Posts by Fabrepierre

Hello Francis, Lucky you to be revisiting the Malagasy "Tahiti" (that’s what we called it back in 1965)!

Have a great stay, and say hello to my favorite trees for me: the coconut palms.

Best regards, Pierre

Hi NosyBeen, Me too, I was at Ivato the same year!!!!

Hello,

Which unit were you in? I was in GMG Garage from November 1964 to September 1965 and in Nosy Be in June 1965 as a driver. Pierre FABRE

Hello! During your stay, did you live in Bahuhaut at the bottom of the Queen's Palisade? We were there from 1968/69 and met a family named Fabre. Looking forward to hearing from you.

No... I was in Ivato in 1964/1965. Sorry. I now live in Gironde (Cérons). The coconut trees were so beautiful!! Best regards, Pierre FABRE

Thanks Francis, and best wishes to you and the big family in Madagascar.

Best regards to everyone.

Hello, I hope you don’t mind me asking if, by any chance, you knew Soldier Gérard Payet in Ivato around 1960/1962, give or take. We spent a lot of time with his family—our mothers worked together. I’d love to know if you’ve stayed in touch with any of your regiment buddies, especially this soldier from back then. Thanks for your reply! Mada, what a beautiful country—so many unforgettable memories. Greetings, my Voyage Forum username is colimaçons.

Good evening, I was in Mada from November 1964 to October 1965, so I couldn’t have known Gérard Payet. But I did have another Payet with me at the time, originally from La Réunion, as expected. I’ve reconnected with a few buddies from my time thanks to this site. The site’s creator, Francis (what a job he’s done!), was only about ten years old when I was in Nosy Bé, and I knew his parents well—I was the camp driver in June 1965..... What a marvel!! Hopefully, we’ll catch up. Best regards, Pierre.

Hello Francis, and enjoy your stay on the Isle of Fragrances, as it used to be called... In memory of June 1965, warm regards to the coconut trees, my favorite tree!

Best wishes to the former members of BA 181. Pierre

Thanks Francis... and likewise to your whole family. Happy holidays. Pierre

Have a great stay, Francis, and say hello to beautiful Nosy Bé for us... which will always be our youthful dream come true! So happy to have seen it again over 40 years later, even with an even more battered road and more deforestation—but it’s still kept its scents and our memories. Best to you. Pierre

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

...and there you go again, Francis, that's great! I’ll jump in on the embassy visa topic: I agree with you, it's better to get them on the spot. For example, I'm leaving for Vietnam on the 17th; a 100 € multiple-entry visa in Paris... and only $50 on the spot. Don’t get scammed if you have travel plans. Have a great stay, Francis, on that unforgettable island known since 1965.

The hut is gorgeous—it reminds me (but newer) of the ones all along the track between Amporaha and Hell Ville that I used to do at least once a day back in June '65... and I saw them again in 2007 on a road completely wrecked, like it must be now during the rainy season.

Okay, fair enough, it’s missing coconut trees, my favorite tree. When are they planting some for our grandkids?

Warm regards and enjoy your stay in Malagasy Tahiti (as we used to call it). Pierre

Hello, I was in Amporaha in June '65, and I also knew Maryvonne Le Bechec.... maybe you’ve found any trace of her? I went back in April '07 and I’d like to send her some photos. Her father was a commander at the time, and I saw him again in Antony in 1967. Thanks

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

Hi Francis, The rain and sun will make the forest grow back... I hope so, because it’s suffered, but our friends in Nosy Be gotta eat!!!! Think about vanilla. Best, Pierre FABRE

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

Can anyone give me news of Maryvonne LE BECHEC, who was at the camp in June 1965? Her father was a Commandant at the time and a pilot with the GAM. Thanks.

Hi Francis... and stop making us drool with those photos. Hope your stay on the dhow is going well. As for us, we're heading to Hendaye for a week where there are fewer coconut trees!!! See you soon, take care. Pierre

Hello and sorry for the late reply—been traveling! I’m a retired rail worker... and I have a house in Gironde, among other places. I’m not part of the FABRE family from Tana, but I was stationed at the base from November ’64 to October ’65 as a gas station attendant and driver. Back then, I knew Madagascar better than France, not to mention the "Nosy Be dream." If you’d like to chat more: pjf.lesnomades@club-internet.fr Best regards,

Have a great trip, Francis, and so glad I got to see you at home before you left. Best wishes to the Amporha track that I loved so much... and to the coconut palm bays!! I see that everyone who’s been to Nosy Be has been "marked" for life! Pierre

Hello, Happy to chat about Ivato and Nosy Bé—I was there in 1964/1965 and returned in March 2007... such wonderful memories!! Get in touch: pjf.lesnomades@club-internet.fr Hope to hear from you soon. Pierre FABRE

Hello, my name is Pierre FABRE. I was based in Ivato from 11/64 to 10/65 and was a driver at Amporaha in June 65—what great memories! I went back in March 2007 via a rough track with barely any vegetation left (but hey, they’ve got to eat, so they make fires!). Still, the magic remains, and I shed a few tears—I’m not ashamed of that. I took photos in the same spots again; it’s incredible... Best regards.