A Malagasy father's day: kicking it with the Camel trophy in 1987

It's father's day and we all have had problems getting dad the right gift: A new tie or a toolbox gets old after a while. So instead, you could tell your (Malagasy) dad one of your favorite story about him. I know my dad won't like this too much because he is not too found of the whole "blogging" thing. He believes that not everyone have good intentions on the web (he probably has a point). However, the web is not all that bad, it helps sharing moments even if we are far apart.
So, dad grab your favorite beer, your reading glasses and your favorite longchair, because we are taking a trip down memory lane. Twenty years ago to be exact.
Remember this ?



In 1987, the Camel trophy was set in Madagascar and it was a big deal for adventure seekers and Malagasy people. The idea was to rough it out in the Malagasy primitive forrest from North to South, with Range Rovers (this would be the last year that Range Rovers would be used for Camel trophy).
My dad, freshly celebrating his 40th birthday, was chosen to be part of the medical emergency team that would follow the participants in his grueling adventure. One of the reason was probably that he owned a Range Rover himself back then and it would be more acceptable for the sponsors. (That was the only time my dad own a somewhat expensive car, since then, he's been using (in chronological order) a Citroen 2 CV, a 4L and a Golf).
My dad was beaming like a kid in a candy shop. It was everything he could wish for: Camel trophy, big outdoors, men against nature,no showers, smelly feet and scruffy beards allowed, and fixing cars with a tin can and some scotch tape.... heaven on earth !
My mum was not thrilled but she knew that she possibly could not NOT let him do it.
The Camel trophy team seems to have had a blast in Madagascar.
Comments go as such "The majesty of Madagascar...the people are the assets... clear and bright Madagascar dawn".
The following video is the part where my dad was with the crew in Antsohy.
So enjoy the video,dad, but better yet, turn off the sound on the video and play the Lolo sy ny tariny Lemizo song over the video. You know where the song goes:

Izany no mba nofinofiny
Avy any anaty aloky ny Chef-fréra-
N'Ambodin'andohalo a

( my dad was a choirboy at the Andohalo church ) :)

(Lolo sy ny tariny: lemizo)
click here if the song does not play:



Happy father's day !

PS: Try playing the song over the video. It really gives you quite a chill :D.
If only I was computer savvy enough to pull off this trick ( warning: soprano finale spoiler)