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East Sussex, United Kingdom
I'm a 62yr old AOL refugee, living on the south coast of England. I love travelling and sharing my photos. I live with Nina and Katinka, my two Maine Coon cats.

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Thursday 11 December 2008

Into the Spiny Forest!

I've finally got a few minutes to spare to quickly add these photos. Madagascar seems like a distant memory now. the winter has really set in here with temperatures down below zero at night and not rising much in the day.
On the day we went to the Spiny Forest we had to get up at 3.30am and leave by 4.30 to get to the forest by daybreak. I almost opted out of it due to the early start but finally decided that I should go as I'd paid so much for the holiday.



This first photo is of tree bark. I'm fascinated by the colours and texture of bark as you may have noticed!



Baobab trees in the forest, these trees can be up to five thousand years old. We saw one aged two thousand years.





This one had twin trunks.






This is the big two thousand year old one that we posed in front of, it was ginormous!






I think this is a weaver birds' nest.




Fruit gowing on the baobab tree. On the right you can see the spiny octopus tree that gives the forest its name.








These are called wax camouflaged flatid leaf bugs. It was fascinating to watch them running up and down the tree branch.





Birds were collecting nesting material, it was spring time when we were there.




A two year old baobab tree. They grow very slowly.




A sun birds nest.






I liked the splashes of red flowers around the forest.

Leaving the forest we passed a village where the occupants were just waking up.

These people were going to the sea to wash their clothes.

This poor half dead chicken upset me. His head was hung almost to the ground, his feathers were all crumpled. I think he was dehydrated, lack of water was one of the problems here, it hadn't rained for almost a year.


Considering the huts we'd seen, this one was quite respectable looking.






These zebu were waiting to be harnessed up to their oxcart.

The little girl was selling necklaces for less than thirty pence each, around 70 cents. bought two from her, they were made of seeds and beans.


Mohamed and a little boy. The kids seemed to love him wherever we went!


On the way back to the hotel for breakfast.



It seemed a very hard way of life for these people but they were so happy and friendly.Well, I still have a few more photos of the Spiny Forest to add but I'll leave it for tonight and add more at the weekend. This week has flown by, probably because I worked Sunday then had Tuesay off as it was my birthday. I thought yesterday was Monday until I was told today that we had got to Thursday already! It doesn't take much to confuse me! Lol!
Anyway, have a lovely weekend. I'll try to get round to you all. I fell behind in reading as I worked 75hrs last week. Far too long but we had an emergency at work and I had to be there.
Thanks to Donna for the tag tonight.

10 comments:

Lisa said...

These are yet another great batch of photos and such fascinating facts too.

Those bugs look as though they could be nesting material!! They are actually very cute.

Awww, that chicken is pathetic. How sad.

I love the first picture - looks so serene and those trees are awesome. I wish they grew here.
xx

Joan said...

Loved your pictures what weird trees. Love the one with coloured bark thought it look really pretty.That's an awful lot of hours you had to work last week take it easy this weekend and look after yourself. Love Joan.

gina said...

amazing how quickly our wonderful trips become a fading memory, huh?? those trees are fascinating! i've never seen any like them. poor chicken...i find it upsetting too. glad you found time to share a few more of your pix.

lisa said...

i thought of you on your bday...so sorry i did not get a card over to you but you WERE thought of! I remembered.
GLORIOUS pics...those trees are fascinating! They almost look like people. XOXOXOX

Sandra said...

Great photos Jeannette, though the trees have to be the weirdest I`ve seen. They look as though they have been put together by someone who doesn`t know what they are doing...lol! That poor chicken, somehow I doubt it will be eaten at Christmas...lol! :o)

Love Sandra xxxx

Jan said...

I bet you were pleased you made the effort to get up and go and see all these peculiar trees they are so different to any we have ,well the whole way of life is an eye opener ,still working long and hard ,I wish you would take it a bit easier we dont want you poorly ya know ,love Aunty Jan xx

Diama ~*a.k.a*~ Cherry said...

that old babob tree or however you spell it lol is so freaky lookin. I love those little bugs its so many weird and different things out there thats why i want to go to africa its amazing at what you can find.

Linda :) said...

Those trees are amazing... look like they could just start walking, lol... and that poor chicken....
Don't work too hard....

D said...

those trees look so bizarre... and the bugs... I had to look and look at 'em...
Great pictures once again! Hey girlfriend.. I feel horrible I missed your birthday.. forgive.. and know I'm sending belated wishes.
love ya

MariesImages said...

More beautiful images....thanks for sharing your trip. The trees are so different, kinda odd looking, but cool. Thanks for sharing your trip with us~
Marie

My Creative Spirit award given to me by Gina

My Creative Spirit award given to me by Gina

Superior Scribbler award given to me by Jeannette

Superior Scribbler award given to me by Jeannette







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