Madagascar my 100th UN-LISTED country
June 10 2023 | Tagged: Madagascar
Even though I am not Chasing193, nor aiming to go to Every Country in the World, I am still super stoked to (finally) travel to my 100th UN-LISTED country and also to be back in Africa.
After 30 ½ years as a backpacker (I started at 24) I reached 100. 107 if you include the non UN-Listed countries that I personally recognise.
It is also my 22nd UN-listed African country. 23rd if you include Western Sahara and 7th time in Africa.
Celebrating my 100th UN-LISTED country with a THB (Three Horses Beer) up near the airport:
After 30 ½ years as a backpacker (I started at 24) I reached 100. 107 if you include the non UN-Listed countries that I personally recognise.
It is also my 22nd UN-listed African country. 23rd if you include Western Sahara and 7th time in Africa.
Celebrating my 100th UN-LISTED country with a THB (Three Horses Beer) up near the airport:
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The Countries Map looks better and better:
You can see all the countries I have ben to on my World Travel Page
Up near the airport the next day (I was collecting information) with the Madagascar Flag behind me:
Up near the airport the next day (I was collecting information) with the Madagascar Flag behind me:
It was quite the marathon to get here.
I took a bus from MK to Aylesbury, another to High Wycombe, had a beer with my buddy Paul, before taking another bus to Heathrow. 3 buses, Milton Keynes to Heathrow for just £6.
From the Heathrow bus station you can transfer for free to Terminal 4.
The flight was about 8 and a half hours. But I suffer from restless leg syndrome so it became a bit hardcore.
I took a bus from MK to Aylesbury, another to High Wycombe, had a beer with my buddy Paul, before taking another bus to Heathrow. 3 buses, Milton Keynes to Heathrow for just £6.
From the Heathrow bus station you can transfer for free to Terminal 4.
The flight was about 8 and a half hours. But I suffer from restless leg syndrome so it became a bit hardcore.
I kept hydrated, I took an aisle seat so I could get up regularly but the sleep doesn't come.
Then 7 hours in Nairobi airport. I found a deserted departure gate and tried to rest.
The flight to Antananarivo was late arriving.
Then 7 hours in Nairobi airport. I found a deserted departure gate and tried to rest.
The flight to Antananarivo was late arriving.
I got my Madagascar visa on arrival, used the free Wi-Fi to set up my location for my bank app, got some cash at the MCB ATM which offers free withdrawals, then was plunged into the chaos of a 3rd world African country. It was gone 5 pm when I had gotten out of the airport. I was kinda on a mission to get to my guest house before the night descended, which it did at 6 pm.
Using the experience gained from backpacking the world for the last 31 years, I found the local bus going to Tala.
First impressions mean a lot to me. The people were friendly. They could have ripped me off on the bus but they didn't.
The smallest note I had was 10,000. About 2€ I handed it over.
On arriving near my guest house, the guy counted out 9,600 in change.
I found the guest house, the security guard next door showed me where the buzzer was.
Using the experience gained from backpacking the world for the last 31 years, I found the local bus going to Tala.
First impressions mean a lot to me. The people were friendly. They could have ripped me off on the bus but they didn't.
The smallest note I had was 10,000. About 2€ I handed it over.
On arriving near my guest house, the guy counted out 9,600 in change.
I found the guest house, the security guard next door showed me where the buzzer was.
The young family who run the guest house are so kind. I speak French with the man and English with his wife. It is still 10 km from the centre of Antananarivo so I can get used to life here for a few days before I go head first into the more chaotic city.
