Looking for friends from the Amporaha camp in Nosy Be (page 7 of 31)

It's true that I've never been to Amporaha, but I can see what I've missed from all the photos you've shared on this forum. I regret that the current BA isn't in Madagascar. Life there would have been completely different. Still, I've managed to visit the Big Island several times and see some amazing landscapes, and most importantly, meet welcoming and charming people. Franck Zoreil from Réunion

Good evening, I’ve just signed up among the former camp members and added a photo worthy of my username. Have a great evening, everyone—a doctor from the camp (July 1968, end of June 1969)

I'll take the ball and throw down a challenge! Who's the biggest chimp? Who can top that?, Anyway, thanks to the chimp for definitely healing our little aches back then and for the photo taken to the left of the beach just after the "Sakalava" village?

Hi Francis, I understand better now what you meant in your last email "careful, I’m very natural, the real Robinson" after seeing your two photos. Take care, Franck

and you didn't see anything!!! I even forgot! "Friday" (photo)

April 8, 2008 Hello and a big thank you to Francis, Your phone call already warmed my heart. I’m doubly happy that my friends, the Gourves family—aka "Chimpanze" and "JJLEDOC"—have signed up on your forum. They’ve got sea urchin spines stuck between the dermis and epidermis, so thanks to Doctor Gourves for patching them up with iodine tincture—a kind of medical tan. Either way, it was that or mercury chrome, and we’d have left looking like ladybugs. Do you have any memories of Mokafou? It was a cute little critter that used to come by in the evening to snag a few ml of our blood. A quick word for Christian Grevisse: I sent you two emails—did you get them? Finally, thanks to you, Francis, I got news about the place where I used to live. Muriel moved there right after I left, and the story of Madagascar continues through our memories. That’s why I’m extending my stay virtually, but the closer I get to retirement, the closer I get to Madagascar. Returning to this island is a must—a stop in Nosy-Be, Diego, Sainte Marie, Tamatave, Tana, retracing the steps of a schoolboy, Tuléar—basically a full island tour with no time limit. Other names come to mind: the Vivier family, the Brastel family, the Labat family. Keep this amazing forum alive—Nosy-Be and Madagascar will remain a paradise on Earth thanks to all of us. Best regards, Patrick Romé

Miss Coco's photo is amazing—what a character! She was really the village attraction. I was little (7 to 10 years old, from '62 to '65), but I remember it like it was yesterday. She fascinated us!

I went back to Madagascar in 2006. I entered the former IVATO air base, found my old house (they let me go inside), my school, the pool, the tennis courts, the infirmary, the mess hall (a bit run-down) with the little pond where we used to tease the baby crocodile, the CMRC—all of it with so much emotion.

After that, I took a 3-week trip through the southwest, and I couldn’t resist making a round trip to Nosy Be to search for Amporaha. It was tough to find on a dirt bike at the end of that bumpy track—so much emotion again!

Nosy Be has changed a lot, but it hasn’t lost any of its magic. At dusk, when you ride through the ylang-ylang fields on a motorbike and the scent intoxicates you, it’s pure bliss. The island is still a wonder!

I hope to go back soon with my parents (my dad was a captain and in charge of the camp in the summer of '64, I think).

See you soon for some photos!

Hello, And welcome, boopas! You can contact either of us privately by clicking on the name on the left, so we can get to know who you are and... who knows, maybe we’ll cross paths (again) soon in Nosy-Be. See you soon, Francis

Hello again everyone, There’s someone who’s desperately trying to get into our forum! And yet, so many of us are waiting for her—Madame is either sending out an SOS to ORANGE or she just won’t admit it, she’s really dragging this out! Oh well!! Marie-Lou TROIN, old habits die hard! Anyway, she’ll join us as soon as the issue is resolved. See you soon, Francis That’s definitely her in the red lamba in the photo!

