Montag, 4. Januar 2016

Time to say goodbye

Bonjour everybody
The year is coming to an end and so is my time in Madagascar. This time it wasn’t that long that I have lived over here, but still it was a time of experience and adventure. Hard time and good ones, love and hate, I have seen dark and light sights of this country.
Still it is hard for me to sum up my experience here, it will always be a controversial country for me.
The last weeks kept me busy, as always at the end you do what you never found time for.
We needed to analyze a lot of faece sample of the chameleons and I went outside more often, trying to find some nice animals which I haven’t seen at all during my time.
Because Christmas was getting closer, however I haven’t felt it at all with all the heat and in the forest, I tried my best by backing Christmas cookies. It cost a lot of improvising and patience, at the end they didn’t taste quite well, probably because they belong to the cold, dark winter evenings.
I climbed up a Boaobab, the famous trees in Madagascar you probably have seen in Africa documentations before. Massive tree trunk to save the water in dry season and a unique leave construction.

Not that easy to get on top of this trees because there is actually no branch to step on. But I found one with a lot of vines hanging down from the tree. Nice feeling to sit at the tree crown. Looking over the forest, sunset at the top of the world.


Falk and me organized a small Veloma Party. Its always interesting to see how alcohol can change people. Some I haven’t talked with all my time there started talking and dancing up to one point where everybody was shanking their asses and dancing to madagassi music. There is one traditional dance style, the people are running in circles and the one in front is doing something, which the others try to imitate. At the end a nice evening.

Last time with our chameleons, they have grown up so fast, nearly to adulthood already. Chameleons are really fascinating animals and in my opinion one of the most beautiful. They can be mean but mostly they are just stupid, lazy and cute.

Yes and finally I left the forest, slowly adapting to society again. After two days traveling we arrived in the capital again. Its nice to see how rain can change the landscape, everything seemed nicer and more beautiful with colours. Even the capital I wasn’t really a fan of, was nicer and I made peace with this place.

My way to the airport was an adventure. I got stocked with the Taxi in the traffic rush. Already thinking I will miss my flight because there was 2 hours left and nothing went forward or backward. A critical situation but I said to myself I am not gonna get stocked in this place now. I went out of the car and with the help of a local friend we found a man on a motorcycle who said he can take me.
A bit like a movie. Me on a back of a motorcycle of a man I never have seen before I do not know and I do not understand. All my luggage stored between our feet and on my back and belly we drove fast passing the carline. The clouds were so dark it could have stared raining every second.
But finally I got to the airport on time, rain was starting when I entered the building. This man saved me a lot of troubles – Perfect goodbye experience and a perfect summary of my time- Everything can go wrong and don’t expect it to happen like you want it to, but always be flexible and open and it will work out somehow.

I say goodbye to a country full of mystical things, of unexplainable situation and people and wonderful animals.