in tana and I am hanging with my FB friend around Colbert hotel. I did not like the center of villa, too pollution but here around Colbert its much better.

To be continue.

[RuffNTuff88]

Hi everyone,

I am on my way to Madagascar for cpl of weeks on business. Can anybody give me some pointers Inbtana to make my trip little more exciting than just a boring one.

Thanks in advance.

[CoverOne]

Very important info as I am planning to be in Tana any day now. Based on your warnings I bought an Expandable Baton from steel.

http://siegelsuniforms.com/monadnock...pandable-baton

And vibration sensor alarm to put on door at night.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Way-Bike...-/281242812816

Hope to submit "on the ground report" very soon. Neet to understand how thous expats stays in Mada more the 3 months as the visa is limited.

Thanks DonOmar. I've heard from everyone that Tana is "unsafe" but from my experience I think it's fine. Just book an "expensive" hotel (80,000 ariary or more per night) and take a look around. If you see other foreigners there chances are you're in a safe hands. I say avoid Tana like the plague because of the pollution. I've been to many third world countries but Tana is the most polluted place I have ever visited. I get sick just breathing the air there, but in your room you should be fine.

As for the batton, maybe it's a good idea, maybe not. For example, I got shaken down by a pousse pousse guy in Tamatave and didn't want to fight. I had no weapon and all of my stuff with me, I just arrived. If I had a batton like you things might've happened differently. But if you're in your room and guys come knocking the door down, if I would be in that situation again I would just put a stack of money on the table and make sure I'd hidden my passport and cards the night before, then either hide under the bed or just go in a corner. I don't think it's worth a fight. You never know what kind of robber you're going to get and what weapons they have. But like Prison Break says just book a hotel with good security. The places I stay at now I make sure they have at least 2 guys watching the place at all times. Also look around and see if you see any other foreigners. That's always a good sign. I got fucked because like Prison Break said I took a ST room for LT, I wasn't even with someone, it just looked like a comfy room, and it was cheaper. I was dumb. If you do your research and shell out a little money (outside of Tana I would say that 50,000 ariary or more can get you a safe hotel) you'll be fine. I keep hearing things about Diego Suarez though, crazy gangsters running around with guns, the type who don't just rob but kill, so if anyone's thinking of Diego maybe do more research first.

[Member #4178]

No need for that.

Just stay in a hotel with decent security and you will have no problem.

My last trip I was walking in Antalaha beach daytime and a guy was talk to me rude and follow me testing my weakness. I show zero fear as I came from muay Thai background. Still unpleasant experience. As a result I stop walking on Antalaha beach next to hotel Ochean Momo. Other then that daytime Antalaha center is safe.

Anyway in my country I pay triple price on every item compare to Thailand so I am wandering who are the real robberies. This is why I stop this week in Bangkok in my way to Tana to buy some supplies for my 3 month trip in Mada.

[Muzungufotsy]

Very important info as I am planning to be in Tana any day now. Based on your warnings I bought an Expandable Baton from steel.

http://siegelsuniforms.com/monadnock...pandable-baton

And vibration sensor alarm to put on door at night.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Way-Bike...-/281242812816

Hope to submit "on the ground report" very soon. Neet to understand how thous expats stays in Mada more the 3 months as the visa is limited.

No need for that.

Just stay in a hotel with decent security and you will have no problem.

In a ST hotel you stay for ST not for LT that s why Coverone got into trouble I guess.

I actually feel safer in Tana than in some parts of the country but that s just me.

As for the explanation about longer stays as you know in Mada everything is possible.

[Member #4716]

But TigerdeJade recommends highly Tamatave. Can anyone else offer their opinion on the safety of Tamatave? Also, I have read that sex tourism is not tolerated in Nosey Be BECAUSE it is a tourist destination and that the definition there of sex tourism is very wide, vague, and subjective. Can anyone confirms these points?

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted an update lately, been going through the whole passport drama with it having been stolen and all. To answer your question DonOmar I was yelling "Mpangalatra! For what seemed like 3 minutes and spraying my (what I sadly found to be) medium Thai food spicy pepper spray at the thieves through the window and crack in the door which opened up as they rammed my hotel room door down.

