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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years ago

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Survey #371

“some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses”

What is one song you feel as though you sing particularly well, if any? Probably none, lol. What was the last lengthy task you completed? I love these unique questions I've had lately, but damn, are a lot of my answers "I don't know," lol. What type of photography do you enjoy looking at? Do you take any photos yourself, and if so, what types of things do you prefer to photograph? I love floral and wildlife photography. Landscapes, too, and I have a great fondness for boudoir for reasons I've mentioned in previous surveys. I like taking nature pictures, mainly. Have you ever gone out for the Black Friday shopping rush? Did you enjoy it, or not so much? Or, what’s the busiest shopping day you’ve ever experienced? Hell no, that's a hard pass. I'm sure the busiest shopping experience I've had was like at the mall or something around Christmas, idk. Do you enjoy reading diaries or stories you wrote from when you were younger, or does it embarrass you? If you’ve kept them, was there a particular reason for hanging on to them so long? NO. I DON'T. BECAUSE I CRINGE INTO ANOTHER DIMENSION. I keep a lot of it for memory's sake, but goddamn, is it always embarrassing. What would you say was your first true hobby? What about your most recently developed one? Um... the first thing I really remember is video games. I played Spyro like, a LOT, along with other childhood games. I was just really into gaming at a young age. Is there one thing that throws off your mood more than others, whether it be lack of sleep, lack of food, heat/cold, etc., and when was the last time you felt especially cranky? THE HEAT. I become so irritable. I was needlessly cranky a few days ago for whatever reason. What kinds of things are you likely to complain about? My legs hurting, more than anything. Also being hot. Do you like to put any extra effort into your food in terms of presentation, or do you prefer to just put it on a plate and eat it as it is, no frills? Ha, no. It's not gonna look fancy in my stomach, so whatever. Have you ever dated someone who had kids? No, and I very much doubt I ever would. Are there any candles in the room with you? No. Does the last person you kissed have tattoos? No, but I tell her all the time that dainty nature tattoos would be THE most beautiful on her. When was the last time someone called you pretty? I think when I last updated my Facebook profile picture. Do you like the color pink? It's my favorite! Does your cell phone have a case on it? What color? It came with this thin purple one. What was the last song you had on repeat? "Moon Baby" by Godsmack. Ever kissed someone your parents hated? No. Your most recent ex says he/she hates you, you say? I wouldn't *say* anything, I'd break down sobbing. Would you feel hurt if your last ex was in a relationship? No. Have you ever had to choose between two people? Yes: Jason and Juan. Juan and I dated for less than a day not all that long before Jason and I got together, and Juan was pretty upset. He was nooot a fan of Jason due to a shared ex-girlfriend. Jason, meanwhile, just didn't care. What is the saddest thing that has happened to you? What about the happiest? I think the saddest thing has to be my breakup, especially when you know just how madly in love I was with him and had endless trust that he would never leave, and then he was gone in a flash one night. The happiest is, in turn, my recovery from said split. I found strength in myself and felt hope for once as I learned coping mechanics and got a psychiatrist that was worth a shit in my partial hospitalization program. What was the last new drink you discovered that was delicious? *shrug* Do you have a YouTube channel? Yes. I don't make videos anymore, though. Were you happy as a teenager? God no, my depression was awful. What do you do for your mom on Mother’s Day? Sigh. Not enough. I just tell her happy Mother's Day, give her a hug, and try to be an extra good daughter. Do you know anyone who follows a raw vegan diet and lifestyle? No. Can you go see a doctor alone or do you like to take someone with you? I can do it alone (but only have once), but I like to bring my mom with me still. Would you have sex with someone of the same gender as you? I'm bi, so. Have you ever had a concussion? One or two, I can't remember. How many dresses do you own? Zero. Do you know anyone who has a pet gecko? Yeah, my friend Summer has a darling leopard gecko. I want oneeeeee. They look so damn derpy and adorable, and their chill demeanor is something I really like in pets. Would you ever go bear hunting? No. Absolutely never. Do you prefer drawing or painting? Any particular reason why? Drawing, for sure. At least you can erase stuff, and paint is just so messy. Do you like raisins? NO THANKS MAN. Do you remember your locker combinations from high school? Nope. Do you forget to flip the page of your calendar at the start of each month? I don't have a calendar. Are you racist to any race? Nope. Have you ever intentionally hurt an animal? I've given cats and dogs a small pop on the rear, but nothing more than that. I hate doing even that, but with the language barrier and all, sometimes it's the only way to get your point across. Do you own any autographed memorabilia? No. Have you ever dated a twin? No. Oreos or Chips Ahoy? Oreos. Have you ever considered being a cop? Yeah, no thank you. What’s your favorite superhero movie? Maybe Logan. I thought it was very emotional