When I was younger, I was a bit of a misanthropist. As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned to love people, especially the random people I meet while travelling [no offense to those close to me, it’s a different kind of love ;-)]. There’s this guy from Laos that always sticks with me (Sonja will remember him). I was on a bus in northern Laos. When I got on the bus he stood up and kept saying O.K. O.K O.K. while he patted the seat in front of him. It soon became apparent that O.K. was the only English word he knew and he loved to use it liberally. I shared some cookies with him. O.K. O.K. O.K. Then he took out a musical instrument that I’ve only ever seen in Laos and pointed at it. O.K. O.K. O.K . And proceeded to play a song for the entire bus.
As I travel more, I see how warm-hearted the average world citizen seems to be, but I worry for them. Perhaps that’s arrogant. I do fear I’ve tread a bit to close to the footsteps of the French colonialists here as I’ve stayed at wealthy accommodations, been served entirely by Malagasy people, and wasted far too much food (they seem to want to feed me large three course meals for every meal).
The Malagasy people seem to be a particularly warm and friendly people. Unfortunately, Madagascar is among the poorest countries in the world despite being rich in resources (#10 in fact, according to Business Insider. Mozambique where I go next is #7. Tanzania where I end the African portion of my trip is #25). The fertility rate here is 4.35. 10% or less of the original forest cover remains and deforestation continues at a rate of about 1-2% per year (pbs.org). So what does the future of Madagascar look like with a growing human population, diminishing resources, and a changing climate? Unfortunately, these are some of the questions that have been running through my head as I meet friendly people, pass growing villages along the roads, and watch numerous children playing in the rivers and rice fields.
As a young misanthropist it broke my heart to think of all the natural places being converted for human use and all the wild species headed toward extinction. As I’ve come to know the world’s people better, my heart begins to break for them.
Population growth and economic development are all about the people, until they’re not…
I like this. It was posted at the airport. Drugs bad. Weapons not so bad. Trafficking in endangered species! Throw the book at them!
Landscape on the way to Berenty Reserve
Spiny Forest. One of 3 major forest types in Madagascar.
Grey Mouse Lemur in spiny forest. Woke him up 😦
Gecko among rocks in spiny forest
Roy among trees in spiny forest
Lambert laughs in the face of danger!
This guy manned the security gate at Berenty. He had a giant smile on his face every time I saw him. I said can I take your picture I like your smile. Apparently, his photo face does not involve a smile 😦
White-browed owl in the spiny forest
White-footed sportive lemur in gallery forest
Ring-tailed lemur at Berenty Reserve
Chameleon at Berenty
I met this woman and her children at the river at Berenty
Ended up taking a whole family album
There’s six more children if you want to see them sometime 🙂
This guy was at the local market
Verreaux’s Sifaka at Nahampaona Reserve
Bamboo Lemur at Nahampaona Reserve
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