Well, I must say, fine females have been much further than second priority in my mind as of late, although I am heading to Morondava soon, or so it seems, which I'm excited about as it's an area I've no experience with thus far.

Forgot to mention, I met a French expat in Ambanja a few weeks ago, before I was robbed. He had half a hand, and told me that in the almost 2 decades he's been living here he's seen it become more and more dangerous. The young people today are getting more and more crazy. I gave him my fake pepper spray (which at the time I didn't know was fake) because I had an extra. I've been desperately trying to call him ever since but his number's not working.

To anyone thinking of coming here I have some advice. Spend as little time in Tana as possible, it makes India and China seem like the Swiss Alps by comparison. The grade of gasoline they use here is absolutely horrible and I've been coughing terribly since here in Tana getting my new passport. Nosy Be is the safest place with the easiest and finest females on offer, the most beautiful accommodations and amenities. Mahajanga is a nice second, though dry, hot, and not nearly as nice a beach. It's safe from everyone I've talked to. From all of the people and Malagasy I've talked to Tana, Diego, Tamatave, and Tulear are very dangerous, especially for foreigners. In my personal opinion if you stay in an more expensive hotel you with good security you shouldn't have a problem, though I keep hearing bad things about Diego (lots of young kids pretending to be Jamaicans with guns).

I can highly suggest Nosy Be. There you have fine females who have made it their mission in life to please foreigners. It is more expensive for your typical P4P but you certainly get your money's worth in safety and ease. Since tourism is the thing the economy there revolves around police make it a point to protect foreigners. I thought the women in Tamatave were very attractive but from everyone has their own taste and from what I've heard from everyone I've spoken with it's very dangerous, especially at night. I myself was threatened and basically robbed by a cyclo pousse close to nighttime.

I can't thank you guys enough for all your support and kind advice. Keep posting and most importantly, stay safe!

[Member #4178]

they rammed my hotel room door down.

Spend as little time in Tana as possible,

Very important info as I am planning to be in Tana any day now. Based on your warnings I bought an Expandable Baton from steel.

http://siegelsuniforms.com/monadnock...pandable-baton

And vibration sensor alarm to put on door at night.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Way-Bike...-/281242812816

Hope to submit "on the ground report" very soon. Neet to understand how thous expats stays in Mada more the 3 months as the visa is limited.

[CoverOne]

I don't get it. Did you open the door or what? Did they break the door or you just open it for them?

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted an update lately, been going through the whole passport drama with it having been stolen and all. To answer your question DonOmar I was yelling "Mpangalatra! For what seemed like 3 minutes and spraying my (what I sadly found to be) medium Thai food spicy pepper spray at the thieves through the window and crack in the door which opened up as they rammed my hotel room door down.

Well, I must say, fine females have been much further than second priority in my mind as of late, although I am heading to Morondava soon, or so it seems, which I'm excited about as it's an area I've no experience with thus far.

Forgot to mention, I met a French expat in Ambanja a few weeks ago, before I was robbed. He had half a hand, and told me that in the almost 2 decades he's been living here he's seen it become more and more dangerous. The young people today are getting more and more crazy. I gave him my fake pepper spray (which at the time I didn't know was fake) because I had an extra. I've been desperately trying to call him ever since but his number's not working.

To anyone thinking of coming here I have some advice. Spend as little time in Tana as possible, it makes India and China seem like the Swiss Alps by comparison. The grade of gasoline they use here is absolutely horrible and I've been coughing terribly since here in Tana getting my new passport. Nosy Be is the safest place with the easiest and finest females on offer, the most beautiful accommodations and amenities. Mahajanga is a nice second, though dry, hot, and not nearly as nice a beach. It's safe from everyone I've talked to. From all of the people and Malagasy I've talked to Tana, Diego, Tamatave, and Tulear are very dangerous, especially for foreigners. In my personal opinion if you stay in an more expensive hotel you with good security you shouldn't have a problem, though I keep hearing bad things about Diego (lots of young kids pretending to be Jamaicans with guns).

