Nosy Be, Madagascar

‘Oh, the people you’ll meet and the stories they’ll tell.’

This inspiring phrase speaks volumes for why many of us keep travelling.

It is why we spend the money, endure long flights and muster the courage and conviction to meet the challenge of unfamiliar territories. For us, many cherished memories of past holidays are of notable characters we were lucky enough to meet and the stories they told.

To be in the company of a memorable storyteller puts us in another time and place. They can entertain us as they spin wonderful tales or educate and fascinate us with their authority on a specific subject. And if you are lucky and diligent, you can keep the stories going and expand on the knowledge long after your return home.

On this journey we have met many fascinating storytellers and characters alike.

Their enthusiasm for the telling of good stories and their adventures in these ports and many others are making the journey worthwhile.

We have been at sea now for two days since leaving Maputo and are looking forward to landfall at Nosy Be, Madagascar.

We have been warned by the ship that we can expect hundreds of local natives coming alongside the ship in their small crafts wanting to barter their arts and crafts and fruits and vegetables. The ship’s policy is that there will be no bartering off the ship in the event that ship has to suddenly shift its mooring using its thrusters and propellers. Thereby putting the natives in harms way.

Being boarded….

Mangoes 3 for a $1

Spent most of his time bailing !

Nosy Be island is Madagascar’s most important holiday resort.

It is an island surrounded by smaller islands lying off the northwest coast, it is one hour by air from the capital. It is a volcanic island.

For a day now we have smelled the exotic perfume plants such as ylang-ylang, vanilla (Madagascar is the world’s largest producer), lemon grass and patchouli that are grown here.

The main town is Hell-Ville. Nearby, there is a ruined 17th-century Indian village.

Other places to Visit : Oceanographic museum ; Lokobe reserve ; The sacred tree of Ampombolava ; Waterfall of Androadroatra.

The temperature is expected to reach 92F with 100% humidity.

We disembark the ship at 2:00 pm and set sail again at 7pm, so there is not a lot of time for extended excursions ashore.

Within minutes of landing ashore the heat and humidity overwhelms you.

We started to walk into town, about a mile…then decided to catch a shuttle, walk through the town and its markets and try to remember which road to take to get back to the pier. Not as complicated as Venice…but challenging nonetheless.

A shower and a dip in the pool with a glass of wine was the perfect recipe for a late afternoon nap.

Nosy Be means “big island” in the Malagasy language. The island was called Assada during the early colonial era of the seventeenth century. Nosy Be has been given several nicknames over the centuries, including “Nosy Manitra” (the scented island).