Madagascar

[TailPipe]

After an ok and surprisingly quick 10 hours pothole filled ride from Fianar Cotisse Premium dropped me off exactly at 1800 at the station. I wish Premium was available everywhere. Worth every penny.

As we approached Tana the city showed itself from its lovely side. I was almost shocked how pleasant Analekely was. Light traffic only half the street hawkers. Only beggars as obnoxious as ever. Sunshine. A breeze cleared out all the smog and pollution.

Evenings. I was surprised by the number of police patrols out there. They patrol in groups of 6. Lots of signs of improvement. New garbage trucks new Fire engines. The new president seems to rake in Donations.

Went to Glacier last night. Its one of last authentic joints on earth I think. An institution. If you have not been at Glacier you haven't been in Mada. A microcosm of oddballs, tired ass hookers, gasy playboys, retired French mongers. There's a blind man hanging out there and a Chinese monger. Nothing has changed. Thanks god. Except the prices. Seems to be a new manager. A hilarious gasy band was on. I'd say a mix of Buena Vista Social Club and the Blues Brothers. Three blind guys with cool Ray Bans rocking away gasy songs. One guitarrist had all his front teeth missing. A buyer's market. 30 chicas and maybe 4 mongers on the ground. I sort of got side tracked by a very slim chic. Beautiful face. Took her home. Turned out to be a complete dud. Sucked out tits. Oh well. Doggy was bearable. After the deed I kicked her out straight away with 60 k. Yuck.

La Buse.

Who'll take a Street Walker next time. Some Lookers.

Sounds like that starfish that gave me an STD. She had blond dyed hair. Absolutely useless in bed and then the condom broke. Got that fixed with a anti Cancroid / Herpes medicinal cocktail kit LOL. Did make me lose a week in Nosy afterwards.

Things to do in Tana:

Went in Tana to the restaurant 'coin du foie gras' in the Isoraka area. I'm a big fan of goose liver pate. Went there at noon. To my surprise they had an all you can eat cold buffet for 25 k. Very good quality, fresh products, good cooking. After an hour or so they start serving a couple of warm dishes. I think the buffet is only Friday afternoon. If you come specifically for the goose liver you may better come another day. The foie gras at the buffet is a sort of mixed liver. I did get some whole pieces of quality foie gras but that was because I had mentioned that was the reason of my visit. It is not part of the buffet. The restaurant closes at 19:00!

Went with a girl to cinepax cinema at the Waterfront Shopping Center. Tickets 25 k, Thursdays 30 k for 2.

Also went to shopping center La City. Nothing special but resembles somewhat Western shopping centres. Not a slippers and tank top area as I was walking around there LOL.

Opposite hotel Le Relais Normand there is a market area. If you walk in that area through the little alleyways past the 'gargottes' you will see in the back a series of tiny bars of about 2 to 3 square metres. I'm pretty sure they double up as wh*rehouses at night. I don't mind a bit of grubbiness but this is a very deprived area and you have to have suicidal tendencies to walk into the market at night.

[Tinte]

No need in trying to read between the lines, since everyone is openly revealing to you the facts about Mada.

Quite certain, everything wears off. Even your most comfortable shoes one day.

So it is just what you make out of it and your personal preference.

Mada has not been and will never become a destination like the regular ones, it is as unique as the ones who like it.

[Golfinho]

Recently came back from my fifth trip but first in 3 years. Mada hasn't changed much so I must have because I used to find it charming in a broken-down backwater kinda way but I was bored. Will I go back? Probably not but would still recommend it to a first timer because it's different.

The appeal of Madagascar is novelty value. Once the novelty wears off, you begin to be confronted by the reality of the place, most of all that there is nothing to do. You can try to convince yourself that by sitting in an all-day minivan ride you are having a real adventure, but anyone here who can read between the lines of some of these reports will have figured out things for himself.

[Neddy69]

The Gasy are very different to us.

In one of the Icecream-shops I made a buy and walked with the Ice-cream in the cone out to the street. Yes, I got a spoon with it wich I did not use.

I felt instantly everyone is staring at me, so what?

Two girls came towards me and as they sah me they started giggle to. Hang on. To you like a Icecream to? " Now! We like the licking! " OK. Off we go.

But Ice-cream in Mada was in general awful.

Of course mate. Gasy Ice Cream. There's Italians. My top ice cream parlor is Gelateria Italiana in Tamatave.

La Buse.

[Neddy69]

After an ok and surprisingly quick 10 hours pothole filled ride from Fianar Cotisse Premium dropped me off exactly at 1800 at the station. I wish Premium was available everywhere. Worth every penny.

