Looking for friends from the Amporaha camp in Nosy Be

hello everyone

I’m so moved rereading all these messages... so many memories coming back to me.

I’m Catherine, the daughter of Adjutant Vancel (1971–1973). We were at the camp in July 1972, and we were a bit "privileged" because we stayed an extra week: Dad had received "orders" from Captain Nefiolov to take care of the camp’s generators!

I remember the wonderful, lively evenings: coconut bowling contests, and forfeits for the losers (singing a song with your partner, doing skits, finding your husband’s knees with your eyes closed, "touching" Nelson’s eye, and so many more...). The costume parties where everyone played along—officers or not—including Colonels Perron and Cazaillet, Commanders Etchebard and Pallardi, Captain Nefiolov, and their families, as well as the Juso, Pozzo, Joly, Rollet, and Madelin families.

He was the one who took us to "visit" the islet in the Espadon.

With "his men," they’d go fishing and bring back fish, lobsters, and even a turtle once.

That year, a dolphin washed up on the beach, and despite efforts to return it to the open sea, it came back to die on the shore. My only bad memory from those vacations.

I also remember one of the Emile boys climbing the coconut tree to "pick" coconuts for us, Mrs. Emile’s delicious meals, the jam sandwiches we’d trade for seashells, and her husband’s truck rides into "town" to buy souvenirs (we’d pass by ylang-ylang fields and coffee plants). You see, it was true paradise. It remains—and will always be—my best vacation!

In 1973, Dad was among the men who dismantled the camp... the end of an era!

See you soon,

Cathy

This year, a dolphin had washed up on the beach, and despite efforts to return it to the open sea, it came back to die on the shore!!! My only bad memory from that vacation. I have the photos

I also remember that one of Emile’s sons would climb the coconut tree to "pick" coconuts for us, and Mrs. Emile’s delicious meals

The roast pork

, jam sandwiches we’d trade for seashells, and the ride in her husband’s van to "town" to buy souvenirs (we’d pass by ylang-ylang and coffee fields)... you see, it was true paradise. It remains and will always be my best vacation!

Read my various messages and check out the photos I posted on copainsdavant

I think you were one of the little girls who’d come see us when we—the "called-up" (I’m 57)—were having lunch. Very often, we’d have lobster because we had enough for ourselves and everyone else since the fishermen brought us so much!

In Ivato, I worked in the office of colon Péron, who’s in one of the photos I posted on copainsdavant. My friends were Georges, Michel... I think there was also a little girl named Brigitte.

In Nosy Be, I was a warehouse assistant and in charge of distributing sheets and storing canned food in the big tent.

Since I’m very fair-skinned, those same little girls nicknamed me Nivaquine because I’d told them that in France, we say "white as an aspirin tablet."

Here’s my email: pierre.inno@orange.fr

Best regards

Pierre Innocenzi

Hello everyone, and welcome to the club!!!... for the newcomers.

Please accept my apologies for this prolonged absence.

Regarding our future site: ivato-nosybe.com, I hope to give you the good news by the end of next week, before my departure for... Nosy-Be (well, yes! obviously!!) from 06/17 to 08/13, direct Corsair flight, with the usual formula: "If you love me, follow me...." By the way, there’s another one who took me up on it! But it’ll be with great pleasure, right Philippe?

I had planned to organize a trip to Madagascar for the end of this year, but given the circumstances and especially the BA visit at the moment, I prefer to wait—but it’s only postponed! It’s still certain and planned to have a trip (about 4 weeks) in May or June (to be confirmed) 2010! There are already a few of us, so if you’re interested, don’t hesitate to contact me or us. But that won’t stop me from popping back like usual in November/December this year.

For: the cooks, pastry chefs, storekeepers, camp leaders, etc. from Amporaha, the famous cook « Mme Émile » (aka: my mom) is at my place for a few days at 01 30 32 74 32. It suddenly occurred to me that I might make coconut crêpes tomorrow—good idea—and I’ll definitely be thinking of you, of course!!!! See you soon, Nosy-Béen Francis photo: My taxi is already waiting!

ON 06/10/09 Hello to all Nosybéens and Nosybéennes from the year 00 to today, Just before the holidays, I’m putting out a "SEARCH NOTICE" for families who stayed in Madagascar (Tana-Nosy Be, etc.) between 1967 and 1970. If any readers of this message have information, please feel free to share it with me or us. Looking for the GAC family (Nathalie and Bertrand) returning from Madagascar to Metz. The Perrin family (Catherine and Jean-Jacques), last posting in Vélyzy Villacoublay then Reims. The Delpeche family (Solange), last posting in Creil. The Vivier family (Corinne, Jean-Luc, Hervé). The Labat family. The Patacchini family. All information is welcome. Francis, I wish you a great holiday—give us some Nosy-Be news and a few photos. Best regards to you all. Patrick Romé

Hello everyone,

Our apologies for the website launch—we (theoretically) put it online. But here we are, asking ourselves: Where on earth did it go? Apparently, we just have to wait!!!!!

To be honest, I’m much more comfortable in a coconut tree or in a pirogue on the sea, even when it’s rough, than on a computer!!! Philippe and Christian will try to fix the problem.

Otherwise, I’m leaving tonight (I hope the website didn’t hide itself in my suitcases!!! Because I’m not coming back until August 13).

