I didn’t really know what to expect. And I was right not to expect, because there is no box for Madagascar! Sometimes it felt like we were in the middle of Asia, surrounded by rice paddies and people with Polynesian features. Sometimes it felt a bit like what I imagine Cuba to be; a colourful, time-warped country with antique cars and bright colonial-styled buildings with paint peeling off the red-clay bricks. Sometimes it felt like we’d walked into a French Cafe – choosing from a menu of Foie Gras, croissants and imported French wine. Sometimes it felt like a street market in Mozambique; with piles of clothes for sale on the road side, road-runner chickens and cows obstructing the traffic.
I love this about Madagascar, that it’s a country that fits no box. It’s different to anything I’ve ever experienced; a colourful patchwork of people and landscapes.
“Discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes.” Marcel Proust
While visiting ‘a beautiful countryside’ is tops on my list when choosing a destination, it’s people are as fascinating to me. I love to ‘people-watch’ and to see a way of life completely different to mine. Driving through the cities, towns and villages in central Madagascar had me glued to the car window – camera ready to fire at any moment at the passing scenes and landscapes. We were lucky to have a great driver who quickly cottoned on to the type of things we were interested in. For my husband it was the productive agricultural practices in the central region and for me, the landscapes and the ‘every day life’ of the Malagasy people.
A circumcision ceremony with a band, a jovial crowd and the mother comforting her son before the ‘big snip!’
“The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask.” – Rich Ridgeway
Just to the right of this ‘bird vendor,’ was a man in a wheel chair assisting him. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to include him in this photograph. But I did notice the irony of a man trapped in a wheel chair, selling caged birds.
A food market in Antsirabe
Duck, Zebu (a type of cow) and pork are the most common meats you’ll find in a road side butchery.
You can learn so much about the people simply by driving down a street and observing the ‘every day’ moments – like this teenage boy who’d rather be doing something else other than selling his mother’s French pastries!
This is one of the many reasons I love to travel. A fleeting moment; a gesture, an action or an expression can tell us a story or give us insight about the every day life, here . While the scenery, or the culture or the people or their beliefs seem so different to our own, it’s these little random everyday moments that are familiar, that we recognise. The small moments that connect us, like the threads in a patchwork quilt.
“When you reduce life to black and white, you never see rainbows.” – Rachel Houston
The Pousse-Pousse operators wait for business in the midday sun.
Policeman in action, narrowly missing a pousse-pousse!
Circle of friends; the cool kids!
“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all people cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other we may even become friends” – Maya Angelou
Nothing is too old to fix!
“As a traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own.” – Margaret Mead
Categories: Africa, Madagascar
I really like the included quotes and your comment to the man in the wheelchair who sells the birds. It makes me think about freedom and passion. Also your text. Yesterday I arrived from my bagpacking holdiday in Australia, but I already want to see more. Madagascar seems to be very colorful and mindblowing 🙂 I really love inspiring places like this, because there is so much to learn!
Thanks for sharing😇
I highly recommend Madagascar – a fascinating country.
I really like what catches your eyes trhough the pictures you share^^ very interesting
Great photos! Are you still in Madagascar?
Hi there – thank you! Sadly not! I live in South Africa 🙂
Beautiful pictures! I really like your editing style – it fits perfectly with the people and scenes you capture.
Looks stunning!!
Amazing pictures . Full of life..😊
Beautiful pictures and a great read!
Fantastic moments in time. You can almost hear, smell and feel the surroundings!
Beautiful pictures and lovely write up.
Beautiful pictures
Beautiful writing and pictures! And now I want to go to Madagascar… I already have so many places on my list.
Thanks for the article! I love the photos. I want to travel here as well.
the photos are mind blowing ❤
Simply beautiful. We love Africa!
beautiful pictures…. you have taken us on a virtual tour……
This brings back fond memories. I was in Madagascar three years ago, and I’ve wanted to go back since. Amazing people and country.
Beautiful pictures and quotes! Especially the one by Margaret Mead.
Reblogged this on msamba.
Wow this is so informative and fascinating !
This is so great! Defiantly love Madagascar and defiantly love your post and your ability in describing! Thank you for sharing this journey with us 🙂
loved this article and amazing photos!! the culture there is so different and it’s amazing you got to experience it 🙃
I would love to go there, great blog.
Wow! Definitely adding Madagascar to the ever-expanding bucket list.
Great post, we hope to go there and experience it soon
can u give me advice about writing blogs
Pictures really do tell a thousand words, love this – thanks for sharing!
Wonderfully put together post.
I find the last photo very moving …
Wow, a truly engaging, eclectic range of moments captured through your lens. I spent two months in Madagascar a few years back, and I agree wholeheartedly with your impressions of Madagascar. I found it raw, wild, and charming in equal measures, and ironically, the more time passes, the more surreal some of memories of that peculiar land seem to become.
Do feel free to have a read of my posts about it:
https://searchingforelsewhere.com/2017/04/02/madahoohar-the-forgotten-island-iii/
I really enjoyed seeing the picture and the culture of Madagascar. I would love to travel there one day. Thank you.
I love the photos. So vibrant
Wonderful…. I’d love to visit there someday
very interesting, the pousse-pousse are the most.
and the final quote is a deeply thought out. good job.
It gives me an idea. Thanks
Wow great job
Love your photos and very inspiring to read will have to travel there soon