Rather than tramping around the jungle looking for animals, in Isle Saint Marie, off the east coast of Madagascar, it is far easier to hang around a beach front eco resort. About 4pm, the lemurs waken from tree tops and climb down to look for tourists with bananas. In the lemur’s actions and interactions with humans, I see a lot of similarities with raccoons.
He took bit of banana from my hand so gently. But then when I showed him that the only thing left was the peel, he dissapeared in to the j
What was funnier is that the next lemur we met, I offered him a grape..even broke it open for him…total rejection. I handed him an unknown fruit from the jungle and he grabbed it and dove in. When I asked a lady down the road about the fruit in my cup, she warned me that the grapes were inedible, warning me in French and with expressions , not to eat them. But the mystery fruit, she said that one was safe to eat.
I guess both that lady and the lemur know something about grapes that I don’t know! only a natural food to me I guess 🙂
Well, we have arrived at Isle St Marie in Madagascar, and are enjoying the friendly people, and the reintroduction of “Animal Planet” back in to our lives once again!
Here is where we are in Madagascar…
Here is Rebecca, a little sleepy, but glad to be arriving in calm waters, even if it’s a little rainy!
And here is Patrick happy to be back in the land of 30 cent coconuts rather than the $5 coconuts of ReUnion Island!
Before we even anchored, we were greeted by countless numbers of humpback whales. Whales to the left…ohh…whale 2 feet in front of us…Bonk…a gentle jar for all of us…
The town where we check in is full of friendly faces. Everyone wants to make a buck. This Police lady below is successful at getting her unofficial monies from me, which I ashamedly walked right in to..but was NOT too happy when Patrick clicked his camera as a reciept of paying her. She may be afraid that when and if we report this to authorities that she may have to share this tip with them!
The boys at the Dingy docks, pictured below, have caught on to the always generous, sometimes overgenerous, yachties…they know they can sometimes make more than the doctors in Madagascar by being their naturally friendly selves, taking your line, garbage and most importantly watching over your Dingy til you return. You have to give them a lot of credit, and they are just so happy for a slice of cake or a 30 cents tip when you return!
Walking through the colorful bustling town…
This little guy, not bigger than my foot, runs around a backpacker restaurant once in a while looking for a handout. I think he is a Lesser Bamboo Lemur. He picks fights with the local dogs, flies through the kitchen scooping up whatever he wants, jumps on tourists, and is like the ever ready bunny with energy. Then he’s gone, back in to the jungle to enjoy his booty!
