Imerinkasinina

Friday September 14th
 
There are a couple of ways to go to Imerinkasinina: Ambohimanambola or Ambohimalaza. But if you depart from Anjeva, get your legs prepared. I am not talking about the 3km ahead of you but the fact that you have to go up a hill and take the paved road up there. The panoramic view is terrific though. You can even enjoy watching the light of Antananarivo at night. Bottom line: go, you won’t regret it!

Welcome to Imerinkasinina

The village features among those historic locations (Imerimanjaka, Ambohitrabiby, Ambohimanga, etc.) reported to be where lords of the merina Kingdom, also known as the andriana lived or visited. There, you could see the ‘amontana’ and ‘aviavy’ (those are the names of the andriana’s trees) planted centuries ago. That’s about it, at least that’s what I am sure about. Anyway, the stories are told differently and it is difficult to pick one version…

However, if we refer to a not distant past, Imerinkasinina is the place where a self-made man, Marc Ravalomanana grew up, raised a family and started his little dairy business before he became the wealthiest man of the country and - wait there’s more - the 6th President of the Republic of Madagascar (2002-2009). 

Unfinished business

I left Madagascar in 2003 and I could easily notice the changes when I got back. Big homes and refurbished structures here, paved road there, more rich people and more poor people too. From what I hear from some of them, the former president brought huge improvements to the surroundings in various areas. There is no question about it. But he couldn’t finish the collective (and personal) projects he started because of the 2009 coup.

Anjiro

Saturday, September 8th
 
As you probably know (or maybe you don’t), Anjeva is a train station served by the TCE (Antananarivo-Toamasina) rail line. Beside tourist trains like Madarail’s Micheline or the Trans Lemurie Express, currently there are no passenger trains nomore. Therefore, the line is for goods transportation only. You can check out the Intermodal containers pics on the gallery section or facebook.

The Saturday market at 2pm: not much left

Now, allow me to introduce another TCE rail station: Anjiro. The names sound a bit alike, right?. Some people often get mixed up because of that. Anjiro is situated few kilometers East from Mandraka, a location known for its famous national park and high mountains decorated with wild forests. We went there to visit an uncle so to get there, we had to take the RN2 (the 2^nd national road to Toamasina) with one of those big mazdas instead of the train. Cost: $2 per person. 

Mandraka

Anjiro and Anjeva are more related than you think though. Did I say we enjoy soccer? So do they. We have played against each other for years but up to know, it hasn’t come to my knowledge that girls play too and they even planned to face us in a tournament. It was great to see them in action.
 

Go girls!!

On our way back, I took the time to enjoy the green landscapes of Eastern Madagascar. What a nice ride.

 

And the prize goes to…

Sunday, September 2^nd 

I was told there was a football (I mean soccer) competition going on and we were qualified for the finale. An local Organization called MATOA set up the whole thing. 

A friendly game (location: Salazana, Anjeva)

Therefore, Anjeva took the challenge to play away against the skilled team of Masindray (near Ambohimanambola) and guess what, our guys won. Not sure whether they won a cow or an ox but hey, what is the difference…

I wasn’t there to enjoy the victory and sadly, no pics have been taken making those magic moments unforgettable. Shame. 

The grandstand

Home sweet home

The house where I grew up

Saturday, September 1st
 
Nine years after I left this village, here I am back again. Things have changed. Anjeva has become a small town with tarred road and beautiful houses. I have been away for years but the moment I got back home, I felt like I was there all along. Fresh air, wildlife, familiar faces, nice people: how lucky I am to have spent my childhood in Anjeva. 

Paddy fields, hills, trees and houses

I stayed there for 30 days and took the time to take pictures of the surroundings. Here are some of them but I also put some photos on the facebook page.

Ducks