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Although Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and slightly larger than Thailand, it is divided into only six administrative provinces and populated by a modest total of 16 million. Known in more recent years to hold a notable amount of precious gems and stones, Madagascar is a country with a rich heritage, an interesting culture, a beautiful and wealthy terrain, yet even some harsh realities. A trip assisted by the country's main highway through the African island offers up interesting facts and fables from a colorful collection of towns, from such places as Ilakaka to Isalo National Park to Androfrutsi Market. These tidbits are actually easily found in the gamut of tourist guides available on travel in Africa. Allow us, instead, to share with you what we must stress was one of the many stronger images from the trip, simply as food for thought... |
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"The rain in the night pours down as if there were a leak in the sky, effectively drenching Antananarivo - the capital of Madagascar - otherwise known as 'Tana' for short. The sound of the heavy rain splatters onto a cardboard box (formerly containing a refrigerator) which stands against a gray wall. Rado and Toki squeez in closer together, determined to catch a cat nap as they pull a sack over their bodies to prevent their bodies from getting cold." |
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"By now, the floor of this tiny home is thoroughly soaked. The kids have to feel their way in the dark for a place to rest, until finally... they come upon the large rock that they've been using to anchor their refrigerator cardboard box that is their home, to prevent it from flying away with the rainstorm."
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Despite the country's wealth in agriculture and minerals, and its high potential tourism-wise, 72% of the people live with under one U.S. dollar a day. To underscore the gravity of that figure, suffice it to say that Tana's lower end prices for hotels demand the equivalent of 1,000 Thai Baht a night... Perhaps it is really as they say - "people arrive in Madagascar with 10 questions, but will leave with a hundred more."
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