Planning Woes and Faith

I've mentioned it already: making plans in Madagascar has proven very difficult for me to do.

It's related to language, sure; also to geography and insufficient research on my part. A big factor has been not wanting to miss the good stuff.... and not knowing how to prioritize which good stuff. Another factor has been how unexpectedly difficult it is to get reservations... it took me several hours to book a simple tour today. I thought it would take moments. The sheer enormity of this island, combined with atrocious roads complicates travel more than I thought it would, too.

In the end, I've punted. I hired a tour company to arrange the rest of my stay (till Nov 3) - which is a big leap of faith that she will choose things that I'll enjoy. It's also a little more expensive this way (and probably higher-end accommodation than I need).

The real leap?
I found myself wiring a bunch of money to an unknown person in Madagascar.... Where my bank required specific confirmation because Mada is a known hotbed of scammers. That's not reassuring. Ultimately I opted for paypal as they offer at least a token "protection" option. It adds several percent to the cost but also some peace of mind.

Good news: I have some plane tickets! So at least it isn't a total scam. I am keen to see how hotels and tours shake out.

It's a shame to be travelling alone for this leg of the journey. Private cars cost half as much for two people, y'know? But I've had no success in finding people here with whom to explore and so ... here I go, a leap of faith that things will continue to work out just fine. So far... They really have.Read more