Today we should have been going to Tolanaro, Madagascar, but alas, it was not to be. There were several reasons why this port had to be cancelled, but the main excuse had to be the cyclone that was in our way. Cyclone Freddy to be exact. Better safe than sorry, we say. On the plus side, we all received a refund of the port and tax charge of $48.23. Always gladly accepted.
Here's a bit of info on Madagascar even though we are not visiting there. The population of the country is 24.2 million folks that speak Malagosy and or French. It is known for its wildlife, in particular, lemurs and chameleons. The country is diverse with desert, rainforest, and up to 1000 year old baobab trees. The center of this huge island is filled with terraced rice paddies, sandstone canyons and limestone caverns. It is truly a one-of-a-kind destination.
It is not uncommon for the locals to incorporate rice in their three daily meals with a red- hot pepper paste called sakay. Other toppings can be a ginger-garlic mix called ranovola and a pimento verde green chili. Zebu is beef from local cattle cooked into stews, kebabs, and steaks.
Now here comes a story about a very unique ceremony that only occurs every seven years. It is called Famadihana where the dead are exhumed, wrapped in bamboo mats, and danced around the tombs. It is a celebration unlike anything we have ever seen, but may be performed in other countries as well. Then the remains are re-shrouded and reburied. If you are ever invited to participate in this event, you would be expected to bring a bottle of rum.
One other fact about Madagascar is that 70% of Europe's lychees are produced here. It is a favorite Christmas food.
The one and only visit we made was at Nosy Be, located in the northern part of Madagascar. There were two chances to see the native lemurs by taking one of two HAL tours. We did one that took us in a long boat to a nearby island, where locals had the lemurs on leashes. If you wanted a photo, you paid the handler. The same applied to the famous chameleons with the rotating eyes independent from each other. Some of the local kids had snakes too, like big boa constrictors. We gave them a wide berth. Back on shore, we walked the road where some vendors were selling tablecloths unique to this island. The higher we walked up the road, the more stares we got. So we decided it was best to go back. The other excursion took folks to a park where lemurs were wild. However, at that time, no one we knew ever saw one.
There were a few ship tours offered which included the best of Tolanaro for $260, or a ride to the waterfalls for $230. Last but not least, there was a trip to Nahampoana Reserve that had 6 types of lemurs for $230. Only two types would be seen, since the others were nocturnal. Of course, with the cancellation, all of these tour charges were credited back to everyone's accounts. As for private tours, we hope those guests get refunded.
So today was another overcast day at sea doing 13 knots and rocking and rolling. At least the Captain has sailed far enough south to escape the worst of the swells and rain from the cyclone. We noticed that the temperature had dropped this morning, and it was actually comfortable walking the promenade deck all day. Relaxing up on deck 10 was really good, since there was no sun, but enough heat to enjoy it.
Making a stop to return a book to the library, we noticed that the shelves are fuller with new books. It sure is nice that this venue was added during the drydocking, proving that not everyone reads on a device. Some like old-fashioned books.
Lunch was a shared salad, a corned beef sandwich, and apples. We have yet to dine in the Lido for lunchtime and still enjoy room service. They have run out of potato and tortilla chips completely, so the substitute was French fries.
There was a film, Disney Nature African Cats, shown in the World Stage at 1pm. Wish this was on TV. A painting class for $25 and a lecture from the new speaker, Daniel Silke, was well done according to Greg. He spoke about the rise and fall of apartheid in South Africa…..a very tumultuous time in history.
Dinnertime found all seven of us present. A Madagascar stew was offered, but no one ordered it. Chicken cordon bleu was fine, as was the pesto fettuccini with sausage slices. The every day salmon was a good choice, but the Club Orange roasted lamb was chewy. Sometimes, it is hit and miss. Most of us are not too bothered with the fact our service is slower than the surrounding tables. But Barb does not do well with us being served last. It's not that we are in a hurry, but it seems that tables for two get served first. We noticed that happened with us last fall with the Alaska cruises and the Tales of the South Pacific. No doubt, a table for two gets quicker service. There is something we are missing, and that is a possible problem with fewer cooks in the kitchen. Just guessing. Our fellows have to wait in lines in the kitchen to pick up the food. If the items are not ready, they have to wait longer. Thus, we wait. Barb makes no bones about it, and even Oscar, our assistant maître'd, intervened tonight. With a little extra help, our dinners arrived shortly thereafter. Despite some wait time, we still finish well before the entertainment begins at 9:30pm.
The show this evening was a comedian, Mark Palmer with Best Medicine. He guarantees that laughing is good for you. Great idea. Last night the singers and dancers put on a good show and actually did the acrobatic moves with the ship moving so much. Nice to be young…..
Bill & Mary Ann
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