It was expected, sure, there were "truly magnificent Tahitian women" in Amporaha amid that dreamlike setting. Marie-Louise was radiant—those happy moments are impossible to forget. From Emile Avenue to the sacred islet, from lobsters to Mrs. Emile’s coconut pancakes... how could we, the young teens we were, ever forget Nosy Be? I think it’s impossible. Today, a few days later, we’re reunited, and nothing has changed—just that time has passed, but the memories are still there. Welcome, M. Louise, so happy to see you again. Patrick

Hello, My name is Stéphane Néfiolov, and I’m the son of Captain Néfiolov from back then. I knew Amporaha in 1968—I was 9 years old. I went back in 1972 and became friends with Frank, Emile’s son, who was in charge of camp maintenance. You know, the guy who’d drive us to Helleville in the 403, and along the way, we’d cross that field of ylang-ylang (not sure about the spelling), but I’ll never forget that heavenly scent. If by any chance you have news about Emile’s family, please pass it along. I’m a musician now, and you can visit my site: nefiolovs.ifrance.com. Greetings from Amporaha, S. Néfiolov

Hello, I’m the son of Captain Néfiolov from back then. My name is Stéphane, and my father’s name was Guy. We were in Nosy Be in 1968, and I returned in 1972. I was really good friends with Frank and Freddy, who were my age and the sons of Emile, the camp leader who used to take us from Amporaha to Hell-Ville in those 403 vans! If you have any news, drop me a little hello. I’m a musician now, and you can find me on my website: nefiolovs.ifrance.com Big greetings from Nosy Be! S. Néfiolov

Hi, If your dad was a captain in Nosy Bé back then, he must’ve been a buddy of mine—Captain Guy Néfiolov. I also spent all my vacations there in 1968 and 1971. I was friends with Emile’s sons. I’m a musician now. You can check out my site: nefiolovs.ifrance.com Stéphane Néfiolov

Hello everyone, Finally!!! Hi there Stéphane, and welcome to the club!!! Not long ago, Franck saw one of your posters in Corsica—I knew it wouldn’t be long before we crossed paths again. If you only knew how many people have asked me about your dad! Few have forgotten him. I’ll reach out privately about that, but in the meantime, here’s a photo of a certain young… Stéphane. And another of Fredy around 1999, plus Francis.

Hello Stéphane, I was in Nosy Be at the same time as you—you were a bit younger than me—but I remember your dad well. He was a great fighter pilot and would occasionally fly over Amporaha, buzzing the treetops so low he almost touched the coconut palms. See you soon, I’m Patrick Romé (Prome). Some people left great memories—thank you to them—and your dad is one of them. Best regards. Among my friends was ML Troin, whom I’ve reconnected with since. Thanks again to Francis for creating this forum. See you soon.

Hey Francis! Unbelievable!!! But true! What a little show-off I already was in that photo! It’s a wonderful gift! My Frank is still as handsome as ever! Here’s my phone number! Tell him to give me a call one of these days: 02.97.59.42.12 06.71.07.73.34 Anyway, you’ve got all that on my website: nefiolovs.ifrance.com (no www. before) Thanks again for everything! I’m waiting to hear from you! Stéphane

Hey Prome! I'm stunned by this news, and so happy! Francis just wrote to me too, and he found a photo of me in Nosy-Bé! Hope everything's going great for you (I think you're in Bordeaux now)? We occasionally play there with my band! Next tour, I'll send you an email! In the meantime, you can always follow us on my website: nefiolovs.ifrance.com (don't add www before) Thanks again for your reply! Eternal greetings from Nosy-Bé Stéphane

Hi Francis, I just heard about Miss COCO from a former Ivato local. He says he has a photo of the "Belle". I’ll send you his details in a PM. Veloma, Franck

Hi everyone, I was in Nosy in July and August '71. Did anyone know a young woman named Dominique (I think she was from the agricultural sector)? Her father was a pilot. Thanks! ;;;!

Sorry, I don’t know this person—I was in Madagascar from 1967 to ’69 inclusive. Best of luck with your search. P.Rome