Side Trip to Amazing Madagascar

It seemed we were in another world when we spent a quick week in Madagascar. We had the good fortune to find a remarkable local guide who provided all our transportation and suggested what to see.

Outside the massive capital city of Antananarivo we traveled 3 hours on  winding mountain roads to Andasibe National Park. We saw how the hardworking Malagasy people tend rice paddies, cut bricks from red clay, and terrace their farms up the steep hills.

We hiked in the lush jungle listening to raucous screams of  lemurs, then visited crocodiles in a reptile preserve.  Canoeing to lemur island, it seemed to be raining teddy bears as the tame lemurs jumped on our heads and shoulders expecting to be fed bananas.

The streets within the big city seem unbelievably chaotic . . . 

. . . but amid the craziness we also found beauty and kindness from the wonderful people there. 

One highlight was visiting a PathwayConnect Gathering where 60 institute students participated in a worldwide devotional broadcast. 

Not enough time to see all the amazing sights; we will need to go back someday. And of course I have posted only a tiny fraction of what we saw and did in a week -- you will not believe this place until you visit here yourselves!