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trip to andringitra national park |
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Julio and Alyssa take in the view that you see in the picture to the left. Julio is a PCV friend of mine who lives in the village in the valley below the park, and Alyssa is another volunteer friend of ours. The two of them, plus Christine and I, made the trip to Andringitra together in March 2004. |
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A view from the trail of the mountains sorrounding Andringitra National Park. Andringitra is a beautful place long admired for its vistas, its jagged-edged ridges, spectacular waterfalls, and unique flora and fauna. We saw maybe half a dozen kinds of orchids there during the course of a three-day trek, all types of lizards...but sadly no lemurs. But, I've heard they are around, hidden high in the trees and in the less-accessible parts of the part that are still without trails. |
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Julio and me...down by the waterfall. Well, overlooking one of two enormous waterfalls from the trail. |
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The hikers climbing into the mountains. On Day Two of our trek, we made for the summit at Andringitra, which is known as Pic Boby. But, a sudden storm forced us to turn around and return to camp, even as we were better than half way up. |
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Cooling off in a stream. The water in the park was so clear and so refreshing to dip your feet into after hiking around for a few hours. We also thought it was safe enough to drink, so we weren't so careful about bleaching our water...which may be why I have a case of giardia now. |
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I look really big in this picture compared to the waterfall, but let me assure you that it was, in fact, much bigger than I was. When you got anywhere near it, it hurt your neck to look up far enough to take it all in. |
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Christine in her pack. Her pack was HUGE. But she gets much respect for lugging it around all day for three days and never complaining once. |
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A better picture of the waterfall that you saw in an earlier photograph. You could hear the sound of the falling park wherever you went in the park, and it is a big place. |
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