A room with a view - first day at camp

We arrived at the ReefDoctor site and were shown our dwellings for the next three months by Doug. To our immense relief it is just what we were hoping for... our hut is on the beachfront, just a few metres from the sea. It has a reed thatched roof covering a large porch with chairs and a couple of trees providing some shade. The furnishings are basic - just a bed and some shelves but it is large and clean and we even have a bathroom area with a shower and toilet. More on that in the future.

Soon we meet some of the other volunteers and staff at ReefDoctor. It seems we have arrived at the beginning of the montly litter picking event - a reminder that we are all here to work and although we could really do with a shower and change of clothes, we don't want to be unsociable and endeavour to get involved. The beach is long and sandy and runs the length of the Bay of Ranobe between the villages of Ifaty, next door, and Mangilly. We only cover a hundred metres or so either side of camp and we are joined by some small children from the village who seem keen to get involved and to practice their French on us. Finally we deploy our well rehearsed Vezo Malagasy geeting "Salama" to their great amusement. Its kind of disappointing when they ask for a cadeau and point to my pocket but to everyone's benefit the beach is now clear of 70kg of rubbish and we've met a few new people. There are four other volunteers and interns who have only been here a week or so, we well as a bunch of interns and staff who have been here for several months or longer. People are a mixture of nationalities including French, English, Scandinavian, Canadian, American and Taiwanese.

After a rest we have dinner and enjoy our first sample of the cuisine of chef Victor, who cooks without electricity or a fridge. Tonight it is beans and rice, rather satisfying after a long day travelling, and followed by a slice of pineapple and some rice tea, which is a curious blend and a sign that the usual habits and delicacies are not going to be so easy to enjoy.  It is soon dark and as there is no electricity we make our way back to our room by torchlight and make ourselves at home with a candle and no noise except the lapping of the waves.