I can highly suggest Nosy Be. There you have fine females who have made it their mission in life to please foreigners. It is more expensive for your typical P4P but you certainly get your money's worth in safety and ease. Since tourism is the thing the economy there revolves around police make it a point to protect foreigners. I thought the women in Tamatave were very attractive but from everyone has their own taste and from what I've heard from everyone I've spoken with it's very dangerous, especially at night. I myself was threatened and basically robbed by a cyclo pousse close to nighttime.

I can't thank you guys enough for all your support and kind advice. Keep posting and most importantly, stay safe!

[Member #4178]

I am planning for next month to fly to Mada via Pattaya. That seems odd but from Europe I have 450 usd to BKK one way.

The I will book a return ticket from BKK to Tana via Nairobi (Kenya airways) for 920 usd.

So why not directly to Mada? Because from my country no Kenya-airways or air Mad and I want to travel in Asia after Mada. (at Dry season).

I will also get a stop over in Nairobi so I can visit Mombasa again.

I got some friends from Tana using facebook. How? Well I registered to Afro and copy the name of girls into facebook search and bingo.

I am thinking about Tana and ÎLE Sainte-Marie via Taxi Bruss. (no more domestic flight).

I download the new 2016 lonely planet book for Mada from here:

https://kat.cr/lonely-planet-madagas...t12675510.html

[Amadeuss]

What do you need a 'wingman' for? Is that the way you do it in Pattaya? Just asking'.

Agree.

If you not a men, stay back home behind mama's kitchensink. Its not Pattaya. Its not Angeles.

[OneRose]

What do you need a 'wingman' for? Is that the way you do it in Pattaya? Just asking'.

Nope, in Pattaya I did it always alone but in Madagascar I don't know the culture or the way things work. So it would be great to have someone, at least at the start of the trip, to discover the country together.

[Golfinho]

Hi!

I'm still looking for a wingman for the first part of July. I am opened to travel somewhere else on the island if it's worth it.e

What do you need a 'wingman' for? Is that the way you do it in Pattaya? Just asking'.

[OneRose]

Hi!

I'm still looking for a wingman for the first part of July. I am opened to travel somewhere else on the island if it's worth it.

PM me,

Onerose

[Yachtie]

Great to read about everyone's different and mostly really great experiences. Here in Antsohihy I just got the full on fucked vazaha experience. Got stupid and cheap and saw a nice room for 10,000 ariary, well of course two hooded guys came knocking the door down at 1 AM, I thought I was done for. Found out the hard way that the pepper spray I bought was about as hot as medium spicy thai food, anyways, the guys were pretty well covered up so it probably wouldn't have worked even if it was the real stuff. Got hit two times on the top of the head with a baton and I consider myself very lucky. I thank my lucky blood vessels that so much blood squirted out on the 2nd hit the guy left me and went looking for more valuable things than a bloodied and pissed scared vazaha. The damage: A nice new haircut and stitches and my money and passport stolen. Lucky I cached my cards before going to sleep. Learned a very valuable lesson; don't be cheap in the land that is already cheap. And also, Antsohihy, never again! I think I'm the only vazaha here and it's a poor town so that probably explains a lot. Also I think the hotel was in on it, I was screaming MPangalatra! (Thief!) for what seemed like 3 minutes, of course no body came till after I was pouring blood everywhere. Also since my time with the police today I've learned that Ambanja isn't all roses and flowers either. More dangerous with guns according to them. Pay attention, make sure you know the security where you're staying, and keep a stash of your valuables hidden somewhere! If I could do it all over again I'd just throw my cash all over the room and hide under the bed. Sad, sad times.

Mmmm well when I leave in a few weeks I shall have spent five months of the last twelve enjoying pussy in North West Mada, I have to leave as I am now reduced to rowing a small toy inflatable tender after having had both outboard engines and the yachts RIB tender stolen, on both occasions they swam some distance to gain access, I slept through the thefts being in a near alcoholic coma after fine nights of partying fortunately the thieves chose not to enter the yachts accommodation, lucky me. Mada is on the lowest rung of per capita income and is the only country where the annual income has been in free-fall for several years so maybe that explains some of the desperation folks will go to. The local expat french have a joke: What did the Malagasy use for lighting before candles? Electricity!