New hut, new costs, new warnings, new people, new visa (who knew?)

August 2

I just wrote a post about the deadliest road from Nosy Bohara and how that show kind of freaked me out.  The next day, I got an email from the airline saying they have changed my flight to Nosy Bohara (just by a couple of hours).  And then an email from my hotel there saying they were cancelling my reservation.  It's a sign I said...  A sign to double down!  

I booked a new, better, even more picturesque hotel with a bungalow right over the water!  

Hotel Lakana, this one is on the west side of the island. And comes with breakfast and dinner.  Just to laugh further in the faces of the gods of bad decisions and fair warnings, this booking is non-refundable!  HA! I'll show you... 

August 4

Planning!  

August 6

BC Day long weekend but I forgot I signed up for a class so I am at my computer.  Since I'm here, procrastinating and not doing my homework, time for a bit of travel research.  

After the Morocco entry form debacle, I thought maybe I should actually look and see if Madagascar has some sort of entry visa.  I had already kind of looked but I realized I hadn't REALLY looked.  

Google Madagascar visa. First site is the Government of Canada's info on Madagascar.  The first info they give is travel advisories.  Risk level high.  This doesn't really surprise me.  The Government of Canada is a bit of an old granny with the advisories.  Robberies, murders, political unrest blah blah blah.  

This was a bit more surprising, although I don't know why.  Assaults on Nosy Bohara common enough to get a mention.  Avoid traveling this area alone. I'll stay in my twig hut, I'm sure it is secure.  

I did find out there is an election in November 2023.  I already knew that they are a bit, let's say precarious in their government, so I'm glad I'm not going to be there for that. 

Ok, enough of that nonsense.  Do I need a visa?

Apparently yes.  I can get it before I go or I can get it at the airport.  I do not like sending my passport to random "foreign representatives in Canada" so I'll get mine at the airport.  I can live with 'long delays'.  $27 CAD according to the website.  

But I can fill out the form now so I'll do that before I leave.  Do I really need a passport photo? I am guessing not, but do I want to spend $15 to be safe and/or to save time at the airport? Maybe.

Thinking about saving money.  I was half considering not paying for the single supplement and risking  not getting my room on the tour.  When I went to Morocco, there was only one other single woman and she paid the supplement.  So, I got my own room by default!  Score!

I opened this to discussion in the staff lunch room and got a unanimous and resounding "get your own room, how is this even a question...".  They are right of course, the lunch room counsel is always right. I am broke but not that broke.  

I found the 'chat' for my tour on my G Adventures app.  No one chats apparently, but it does show that there are 14 people on my tour so far, and it shows their names and when they got added.  Based on very suspect data (guessing gender by name, guessing single status by sign up date), I see at least four single women.  

Faith, Wilma, Bobbie & John.  Sabrina.  Joanne (the only one I can be sure of). Boyana & Dachaz.  Jenna & Haider (I've chatted with Jenna on FB and I think she is a single).  Guido.  Lynda.  Wayne & Aisling (just joined today).  Garry and Catherine joined but unjoined two days later. 

I called G and outright asked. Of course the nice CSW couldn't tell me but he did say 'if you want your own room, I would recommend you book one'.  It is less than $700.  When is the last date I can add this option (basically, can I get it onto my next visa bill - did I mention I have no travel budget for this trip!).  Mid-August.  Ok, it's in my calendar. 

Back to my regularly scheduled long weekend!  But first, a lemur: 

Indri