and just overall a good movie. Name somebody you know who deserves a better life than they have: MY MOM. Name something that you’re good at but don’t like: uhhhhhhhh Name something that you’re bad at but DO like: Dancing, maybe. Which is worse: Stale chips or flat soda? Stale chips, for sure. It's certainly not my preference, but I can drink flat soda. Who’s the hottest guy and hottest girl out there? M-Mark Fischbach. :') Girl... let's seeeeee... maybe Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy. GodDAMN what a WOMAN. ❤_❤ Do you ever trip over your pets? Yes, because he just looooves to follow me at my feet. What’s your relationship like with your exes? Aaron, Juan, Jason, and Tyler: nonexistent. Sara and Girt: great. What was the last thing you turned down doing? Going to my nephew's t-ball game. I always feel bad when I say no when Mom asks if I wanna go... but at least the kids know I just don't handle the heat well. Are you a party animal? Faaaaar from it, my friend. Who are you the biggest fan of? m-m-m-mMARKIPLIER You’re DJ for the night - first track to get everyone going? Uhhhh maybe "Party Hard" by Andrew W.K.? Have you ever been hit on by a pushy person? I think Juan was kinda pushy, but not to an uncomfortable degree. He respected what I felt. What accent do you find attractive? Most attractive, British. But I also really like Scottish and Irish. Also French accents in women I tend to find very beautiful-sounding. Have you ever had feelings for a friend's partner? Yes. What’s your favorite thing to do that doesn’t cost much? Drive around take pictures, maybe? Let's, uh, ignore the whole gas crisis in this answer. When in danger are you more fight or flight? Flight. Do you feel self conscious about a certain body part? *gestures to entire body* Have you been accused of being manipulative? Yes. Have you ever considered violence to solve your problem? No. Are you romantic? I personally think so. If you are a smoker, how long does a pack typically last you? If you aren’t a smoker, does anybody you are close to smoke, & if so, are you against the fact that they’re a smoker? I don't smoke. To answer the next part, yes, like my dad and stepmom. I wish they would stop so badly, like it's literally going to kill them both. Do you have more subscribers or more people that you are subscribed to? On YouTube? I'm definitely subscribed to waaay more people. Is there anything that has been drilled into your brain since you were young & you finally decided to stop listening to? How did it feel once you decided to listen to yourself over what you were told? Yes: "finish your plate." Teaching your kid to eat beyond their comfort can be very destructive, and I'm glad I never stuck to that once Mom stopped enforcing it. If you are currently in a relationship, what is one thing that seems to be unique or different about your relationship with this person, compared to other relationships in general? If you are currently single, is this more of a choice or is it more just the way things are going, not really something you chose? If you are neither “single” or officially in a relationship, what are your feelings on your current situation? I'm single, and it's just how it is. I know realistically I wouldn't tell what felt like the right person no, but it really is probably better that I stay single and keep figuring my shit out. Think of somebody famous that you have a lot of respect for. What is something that you really admire them for? To name just one thing I admire in Mark, his relentless "I'm going to do this no matter what" attitude is very inspirational to me. He lets like... n-o-t-h-i-n-g get in his way. If somebody were to leave a harsh comment on a survey you took, judging you on one of your opinions, how would you react? I'd get pretty self-conscious, just because I in general take judgment quite poorly. I obsess over "what if they're right, and you're just an idiot?". Are there any other sites you use to find surveys to take? What sites do you use? I mainly use Tumblr and LiveJournal, but in times of great desperation, I'll use Bzoink and just google surveys as well, haha. Have you sent or received any friend requests on Facebook lately? Not sent, but I got one from someone I had no mutual friends with the other day. Safe to say I declined it. Can you recall the last time you turned down an offer, of any kind? Uhhhhh no. Which fruit would you say you eat the most often? Apples. What was your pet’s last vet visit concerning? Roman has been to the vet once to get neutered (and I think shots?). I took Venus many years ago because I thought she had a respiratory infection. Thank god, she didn't. Which animals do you tend to go check out first at pet stores? The reptiles, snakes in particular. Have you ever been a victim of a house fire? No. What’s the longest you’ve ever had to wait before being seated at a restaurant? Like, over an hour. Have you ever had a cavity before? How about a root canal? A tooth pulled? Braces? Cavities and braces, yes. What is your favorite zoo animal that you would like to set free? Probably polar bears. Like especially here, it gets so hot in the summer, and the poor things sometimes only have a bit of snow in the shade. Like... they can't be very happy. Especially when you see those videos of them playing in snow, and then you think about situations like our zoo here... ugh. What kinds of artifacts fascinate you? I really think old figurines built with like clay and stuff are cool. But all artifacts I find to be very intriguing. It's so interesting to see that the desire to create has always been with us as a species. Is there anyone that you’ve visited in jail? No.

