August 9
Ok, I know Madagascar is a poor country and I am pretty much ready to go with the flow once I'm there but that isn't going to stop me from griping about trying to plan before I get there.
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| It turns out the 'the Madagascar plan' has some Nazi history so no Google image for that. No swastikas on my blog is a loose rule I have. Instead you get this children's online geography course on Madagascar |
Last post I mentioned that my hotel on Nosy Bohara sent a message that they had a family event in September and can't host me.
Then yesterday I was checking my bookings and I noticed that my hotel in Antananarivo, in which I am booked three times, was asking me to upgrade my room (three times) to include a private bathroom for $12 a night. Umm, the literal name of my room is "Twin room with Private Bathroom"! I checked and here is the amenities now. Note the CROSSED OUT toilet and shower! Nope.
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| I made this giant so you can see the crossing out. |
Again, I'm not invested enough to ask questions. So, I went in and found another new hotel for my three stays in Antananarivo. This time the hotel that the tour starts in has rooms but I found a different place nearby that had a suite (with a toilet, I'm 90% sure!) and included breakfast for not much more. But again, they are getting more money out of me. I will remind myself that dropping money there is not a bad thing, they need it more than me. But expect more grumbling if this happens again.
I am now booked at Sole Hotel. It looks somewhat utilitarian. Don't fall in love, we may lose this one too.
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| the 'suite' |
The view of the outside is less than comforting.
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| It ain't the Ritz... |
August 14.
I got an email from my new hotel asking if I want a transfer from the airport for $22. That's probably a good deal. I'll have to think about that one. The only other time I booked an airport transfer (Ecuador), it didn't show up.
Once I land in Antananarivo, I have to go through immigration and get my visa which I hear can take some time (or not, who knows anything anymore...). Maybe I should just grab a cab when I get through. It will be late though. Still mulling this one over.
Non-hotel related topic. I called my favourite money exchange place. No, they and no one else will have Malagasy Ariary (MGA). I will have to take USD or Euros and convert there. I don't love the double hit on exchange but it is what it is.
Other than that, I haven't done much research/planning. I haven't even had a chance to read more of my Lonely Planet. So, let's pull the plug on this post and start fresh later.
A lemur: This is an Aye-Aye. It is hard to find/see so it's a big 'get'. But it looks to me like the stuff nightmares are made of so I will be fine if I don't 'get' an Aye-Aye, thank you very much 🕇🧄🧛
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| bye-bye aye-aye |
