Monday, March 23, 2015

March 23 - Ambodifotatra, Madagascar

March 23 – Ambodifotatra, Madagascar

Our ship anchored off the coast of Ile Sainte-Marie, a small island 5 miles off the coast of Madagascar this morning in pouring rain. Ile Sainte-Marie is a narrow granitic island 25 miles long. Ambodiforatra (am bo de for a tra) is the largest and most developed settlement of the island.  While the “brochure” says it offers banking, shopping, a hospital for emergency treatment, water  sport, some nightlife and a market where you can buy anything ranging from a bunch of fresh bananas to a hand-woven scarf or local artwork and white sand beaches, it’s not exactly what you picture in your mind.

Once the rain subsided we went ashore with friends to check it out.  The rain had turned the dirt main street to mud, but we were greeted with friendly faces and curious children.  The pictures will speak for themselves, but after walking around a few minutes we decided to take up multiple offers for rides in the local tuk tuk’s to find the Pirate Cemetery.  Given the location of this island and the trade routes, it became a haven for pirates who over 300 years ago  would anchor a small ship in the “harbor” and wait for the traders to venture close expecting to find locals to trade with, then the pirates would attack from the rear in their larger boats.  The tale is there is treasure buried all over the island left behind when most of the pirates died during a malaria epidemic.

The cemetery is located high on a hill, which is accessed only by foot once you reach the entry “gate”.  The locals are becoming quite enterprising by charging admission including a guide, both to get you there and back.  For awhile, we didn’t know what we might have gotten ourselves into, but our guide spoke English and was very knowledgeable. By the end, we were happy that we had stepped pass our comfort zones.

It was a real eye opener for us.  We take so many things for granted that it is hard to comprehend the living conditions in these developing third world countries; as you will see from the pictures. Yet the locals seem happy and proud to promote tourism in their community.


Cheers!

Street from dock to main street

Main Street

Tuk Tuk's

Starting our adventure

Children bathing before school

Beginning of the path to the Pirate Cemetery.  It went from this to a stone path to
a 6" wide trail, up hill!

Houses

Another house



Ladies waiting to go to work at the Garden of Eden "Resort"


Another house

Young boys fishing by themselves.  Here is the rock path

Part of the pirate cemetery.  Not all were pirates, some were sailors

This one was a pirate


This is a monument to Capt. Kidd who is buried in Scotland

The first church in Madagascar

We made it back to town just as it started raining again.  What an adventure!!







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