#survey #surveys #questions #lyrics: ''killing in the name of'' by rage against the machine

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allenmendezsr · 4 years ago

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Save Your Leopard Gecko

New Post has been published on https://autotraffixpro.app/allenmendezsr/save-your-leopard-gecko/

Save Your Leopard Gecko

Buy Now

An open letter to Leopard Gecko owners everywhere:

It’s an alarming fact…

“86.5% of Leopard Geckos Will Die Within 2 Years Of Captivity”

Why is it that the average Leopard Geckos lifespan is 10-20 years in the wild….. and only TWO years and captivity?

It’s simple.

People have been extremely misinformed on how to raise Leopard Geckos… it’s become almost ludicrous…

You need to understand that the ultimate factor in YOUR leopard gecko’s lifespan is…

YOU

It’s really urgent that you hear what I have to say it you want to stop making the very critical mistakes 90% of Leopard Gecko owners are making…

In a short moment — I’m going to show you the basic yet CRITICAL MISTAKES 90% of Leopard Gecko owners make as well as quick-fix tips you can use INSTANTLY to get your Leopard Gecko “back on track” and back to its optimal health!

But before we begin…

Who Am I And Why Should You Listen To Me?

Hey, my name is Chris Johnson and I’m a Leopard Gecko expert.

I’ve been raising Leopard Geckos for over 30 years. (I currently own 9 perfectly healthy specimens as we speak—one being nearly 14 years old!)

IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT!

Listen — it’s not your fault… maybe you’re a first time Leopard Gecko owner or maybe you’ve owned a few and even had one pass away…

It’s not your fault.

You’ve just been misinformed.

See… there’s a lot of TERRIBLE advice out there… some so called ‘experts’ just don’t know what they’re talking about…

Or even worse… God forbid maybe you may have visited a website that could very well be telling you to do things that are harming your Leopard Gecko…

Don’t always trust what you read on the internet!

Luckily — you’ve found this website.

There is a real danger of getting your information from a bad source– you may think you’re doing everything right… (I mean why wouldn’t you… some ‘expert’ told you to do it)…

When in reality — (and excuse me if I offend anyone but it needs to be said)…

You May Be Harming Your Own Leopard Gecko!

Again it’s NOT your fault… and in a moment I’m going to show you exactly how to COMPLETELY UNDO the critical mistakes you and 90% of Leopard Gecko owners make…

But let’s quickly look at an example:

This is a fundamental mistake I see MANY first-time owners make…

Using sand for substrate!

(if you don’t already know what a substrate is—it’s the bedding used on the floor of your enclosure)

If Your Gecko Is Under One Year Old Or Less Than Six Inches Long…

AVOID USING FINE SAND AT ALL COSTS!

This is a huge ‘NO-NO’ when it comes to picking a good substrate for your Leopard Gecko… yet I see it used time and time again…

Honestly it’s a little safer to use sand as a substrate with older Geckos but even then I still don’t recommend it.

And why?