As we approached Tana the city showed itself from its lovely side. I was almost shocked how pleasant Analekely was. Light traffic only half the street hawkers. Only beggars as obnoxious as ever. Sunshine. A breeze cleared out all the smog and pollution.

Evenings. I was surprised by the number of police patrols out there. They patrol in groups of 6. Lots of signs of improvement. New garbage trucks new Fire engines. The new president seems to rake in Donations.

Went to Glacier last night. Its one of last authentic joints on earth I think. An institution. If you have not been at Glacier you haven't been in Mada. A microcosm of oddballs, tired ass hookers, gasy playboys, retired French mongers. There's a blind man hanging out there and a Chinese monger. Nothing has changed. Thanks god. Except the prices. Seems to be a new manager. A hilarious gasy band was on. I'd say a mix of Buena Vista Social Club and the Blues Brothers. Three blind guys with cool Ray Bans rocking away gasy songs. One guitarrist had all his front teeth missing. A buyer's market. 30 chicas and maybe 4 mongers on the ground. I sort of got side tracked by a very slim chic. Beautiful face. Took her home. Turned out to be a complete dud. Sucked out tits. Oh well. Doggy was bearable. After the deed I kicked her out straight away with 60 k. Yuck.

La Buse.

Who'll take a Street Walker next time. Some Lookers.

[AttilaTheHun]

Same here. Everywhere in Africa 95% of the market is locals. Even Madagascar there's probably a couple of dozen white mongers in Tana right now.

That's all? A couple of dozen in Tana? Then it's more about 99% locals. Same in the Philippines even thou there are more puti (white) mongers but if you compare their number to the locals. ? Maybe whites are more visible but that's all. I was dating a girl from Bacolod a fairly large city in the Visayans some years ago and some of her friends warned her about me once they found out that I was from the USA. They told her to be careful with me because Americans are responsible for a lot of prostitution including underage prostitution in the Philippines and I might be a rapist too. I took her to "Golden Field Bacolod Entertainment Center" where all the girl bars are concentrated so she can see for herself how many white colonizers are there. But we didn't see any so I had her talk to the doormen and also the mamason in all the bars just to make sure. I really dragged her through it. The common reaction she got was a head shake with a smile: No whites! All locals and some Korean and Chinese. That convinced her. There is one more thing: Most of the underage prostitution in the Philippines by foreigners is done by Japanese and by far. They just keep a low profile stay out of sight and organized usually in high end hotels. They don't get a bad press neither the Korean sex tourist even though they dominate the market. It seems to me that the media and the leftist are just using the West's self hating "blame whitey for everything" narrative for their own agenda to push their religion of victimalogy. Do you feel some of that also in Madagascar and other African countries?

[Tinte]

The Gasy are very different to us.

In one of the Icecream-shops I made a buy and walked with the Ice-cream in the cone out to the street. Yes, I got a spoon with it wich I did not use.

I felt instantly everyone is staring at me, so what?

Two girls came towards me and as they sah me they started giggle to. Hang on. To you like a Icecream to? " Now! We like the licking! " OK. Off we go.

But Ice-cream in Mada was in general awful.

[Amadeuss]

Y
Go back on RN7 like me yesterday. Pothole slalom. Swept away bridges... Or take Cotisse to Morondave. Or the Camion brousse to Manja... Then you'll experience what Madagascar is like...

La Buse

Or go to Ft Dauphin: accessible by flight or 600 km on sand piste by camion brousse, a 2 to 4 days trip. A pirate harbour, forgotten by the world, if there would not be a mine nearby. Its a rotten town but for mongers who are not afraid of a challenge its Mada-pure.

[Tungsten2]

Recently came back from my fifth trip but first in 3 years. Mada hasn't changed much so I must have because I used to find it charming in a broken-down backwater kinda way but I was bored íand Diego, Majunga, Tamatave & Tulear after a few days. The first three have port areas that are crumbling very atmospherically but you can only wander round them so many times. I was even finding the French food tedious by the end.

As Neddy &TP say, if you're not French or (Italian in NB) you're always The Outsider and the locals grasp of French is often worse than mine. I had texts saying Bonwi (Bon nuit) & Alamezo (A la maison) plus 4 pousse pousse guys in 3 cities didn't know what Air Madagascar meant.

I generally avoid Tana but took drunken civilians home on consecutive night which made me feel better about Tana and me.

Will I go back? Probably not but would still recommend it to a first timer because it's different. Tamatave is less dozy than the others and Tulear / Mangily is a good double bill.

[Albert9989]

Hehe, what do you have with southern french? They don't speak french may be?

