Isalo National Park

I just went to Isalo National park with Stephanie from my Stage. She’s returning to the States a month early to start Grad school in Hawaii. We took a 9 hour bus ride to the small dusty and touristy town, Ranohira, next to Isalo. All Peace Corps Volunteers rave about this place. Steph was hell bent on going but didn’t want to go alone. Initially I didn’t want to go, but along with Hillary she convinced me. And due to the teachers’ strike I’ve had more free time, so what the hell? Plus everyone raves about this place.

Steph 

Confessional: I’ve had a thing for Steph but unfortunately it’s not reciprocal, so we’re only friends. But being an optimist…who knows? The spice of life. The park was deserty with picturesque oasis’s interspersed throughout. We took hiked in with a guide and of course took selphies but the swimming was the coup de grace. Normally, Steph jumps in, then me, reluctantly. She’s adventurous like that. At night we partied and danced with some French tourists. It was so much fun. I got really wasted andflirty wit h a Malagasy woman. A week later she rang me up. I forgot I gave her my telephone number. Yeah, a little awkward.

Bus Incident

I was riding on a brusse with my fellow teachers back from Ranomafana to Alakamisy Ambohimaha. I was in the back row. All was wonderful then the back hatchback opened up a little bit, and exhaust enter like pirates raiding a boat.

The Reason 

First I asked the driver if he could stop and fix the problem, but no response. Then I threw a plastic cup, which everyone thought was funny. I continue to plead and argued my case, but everyone in the bus just laughed. I was frustrated and perplexed by their laughter. Don’t they want to breath clean air, too? So, I fished into my backpack and found a 700 page novel and tossed it quickly at the chauffeur. It passed by an old lady’s head who came with us. Missed her by inches, thank god! Well, it got the attention of the whole bus. They stopped laughing. The bus stopped, they quickly closed the back door and we stopped breathing fumes. Problem solved.

Conclusion

Don’t throw books at bus drivers, unless you’re breathing exhaust fumes and they won’t do anything about it. And always remember the spice of life.