Using Sand As A Substrate Causes  Ingestion Which Can Become Fatal.

See… Leopard Geckos are not always accurate when they strike their food (especially younger ones!).

Over time — small amounts of ingested sand build up and actually block the intestines and bowels.

It may be ok to start with… but in the long run it will eventually kill your Leopard Gecko and that’s just a fact.

When I saw many Leopard Gecko owners making this mistake as well as DOZENS of other fundamental mistakes that cause premature death… I realised there was a real problem with how owners were caring for their Leopard Geckos.

That’s When I Decided I Had To Do Something About It.

Introducing my brand-new book…

“Secrets To Save Your Leopard Gecko”

I can say with COMPLETE confidence that…

This Book Is The SINGLE Best Resource You Will EVER FIND For Raising, Caring And Increasing The Life-Span Of Your Leopard Gecko…

In fact LeopardGeckoCare.net (the #1 ranked site on Google for Leopard Gecko) is affiliated with our site and recommends it to ANY Leopard Gecko owner.

I will give you ALL of my ‘insider secrets’ that I’ve learnt in over 30 years of caring and breeding Leopard Geckos…

Here’s a personal letter from Patrick Golden… a guy who’s been raising Leopard Geckos for 9 years…

“In this book you’ve tought me EVERYTHING I need to know about how to raise a perfectly healthy gecko and undo the damage you may have done to a Leopard Gecko you currently own…”

Simple fact is…

If you have a Leopard Gecko or are wanting to get one… you absolutely NEED this book.

Here’s The SNEAK-PEEK Of What You’ll Find On The Inside:

90% OF LEOPARD GECKO OWNERS MAKE THESE 7 CRITICAL MISTAKES!

The Leopard Gecko Owner’s CARDINAL SIN…this is the number one cause of Leopard Gecko deaths in captivity… find out what it is inside the book! (HINT: it’s got nothing to do with diet, temperature or how you handle your Gecko but it’s SURROUNDINGS)

A unique “trick” you can use to GUARANTEE your Gecko NEVER loses its tail …(if you know anything about Geckos you know how bad for their health to lose a tail!)

Around HALF of all Leopard Gecko owners have this one item in their Leopard Gecko enclosures… what if I told you that at certain times this one item literally COOKS your gecko and can severely burn or even kill it… FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE THIS ITEM AND GET RID OF IT IF YOU DO… pg. 18

Why you should NEVER listen to pet store clerks. (half of them DO NOT know what they are talking about and just want to make the sale… sadly, they are sometimes the worst people to get advice from)

How To Pick The Perfect Gecko — 20 tell-tale signs that PROVE if the Gecko you pick is perfectly healthy or not.

What Enclosures Leopard Geckos LOVE! – it’s not what you think… PLUS! The single best substrate your Gecko can have (it’s also extremely easy to clean too!)

What the REAL ideal temperature for a Leopard Gecko is (don’t always believe what the Pet Store clerk tells you!) PLUS… the best heater/bulb you can use.

The PERFECT Diet For Leopard Geckos… these foods are not only very tasty for your Gecko but will keep your Gecko extremely healthy and in pristine condition!

The easiest and most comfortable way to pick up your Leopard Gecko… PLUS! How to keep your Gecko healthy through these simple daily exercises… (Leopard Geckos love this!)

If you HEAR your Gecko doing THIS… take it to a Vet IMMEDIATELY… pg. 34

The fastest and easiest way to fully tame a Leopard Gecko in just 14 days! PLUS –a ‘handling’ trick you can use to gain trust and make your Gecko feel comfortable instantly…

As you can see “Secrets To Save Your Leopard Gecko” covers EVERYTHING you will ever need to know about raising and looking after Leopard Geckos…

And you can have peace of mind knowing you are getting the RIGHT information from someone who has been raising and breeding Leopard Geckos for over 30 years…

Like I said before…

This Book Is The SINGLE Best Resource You Will EVER FIND For Raising, Caring And Increasing The Life-Span Of Your Leopard Gecko…

And that’s a fact.

