Blog

Worship and ritual events.
Very many religious events punctuate the life of the different ethnic groups that inhabit the big island. If some are annual, many return on a cycle more or less long. The Fanompoambe (relics bath Royal sakalava) in Mahajanga in June/July. The Sambatra (collective circumcision Antambahoaka in Mananjary region all the 7 years - the next in 2014).
When we have the opportunity to attend, This allows drill 'Malagasy soul' and start to understand some of the traditional values which are attached these populations that can sometimes seem curiously reluctant to different forms of progress : This progress so often disparaged in the more developed countries !

Among the most popular festivals, often the music and different close parades of Carnival, include it Donia at Nosy be (Pentecost Autour), the Festival of whales in Sainte-Marie (between August and early September), the Feria Oramena or feast of lobster (June) in Fort-Dauphin, the Festimania in Ambositra (June),Toliara Tsimiroro "Tulear never sleeps., Avy e Litchi ! (November) Tamatave, Bassessa Tour (August) to Mahanoro, Akory lahaly (folk dance in Brickaville in June Festival), the regatta (August) and Carnival (June) Diego Suarez, the wine festival (February) in Fianarantsoa, the Festival Makoa in Morondava (tribute to the slaves in July), the festivanille (October) the Sava region.
The capital offers many events such as the Madajazzcar…

Traditional hobbies and games.
In working-class cities and even the sidewalk or in the villages of "Bush"., you find yourself many card players or dominoes. Most traditional and original, the Fanorona is practiced in the Highlands : game of strategy between the game of Go and the ladies, This game is a very accurate organization : Federation and rankings give a side very official. The game, by itself, is aesthetically very beautiful and can be the subject of a memory (failing to get started !).
Apart from the "Savika., We can mention the Moraingy or traditional wrestling. It has its revered champions, particularly in the South and the tournaments are followed with great fervor : music and dance create a steamy atmosphere.

Architectural heritage.
The most beautiful architectural and historical ensemble consists of the Manjakamiadana Rova. This «Queen's Palace» overlooks all Antananarivo and was, Unfortunately, the seat of a fire in November 1995. It is very largely rehabilitated today and full visits will be able to resume. Its façade can be admired during a key walk in the Haute Ville, which leads, just below the Queen's Palace, at the Andafiavaratra Museum (Palace of the Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, who was married to three successive Queens !) which contains the historical collections that were once exposed to the Queen's Palace.

• Of Ambohimanga Rova
One of the twelve hills sacred around Antananarivo was long the seat of the Merina monarchy. A score of kilometers north of Antananarivo is a fortified Palace ("Rova".) classified world heritage of UNESCO since 2001. Discovery moving from what was the Royal residence of ANDRIANAMPOINIMERINA, the great Malagasy unifying King who died in 1810. The village of Ambohimanga, down the Palace is, In addition, very pleasant to visit in its bosky.

• Rova of Antongona.
More than the two small boxes (that are nevertheless home to a Museum) that make up the Rova of Antongona, It is the whole of the site which deserves to be traversed. The Rova is indeed perched on a huge rock that seems to dominate the Merina country. Less than an hour from the capital, After a small climb by paths that were built there 150 years and kept property walls bordes, arriving at the Summit. A 1 500m altitude you can enjoy a magnificent view.

• Colonial architecture.
Both cities have a beautiful set of colonial mansions : Tamatave and Diego Suarez. Thanks to the association «Friends of Toamasina» guides, You can easily browse the city to explore its monuments, places, museums and old colonial dwellings. At Diego Suarez, the Regional Tourist Office has developed a whole range of great explanatory signs detailing the history and the architectural wealth of the city.
The houses with carved balconies of Ambalavao, the doors (of Indian origin) old houses of Mahajanga but also the traditional dwellings of the Highlands in brick (miscegenation between different European influences) or the simple boxes in "falafa" of the sides each have their charm.

Gastronomy.
Malagasy cuisine has a few traditional dishes which, without being very many, are not less succulent.
In the first place, the Zebu Romazava, true national dish. Small cubes of meat of zebu served with rice (essential), a rougail tomato and this 'clear broth"which is the translation of the word Romazava. The Red of the tomatoes, the green of the bredes (leaves) which adorn the broth, and white rice make up the colours of the national flag. The «Henakisoa sy Ravitoto. (pork with mashed cassava leaves), the "sy amalona Henakisoa. (pork meat mixed with eel)... meals are accompanied, including in the Bush, the «Ranovola». (Brown rice cooking water-based beverage).
Apart from these traditional dishes, We must emphasise the exceptional organoleptic qualities the Malagasy terroir products : whether it's fruit and vegetables (Land plants grow on the same soils the green beans and the christophines, Apple trees and some lychee...) or meat, including zebu, which is more tasty.
A very large number of excellent tables along the country and we can say that gastronomic pleasures are today part of the joys of a trip in Madagascar both some leaders know marry traditional French and Malagasy local products tasty recipes.
Lovers of fish and seafood will enjoy, almost everywhere, on the sides. Those who love Asian cuisine will appreciate the famous Chinese soups of Tamatave...

by Hôtel★★★ Restaurant gourmand Coco Logde Mahajanga.