Day 5 - Observations, the Cart

Being in a third world country, everything around you is, how can I say - different. People have ways to make do. Here is one simple photo that tells a story.

Notice the man on the cart. This primitive cart is an important means of transportation. Throughout the day he makes a living delivering goods throughout the village. It's hell going up the hills, but a cool breeze on the downside.

Notice the cart has a steering wheel. The wheels are made of wood and covered with old rubber from used tires. He does have a break, the vertical wood lever between his legs. This one got me laughing; notice the mud flaps behind the wheels.

Another interesting observation in this photo. Notice the sign Orange recharges. Orange is a large telephone service like ATT. There is essentiality no land line service; the only phones are cell. No one gets a monthly bill they just upload minutes when they need them. I'm not sure of recharges. It is either recharge your phone with minutes or in fact recharge the battery. Perhaps it's both.

Day 5 - The Buy

Before leaving to Fianarantsoa and the rain forest, we met with Federico, the most connected man in Madagascar for collecting minerals. Federico wrote the feature article detailing Demantoid minerals in the May-June 2010 issue of The Mineralogical Record. This is a fascinating article on everything from the mining operations to detailed information on the minerals.

Doug & I were interested in purchasing a demantoid collection of 13 specimens. Federico was familiar with the collection and suggested he help us with the buy - a wise decision. This transaction was much like a drug buy. We met with the mineral dealer in the lobby of his hotel. He told us they allow him to use the upstairs veranda for his purchases. We gathered and took a look at the minerals. A few of them were exceptional and all were very nice. Federico told us after we made the purchase that the collector started the deal for about 35 million ariary which translates to over $17,000 US. He told the dealer not to insult him and that Doug is a serious dealer that brings groups of people to Madagascar just to buy minerals. We purchased them at a very reasonable price and in the end everyone was happy.

What a memorable experience.

Danny, Giorgio, Federico, Danny's partner, the Madagascar Minister of Mining, and Doug prior to negotiations.

One of the nicest demantoid specimens 

A few of the 13 specimens we purchased

Danny signing my copy of the Mineralogical Record featuring Madagascar. Danny noted the photos of all the demantoids he sold. These are some of the finest specimens known in the world. Danny actually owned the demantoid which is on the cover of the magazine

Doug & Federico holding my copy of the Madagascar issue of The Mineralogical Record.

Danny smiling after selling his demantoid collection to us. It must have been a good sale for him.

Day 5 - Antsirabe to Fianarantsoa Trip

Our adventure continues from Antsirabe to Fianarantsoa for an overnight stay on the way to the rain forest. This is the largest city near the Ranomafana National Park. Our hotel is like walking through Graceland in that it was from another age - the 50's. Apparently, the hotel was built for the communist elite back in the day. I expected to see Frank Sinatra in the lobby signing autographs. Everything throughout was well kept, but dated and has never been renovated.

After a long all day drive, we ate at the hotel where I had the worst alligator I've ever had. All kidding aside, this was the only bad meal I had in Madagascar.

Zebu drives were common while traveling throughout Madagascar. This is one of the reasons why it took all day to drive 250 miles.

A family photo taken at a roadside overlook of a valley.

Zebu on a levee.

Our interesting hotel Soafia in Fianarantsoa

A view of downtown Fianarantsoa from a veranda in our hotel.

Although dated, the hotel decor had very nice woodwork.