10-4 Kowalsky!

Can you keep a secret, my monochromatic friend?

Do you ever see any penguins running free around Madagascar?

Of course not. They don't belong here. It's just not natural. This is all some kind of whacked out conspiracy.

OR IS IT?

THERE ACTUALLY WAS A PENGUIN OF MADAGASCAR (just one).

Yes, yes, I'm finally addressing the red herring, ok? I can only avoid talking about it for so long. 

This is a thing. It's a rather annoying thing when you're trying to look up facts about the ACTUAL country of Madagascar, and all that keeps popping up is stuff like this: 

Thank you...Dreamworks.   o_o

ANYWAYS. Whether you love or hate these movies, and the never-ending spin-offs...you've gotta love those penguins. I mean, they're kind of adorable. 

Now, as improbable as it may seem, there HAS in fact been at least one documented case of a penguin visiting Madagascar. Not an animated one, a real-life, Southern Rockhopper Penguin. Like one of these:

It was found by a Malagasy school teacher in 1956, and a photo was sent to French scientist Renaud Paulian, who identified the species and published the extraordinary find. It is believed he made his way there from breeding grounds on islands off South Africa, about 1500 miles away. Based on the time of year, he was likely on a trek to find food while his mate incubated their egg. As far as we know, this is the only REAL wild penguin who's ever visited the island. 

Warehouse 13 / 12 Colonies of Kobol / 11th Hour

Sorry again for the pause...I was in the middle of nowhere (quite literally) for a couple days, enjoying the fall colours and some tasty fishy fish. Fall is the best!

But back to the countdown! Triple post full of endless wonder (so say we all!) to make up for my lateness. What. You think I'm pushing these references a little to far? Shh. Just enjoy the info below.

THE MALAGASY HAVE A STRONG TRADITION OF RESPECTING THE DEAD.

Traditional Malagasy beliefs place heavy emphasis on the connection between the living and the dead, and they have a number of practices which honour their ancestors.

Offerings of animals or drinks are sometimes made respect or appease the ancestors. Tombs are treated as sacred, and often decorated far more elaborately than homes are. 

Traditional Malagasy Tomb

Many Malagasy also practice "Famadihana," a practice of unburying and re-wrapping the deceased with fresh silk or cloth, along with music and dancing, in celebration of the deceased's life.

Famadihana Ceremony

HALF THE WORLD'S SAPPHIRES COME FROM MADAGASCAR

The once tiny town of Ilakaka in the south of Madagascar became a booming prospecting town after a massive deposit sapphires was found nearby. The town still hosts a large influx of hopeful miners, which has unfortunately also led to violent crimes, a wildly fluctuating population (many living in makeshift shacks), and devastation to the surrounding landscape. 

One of the many mining pits surrounding Ilakaka

A sapphire vendor on the streets of Ilakaka

The pockmarked landscape surrounding the town

MG: THE RED PLANET?

Madagascar has been nicknamed "Great Red Island" due to the characteristic red soil that covers the landscape in many areas. This is due to erosion washing away other minerals but leaving iron oxide. 

In layman's terms: the dirt is rusty. 

It's enough to make you think you might have landed on another planet!

14A

HOLY SMOKES, two weeks to go.
Eek!

MOVIE NIGHT FRIDAY? UH...NOPE.

So, there's a whopping THREE actual, proper cinemas in Madagascar, and a number of improvised screening houses in smaller towns. The larger cinemas rarely show international films, and aren't even open on a regular basis. Instead, they occasionally show Malagasy films or hold private screenings. 

Cinema Rex, Antananarivo

It is, therefore, highly unlikely that the Madagascar films have ever shown in an actual Malagasy theatre. Shame. 

They also love Bruce Lee. And let's be honest, who can blame 'em? 

The country has, however, produced a number of films, some of which have even been featured at Cannes! Cool.

Well, apologies for the short post, but I must be off for tonight. 

15 - Love

THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL RODEO

Rugby is the official sport of Madagascar, and football (soccer) is also widely popular. However, there are a number of sports and games played there which are home-grown innovations. These include Moraingy, Tolon-omby, and Fanorona.

Moraingy is a martial art, a test of strength and agility which could traditionally prove worth and earn prestige. It's bare-knuckle, and brutal, and only ends when one person yeilds, can't continue to fight, or is "clearly unequal" to their opponent.

Ouch. That limp at the end.

Tolon-omby (aka Savika) is a form of wrestling which is also practised in Madagascar. Oh, but wait, this isn't just people wrestling people, that would be too boring. No, no. This is people wrestling zebus.

Yeah. Zebus. They're kinda like a cow. See:

Oh wait. That's a water buffalo.

HERE'S a zebu:

You can tell it's a zebu because of the way it is. Also that giant hump. Anyways. They pretty much have a rodeo-type set-up where people are stuck in a pen with a hulking, horned beast and try not to get killed  to hang on to the hump as long as possible. Anyone who has dared tangle with a tee'd off zebu becomes somewhat of a local hero.

Cray.


Finally, we come to Fanorona! It sounds like it should be a type of pasta, or maybe a sci-fi convention. But it is, in fact a Malagasy board game! Yay! I love board games! And what's better, I've actually played it! Granted, I've only played it as a minigame within a video game...but shhhh. Let's not dwell on my nerdiness.

This is Fanorona:

The players attempt to be the first to capture all of their opponents pieces, which is accomplished by moving toward or away from the opponents piece. It's a bit hard to explain, but is kind of like checkers once you get a handle on it. If you are so inclined to try it out, there are free apps for both android and apple, or you can try here (if you don't use chrome).

Sweet Sixteen

RICE. IT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.

So, they eat a lot of rice in Madagascar. So much so, that the verb for eating a meal, "mihinam-bary," literally means, "to eat rice." Rice is the staple and foundation of most meals, with an accompanying dish, known as "laoka." In the highlands of the country, the laoka is usually in a tomato sauce, and in the coastal regions, coconut milk is often used. Mmmmm...coconut milk...

Rice and laoka

Rice flour is also predominantly used in baking, such as bread and doughnuts.

Koba, a peanuty candy, is also made using rice flour and brown sugar, then wrapped in banana leaves and caramelized. OM NOM.

It's like a peanut wellington!

Rice is mostly grown in the highlands of Madagascar, using traditional agricultural techniques.

17 - The Least Random Number

THE VALIHA IS THE NATIONAL INSTRUMENT OF MADAGASCAR

So this:

...is a Valiha. It's a type of zither, which, I've personally always thought was the coolest sounding instrument. Not that the sound it makes is the absolute coolest, but that it's name sounds the coolest.

Anyway.

The Valiha is made from a section of bamboo, with bamboo strings (or, more recently, bicycle brake wires) strung across the exterior of the tube.

The Valiha originated in Indonesia, and was undoubtedly introduced to Madagascar as it was settled by seafaring islanders from the east. 

It's quite a beautiful and unique instrument, both visually...

...and musically! Warning: be prepared to jam. This guy is awesome.

18 - Wheeler

IT'S NOT VERY EASY TO GET AROUND IN MADAGASCAR.

So, the roads in Madagascar are not fantastic. And in rainy season they get even worse. 

Now, there are paved, fairly well maintained routes between the larger towns & cities, but the great majority are unpaved and deteriorate rapidly due to flooding and erosion.

Fortunately, when I travel from the capitol of Tana to Toamasina, I'll be on one of these (mostly) paved roads. Yay!