You WILL NOT Find A Better Resource On Leopard Geckos Anywhere…

Here’s why:

It’s Easy To Understand And Use Unlike other guides that are often written with scientific dialogue and very dry to read… my book is written as if I was talking to you in your own home! It’s laid out in a very easy to understand, logical order… in fact most people read it in one sitting!

It WORKS You are getting TOP information from someone who has been personally caring for Leopard Geckos for 30 years… I’m not some person just trying to make a quick buck… I have a genuine passion for Leopard Geckos… you won’t find a more qualified person to teach you what I teach in my book!

It’s 100% Safe Everything in my book has been tested and used extensively to ensure it is COMPLETELY safe for your Leopard Gecko… unlike other guides or so called ‘experts’ that may give you information or ‘theories’ I give you REAL advice that I have been using for DECADES… You don’t need to worry about your Leopard Gecko being harmed by trying out what’s in my book!

Again, you really will not find a better resource to help you care for your Leopard Gecko… but don’t believe me…

Here are what others say about my book:

“You Went Into Minute Details In Your Guide…”

Wow! That’s what I can say Chris.

Your Save Your Leopard Gecko guide is really an eye opener for me. All this while I thought taking care of my leopard gecko is just like taking of another pet.

Boy I was so wrong!

You went into very minute details in your guide about how to take care of my gecko that I suddenly realized there are so much more I need to know!

Thanks, Chris!

James Fox Michigan, USA

“You’ve Covered Everything A Gecko Owner Needs to Know..”

You’ve covered everything a gecko owner needs to know; from gecko selection, housing, feeding, breeding/raising geckos and the problems and diseases that an owner may encounter.

If you only read one book on leopard geckos, this would be your best overall choice.

Andrew Lee San Diego, USA

“Really An Eye Opener For Me…”

Wow! That’s what I can say Chris.

Your Save Your Leopard Gecko guide is really an eye opener for me. All this while I thought taking care of my leopard gecko is just like taking of another pet.

You went into very minute details in your guide about how to take care of my gecko that I suddenly realized there are so much more I need to know!

My hats off to you Chris for this great guide!

Tommy Lynch Leeds, England

“Clear Practical Guidelines…”

Your guide has served me very well with clear practical guidelines from setting up a gecko-friendly environment to providing a good day to day care and identifying and dealing with health problems.

The book also provides interesting background information about geckos. The content is well-written and nicely structured to cater for gecko owners, both beginners and experienced ones.

You definitely have a great book here Chris!

Amrit Ali Washington, USA

“I Won’t Even Think Twice to Recommend Your Guide to Them…”

If any gecko owner asked me to recommend a guide to them, I would tell them to get your Save Your Leopard Gecko guide.

I won’t even think twice to recommend your guide to them.

It’s just about the best gecko guide available out there!

Pedro Monzales Arizona, USA

“This Book Is Definitely A Must Have!”

This is really a great book for anyone who owns leopard geckos!

There are a lot of information into one little book and it covers what you would need to know to take care of your gecko.

If you have, or are planning to get gecko, then this book is definitely a must have!

Matthew Cook North Carolina, USA

How Much Would You Pay For A Leopard Gecko Expert To Teach You All Of The Little-Known Secrets He’s Learnt In 30 Years Of Experience With Leopard Geckos?

This book is like having me in your own living room telling you everything I’ve ever learnt about Leopard Geckos!

Think about how much it costs for just ONE visit to the Vet…

$69?

$200? (not even half of that!)

My book will ensure your Gecko will almost NEVER have to visit a Vet!

The fact is… you’re NOT going to find the information I share with you on the internet… because it’s coming from a highly specialised source…

You need to realise that this is highly valuable information that if learnt in classes would cost you as much as $500+ to learn in classes…

But I’m not going to charge you THAT much…

Thanks to the internet, I am able to give you a HUGE DISCOUNT…

Because I am able to send you my book DIGITALLY (which means you’ll receive a digital copy of my book, which you can read from your computer instantly) you save massively on shipping and production costs!

Today You’ll Pay Just $39 For ‘Secrets To Save Your Leopard Gecko’

WAIT!

3-DAYS LIMITED TIME OFFER 50% OFF!

I’m doing a marketing test at the moment…

I am going to let you have my book (as well as 5 separate bonuses, more on this in a sec!) for just $19!

