For the last five days I haven’t done much. I’m “stuck” on the island called Ile Sainte Marie. And it has been pure relaxation.
A typical day looks a lot like this: Get out of bed around noon, and make my way across the beach around 20 meters to the hotel restaurant to get breakfast. Do some swimming, enjoy the sun for a few hours and get some lunch. Use some more time on the beach, chat with the other guest or to some reading. Remember to get up from the beach in time for dinner!

The evenings are typically spent with a couple of French backpackers, sharing tales and (half) true stories about our travels while drinking coco/rum punch – which is absolutely fantastic!

Beside what I just mentioned, I went diving the other day. I promised to say hallo from the sea turtles, got to say that diving while you are able to hear the humpback whales sing is an absolutely fantastic experience!

Tomorrow I’m leaving all this – it’s properly a good idea, this isn’t exactly adventurous. The plan is to sail back to the mainland, drive north for two days straight and reach the town of Mananara. From here I have to walk or hitchhike 114 km, because there is no public transport, to a new place called Maroantsetra. From here even the road ends, and I need to hire a guide before trekking 80 through rainforest to get to my final destination of Antalaha.

So for the next 6-9 days I’ll be out of reach with any kind of civilized world.

Bonus info: A lobster dinner at my hotel restaurant costs a neat 5€