Madagascar

If Cagayan do Oro was that great we wouldn't be hearing about it here first, and most of us are not. I have friends living in the PI and I visit on a regular basis. Not once has anyone said to me what a great place CDO is for either food or pussy. And if you have sampled much in the way of food in the PI you know the guy is either easily pleased or lying! Let us know how you like it after your visit.

If it is anything like your last great thing (Morondava) you won't be staying long.

SE.

Salama. On 24th October I went back with Cotisse to Tana. The return trip took even longer as the almost new Sprinter Bus kept on refusing to start. Not suitable for developing countries. On a particular steep slope before reaching the high plateau at Moramanga that thing overheated and spew out great clouds of white steam. What a piece of shite. After freezing my ass off at 11! degrees only we finally reached destination after almost 10! hours. Thankfully the Relais offers steaming hot showers. After spending 2 nights in Tana I left for the airport. It just took 90! Minutes for my old R4 taxi to do the 15 km run. So. Leave well early. And Gendarmerie und Police Nationale Checkpoints. So always carry your passport lest you being shaken down for cado kely.

After a smooth flight of 1 hour and 50 minutes grand baie comes in sight. Touchdown at Antsiranana or short Diego still affectionately called by the locals. If Air Maybe flies. No complaints at all. Almost new ATR 72's Turboprops. Spot on time.

My first impression. Totally different vibes. Any malgache town is different. The city center is orderly. Even some street lights. Laid back. Hot. First I wanted to check in the Hotel de la Poste Annexe. What looked good on pics turned out to be a dud. For 70.000 the room was halfway acceptable. But as I entered the bathroom. A shock. The walls black with mould. Absolute no go. NFW. So I settled in the Valiha Hotel. Barely a stone throw away from Le Vahine. For 40.000 really decent room with fridge TV and hot shower. In the same night I came crashing down. The drastic change of climate coupled again with another massive bout of Le Merde Malgache plus la grippe this time meant that La Buse had his wings clipped and his range massively curtailed. Down and out.

As I am slowly recovering nevertheless I started to survey. First of all. Around Rue colbert expats french and belgians in astonishing numbers. You feel almost as if you're still in colonial times. And many not in retirement age. One is curious how these guys make their living. Alas. Time to talk about the chicas. Le Vahine. A shadow of its former self. Open makuti roof. Loads of absolutely expired hardcores ply their trades preying on one or the other unsuspecting tourist. Everything moves to Taxi Be after 2200 hrs. There basically the same crowd. To be fair it was Sunday and Monday night and I was still recovering I called it an early night around 2300. But both places have been a sausage fest with white males dominating the scene. I saw a few maybe 3 or 4 doable chicas. So rather slim pickings. For me La Vahine and Taxi Be absolute tourist haunts.
Positive side. Sit at Boulangerie Amicale for petit dejeuner. Some drop dead beauties slurping ice cream went past. wow. Or at around 1700 when the sun sets chicas come out in pairs and walk down Rue Colbert for an evening stroll. Some of them absolute hot stunners. So its not all grey.

Neddy

Who ll go to the market to day looking for fresh green produce. Khat that is. hehe.

I've not been to Mada for 2 years but Nouvel Hotel was always a good bet late on. Maybe Taxi Be has killed it off like Vahine but I remember doing a head count and there were 19 chicas to every guy. Which is a strange business model but perhaps they simply like the music. Fri / sat evenings the young locals descend on Rue Colbert, rest of the week it's Vazahaville.

[QUOTE=Tungsten2;2242297]I've not been to Mada for 2 years but Nouvel Hotel was always a good bet late on. Maybe Taxi Be has killed it off like Vahine but I remember doing a head count and there were 19 chicas to every guy. Which is a strange business model but perhaps they simply like the music. Fri / sat evenings the young locals descend on Rue Colbert, rest of the week it's Vazahaville.[/QUOTE]I suspect that the music is shite. Playback shows Tina Turner OMG. And gasy chicas like to dance like me. Malagasy hits and bongo tunes. Thats my impression too that La Vahine was killed off by Taxi Be around the corner. I am not soo fond of TB. I like clubs where the locals hang out. Not tourists. But I am still warming up. Thanks for the tips anyway. I am not really worried not getting laid.

Neddy.

[QUOTE=Doc16;2233121]Just returned from a close to 4 weeks trip. At Ivato AirMada office I paid 336 for Tana-Sambava-Tamatave-Tana. Sambava and Anthalaha were a big disappointment. Tamatave was OK and so was Tana. When I have more time, I may write a more extensive report. However, for those who take a broader interest in Mada besides chasing its beautiful girls, I here wish to recommend an English speaking guide, who turned out to be most helpful. I am a prosumer photographer and with this guy I could freely roam and explore many less accessible areas in and around Tamatave. Again, he is not for finding or negotiating sexy girls. But he was a great help to me, he knew a lot and was very pleasant company besides. Of course I paid him (20-40 k per day) and he deserved it! His name is Honore (with accent aigu) and his phone numbers are 034xxxxx63; 032xxxx40. No commission involved LOL, just information out of gratitude. Good luck![/QUOTE]Since no phone number could be posted, I here offer address information for those interested. The guide's name is Honore (with accent aigu). He is working for a Travel Agency, located at: 1, Rue de Manangareza Anjoma, 501 Toamasina. The director's name is Zakaria Andrianjatovo. But you do wise to ask specifically for the help of Honore, since he was most useful and informative, and besides very pleasant company.

