Voahangy Bakoly Razanamiarantsoa |
From Mgias
I was born in a small village of the Toliara in the southwest of Madagascar. I was the seventh in a large family of nine children. As my mother’s parents had died when she was a small child, she didn’t have the opportunity to study further than the primary school. So, she encouraged all her children to study, and told to us that education is the most important heritage she could offer us. My mother had grown up with her grandmother and learnt a good deal about Malagasy culture and traditions through the old people with whom she lived. I’ve never forgetten the “tso-drano” a kind of blessing, where she threw water with a piece of green leaf on my head after praying to the god creator and ancestor to protect me and bless me. This encouraged me to succeed in passing my “CEPE” or first primary exam, before entering in secondary school. So, I spent my chilhood in Toliara. Later, I moved to Antananarivo the capital of Madagascar, where I graduated from the University of Antananarivo in physical education.
As my father was an administrator, we travelled and moved a lot throughout the country. That introduced me to the distinct, fascinating Madagascan regions, and first developed my love for travelling. Later, I met a travel agent in my aerobic class, who told me about the some of the beautiful places in Madagascar that she had visited.
Consequently, I applied for the position of cruise tour guide with Madagascar Airtours for whom she worked, and was one of one of only two who passed the interview in English. English is uncommon in a French speaking country like Madagscar! At that time, I had never imagined experiencing the pleasure of being in places like Nosy Komba in the middle of tourists and lemurs, enjoying the scenery and nature. That was where my passion for wildlife began!
On my first trip to Nosy Komba, I was the Escort Guide for some American cruise tourists to visit the semi-tamed Black lemurs. These were the first lemurs in my life. I shall never forget how thrilled I was seeing the lemurs playing around me, looking at me with their big eyes, and jumping on my shoulders eating bananas. Guiding has been an exciting and fulfilling vocation for me ever since! Every trip I learn something new about this fascinating Island. I hope that, as you navigate my site, you will be inspired to share Madagascar's unique charm with me.