Only 2 months after our two boys arrived, we packed our bags, 6 kilo milkpowder, over 300 diapers included and set off to visit Anneke’s parents in Madagascar.
We left in the middle of the night driving through the snow to catch our 7 am flight. First to Paris and then to Antananarivo (Tana).
It was all very exciting to travel with our boys, but the advantage of having little ones with you on board is that you don’t have to wait anywhere! In Paris they even dragged us out of the cue! All went very smooth and Ben and Stan behaved very well. Once on the long flight we installed ourselves and made a cosy little bed for the kids.
They slept the whole flight…. They even asked us if we drugged them since they didnt cry… It was freezing on the flight so we were happy we had brought extra blankets. (see picture). And Anneke was happy with her winter jacket! Only to arrive in 30 degrees…which was a big shock to the system, especially for Ben and Stan, they were paralysed with the heat at the airport, it was very stuffy and humid…. And it took ages to get our visa and our bags…. We hadn’t really prepared ourselves enough for the long wait once we had arrived.So there we were, safely arrived in the busy little city of Tana. Anneke’s dad and sister, Maartje, were at the aiport. We arrived home at 3 am and sleepy family members came to welcome us. We made the little beds and hung up our mosquitonet and layed down. Here we were…. Tired but content.
Two and a half weeks Madagascar. We mainly spend our time at home with the family, but of course we took the chance to spend a night away and visit the country. We went to Andasibe, and spend the night in a small lodge, close to the Analamazaotra Reserve. The first evening we made a night hike, after the afternoon monsoon rains had passed. It was a 1 ½ walk through the rianforest. We didn’t spot many lemures put plenty of fancy looking chameleons which were very good to spot with the torch (no pictures…). We slept early in our not so comfortable bed, under a mosquitonet which was taped together….:-) The next morning at 6 am we had a 4 hour hike ( read very very slow walking) through the national park and saw many many lemures, all types! After we went to drink a coffee at the Vakona Lodge, 9 km further tucked away in the forest. The main reason to go was to be a real tourist and visit the lemures island… where they hop on your head and eat of your hand. Its very silly but makes great funny pictures! Around noon we drove back…. to find our boys!
The last week we enjoyed time at home, played pool, went swimming and drove through the busy little city. Dirk went on many bike rides. X-mas was spend in the sun with a lovely breakfast and great evening meal...and above the traditional family picture, starring my dads 4L. On the last day we went for a small walk outside of town, with only 20 km you are really out of town. Rice paddies, people drying their clothes, small villages and people walking everywhere.New Years even we spend with the family in Café de la Gare in the style of the 1920s. And as a big surprise my dad walked in clean shaven… it had been 36 years ! We had never seen him without beard. It was just the bravest action of 2010!!
We had to fly out that night, but as Air France was 3 hours delayed we left only at 5 am instead of 1:30. So we were off to 0 degrees and a final week of Annekes leave.
link to photo album
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