Surprisingly little info here on the Nosy Be scene. Helleville has a few watering holes and lots of energy after dark, but Amabatoloaka is the place for adult fun. Taxi Be and Billiard Bar are side-by-side, and the street scene around them is pretty wild and fun. Good vibe, but everything is more expensive than elsewhere in Mada. There are MANY ladies looking to connect, but mostly seeking overnight engagements rather than quickies. Hotels are not cheap, few short-stay options, and mostly pros prowling the street. A few stunners but they're usually already in tow with a vazaha; the rest no better in quality than in most other places like Diego and Tamatave. Sunday up the road at Tati Chris is highly recommended, more authentic and fewer vazaha, mostly Malagasy out for a good time. The are a few daytime hookers hanging out at the bar on the beach down the street from Taxi Be.

[QUOTE=Doc16;2243046]Since no phone number could be posted, I here offer address information for those interested. The guide's name is Honore (with accent aigu). He is working for a Travel Agency, located at: 1, Rue de Manangareza Anjoma, 501 Toamasina. The director's name is Zakaria Andrianjatovo. But you do wise to ask specifically for the help of Honore, since he was most useful and informative, and besides very pleasant company.[/QUOTE]Thanks a lot for this useful information. Do you by any chance know a good guide for Tana also?

[QUOTE=Traveller22;2243634]Thanks a lot for this useful information. Do you by any chance know a good guide for Tana also?[/QUOTE]I don't know a guide. But I can recommend hotel and restaurant des artistes. Many French tourist are there and also a lot expats having dinner there. Not only French, but the majority is French. Try to know these guys there. Some of them have experiences for many years.

[QUOTE=VahazaBe;2243631]Surprisingly little info here on the Nosy Be scene. Helleville has a few watering holes and lots of energy after dark, but Amabatoloaka is the place for adult fun. Taxi Be and Billiard Bar are side-by-side, and the street scene around them is pretty wild and fun. Good vibe, but everything is more expensive than elsewhere in Mada. There are MANY ladies looking to connect, but mostly seeking overnight engagements rather than quickies. Hotels are not cheap, few short-stay options, and mostly pros prowling the street. A few stunners but they're usually already in tow with a vazaha; the rest no better in quality than in most other places like Diego and Tamatave. Sunday up the road at Tati Chris is highly recommended, more authentic and fewer vazaha, mostly Malagasy out for a good time. The are a few daytime hookers hanging out at the bar on the beach down the street from Taxi Be.[/QUOTE]Is there anything that you can recommend after dark in Helleville. I didn't find anything there. Spend my time there only during the day.

[QUOTE=Traveller22;2243634]Thanks a lot for this useful information. Do you by any chance know a good guide for Tana also?[/QUOTE]Unfortunately, I have no such information for Tana. Good luck in Tamatave!

Diego. I still try to get to grips with the place. After spending a week at LE Valiha sweating my a. Off, time to move ops out of Vazahaville Rue Colbert that is. Time to move to the gasy part of town. But first. After La Buse has recovered, time to give Vazahaville a last chance. Halloween is on. To my surprise. Its been celebrated in Diego as well. Loads of youngsters move about in scary costumes. Quite a number of interesting chicas move about. All in groups. So nigh impossible to single out or make contact. And most again in pairs or gasy BFs. So tough going. No chance for a contact. Another visit at Taxi Be confirmed my worst fears. An even worse sausage fest than last time. Again same unfavourable picture. Loads of Vazaha. Same expired WGs. Worst selection I came across in Mada. A few gems. Yes. But again nothing compared to the selection of putes and SWs and Semis I came across in Tamatave. RIEN. And as I was still knackered I didn't feel like hanging out till at least 1 o'clock in the morning. I did check out Nouvel Hotel. But being Wednesdays the place at 2300 was totally devoid of people. But I ll check it out on the weekend. If you live here I am sure you can get laid no problem. I saw some service providers moving about. But not even they are service minded. I was waving to one across the street when I was sitting at boulangerie amicale. But. To no avail. In Kenya the chic would be on my table within 30 seconds. But here. I think they don't want to be seen as pute. Hehe. Rather as expensive girlfriend.

I moved ops to Hotel Terrasse de Voyageur. Guys. I love the place. Old but well kept. A sweeping view over Diego et environs from the rooftop terrace. Cool room on the third floor for 49.000 AR. Perfect. And in the middle of the action apparently. And almost no Vazaha in sight. Just how I like it. And what does La Buse sees with his trained eye? The area around the hotel bristles with ST hotels. Which can only mean one thing hehe. Guess what. I shall report. But first. Time for my pastis on the rooftop terrace. And after. A bundle of fresh green produce. A bundle of khat sets you back 5000 AR.

