Madagascar
Hell-Ville

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Top 10 Travel Destinations Hell-Ville
Show all
Travelers at this place
    • Day 3

      Il trasferimento al campo

      August 14, 2022 in Madagascar ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

      Appuntamento h.9 in reception per recarci al porto dove con la barca saremmo salpati finalmente per Nosy Komba, l'isolotto dove è situato il nostro campo.
      Nonostante indossi due orologi, continuo a fare confusione con il fuso orario. Mi sveglio ben 2 ore prima della sveglia preventivata, ma mi accorgo dell'errore solo dentro la doccia, quella che sarebbe stata l'ultima con acqua calda per le prossime 4 settimane.
      Per le 9 mi presento finalmente all'appuntamento e qui conosco Riccardo, un altro romano di 22 anni, con cui condividerò anche il programma di Conservazione Marina. Sembra davvero simpatico ed infatti si instaura subito un buon rapporto. Abbiamo interessi comuni e la conversazione si protrae per molto tempo.
      Nel frattempo arriviamo in uno spot intermedio, perché ci comunicano che con la bassa marea non sarebbe stato possibile arrivare al campo. Nell'attesa visitiamo questa splendida spiaggia dove i bambini corrono, giocano e raccolgono granchi e conchiglie.
      Facciamo un giro e ci accorgiamo di quanto sia diverso questo mondo. Ci sono bancarelle con teste di pesce mozzate vendute sopra fogli di carta scritti a penna e contornati da mosche. Forse li usano per pescare (?).
      Dopo qualche ora finalmente possiamo muoverci e arriviamo al nostro campo, una serie di capanne in mezzo alla foresta e direttamente a picco sul mare. Sembra un film. Il passaggio è UNICO.

      Ci assegnano le camere. La mia si affaccia verso nord (ahimè) ma ha una vista spettacolare sul mare. Sarò anche con Sam, il ragazzo inglese che era con noi questa mattina. Un po' timido. Vediamo se evolverà.
      Monto la zanzariera e disfo lo zaino. Ho appuntamento con Riccardo per una piccola sessione di snorkeling di fronte la spiaggia del campo.
      Qui conosciamo il resto dei ragazzi che sono appena tornati da un weekend a Nosy Iranja (entusiasmo allo stato puro nei loro occhi, sicuramente la visiterò).
      La giornata termina con una veloce doccia (gelata) e una cena frugale alle 18 (riso, poca carne e un po' di verdure cotte), cui segue quella che diventerà il nostro appuntamento quotidiano con le attività del giorno successivo... LA BOARD!
      Sono stanco. Davvero stanco. Ma ciò non mi impedisce di fare un paio di foto con la GoPro alla volta stellata. SONO EUFORICO. NON C'È INQUINAMENTO LUMINOSO.
      Rimango perplesso quando mi rendo conto che le mie qualità di orientamento notturno, non sarebbero servite nell'emisfero Australe. Bene, ho qualcosa di nuovo da studiare!
      Read more

    • Day 11

      Zebu

      February 11, 2023 in Madagascar

      Zebu are extremely important animals in Madagascar and we saw them everywhere we went.

      Zebu are a type of bovine, but unlike cows we have in the USA, these guys have a large hump between their shoulder blades. This special adaptation enables them to endure famine.

      Every guide we met emphasized the importance of zebu to their tribes, although the exact nature of this importance varied.

      In Nosy Be, Philippe told us that until recently, a man could not get married unless he could offer at least one zebu to his bride’s family in exchange. (Nowadays, money will do, as well.)

      In Toamasina, Lachaka told us that in the southwest part of Madagascar, a man must steal a zebu before he can marry. (This theft is a ritual to prove his courage, and the zebu is returned to its rightful owner afterwards.)

      Later, when Lachaka proudly told us that he owned two zebu, Larry teasingly asked if he had stolen them. Lachaka laughed and said, “No, no! Only in the southwest!”

      Zebu don’t produce much milk. They are mostly used for labor and meat. They are a part of every major event here, from weddings, births, religious rites, funerals, and holidays.

      I apologize that my zebu photos aren’t the best. As we passed them pulling carts on the roads, the windows of our rattletrap van were so cracked and dirty that photographing anything was a challenge.

