Photo: Anisha Shah
very own version of Ireland’s Unesco site,
Giant’s Causeway. But here, it is on an islet
in the Indian Ocean! Tubular solid volcanic
sediments shoot into the sky forming a
vertical wall, resulting from a sudden volcanic
eruption and rapid sedimentation. Sprouting
vertically from a crevice in the burnt orange
‘pipes,’ I spot a lone leafy green tree jutting
out mid-air from this remote untouched
island. It’s also a great place to seek out
fossilised remains dating back 400 million
years. The archipelago is a worthwhile halfday visit, easily seen by boat from Constance
Tsarabanjina. Evenings on the island are
entertaining, with sunset cocktails on a hilltop,
casual gatherings at the beach for local dance
and music performances and an evening
of learning about the culture and history of
Madagascar, for those who directly visit the
island. At certain times of year, this is a great
place to see breaching humpback whales.
Capital of culture, Antananarivo
Utterly rested after a few days of idyllic sea
and sand, it’s a flight back to the capital,
Antananarivo, a bubbly and energetic city.
Though heaving with crowds, it has an
architecturally stunning upper town and
midtown, with crumbling colonial Frenchstyle properties painted in pastel hues. The
ghosts of the French colonial era also live
on in the food, with patisseries and coffees
widely available in cute cafes. French is the
2nd language, after Malagasy. I speak it
throughout the city, from flagging the white
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