The Bays of the French

Madagascar. At the extreme north of the Great Island, Diégo Suarez is situated in an exceptional site, at the bottom of a real internal sea formed by the Bays of the French, of Thunder, of White stones and by the Gallois cul de sac.

At either side of this “sea” and its Sugar loaf, the two other seas, that is the Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel meet. A cosmopolitan town, Diego Suarez lives with the rythm of its shipyards, and along its straight streets lined with buildings sometimes with colonnades reigns a particular atmosphere which is not felt in any other town of Madagascar.

To the east, the Coast of the Bays, a succession of coves and lagoons protected by coral reefs. The Emerald Sea , a wide lagoon where one can dive in a natural aquarium. The Bay of the Pigeons and that of the Dunes, white sand beaches often empty, offering a beautiful view of the pass. The Bay of the Sakalava, recognized as one of the most beautiful windsurf spots in the world. For …simple leisure activities, Ramena, 18 km from the town, the favourite beach of the inhabitants of Antsiranana at week-ends. Along this road to the East, the Mountain of the French with its Way of the Cross that leads to caves and vestiges of fortifications…

To the west, the rock of the Windsor Castle and its 360° panoramic view on the Cape of Amber to the north, the Coast of the Bays to the east, the foothills of the Mountain of Amber to the south, the Coast of the Virgin Islands and its Bay of Courrier opening up to the Mozambique Channel in the west. Very much appreciated by the passionate of diving and game fishing, starting point for yatch people navigating along the north- west coast. A myriad of islands with names like Nosy Hara, the Island of Goats, the Island of Gulls , which are real sanctuaries of nature.

So let’s discover Madagascar! 

Read more: http://www.madagascar-tourisme.com/article.php?
article_id=35&lang=us

1 comment January 8th, 2010

Holiday like a Kiwi

Short for ‘bachelor pad’, the word bach is deeply embedded in the Kiwi psyche – unless you’re from the south of the South Island, where they use the word ‘crib’ when referring to a holiday house.

After World War II, as better roads made remote places more accessible, New Zealanders began building haphazard holiday houses in gorgeous places up and down the country. In those days, a bach was “something you built yourself, on land you don’t own, out of materials you borrowed or stole.” You’ll still see some of these original baches, steadfastly refusing to fall down, in New Zealand beach towns. Made of corrugated iron, fibrolite and used timber, they’re often painted crazy colours. The most authentic will still have a ‘long drop’ toilet out the back.

Over the years, the majority of New Zealand’s baches have evolved into comfortable holiday houses on legitimately-acquired land. Some have even gone on to become mansions with four-car garages, a private beach and a mooring for the superyacht.

At the basic end of the scale, baches are furnished with hand-me-downs from the ‘real house’. They’re like family museums – full of odd furniture, kitsch art works and hilarious knick-knacks from previous decades.

Others have become interior decorating projects, complete with top-to-toe colour coordination and designer accessories. If you browse around any of New Zealand’s ‘book a bach’ websites, you’ll see the full spectrum of bachology – from livid 70s orange and brown to super-stylish minimalism.

Sometimes baches acquire nicknames, which get hung on a plaque by the front door. Classic names include Duck-Away Cottage, Works End, Lazy Dayz and Thiseldome (this will do me) 

Read more: http://www.newzealand.com/travel/
about-nz/features/bach/

Montreux Vevey region Hotel Les Trois Couronnes Николас Имхоф Тингари Мини Перл

Add comment December 2nd, 2009