Tokiniaina RANDRIANARIJAONA
He handles both the sweet and savory, the soft and sour of Détours Madagascar's trekking tours. "In the kitchen," especially in the Makay, notably on our Fabulous Trekking in the North of Makay and other well-organized tours, Toky is the chef who not only delights the taste buds but, alongside the guide, also takes care of the trip’s menu planning, harmonizing a good timing with his team of Bara porters, and shopping for ingredients. Call the chef !
Chinese Portrait
If I were a region, I would be Anosy, a somewhat isolated area in the southeast but rich in biodiversity and the hospitality of its people, where, as soon as you pass through, you fall in love.
If I were a village, I would be Masiakampy, a hidden gem where traders and pirogues take adventurers to the western Madagascar: Tsiribihina river navigation, the Tsingy of Bemaraha, Morondava, and Belo-sur-Mer, where I spent all my childhood and also the start of my adventure in the tourism sector.
If I were a landscape, I would be the Tsiribihina River, whose water brings life to every living being in the region and is also rich in fauna and flora.
If I were a plant, I would be the Alluaudia Procera (Fantsiolitse), for its ability to store water in its tissues. The thick stems and dry branches are used in construction and carpentry. And when you're lost in the desert, it serves as a compass because its tips always point south.
If I were an endemic animal, I would be the Astrochelys radiata (starred tortoise), for its longevity, diet, and ability to adapt to any climate.
If I were a month of the year, I would be April, the month of my birth, significant for Christians due to Easter and the white color associated with it, giving the month an idea of perfection, purity, innocence, and spirituality.
If I were a means of transport, I would be a bicycle, eco-friendly, economical, easy to repair, and helps maintain physical fitness.
If I were a piece of clothing or an accessory, I would be a hat, worn on top of everything, and a valuable item in our customs.
If I were a natural element, I would be water because it is the essence of life and the world.
If I were a travel accessory, I would be a compass, guiding and indicating location, useful at all times.
If I were food, I would be coconut, for its many uses in cooking and the benefits it brings.
If I were a sound, I would be a bird’s song, soft, melodious, and unique.
If I were a language, I would be Malagasy, a language often expressed through images and metaphors. Rich in its language, it varies among the different tribes that make up the great and beautiful island of Madagascar.
If I were a sport, I would be trail running, simple for those who don’t practice it but complex for its enthusiasts, especially in Madagascar, where it’s often practiced between hills, rice fields, and plateaus.
If I were a quality, I would be honesty: demonstrating respect, integrity, and self-awareness. It’s the foundation of trust and social relationships.
If I were a flaw, I would be kindness: putting the needs and wants of others before my own.
If I were a Malagasy personality, I would be Raombana, a historian and writer, one of the first Malagasy intellectuals who rooted himself out of his strong family traditions while embracing European culture without denying his own or his homeland. I have great admiration for his high character, which is marked by courtesy, legendary courage, and moral sense.