North to South: en route towards the heart of Madagascar

Travelling down from north to south the scenery is changing, revealing another type of Madagascar; little wooden shacks turn into tall, red huts made out of mud and brick houses and the landscape transforms from forests and lush vegetation to dry and hilly savannah with rice paddies dotted all over. Most noticeaby, the climate has changed as we descend towards the centre part - it is getting colder and colder and I wonder whether I have brought enough warm things to wear! You can even tell that we are in a new area with the greetings we hear switching from 'balatsara' to 'salame', and the cuisine in the local 'gargotes' seems heartier and simpler with the coconut rice, prawns and exotic fruit that we became accustomed to in the north giving way to soups, beans and meat with little fried cakes as a dessert. So it seems there is a whole new Madagascar and style of malagasy living to be discovered as the trip progresses, and I am eager to embrace it all!