      Even so, there were many intriguing sites whizzing by. Madagascar fascinates me!
      Read more

    • Day 11

      Ylang Ylang Farm

      February 11, 2023 in Madagascar

      We visited a Ylang Ylang farm near Nosy Be, Madagascar. See that tree I’m standing under? It’s Ylang Ylang.

      And see how the trees are hunched over? They are pruned this way so that the blossoms can be picked without a ladder.

      Ylang Ylang blossoms are a lighter green than the leaves, nor do they look like a traditional flower blossom.

      At the entrance to the factory, they had a framed photo of Ghandhi with a wonderful quote, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

      Must confess that we were melting from the heat and humidity at the ylang ylang distillery.

      I much preferred our trek through the neighboring forest, where we saw bananas growing, and so many gorgeous plants.

      I smelled Ylang Ylang everywhere we went that day. It wasn’t until I undressed for a shower back on the ship that I realized I was the culprit; a little sprig of Ylang Ylang blossoms was snagged in my bra strap!
      Read more

    • Day 11

      Madagascar Tortoises

      February 11, 2023 in Madagascar

      They keep three kinds of Madagascar tortoise at the Ylang Ylang farm.

      The first photo shows a Star Tortoise. Their shells are so pretty!

      As you can see, male Soc Tortoises have a bony protuberance in front. They can fight each other with this, although I imagine it must be a very slow paced fight.

      And lastly, you see a Bell Tortoise named Napoleon. According to our guide, Napoleon is more than 220 years old.

      Sadly, he was shot during a war (stupid humans!) You can see the damage to his shell. This wound caused him to go blind when he was around 200 years old.

      Our guide says they make sure Napoleon stays well fed, and that he continues to thrive despite losing his sight.
      Read more

    • Day 11

      Chameleons, Skinks & Sleeping Snake

      February 11, 2023 in Madagascar

      While walking the grounds of the Ylang Ylang farm, Philippe took us on a hunt for chameleons. Along the way, we also saw a skink, geckoes, and some crocodiles.

      Chameleons blend into the vegetation so expertly that each one we found was a thrill.

      At one point, Philippe gently lured a chameleon onto a stick so we could have a closer look at the beautiful creature.

      He also pointed out a boa constrictor coiled up in the leaves nearby!

      “This one’s a baby,” Philippe explained. “We are safe because they sleep all day.”

      I love snakes, but after that, I watched my step!
      Read more

    • Day 50

      Tierpark mal anders

      November 17, 2018 in Madagascar ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

      So viele wilde Tiere an einem Ort. Die Lemuren sind nur für eine Weile in Gefangenschaft, hoffen wir mal das es stimmt. Die schwarzen sind die männlichen und die braunen weiblich, dank unseres super guides haben wir viel über die Tiere erfahren dürfen.

      Die Schildkröte war schon 120 Jahre und total verschmust, sie liebt es am Hals gekault zu werden und läuft dafür auch hinter einem her, beeindruckende Tiere. Fast wir Dinosaurier, die Nase hat ein dickes horn und der Hals ein riesen Muskeln mit einer weichen und dehnbaren Haut. Diese riesen Beine und der schwere Panzer, tolle Tiere 😍

      Die kleine Schildkröte wird nur 30 Jahre alt und wird nicht wesentlich größer. War aber auch sehr süß.

      Dann hatten wir noch einen riesen Lärm, von den Zirkaden, eine Art Motte/Grille. Die Tiere machen einen grausamen Lärm und flattern rum. Komische Wesen.
      Read more

    • Day 103

      Nosy Be, Madegascar

      March 27, 2015 in Madagascar ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

      Nosy means island and Be means big so this is the biggest of the little islands off the coast of Madagascar. We left the not so appropriately named Hell-Ville and traveled over to one of the smaller islands Nosy Komba to see an animal distinct to the island of Madagascar, the lemur. It is a cool little animal that is very much like the monkey but with soft little hands. The little village on the island has about 2000 people and a few turtles that Nancy managed to find.
      Other then the boat almost breaking down on the way over it was an uneventful day and pretty enjoyable. We are getting where we are enjoying the nature rather then the cities in this part of the world. There is a depressing amount of poverty in some of these countries that is hard to think of an answer to. While tourism is a start it is difficult to see how that is going to sustain the population growth that is going on in these countries/islands.
      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Hell-Ville

    Join us:

    FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android