Looking for friends from the Amporaha camp in Nosy Be

hi francis, i see you go back to the big island regularly. i might be planning a trip there next year, but i’ve heard there are some governance issues in the country right now. my friend vidal was supposed to go there with the babakoto association, but he’s a bit hesitant because of the problems. maybe things will have improved by next year, but my plans are still on for now. see you soon, francis! yves bessot

hi, governance issues have existed for 35 years, and that doesn’t stop anyone from going there... No, there aren’t any particular problems in Madagascar, except in Tana, but Madagascar is huge and elsewhere there aren’t any specific issues. so don’t worry, have a great vacation in this wonderful country....

Good evening, I just discovered this post—bravo! So many memories... I first discovered Madagascar in 1966 aboard the aircraft carrier Foch, where I was a naval officer cadet. I’ve returned often since then, and now I spend a few months in Madagascar every year. Soon, it’ll be permanently.

Misaotra betsaka, veloma...

Good evening everyone,

A phone call from Francis this afternoon from a quiet little spot in Nosy Be. Everything's going well despite the not-so-great weather... well, it's raining this time... phew for the vegetation. He's trying to send us some photos before returning in about two weeks... The weather isn't great here either, you'll see, Francis!!!

Veloma Zoma

Amporaha, July 1970, Le Chalet, a peaceful moment under the early afternoon sun, alizé in the coconut palm fronds, scent of bougainvillea and in the distance, the murmur of the Indian Ocean, an invitation to mora mora

Hello everyone! Just back in Paris with this lovely weather I ordered up. Apologies for posting these messages I’d prepared but didn’t manage to send while I was short on time in Hell-Ville. Have a great day! Francis, the Nosy Be-er

Nosy Be, 11/23 Hello everyone, Thanks Stéphane, your Breton rain arrived safely. It’s been raining almost every night for the past 5 days. The only small downside is that it’s now starting to rain during the day too—tourists won’t be too happy about that! For us, it’s perfect. Mother Nature is reclaiming her rights, and everything’s growing back. It was really needed. I went for a little trip with Patrick (for those who know him) to the mainland in a small, slightly overloaded pirogue. We left early in the morning but only arrived safely the next morning. The sea was particularly rough in the afternoon, so we took shelter on a beach (Ampohana) and set off again at night. We were even treated to a whale ballet. I’m still surprised by the number of tourists in Hell-Ville. Here are some of the photos I promised. Best wishes to all, Francis, the Nosy Be local

Nosy-bé on 12/02 Hello everyone, We celebrated the association's birthday on the 30th, and it went really well. Fewer people than usual, but for us, it was the most successful and fun celebration yet. Tomorrow, I’m picking up a friend who came last year—Michel by TGV at Fascène. He wants to take a canoe trip to the mainland. Best wishes to all, Francis, the Nosy-béan

Nosy Be, 12/13 Hello everyone, As planned, we left on the 5th for an excursion to the mainland by pirogue, with Michel TGV arriving on the 3rd as scheduled. We turned back on the 4th day because the weather suddenly turned stormy during the night until the morning, and since the weather is uncertain at this time of year, we decided to head back. Michel spent a morning on the islet and did two treks, including one to Mont Passot. He’s returning tomorrow, and I’ll be back two days later. I know it’s really nice in France and that a lovely 30°C is waiting for me when I arrive, but what can you do—everything comes to an end, and honestly, a little cool weather wouldn’t hurt. Some might say I’m crazy! Cheers, Francis, the Nosy Be local

Hello to all Amporaha fans,

I wish you all an excellent 2011. As for me, I’ll be celebrating the New Year on the beach at... Amporaha! I’ll be in Nosy Be with my wife for just three days over New Year’s, but it still makes me just as happy. I’ll be thinking of you all.

By the way, among the recent documents released by Wikileaks, I picked out this one, which has undeniable strategic importance. It’s the famous ranking from the regatta organized in 1971 by the CNUT. Don’t ask me where I got it—I protect my sources...

Bruno LATASTE

Here’s some happiness in messages and pictures. So many memories of this little paradise. (1968 and 2008) Best wishes to all the former campers of Amporaha.

Happy end-of-year holidays and a fantastic 2011 to everyone.