Haha, matter of accent may be.

But everywhere in mada french, even southern is well understood. Or quite well as for some they don't even speak french, only Malagasy.

[Neddy69]

I do think any non French speaking punter should seriously consider if Mada really is the right destination to travel to. As has been said before you are going to be largely isolated. Only a very small percentage Malagasy speak half decent English. Nearly all mongerers are French / Italian most of the others are also from non English speaking countries. I met exactly 2 single British punters in 6 weeks and it was clear they where really happy they had someone to talk to.

Yes some tourists that don't speak a word of French have liked Madagascar but they are mostly African veterans who can score blindly like Pokeris who is the goalgetter of the Africa Cup. If you are a bit unsure about your game / experience or you need conversation / company than I would think twice before travelling to Madagascar.

Spot on analysis. My French was non-existent 5 years ago. You need to make an effort. Next Kiswahili. French you need everywhere in Africa. 2 thirds were French colonies. But even if you speak French don't expect to have decent conversations with french Nationals. They like to hang out with their own. Except maybe Parisians who speak proper French. Or Alsatians and Belgians. Southern French? They speak gibberish not French. Actually the best conversation I have with French speaking malgache. Same level simple French conversation. The girls. You don't need French really. Many from la brousse 0. 0 French except Bonjour. But make no mistake. They know how to count. Hahahaha.

La buse.
Who found some English speaking malgache mainly in Fianarantsoa. Means place of good learning for a reason. And in Antsirabe.

[TailPipe]

I do think any non French speaking punter should seriously consider if Mada really is the right destination to travel to. As has been said before you are going to be largely isolated. Only a very small percentage Malagasy speak half decent English. Nearly all mongerers are French / Italian most of the others are also from non English speaking countries. I met exactly 2 single British punters in 6 weeks and it was clear they where really happy they had someone to talk to.

Yes some tourists that don't speak a word of French have liked Madagascar but they are mostly African veterans who can score blindly like Pokeris who is the goalgetter of the Africa Cup. If you are a bit unsure about your game / experience or you need conversation / company than I would think twice before travelling to Madagascar.

[Neddy69]

I was surprised by the large number of English speaking tourists when I was in Tulear and Mangily a few months ago.

Especially in Mangily many Americans in the hotels on the beach. Most of them on a tour or on a beach vacation or even honeymoon.

I never met Americans alone on holiday to chase the girls.

Before my journey I expected that region to be far more remote from the rest of the world than it actually was.

Even the road from Tulear to Mangily was from an exceptional quality.

Yes. I didn't mention the US and UK lemur lovers. Of course. Since the movie Madagascar they find it on the map. No use to talk to them. They live in their bubble being whisked thru Mada on hired 4x4's and domestic flights, wasting lots of money on overpriced tour packages hawkishly watched over by their drivers, lest they shop somewhere they don't get their cut. Absolutely clueless about the life of the ordinary gasy people... Tour operators love them. LOL.

And the road to Mangily was the last one newly paved 2 years ago. The newest road in Mada... That's why. And of course if you fly in on Tsaradia its not as remote... LOL.

Go back on RN7 like me yesterday. Pothole slalom. Swept away bridges... Or take Cotisse to Morondave. Or the Camion brousse to Manja... Then you'll experience what Madagascar is like...

La Buse

[Tinte]

Speaking some french is the important key.

When I was in Antsirabe I witnessd the " hookers union " . About 15 Girls got out of a buss, made a circle and one was telling them facts. Prices and so.

At first I thought its a hen night, but the locals I was with explained it to me. Would not have taken long one could make it out him self since minutes after the hens were on the street smiling at you.

One evening I was in " La terasse " at Manakara, Dady and mommy was there with there two innocence daughters like they told me. One of the two sweetis was of light color the other dark as the night.

I sat to them offerd some beer, some food and had a ball first with the ever so elegant mummy. I dit not bother grim Dady. Took one of the daughters for a wild dance, got the rhythm and left.

[Tinte]

Speaking some French is the important key.

When I was in Antsirabe I witnessed the " hookers union " . About 15 Girls got out of a buss, made a circle and one was telling them facts. Prices and so.

At first I thought its a hen night, but the locals I was with explained it to me. Would not have taken long one could make it out him self since minutes after the hens were on the street smiling at you.

One evening I was in " La terasse " at Manakara, Dady and mommy was there with there two innocence daughters like they told me. One of the two sweetis was of light color the other dark as the night.

I sat to them offered some beer, some food and had a ball first with the ever so elegant mummy. I did not bother grim Dady. Took one of the daughters for a wild dance, got the rhythm and left.