But it isn’t going to be at $19 for too long… 3 days later, I’m going to increase the price to $39 again… Sooner or later, next price I’m going to test will be $69, then $99 and so on, just to cover my advertising costs (I’m sorry for this)…

Whichever one is more effective for recouping my advertising costs is the one I will keep… but I just want to let you know that this is the LOWEST price point I will be testing…

So if you’d like to take advantage of the super-low price of just $19… you need to order now!

Just a friendly heads up 🙂

— Chris

When You Order Today You’ll Receive 5 AMAZING Bonuses!

Just to make this offer even MORE irresistible I’ve decided to create 5 separate bonuses that I know you’ll absolutely LOVE…

BONUS #1 – How to Prevent Your Leopard Gecko From Climbing Out

Ever went back home and realized your leopard gecko is no longer in the enclosure? It must have climbed it’s way out when you were away!

Here, I’ll show you the 5 things you need to do (they’re quite simple actually!) so that your gecko won’t climb out of the enclosure again!

BONUS #2 – How to Find a Missing Leopard Gecko

So your gecko went missing again. How long did you spend to find it the last time it went missing? Probably hours.

This checklist contains a list of common place at home that your gecko will most likely be hiding.

Search through these places in this checklist and 90% of the time you’ll find your gecko!

BONUS #3 – Leopard Gecko Beginner Guide

This compact guide will be very handy if you’re a beginner or first time leopard gecko owner.

You’ll get a checklist of what to lookout for, and buy when you’re at the pet shop. Don’t just follow the pet shop’s advise blindly!

BONUS #4 – Top 50 Leopard Gecko FAQ

Over the past year, I’ve received hundreds of questions about leopard geckos; from gecko selection to housing, feeding and even breeding/raising geckos and beyond.

In this FAQ compilation, you’ll find answers to the majority of the questions you’ll most likely have about your leopard gecko.

BONUS #5 – Leopard Gecko Weekly Routine

Do you have a plan for your gecko? What should you do each day?

This short report provides you with a daily & weekly routine to-do list; from changing the water, checking the temperature, dust preys, remove uneaten food and lots more!

My 100% Money-Back Guarantee!

I’m so confident you’ll be absolutely blown away with the quality of information you receive, both from the book and bonuses…

That I’m willing to offer you a 100% Money-Back Guarantee…

But let’s take it one step further…

MY CHALLENGE TO YOU:

Buy my package… read it… go through all of it… use the information in it to help your Leopard Gecko have a healthy and happy life… for a WHOLE 60 DAYS…

And even then… if you are unhappy with ANY aspect of the product for ANY reason at all…

Simply let me know and I’ll give you an IMMEDIATE refund.

NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

In all the time that I’ve sold this book I’ve had only ONE single refund (probably because the guy just wanted the money)… that’s how much people LOVE this book!

And as a sign of good will I’ll even let you keep the book and ALL of the bonuses free of charge…

Sound Fair?

-Chris 🙂

Would You Like To Give Your Leopard Gecko The Perfect Life?

I have 9 Leopard Geckos…

All who are perfectly healthy… (and one which is nearly 14 years old! UNHEARD OF—in captivity years)

If you want to give your Leopard Gecko the best chance of having a happy, healthy and LONG life…

Then getting the information I have to offer you is the best way to do so…

Remember – over 86% of Leopard Geckos die within their first two years in captivity…

With my book you’ll be able to CHANGE that.

You can either raise your Leopard Gecko the right way… where it can enjoy life, be healthy and live a very long time…

Or… you can raise your Leopard Gecko the WRONG way… in which it will not be happy, it will live an unhealthy life (possibly suffering) and not live past two years…

It’s your choice.

INVEST IN YOUR LEOPARD GECKO’S WELL-BEING TODAY!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OF ‘SECRETS TO SAVE YOUR LEOPARD GECKO’ NOW!

Thanks and Good Luck,

Your Trusted Leopard Gecko Adviser http://www.SaveYourLeopardGecko.com

For any inquires regarding these materials, feel free to email me at Contact Us.