Claude

Hi Bruno, What reassures me is that I arrived right in front of you, 16 (Ph Agrissais). I remember now, because we almost got stuck in the *zouzoures*!! 🙂 Your source is great! See you soon and have a great stay in Nosy! And if you see Francis, say hi for me—I’m thinking of going back to Helleville at the start of 2011!! Philippe

🙂 To all the cyber readers of this site and to my friend Francis, I wish you the best travel-filled wishes for the tropics, with ingredients like health, joy, love, and happiness. With this recipe, you’ll start a fantastic 2011. I hope that in this new year, we can reunite with our families—GAC, PERRIN, DELPECH, BRASTEL, VIVIER, ANGELIER, and many others. 😇 Sending kisses to Muriel, Marie Lou, Brigitte, and Josiane, and I hope you all have wonderful end-of-year celebrations with your loved ones. Childhood friendship from Amporaha. Photos taken in November 2010 at the former military site BAHUHO in Antananarivo. The last photo is of ESCA in Antanimena, which hasn’t changed. Latest news from Tana: very little social progress, and it’s still not safe to go out at night in the capital. Patrick 😏

Hi PROME and everyone,

I made a mistake and the photos I randomly fished out disappeared without my text. I was saying that I didn’t know this BAHUHO city, but I was very familiar with ESCA, having spent two years there, including one as a boarder in ’71 and ’72. What memories of dorms, classes with teachers sometimes in robes, judo, the pool... One time, toward the end, we went out and joined Malagasy students who were protesting. An incredible atmosphere that I’ve never experienced again in protests back in France. As for regattas, I also did the 12 Hours of Mantasoa, always with P. CARDOT, and it was really a blast. On the other hand, when I took part in the Mada Raid in 1993, it was a whole different story—it was in a pirogue... Anyway, cheers to everyone, and see you soon.

Bruno

Hello I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. I’d like to extend my best wishes for 2011 to you and your families. Best regards

12/24/2010 Hi there, Yes! I was at ESCA from 1967 until the end of 1969. You must have known the super stars like the Redoutable "Huns Renals" and the "Directeur Romain". I’m attaching his photo—it was taken in November 2010 after his heart surgery and aortic graft. I need to look for it, but I should have a recent photo of the "Surv G Renals" who lives in Quebec in a retirement home for missionary brothers...

ESCA left me with great memories in terms of studies and a well-equipped school for the time, but when it came to discipline, even a disciplinary regiment couldn’t hold a candle to it... (hours of detention, slaps with a ruler, etc....)

The Bahuho district was located—and still is—past Lake Anosy, at the exit of Mahamache Stadium toward Timbazas, just below the Queen’s Palace.

From Bahuho to ESCA, I crossed all of Tananarive, but back then it was pure joy (Zoma). I was a teenager, and the memories are still the same today. Plus, there were three dream stays in Nosy-Be.

Have a great holiday season, and maybe see you around this area soon. VELOUMA. Patrick from Bordeaux

Merry Christmas to everyone. Francis, are you back? Best, Franck

Hello everyone, friends of the BA 181 from Ivato, I wish you all a happy end-of-year celebration and a fantastic and excellent 2011!!! I got back from Nosy Be (that’s for Roums, who couldn’t handle the Tahiti sun—yeah right, supposedly for work...) on December 17th. I was even welcomed by a beautiful blanket of snow—it was really great! The change of scenery was total, but I didn’t even get cold. I’d packed an excess of... warmth from the start. - Bruno, I hope you have a great vacation in Nosy Be—too bad we won’t be there at the same time! - Philao, you could use some Nosy Be sunshine, so I hope we’ll be there together! For New Year’s, I’ll be on the beach in... Quimperlé. - Prome, your order is here—I’ll call you as soon as possible. Sincerely, and once again, a fantastic 2011 to EVERYONE!!! Francis, the Nosy Be local

And here, dear friends, to close out 2010, a message sent by a friend: Dear friends,

Please take note for the upcoming year 2011:

I want to inform all the friends who sent me wishes promising happiness, fortune, and money in 2010, that: WELL: IT DIDN’T WORK, NOT AT ALL!!!! So, in 2011, PLEASE send the money directly! .. PS: I ' also accept bottles of wine or coconuts THANKS

Thanks to you, Francis, The transition must have been brutal, "from the coral sand of the deep south to the white mantle of the far north"... That’s where my idea from yesterday for my future came from—spending six months in the tropics (Oct-Mar) and the rest in my Périgord. Thanks for thinking of my request; I’m still available for the transfer to Bdx. We’ll be in touch by phone. Thanks again. HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2011 TO YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND THE NOSY-BE CLUB AND IVATO’S B.A. TEAM.😊 See you soon.😏 P. ROME

Thanks Francis, and like you, brrr, I just spent a month in former Indochina. Happy New Year to all who knew Nosy Be and BA 181 at Ivato. A nostalgic soul for the coconut trees and the morning scents of the path leading to Hell-Ville. Pierre