La Buse.

Who is content even without chicas.

[QUOTE=SteveOhh;2243786]Is there anything that you can recommend after dark in Helleville. I didn't find anything there. Spend my time there only during the day.[/QUOTE]Bar Ankoay was my go to place after dark, I prefer the seating on the sidewalk rather than inside. L'Oasis Cafe for good food and fresh baked goods.

Hello!

I am in north Madagascar but soon I'll be back to tana which I never explored. Could you recommend any good and affordable hotel close to the action (which seems around LE Glacier if I am correct)?

I am interested in both day (massages and quickies with lady) and night (bars and take home ladies) activities, so looking for the perfect hotel in terms of location and easy access!

Thanks in advance.

The last couple of days were indeed filled with interesting experiences which confirmed for me. Please don't come to Diego for mongering. You can do anything there for example Kitesurfing. Rent a moto or a Quad. Visit some National Parks. Go dancing. But don't come to Diego to get laid by Topshelf that is 7 and above chicas. The reason is. If you are a Topshelf red hot pute from Diego et environs wanting to make a quick buck and tell your family nothing about it? Exactly. All are in NOSY BE doing exactly that. Now. I tried all in the book. For me Diego is a target poor environment. I am not willing to invest a lot of time and effort. That's what's needed here. I had a contact of a red hot 8 19 yo chica from Diego via Afro. After meeting her at Pizza Gastronomy we went to bed together. What did it mean. The chica slept fully dressed for a full 12 hours in my bed. In the morning she text me via Google translator. I am on my period. WTF. Ok. Send her home. Gave her a second chance to redeem herself next night. No show. Malade. Haeeh? Of course the evening after which was Saturday night she wanted to go out and take a friend with her. Guess what who foots the bill. Moi. NFW. Stopped responding. For me its only pussy against cash. I am not a romantic. Desole. At 2300 I went to Nouvel Hotel. AT tungsten2. Sorry mate. There was not a ratio of 1:19 rather 1:1. Men to women that is. In a Nutshell. Forget it. The place was swinging all right. Good gasy music dancehall Bongo you Name it. Don't go there to get laid.

As far as I am concerned chicas break down in 3 different categories.

A. young chicas without money these are the ones wandering in pairs or in mixed groups from 1830 to 1930 you can see them promenading. By 1900 they all have melted away. At late night you see none of them as walking from the residential areas at midnight is too dangerous and a tuktuk aller retour is 4000 AR at night.

B. Les putes. The same crowd which frequents LE Vahine after Taxi Be migrates to Nouvel hotel after midnight. Out of the 30 or so there is around 5 doable the rest expired.

C. Gasy non pro chicas with some money. They are usually in pairs or 3. Prime target group for me. Most are older or plain and simple ugly. There were about 4 or 5 potentials. But these chicas are not there to get laid rather to enjoy themselves. If you approach them they let you bounce off like a rubber ball from concrete.

That's why LaBuse called it a night a 0230. I could have tried outside there were chicas hanging around. But I am not being pressured. I fitfully slept alone.

I ll head to Nosy Be on Tuesday.

My final take on Diego. For me probably the worst p4 p destination in Mada. Why? For a limited time you need to be extremely lucky. First of all white sausage fest. But also plenty of gasy man who rock and roll. I am a white 55 y/ old male. There were some french mongers who where trying to score. So imagine maybe 10 doable chicas being swarmed. Funny enough. Nobody bothered looking at the hardcores. I think they wait for the cruise ship passengers. So abysmal. If you want to spend a lot of time Diego can be ok. Stay 3 months there or become a resident than you ll access the good chicas. For 1 or 2 weeks. Don't waste your time.

Of course. Other people might have different experience. But that's my view of the situation. I am a cash and carry monger. I m not in the love vazaha game.

Salama.

Neddy.

https://youtu.be/NLzS52DtopM

[QUOTE=Neddy69;2244425]

I ll head to Nosy Be on Tuesday.

If you want to spend a lot of time Diego can be ok. Stay 3 months there or become a resident than you ll access the good chicas. For 1 or 2 weeks. Don't waste your time.

[/QUOTE]Sorry to hear of your trials and tribulations in Diego. Yes, pass-through mongerers may be disappointed. You probably should have befriended a local Malagsy dude to run interference and arrange introductions to nonpros if your time and patience are limited. Living here allows one to cultivate a nice rotation, and I prefer the nonpro, young MILFs (<30 yo) that are eager for $ and vazaha companionship (OK. Mostly the $). I agree that Tamatave is a better choice if time and resources are limited. And if you prefer cotiers (which I do).

Yes, plenty of Diego gals in Nosy Be. But Nosy Be is also full of European vazahas. Ambatoloaka in particular is crawling with honkies on the prowl for Malagasy trim, so beware the nightly sausage-fetes (per your descriptions of Diego). Tati Chris up the road is a better option, but only on Sundays. Hit or miss in Helleville. Happy hunting and bon chance.