Thoughts on Madagascar, please.
Replies: 10 - Last Post: Oct 7, 2012 4:19 AM Last Post By: jomcarroll
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Thoughts on Madagascar, please.
The days are getting shorter, so it's time to get the rucksack out again. And I'm wondering about Madagascar this year. So - some advice please:1. I'd like to go in January, but is the weather truly rubbish by then so I'd be better to organise myself and go in December?
2. Anywhere I really must go/should avoid?
3. Any obvious hazards for a woman travelling on my own?
4. Anything else I haven't thought of!
Thank you, jo
1
I'm sure things have changed but when I was there in 1994 road travel was impossible due to hurricane damage, and it was not easy to get around by road even before the hurricane blew through.Be careful in the Zoma in Tanna, someone tried to snatch a bracelet off my wrist and the child beggars (lots of them) can and do manage to get into you fanny pack/waist pack, should you wear one. I was also warned not to take or show a camera when on walkabout, especially up to the lake in Tanna, but I did anyway and had no problem.
Other than that I found it fascinating, even though I couldn't get out of Tanna because there was no transportation at the time.
2
Thank you - I was beginning to think it was a silly idea, and should leave Madagascar for October-ish. Now all I need is somewhere warm to spend January - any ideas?J
3
Hi, (reply to post No.2)I head off to SEA every Jan. Usually fly into BKK then can go overland or whatever to many other places. I always make sure that I go to the Philippines when I am in that area also, most of these places see lots of solo lady travellers.. Like you I was looking at Madagascar but that will wait for 12 months now.
It is difficult to advise you specifically as you do not list your interests. If you have more info I am sure that folk would advise, very helpful. I would look at the specific sites for countries that you may be interested in and post there, we got some very knowledgeable folk around. Feel free to ask again or PM me if that suits.
5
Thank you both. I've travelled South-East Asia a few times, and love it, but was wondering about somewhere different. Still, Madagascar looks like a silly idea.I love meeting new people, understand new cultures - so enough site-seeing to make sense of a place, but not so much it gets in the way of understanding how real people live. Things made more complicated (this v recent) by doc saying my knees are seriously crumbling, so no long treks and maybe days off sitting about in a warm place to let them recover if I walk too far. Which means I need to plan more thoughtfully than I'm used to.
7
Have you thought about going to any of the South Pacific Islands? Either Melanesia or Polynesia? That's my favourite part of the world, especially Melanesia, they are easy to travel around, and the people are so friendly and welcoming you'll probably find that as a female on your own they really want to help you. It's very easy to interact with the local population almost everywhere, which is why I like it so much as I'm not much of a 'site' seer in the literal sense. IN fact it's almost impossible not to interact when you travel there solo.However, January will be in the middle of the cyclone season, although I've been there 3 times during that season and only experienced the tail end of one, in Fiji.
8
How helpful this forum is! My thanks to everyone.ohwell - yes, the taxi option is one I must face. I have always walked - that's how to really see places. Such a comfort to know I'm not the only one to find this transition a bit of a challenge.
Watsoff - will look into the South Pacific option, though I'm not at all sure I need another cyclone (I was in the Himalayas in a cyclone - it became a funny story by the time I was home, but very unfunny at the time.). But if I can't go in January, the thought of those islands is just wonderful!
10
Thank you all - I've booked a flight to Bangkok just after Christmas, and then I'll sit in a cafe and work out where to go from there. If I don't make it as far as Melanesia this time then I'll make a point of visiting soon. So I've stopped faffing, can get the rucksack out, and warn the family (again!)
