Looking for friends from the Amporaha camp in Nosy Be

Good evening everyone, I’m taking the opportunity of Françoise’s message above to say, like I always do: If you love me, follow me! I’m leaving on May 8th until August 5th for... Nosy Be, of course!!! In my new village, where I’m starting almost the same adventure as my parents did. Seven friends from our ivato-nosybe.com site are joining me at the end of May for 3 weeks. I’m sure they’ll tell you all about it when they get back. Best wishes to all, Francis, the Nosy Be local

Hi Francis,

We arrived safely but we’re really sad to have left all of you. We had three fabulous weeks. We just spent an hour looking at photos—we’re still there in our heads! Huge thanks for such a great stay that we already want to do again.

Comments from Christian, Nini, Philippe, and Marie: For those who love truly meeting locals, don’t hesitate—Honorée (the cook we nicknamed "The Pearl of the Indian Ocean") and Patrick (the guide who took us on all the excursions) helped us discover local dishes and stunning sites. The village has a wonderful sense of serenity (despite the roosters!!!!!!), and though the comfort is basic (it’s a real Malagasy village), it’s enough for anyone who wants to live "authentically." The pirogue excursions and overnight bivouacs totally took us out of our comfort zone (which is what we wanted), and we even had the chance to see a pod of dolphins!!!!!!! Stay tuned for our next comments and photos...

Here’s a first selection of our photos showcasing our 3-week trip on Nosy Be (Association Village and bivouacs), Madagascar (the Tsingy of Ankarana and Diego) ...

Best wishes,

Here’s a first selection of our photos illustrating our 3-week stay on Nosy Be (Association Village and bivouacs), Madagascar (the Tsingy of Ankarana and Diego) ...

Cheers,

Here’s a first selection of our photos illustrating our 3-week stay on Nosy Be (Association Village and bivouacs), Madagascar (the Tsingy of Ankarana and Diego Suarez) ...

Best wishes,

Hi there, not sure if my previous message went through... I was saying that we had a fabulous trip and lived with our Malagasy friends in the village, in a warm atmosphere. Emotions, tasting Honorée's amazing cooking, sailing with exceptional pirogue sailors, camping on simply stunning beaches of the mainland, moving encounters... Laughter, good vibes, Patrick's humor—our guide, always there, an extraordinary sailor, and all the others, ready to do anything to make us happy and make this journey on land and sea unforgettable. These three weeks felt so short, but we've become true backpackers, Malagasy in our hearts.... Already present last year, I'm so happy to have reunited with all of them... with one downside for Robert the Show-off (the rooster we brought back from a village on the way to Diego), who is still as handsome but whom I would have happily "eaten" at 4 AM! The village is amazing, the vegetation is growing little by little, the huts are comfortable and so beautifully made, Honorée cooked us delicious meals in every circumstance. The pirogue is a true marvel, and the pirogue sailors are impressive! Oh là là!!!!

Hi Francis, I’m thinking of you with excitement—hope to see you again soon. Yannick

Hi everyone, Oh yes!! Back already... until next time! After the old friends from Amporaha camp left, we had a few tourists until I left. So I couldn’t do much there. Best wishes to all. Photo 1: Future doctors arriving at the guesthouse Photo 2: During a pirogue trip to Nosy Iranja Francis, the Nosy Be local

Hi Paul janeczko memories!

Hi, my name is Paul Janeczko. I was in Nosy Be in 1971!

Me too, I was there in 1971. I left in July to return to France. I was in Nosy Be as a radio operator at the Ivato base. Nothing but good memories, but I don’t remember your name!

I’m Paul Janeczko. I was at Ivato in 1971 and 1972, and I used to waterski. Did we cross paths?

We might have met—I was a member of the CMAI, and I also did water skiing and aquaplaning, with a chair set up on top like a real acrobat! I don’t remember much, but one of the CMAI leaders was Adj. Mahistre Vidal... Anyway, we all returned to mainland France because the base was preparing to move to Réunion. I suppose that’s what you experienced in ’72.

Janeczko Paul I was in Nosy Be in July 1971 I recognize photo 2

Hi Paul, I was in Madagascar (Ivato) from 1969 to 1971 (July), same time as Nosybé2! Same profession. Like him, I was a radio operator and also went to Nosy Be several times. With my friend Mahistre, we took care of the CMAI by Lake Ambohibo (!) Water skiing, sailing, and working with young people.... I returned to Madagascar in 2005 and 2007 with an association (building schools) in the Zafamanary region on the central highlands of the island. Great memories! But exhausting! We were supposed to go to the Comoros and Nosy Be at the end of 2013, but family issues made us postpone the trip.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Jean Marie V. (in the Cévennes)

Hello again. I was in Ivato in 1971 and 1972 with the GAMOM50, SAMAR SATER service. I traveled a lot in the northern Atlas, did waterskiing, sailing, diving, parachuting, and spent time at the base pool. I used to go on missions for airdrops at sea and on land—I think we must have crossed paths. I remember a severe sunburn the boat operator for the waterskiing on the lake got! Bike to you, Paul Janeczko

Hello everyone,

I stumbled upon this forum by chance. I’m Pascal BARNERIAS, and I was just a kid during our stays in Nosy Be (from 1966 to 1969, if I remember correctly), but I still have some great memories... Maybe some of you remember my parents, my father Marius (now 89), who was a communications ADC in Ivato from 1966 to 1969, or my sisters Dominique, Martine, and Françoise. It’s been such a pleasure reading through all these pages. We have lots of slides and some Super 8 films—I think we’ll be able to post some of them. Take care,

Pascal

I was at IVATO from January 1971 to July 1973, just before the Base was dissolved. I spent time in Nosy Be as a mechanic (electricity via generators and water supply) and as a supplier, going to buy food in a 4x4. I tried water skiing once, but I was terrible at it, so I stopped. I used to hang out with pilot DEGUINGAND, doctor CORDOLIANI, and photographer Christian DONNOT, among others. I lived by the lake in TANA, then after the incidents, I moved to the IVATO housing estate. I played soccer, rugby, and especially pétanque every afternoon.

Hi Pascal, I was a radio operator at the Ivato base reception center from '69 to '71, and your name rings a bell. I remember your face, but it was so long ago. I also went to Nosy Be as a radio assistant to the camp chief, both for work and vacation, and I think your dad worked at STS on the base. We definitely crossed paths. Welcome to the site!

Hello. I’m Janeczko. I remember Mr. Deguingand.