P.S – Remember you can get my book plus the 5 bonuses for just $19 if you order today… however the price will raise to $69, then $99 and eventually $129, as I test which price point best recoups my advertising costs… this is the lowest price point I will ever test, so ORDER NOW to avoid paying more later on!

P.P.S – You are back by a 100% money back guarantee… you can get your money back anytime within 60 days… for any reason at all… I’ll even let you keep everything as a way of saying “Thanks For Trying It Out”!

Reserve Your Copy Right Now!

You have nothing to lose; your satisfaction is GUARANTEED.

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afssinglestravelsblog · 11 years ago

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Madagascar, Nature's Sanctuary

By Suzy Davis | Submitted On May 30, 2011

Anchored 300 miles off Africa lies the world's fourth largest island. It is called "Island of a thousand faces" for its astounding biodiversity with rainforests to barren steppes. Half of the land, protected by national parks, is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species. 80%, which are unique only to Madagascar! I'm here to see the emblematic lemurs found no where else on the planet and my favorite tree, the baobab, which looks as if planted upside down with tangles roots high in the air.

I landed to no runway lights to an antiquated airport. Waiting an hour in line for my free visa, I a spotted a pile of moldy luggage that will never see it's owners. The bank ran out of money to change my dollars. Begging orphans surrounded me and I pondered, half my clients would hate this, the other half would revel in the Third World challenges ahead. I met my team of 7 global tour operators, the grateful "chosen ones" selected for this familiarization trip. I'm the only American and sense they've sussed me up to be a diva evident by my bulging bags. I want to shout, "its shoes people and enough tangled IT cords to reach a Starbucks in Cape Town." We're all Mada-virgins anxious to squeeze the countries sites into 10 days.

The beginning was totally wasted in the capital Antanarivo, a ghetto of 3 million that looks like little advancement since it's founding in 1610. No traffic or street lights with Cairo style chaos. Tourism only began in 1984 and is still in its infancy. Only 146 hotels in the country. We were made to inspect about 40 properties this trip which is always as dull as paint by number, but we know it's a necessary task before we send groups to any unseen destination. Some "no tell motels" were minus stars where "rustic charm" means having no pillows or sharing one towel.

Others up north were truly deluxe, new resorts that made me want to linger. In Antanarivo, each time we stopped, our van was surrounded with hungry children. A teenage boy tried to sell me a puppy through the window for a dollar. I then had reservations about selling this destination, until we headed into the lush interior.

We drove 5 hours past duck farms and rice paddies into the highlands. Everything bloomed in the vanilla scented air. There are 19,000 flora species and 1100 orchid varieties here. It presents an artist's palate of nature with an explosion of color. Poinsettias were so red they looked inflamed. We made a surprise visit to a school with no roof (all I could give was dollars which the children disappointingly looked at as Monopoly money.)

After lunch of fresh fried frog legs, we visited a reptile sanctuary of crocs, snakes, bats, geckos and other endemic species. This is the land of giant chameleons. Hundreds of them camouflaged themselves from dull brown to brilliant neon colors. I love these herbivores. My inner child so wanted to take one as a pet.

We overnighted in Andasibe National Park, a primary rainforest famous for birding. Our thatched huts were about as lux as a Girl Scout Camp. The verdant jungle setting however was breathtaking. We did a guided night hike in search of nocturnal creatures. My headlamp only revealed frogs, a biblical plague of frogs. What was way-cool was the noise, a cacophony of eerie calls that sounded like Muslim women wailing at a funeral, in surround sound. These were the Indri Indri, largest of lemur species.

For once, I enjoyed being a group member where I could leave my brain neatly packed in my carry-on and simply follow. And I was assigned a roommate named Louise, a young tour operator from Windhoek. She loved that I called her Miss Namibia. Each night was a slumber party with maps spread over our beds. We boasted passport stamps, swapped stories and planned killer itineraries. Together we dreamed. To share and share alike was a great life lesson for me in tolerance, open mindedness and loving kindness. We grew to adore each other and plan to meet in Mozambique 2012.

At 7am, I opened one eye to find a turquoise lizard on my pillow. It was a God-shot of gratitude that prompted me to realign my sour attitude of those past few days.

