Posts by Prome

Thanks for your reply! Ah, Madagascar back then—what a wonderful time. It was definitely the three best years of my life. I was a student teen, and it was an extraordinary country. Safe travels! Thanks for your reply.

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.

My suggestion wasn’t about mass tourism—far from it—just adding a few complementary images to your site to help showcase it better... Like you, I’m not a fan of big touristy tours; that’s not my style at all. Especially since we always travel as backpackers, even with 60 candles on the cake... Thankfully, there are still some protected corners left on our planet... But adding photos or short videos sometimes lets me see and get to know a region we’d like to rediscover... I hope you’ve better understood my proposal now... I’ll reach out again when you’re back in mainland France. Wishing you great moments—here, we’re heading into the gloomy season with bad weather on the way... Warm regards from Aquitaine. Patrick

Hey there, Friend! I checked out your site, Les Piroguiers, during my stay in Madagascar—it brought back childhood memories. I’ll be making films and taking photographs of nature and the beauty of certain sites. So, if you’d like, I can create some short films for your site or even stage some scenes to attract vacationers... To start, you could take some photos, and I could put together an animation for you. This is a free offer from a former Nosy-Be local... Kudos to you for protecting your property! With my future images, I can add value to your regulated tourism efforts. Cheers, Vélouma. PR😉

Hey Francis! Three months—I’m dreaming... of your paradise! How’s your region doing? Madagascar is still a dream for me 😅 Send some photos of your paradise! What do you plan to do in Nosy Be—hikes, dives...? See you soon! My plans are getting closer as the months go by, but I still have work to do back in France... Start planning some itineraries, and we’ll figure out a dream trip together... PR😎

hey! all the big fishermen know about Turluttes!!!!. Lots of young women must be relieved to know that the turlutte isn’t a sin . Happy fishing! Catch some groupers and other tropical fish!!! The vibe’s already great! I’d love to share your moments—I think I’ll make it soon. Have a great stay! Velouma dear Mumu. Kisses from Patrick

Hi La Mumu, hope you have a great vacation—I bet lots of memories will come flooding back... Make the most of it... eat some bananas for us! Have a wonderful trip! With friendship from Patrick in Bordeaux... Mumu, remember to take photos... If you pass by Amporaha, we can relive all the memories from back then and now... Kisses, see you soon.

On 05/20/2012 Hi Francis, Sorry I didn’t return your call—no worries! I got your message. But I had two minor procedures, and unfortunately, there was a small complication that kept me down for a few days. I’m happy to say everything’s back to normal now.

From what I’ve seen on the site, you’re going to have visitors—enjoy it! One day, we’ll join you. That’s for sure! Lamumu and all your visitors, have a great stay and tell us about your adventure "Ko-Nosy-Be...".

See you soon—with all my friendship—Patrick in Bordeaux.

Hi Corinne, Here’s the email address where we can stay in touch: cinevideo33@orange.fr See you soon—I’ll have some photos to send you. I think I have that famous canoe competition on a digitized S8 film, and you’re in it along with your sisters... maybe even others. Warm regards, P. Romé

Well, here we go! It really is you and your sisters who were in Madagascar at the same time as us. I lived in the Bahuhau city, not far from the Zoo on the hill leading to it. By the way, if I take the time to look at the S8 photos and videos, I think you’re all in them—especially in the videos from the beach parties like the "Pirogue Races," etc. Those were wonderful years, and when Francis and I talk, so many memories come flooding back. We’re both the same age, after all. When I started looking for friends from Madagascar back in 2005, I remember that my dear friend JJ Gourves and I mentioned your name—proof we hadn’t forgotten you!

Let me use *tu* with you, because even if there’s been a little gap of a few years among the "Paradise kids," we can still talk to each other informally.

I’ve reunited with a lot of our old classmates from back then, and every time, it’s such an emotional experience. Yes! Those were happy years—our first teenage freedoms, so cool!

