Madagascar / Sun Mar 3

Today we're docked in Taolanaro, Madagascar. We took a private tour with two other couples.

It was shocking and sobering to see the poverty on this island. As we drove along certain parts of the road (hard to call it a road since it was dirt with HUGE potholes) children would come up to the car with lizards and birds perched on sticks. They wanted us to take pictures and then give them money. In the villages the homes were made of sticks and it wasn't much better in the 'city.'

We first went to the Nahampoana Reserve to look for lemurs which are native to Madagascar. We saw both white and ring tailed lemurs.

Also at the reserve we saw a Nile crocodile, women working in the field and there were some locals who danced for us.

Next we went to a pretty waterfall where we could enjoy the sun and take a dip.

All along the way we saw so much poverty. People were working in the fields and we came upon a group who had gotten together with their cattle to help prepare the area for planting rice which is a staple of their diet.

Local church

Before heading back to the ship we drove through the town and saw the market as well as the beaches. It's a scenic island but the poverty is hard to see.

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Opals and Romeos

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