Analamanga Region

Mariah met me at the airport and I was admittedly relieved to finally have a face to put with the emails.

We jumped in the car and headed across beautiful rice and veggie fields towards the nearby mountain where I was to tour the King's Palace. At over 1,500 meters of elevation, the air was cool(er) and the views were spectacular. The valley floor has always been fertile swampland, and had almost no construction until the French 'improved' it. It makes for great farmland using traditional small-plot methods. I'd imagine that living near the swamp is bugtastic, muggy, and hot. With so many highlands nearby, the traditional settlement pattern seems to make a lot of sense.

Our first choice of lunch spots was closed so we found a nearby second option. Much to our surprise, Banana Rova is a labor of love by french chef Sylivie Cournarie. The food was amazing. Simply superb.

We started w foie gras and freshly baked bread, then I enjoyed a grilled duck breast with a berry glaze, accompanied by two types of green beans from the garden, and a fantastic squash dish that included pink peppercorns and pure magic. Mariah had a gratin of tuna and green plantains. She said it was to die for. Dessert was a chocolate fondant with berries, non-dairy chantilly cream, and nasturtium blossoms.

My hasty description doesn't do justice to the culinary art that we enioyed. That it was a complete surprise made it perhaps even more fun.

If great eats isn't enough, Sylvie told us about how most of her profits are put into helping Malagasy Children. She has supported over 3,000. This place is a real gem.

We hadn't budgeted time, unfortunately, to see the 4,000 plants in her botanical garden. I am sure that it is equally wonderful!

Maybe I'll get back there, someday.Les mer