You are currently browsing the monthly archive for May 2009.
Wednesday, May,27 2009, 4.00 a.m., the alarm clock rings. Amazingly, I could wake up right away. Because the alarm clock was not for my work, it was for a trip to Antsirabe 
.
4.30 a.m., the cab is already waiting for Andry and I. Yeah, a start of adventure.
4.47 a.m., the cab driver told us that instead of going to the “Taxi-Brousse” station at Fasan’ny Karana, it is better to take it in Anosy. It sounded great so we stopped at the roundabout of Anosy. A guy came to us and asked if we wanted to go to Antsirabe. We said yes, and then followed the guy. After a bargain, we got the seats next to the driver.
5.00 a.m., the van was not full yet but the driver was ready to leave when the conductor noticed cops. The driver tried to hide the van behind 2 big trucks. Then, Andry and I understood. This van had broken the rule of its “cooperative” (association/ union of transporters) [It is mandatory to be part of a cooperative]. The driver went out to check if the way is clear. Meanwhile, the conductor explained to us, passengers, that they are doing so to avoid to pay too much money to the “cooperative”. He explained that they almost gain nothing because the main part goes directly to the responsibles of the “cooperative”. He even said, that it is sad that he and the driver cannot afford to buy a new van with the money they can get though, the people at the “cooperative” can buy 1 or 2 vans. Franckly speaking, I sympathize with the driver and the conductor.
The passengers all agreed with this sytem. Regular passengers said that taking the bus in Anosy is safer and faster than at the station in Fasan’ny Karana. When the first van in Anosy leaves at 5.00a.m., in Fasan’ny Karana it will be at 6.00 a.m. and only if all the seats are taken.
While waiting for the driver to come back, another man arrived with 3 more passengers and 2 others a few minutes later. Wow, the team work impressed me a lot.
5.15 a.m., the real trip starts
Marais Masay
Fishermen at Marais Masay
The Marais Masay is a former swamp which has been transformed to collect the discharge of dirty water from the surrounding areas and companies. It is so obvious that fishing at this marsh is forbidden. Poverty makes people breaking the law. As you can see on the pic, people are still fishing there. I heard that they take those fishes and put them in a clean pool for a week and then sell them in some markets far from Marais Masay.
Now, there is a project, sponsored by Ile de France, to clean the water of Marais Masay. Since it is hard to follow and to punish the fishermen, cleaning the marsh can be a good solution. And frankly speaking, I love this project. I am not good at technical details, and since there was noone there to answer my questions, I only took pics so enjoy them
The name of this project is Vetiver Float – “Flotteur de Vétiver”. Vetiver is the name of the grass. This float is used to hold garbage and to purify the water so eating fishes from Marais Masay will be safer in a near future.
I am so sorry, contacted by the genius guy who is the source of this project, I have been asked to take off some photos. Thanks for your understanding.
On saturday, I was a little bit late downtown. I was estonished seeing the market late in the evening.
What attracted me the most was this.
huh… I did not mean the sausages looool, look at the candle!!
Yes, the candle is covered with newspaper. Fold a sheet of newspaper, wrap up the candle with it. Doing so will help you have candle light for more than two hours. Clever!