I have to step away now, but see you soon, dear neighbor. The basin is nice, but Nosy-Be is even better ++++ Recently, I filmed a report about an old sea wolf and oyster farmer in La Teste. I’ll be back on the site this evening. Patrick Romé

Hello Corinne Boutin, Would you happen to be part of the Boutin family who was at the camp during the summers between 1967 and 1970? After looking at the photo and reading your comment, I suddenly had memories come flooding back. I have memories of the Boutin family—I think there were two sisters.... Back then, we used to eat together with Marie Lou Troin, Nathalie Gac, JJ Gourves, and myself, Patrick Romé. The pirogue races: during one race, we were disqualified because Francis’s sister was with us. I’m in Bordeaux now, and my daughter is in Gujan, so maybe see you soon. Until then, here’s the best memory from a Nosybéan. Velouma and see you soon. Patrick Romé

Hello Francis, Wishing you and your family happy holidays. See you soon, with all my best wishes and fondest memories. Happy holidays to all the former campers who once visited Amporaha in their lives. Patrick in Aquitaine

Hi Lamumu, Glad to read your message. I sent you emails via Orange and Copains d’Avant, but I don’t think you got them. Wishing you and your family happy holidays—may all your wishes come true. Hugs from Patrick in Aquitaine. My personal email address hasn’t changed. Hope to hear from you soon. Kisses, Vélouma. Patrick

Hello fellow traveler, The zebu is good! Did you bring some back by pirogue? Here in Aquitaine, we're also experiencing drought—worrying situation, but with winter coming, rain or snow should improve things... Global warming!!!!! Thanks for the news. I see that fishing is also declining..... Enjoy your little paradise and spend those euros. When you return to France, we might be back to the old Franc or bartering..... (lol). See you online soon. Best wishes, Patrick

Hi Francis, If you're on Île d'Oléron (Amporaha on Oléron) this summer, please let me know the dates—I’ll come visit you by ultralight aircraft. How about meeting at the airfield, for example? It’s not unusual for us to go eat some oysters (we leave the Périgord in the morning, spend the day on Oléron, and return to the Périgord in the evening). Make sure to note this proposal in your calendar!

Madagascar, I think that’s for the end of the year—I’m going there to film several reports on biodiversity, etc. Cities I’ll be visiting: Tana, Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Mananjary, Morondava, Tulear. I’ll try to take a week off to come to Nosy Be… See you soon, and my best regards to all the Nosy Be locals (Nosybéens and Nosybéennes) who’ve stayed in Madagascar. Kisses to the girls… Patrick

My first hello in 2011 to the forum’s cyber readers. Yes! I knew all the names mentioned. "Huns Renals" was the Headmaster back in our day—the terror of ESCA. Mrs. Micouin was my best French teacher ever +++. I went to accompany her to her final resting place last year, and I’m still in touch with her son, Roland Micouin. And from time to time, I chat with Romain Bruno Légaré, the former director of ESCA. He splits his time between Quebec and Madagascar and is currently in Ambatolampy. He’s 85... but still in relatively good shape.

That’s the news from 2011. I think we must’ve known each other or met back then at ESCA or the B.A. See you soon. P.Rome 😉

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

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

🙂 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 😏

July 20, 2010

Hi Francis,

Thanks for these updates and photos—I’d love to share your moments, create content for the site, and send messages through reports. It’s so good to read and see your posts. The past years come flooding back, and suddenly, I feel like walking the fine sand of the Malagasy islands again. But I’m not giving up; time will sort things out, and I’ll come join you to rediscover part of the past and the future of this region. Despite the changes, there’s still something authentic left, which you express so well. Returning to the roots—but when? Thanks again, Francis. I sent you an email to your personal address. Keep sending us your messages; they’re really uplifting. See you soon! Best to the Malagasy friends who are with you. Volouma! Patrick from Bordeaux