Madagascar Afremail Part 5 - Rollicking Train, Fianar to Manakara and Back
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So, we just got back from the train that goes from Fianaratsoa to Manakara. Originally, we intended on flying from Manakara to Four Dauphin, but the flight (once a week flight) was full when we got their, only the 16 seats. So we came back to Finar via train. Once again the ride was amazing, but it is always the best the first time. Plus, even though we were in first class, we seemed to pick up a of non-paying customers, humans and fowl, the seond time.

Ah, right now I am in a French Cafe and “Somewhere over the rainbow” just came on. No lyrics, Theolonias Monk or someone like that, jazzy. I feel like I am over the rainbow, but not only in a beautiful sense, also in a far away, this is crazy sense as well. Madagascar is way over the rainbow. The people are half black half polynesian. The women have African features with long dark hair. The cities look lke they are right out of medival Europe. Thacthed brick two story buildings, oxcarts, and cobble stone roads. These villages resemble a feudal system with the baron’s house right in the center of the cluster of peasant thatched houses. Small villages that are grouped around fields of rice and other grains. The animals and plants are like a benevolent mad scientist’s creation, beautiful orchids, palms and ferms fill the forests, while a dazzling array of amphibians, reptiles and insects are behind every leaf, under every rock, and hanging out between palm fronds. The butterflies and moths alone are stupefying. The one complaint I have is the food. I love international cuisine, I even think “ugali is freaking amazing.” But, the food here is severly lacking in taste, and variety. We have been told that the good food is on the weekends in a famlies home, but we have not been invited to someone’s home, so sorry, but until then, the food blows here! But, on the train I ran into an Indian businessman who was very nice and invited us to his home in Tana, next tme we are there, awesome. He got nervous after he invited us and said that he is sorry, but in his house they have no utensils. With a broad grin I said, “well, in my house we have utnesils, but awe don’t use them very often either!”

Wow, the train was amazing, please listen to my audio recording to hear about it on my main madagascar page and check out the other updates if you have not had a chance already.