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PLUS...BE ONE OF THE FIRST 10 SUBSCRIBERS TO RECEIVE A "DUOBRIGHT TREATMENT" VOUCHER FOR BRIGHTER FACIAL SKIN AT LOLLANA CLINIC, BANGKOK,VALUED AT THB 6,000 (USD 200) PLUS ... BE THE FIRST SUBSCRIBER TO RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY ONE-NIGHT STAY IN PREMIER ROOM WITH CLUB BENEFITS AND THAI SET DINNER ON APSARA DINING CRUISE FOR 2 PERSONS FROM BANNYAN TREE BANGKOK
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By Maya Higgins
Whether looking for a relaxing beachfront vacation or a chance to photograph some of the world’s rarest wildlife while hiking through a diverse array of national parks, Madagascar is the ideal location for your next escape from home. Although the island of Madagascar is considered part of Africa, it couldn’t be more different than the mainland. In fact, there is no place in the world similar to Madagascar, which teems with bizarre and unique wildlife that can be found nowhere else on Earth. Madagascar’s various landscapes, which consist of everything from deserts to mountains to tropical rainforests, beg to be explored and there is no shortage of friendly local guides ready to lead the way. Hiking options range from short, easy walks to multi-day treks and all offer a chance to spot some of the island’s unique life forms — cheeky lemurs, sneaky chameleons, disguised leaf-tailed geckos, beautiful orchids, fascinating carnivorous plants and enormous baobab trees. The beaches surrounding the country do not disappoint either and water enthusiasts can easily get their fix of ocean activities. Some of the world’s most touted scuba diving locations lie off smaller islands north and east of Madagascar’s mainland. For travellers who prefer to stay on a boat rather than swim, snorkel or dive in the water, Madagascar also offers superb whale watching opportunities. The amazing marine life surrounding the island as well as the country’s historical pirate culture make the beaches just as irresistible as the national parks. Being a former French colony, the Malagasy food takes the best of French cuisine and combines it with a slightly more Asian flare with rice being a staple of the local diet. The people of Madagascar, who arrived on the island over 2,000 years ago, are also interesting and their friendly manner allows visitors to easily glimpse their unique cultural traditions steeped in taboo, magic and the supernatural.FESTIVAL The Famadihana tradition, also known as “the turning of the bones,” is an exhumation ceremony practiced by certain Malagasy families between the months of July and September in central Madagascar. During this time, families gather together at their family crypt or tomb and remove the bodies of their ancestors in order to rewrap them in fresh cloth, sing to them and update them on life events before parading them back into the tomb along with the more recent dead. This custom is believed to have arisen from the Malagasy belief that spirits can only join the world of the ancestors after their bodies are fully decomposed. Hence, this ritual is practiced within families every seven years in order to care for the bodies until their spirits can move on. This ritual is also practiced in order to bring together extended families in a time of celebration and to honour the memories of recent dead. A lively, happy affair, Famadihanas usually consist of a lot of feasting, drinking and dancing. Travellers wishing to take part in the ceremony can arrange to do so with local tour operators and are typically warmly welcomed.
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Issue 55: May / Jun 2013