Have a great day, everyone, and… see you later… (even in Nosy Be, but only from time to time), *mora-mora* style! Francis the Nosy Be local 😎

Hi Francis, Hope you arrived safely on your island. Wishing you a great vacation. Do keep us posted from time to time, though. Best, Franck

On 06/22/09 Hi Francis, Don’t worry about the site—give us some news from Madagascar and Nosy-Be, maybe a few photos from the places we visited during our great years there. Have a great vacation, enjoy your stay! Good news—I’ve developed a new way to digitize old Super 8 films. It’s a bit faster, but it still takes time. I’m counting on those long winter evenings to convert as much as possible and put together a selection of archives to make a short film for the site. See you soon, Velouma. Patrick Romé

hi everyone, could anyone tell me if the ivato-nosybe site is accessible now? have a great day, cathy

Hi there,

Not yet, unfortunately, but in a few days... Just a little more patience—mora, mora... A small issue with transferring the domain between hosts! The site is live, but it’s not accessible via the web yet. A few pages are still being finalized, and updates will be made gradually.

THE BEST WILL BE POSTED ON THE FORUM

Veloma to everyone, Zoma

Hello everyone, and thanks for the well-wishes. The vacation is going well, indeed. Sorry about the website—the connection (apparently ADSL) is *super* slow here, so I can’t do much until I get back, but I’ll post a call for help then unless the site decides to cut its vacation short and come online before that.

I won’t be reachable all next week because I’ll be canoeing with three friends toward the mainland, heading for some off-the-beaten-path spots.

I celebrated Independence Day on June 26th—24 hours straight!!! So tough!!

Here are a few photos in the meantime.

Greetings from Nosy Be to all! See you soon, Francis

Hello everyone, Everything's going well here, apart from the sea being rough and murky (strong undertows) for the past 4 or 5 days. Still enjoying some fish now and then, and of course, the occasional lobster! I can't share any photos right now because the upload speed is too slow, but I’ll definitely post some as soon as I’m back—just two weeks from now. I’m welcoming Philippe Guillotin on Thursday. A special thought for you, Mumu: I hope it’s not too serious. Big kisses to all, Cheers, The Nosy Be local

Hello,

While browsing for photos of Malagasy planes, I stumbled upon the photo you posted. Would it be possible to get in touch with you? My email: alain.raja@yahoo.fr

Maybe hear from you soon!

Thanks and best regards,

Alain R.

Hey Francis! How are you? Not too tough, I hope? How did you know something happened to me... a horror story? LOL! Yeah! My little finger won’t be telling me anything anymore... Not easy, but the surgery went well, so let’s stay positive—it could’ve been worse. I’m doing okay... But counting is harder now! And I got rejected by David Vincent... darn it. Hope we can catch up when you’re back so you can tell me about Nosy Be. In the meantime, have a blast! Hugs, MUMU

Hi,

I sent you a PM on your personal inbox.

Have a good evening

Hi everyone,

Yeah, all good things must come to an end... at least until the next time! Philippe and I are back now. It was tough for Philippe—he’s back to reality. We didn’t do much except enjoy every moment. I think he’ll tell you about his experiences better than I can.

I’m putting out a call to find the site: www.ivato-nosybe.com/ starting tomorrow, and I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, here are some of the photos I promised.

Best wishes to all, Francis, the Nosy Be local

Welcome, Francis, to the land without coconut trees. I haven’t had time yet to sort through the slides from Madagascar ’64/’65. But I’m sure you’ve got other work to do... after returning, before tackling the digital transfer. See you soon, and take care. Pierre

I’m looking for anyone who knew the old Amporaha holiday camp (north of Nosy Be)

Salamatoupko!

Here’s the 297th comment—good evening, everyone, and a huge thank you to Françis for starting these meet-ups around the magical theme of Amporaha. It was late 1966, the traditional stop at the Nosy Be rest camp after a two-year stint with the OM. My wife, a nurse at Girard and Robic, and me, a 24-year-old sergeant, radio-mechanic on the Dakotas of GAM50 in Ivato. An idyllic stay that will always remain etched in our memories. And the lobsters we’d catch while diving every morning for the camp, the naps under the coconut trees… and the sunsets with the bats taking flight from the mangroves on the point. Now retired from the AA, I’m still hoping to reconnect with old acquaintances from that time—so far, nobody, *tsimichvovo*, but I haven’t given up.

Velouma! Charles Rosmann

PS: As a part-time watercolorist, I’d like to ask "jlou82," if they’re reading this, for permission to use some of their amazing photos of the camp as inspiration—they bring back such great memories for all of us.

Hello everyone, and welcome to the club! charly40 and madame! Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. About "tsimichvovo" (tsy misy vaovao = no news): don’t worry, little by little the bird makes its nest. Pierre: no problem. We’re sorry about the website, http://www.ivato-nosybe.com/index.html. We did publish it, but oops!!!: "page under construction" is all this thing can say!!! Luckily, the sea of Nosy-Bé is far away, otherwise I’d have already wrung its neck and thrown it overboard!!! Seriously!!! So: Help! If there’s a computer "mechanic" among us! (For the pros: Probably a Flash writing issue with Cariboost/Acapella) Best wishes to all, Le nosy-béen

I spent a stay at Ivato from '67 to '69 at GAMOM 50 as a pilot on the C-47 and then the Nord Atlas. It was your father who tested me and granted me my aircraft commander license for the Ivato--Moroni route. Much later, when I saw the evaluation of that test, I was very happy to read his favorable comments.

He lives in Brest now, and I’m not too far away since I live in Ploudalmézeau.

This is my first time on this forum, and I noticed that the correspondents were around 10 to 20 years old in '69. That was 40 years ago, so they’re mature now!

Hello to friends from BA 181 Ivato and the Nosy Be holiday camp. Finally!!!! Misy vaovao be Our site http://www.ivato-nosybe.com/accueil.html is now up and running... finally!!!! Not all features are active yet (still on vacation!!!), but you already know the mora-mora of Nosy Be locals or their motto: "He who wants to sail far must take care of his canoe!" So... Happy surfing! - -- amedearzel Welcome to the club! So glad some of the old-timers or parents from back then are joining us! Don’t hesitate to get in touch.