Time for another hike. I asked my guide if I'd see a baobab. He replied, "No but it will be lemur mania." We learned about medicinal plants and then canoed over to Lemur Island. What a delight this refuge is. Countless happy lemurs leapt from tree to tree and gently jumped on our shoulders. Unlike greedy baboons, these are timid trusting animals with fur as soft as mink.

Most were abandoned as pets and have names. Vincent (Van Gough) was missing an ear. When I revealed a banana, it was like kids at a pinata party. King Julian wrapped his body around my neck. His huge eyeballs looked longingly into mine saying please. Delicately, he peeled this banana with 5 dexterous fingers. I looked over at Deb smiling with 4 lemurs on her. With a one arm swish, they scattered (unlike our spider monkeys in the Amazon.) Adorable babies clung to mother's bellies.

There are 55 species. Some live 90 years. Sadly poaching for pets still continues on the black market. These primates rarely survive in captivity. I was profoundly moved by this place and will bring groups. Tourism is vital to support the conservation of lemurs.

We flew north to Diego, charming seaport town that lies on the second largest bay in the world. It's prettier than Rio. Here I saw twisted baobab trees. A boat tour over to Amber Mountain was stunning. Volcanic mountain ranges burst from the sea, covered in verdant forests and crawling with wildlife.

Our final flight was to the archipelago of Nosy Be with 36 islands scattered over the warm Indian Ocean. It's a marine haven with thousands of miles of coastline and hundreds of miles of coral reefs. Lined with white powder beaches, this was paradise. No wonder it's the favored spot for tourists to Madagascar. Our days were spent inspecting hotels and island hopping by speedboats.

Each day we overnighted on a different fun-filled island. First, Nosy Komba where 5000 lemurs roam. We hiked the forest to visit a group of habituated Black Lemurs Wild yet tame, these were even more friendly than the past ones. This is the place to bargain shop for fine handicrafts. On Nosy Be, we reveled in the amenities at Vanilla Resort where I'll send my groups. Evenings are wicked fun with dancing, grilled lobster and champagne.

We stayed on Sakatia Island, marine reserve carpeted in orchids (no roads, cars, population 300.) An hour boat ride deposited us on Nosy Iranja, a turtle breeding reserve. Here we swam with football-sized Hawksbill turtles and did sea kayaking. Lokobie Island is a protected rainforest reserve crawling with creepy things like chameleons and boa constrictors.

My guide Cannibal wrapped a boa around my neck saying snakes here are handled so much, they are tame. My favorite isle was deserted Tanikely Island known for world class diving. As others dived, it was snorkeling heaven for me. The calm crystal blue water was warm as a bath yet provided shocking visibility. Below was an ocean symphony of corals in vivid living colors and every fish imaginable. I feared the eels. From Sept-Dec here, you can swim with Whale Sharks 35' to 60' long!

The last night my roomie and I meticulously planned an escape to defect from hotel visits on our last day. At 7am, we surreptitiously hauled our luggage down a cliff to the bay where our hired dhow awaited. (This traditional wooden vessel with huge sail cost a whopping $25.) Our toothless captain spoke no English, but gave me an assuring smile when I told him "Amarina Ora resort." Well, he got lost.

This half day adventure turned out to be nothing less than the Amazing Race with insane challenges too countless to list here. 2pm, we finally arrived to our 5 star resort looking like seas urchins. The group would arrive by dinner. Louise and I had our own villa on a private beach. The guests assumed she and I were on our honeymoon which lended great laughs. She got an algae wrap. I splurged on "4 hand massage."

This trip was what I call a - "Ferrari Safari" as we moved so much my head is still spinning. One could spend a year exploring this big land. Now I know what's hot, what's not. With lack of infrastructure in the south (no roads), I designed tours in the lush north and its tropical islands. And I could write pages on facts and scenic beauty, but you can Google this.

I miss Louise who is now designing a perfect Namibia vacation for Adventures For Singles. I also miss the friendly Malagasy people who were grateful to receive us. Broken by poverty, they are generous and possess a spirit of gentility like I've never witnessed before, just like lemurs. Wild, untouched Madagascar is like a living time capsule where clocks tick slowly and nature shines her majesty. It's a perfect escape for relaxation and adventure.

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allenmendezsr · 4 years ago

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