Day 4 - Afternoon in Antisirabe

After the half day trip to Ibity, we returned to Antsirabe to relax. Actually, I really relaxed by getting a massage at a business partially owned by Giorgio. I don't get a massage very often, but this was a real treat. I started with a 1/2 hour and extended it to an hour for a few Ariary more.

I became really interested in the man powered taxis called pousse pousses. I really think these carts could be used in areas like Downtown Memphis to get around. Being so interested we went on an adventure to their local "factory" to see how they are made and what they would cost. Actually, I could buy them for about $100 each and have them custom painted. I thought it would be worth a try to get a dozen shipped here. I'd have to see if the city center commission would allow them. Anyway... it made for an interesting afternoon.

Here are some shots of us at Giorgio's Italian restaurant, pousse pousse cart factory and taking a pousse pousse ride.

Giorgio outside his restaurant. The Malagasy Minister of Security ate there the night before. Giorgio talked about how they came in with an entourage of bodyguards with AK47s.

Tony, our driver was mentioned in an article written by Federico in the June 2010 issue of The Mineralogical Record. This is a photo of him proudly signing my personal copy.

Tony showing the cover of The Mineralogical Record.

Doug, in awe of his Italian sandwich 

Better yet, Doug showing us the beads he just bought from street vendors. No, Doug is not gay.

A pousse pousse cart under construction.

220 volt wires just laying around on the "factory" floor. Accidentally touching the unshielded wire will kill you dead. Didn't see OSHA anywhere in the whole country.

Nice artwork on the back of some pousse pousse carts.

More artwork on the back of a pousse pousse cart.

Another back of a pousse pousse cart.

Under construction...

Inside the "factory"

Girogio relaxing

These cart drivers actually draft each other. This is a shot of me looking out the back of our cart as we are "driving".

I guess my cart "driver" was getting tired pulling my extra weight. Girogio's "driver" pulls ahead.

Girogio pulling away

This is a velo pousse. Nice ride.

Day 4 - The Ibity Market

We continued to Ibity after bartering for minerals on the road. Visiting this market was one of many highlights of the trip. We really were able to see the daily activities of the Malagasy on market day. Most towns have markets on different days of the week. Ibity has a nice area for people to sell their wares.

Doug examining a mineral at the Ibity Market

Mitchell (left) and his Son Jules with some locals

Mitchell, Doug & Girogio discussing the price of a specimen. 

Folks lining up to show us their best - Tsara Be

Our first glimpse inside the market. We actually bought minerals outside the walls of the market.

Each person had their own speciality to sell. This was the only lady selling brooms.

Selling rice, spices and grains

This reminded me of Waterworld. He is actually selling water. We didn't partake. 

Salt fish. There were a number of people selling these. Also didn't partake

Another fish monger, but smaller ones. Still couldn't bring myself to give a little one a try.

Open air meat market. Most people loved their pictures taken. Especially when you give them some Ariary (money)

Doug explained that they do not have refrigeration, so they slaughter and eat  the meat that day before it can spoil. Much of the world live day to day like this.  You're right, I didn't partake in the pigs feet or snout in this photo.

Intestines aren't my thing either.

Another nice lady in the open air meat area of the market

These Tomatos must have been grown in hot houses. It was early Spring in Madagascar.

A nice shot showing how crowded it was on market day.

More salt fish. My back was hurting, so I couldn't bend down to pick out some. Yea, I didn't have any of these either.

As we leave the market area, I noticed this man making muffins. I wasn't that hungry, so  I didn't partake. Something about the sanitary conditions was not appetizing.

The crowd watching us leave. Back to our home base  - Antsirabe

One the way home, vistas everywhere like this.

Day 4 - Bartering on the Road and at the Ibity Market

On the fourth day we took a road trip to the market town of Ibity. Among many other people selling there wares, there are a number of people there selling minerals.

We met a well know mineral dealer on the road and pulled over to see what he had to offer.

This is a video taken in our vehicle of Doug and Mitchell bartering for some nice "stones".


The video is really funny because of the confusion of the exchange rates. Basically, $1 US = 2,030 Ariary. $5 = about 10,000 Ariary. Their highest value note is a $10,000 Ariary bill. In this video Doug is saying 75 meaning 75,000 Ariary and Mitchell is saying $50 US. Mitchell doesn't like the deal so Doug buys the "stone". The video also shows Mitchell making a deal on a $10 US mineral; it's fun watching him getting his money out of his wallet.


Be sure to watch this fun video.


SELECT to Watch "Bartering on the Road" Video 


Back to return to this Blog


Here is a short video of our group trading with the people at the Ibity Market. We were swamped at first, but Girogio got the folks to line up. We felt much safer after that.


SELECT to see us bartering at the Ibity Market

More to come at the Ibity Market. You'll love these photos.

Tsaramanga Rose Quartz Day Trip - Part 2

After leaving the village of Mahaiza, we drove the rough roads to the Tsaramanga mine. This and most mines in Madagascar are not underground. They are just areas carved within the rock faces. The miners just chisel at the rock and follow seams until they play out.

As we walk down to the mine, Doug helps Mitchell along.

After the arduous drive, we walked down to the open pit mine area. There were piles of beautiful rose quartz in areas all around the pit. We were told that most of the material was sold to China. We didn't really buy any as rose quartz is very common in the US.

The following photos show the mine, local miners home and their storage building.

Doug helps Mitchell over to the mine's high wall as Giorgio walks down. The high wall here is about a 100' drop.

Here is a cart for carrying the quartz to this storage building.

Inside the storage building there are piles of nice rose quartz

Here is a nice panorama of the mine. They were pumping the water out to get to a new seam

One of the hard working miners

Here is the miners home. His family works the farm terraces while he works the mine.

...and of course his dingo dog

Giorgio and Doug making their way back to the storage building.

Doug at the miners home

Can you imagine carrying this load up out of the mine?

The rose quartz seam. They just mine this area deeper and deeper until it plays out.

A nice pile of quartz. You can see the mine in the background.

Giorgio, Mitchell, Doug and the mine's owners Son making their way back to the van.