Madagascar and Mallorca

Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic, French: République Malgache), is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species. Two thirds of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.As part of East Gondwana, the territory of Madagascar split from Africa approximately 160 million years ago; the island of Madagascar was created when it separated from the Indian subcontinent 80 to 100 million years ago. Most archaeologists estimate that the human settlement of Madagascar happened between 200 and 500 A.D., when seafarers from southeast Asia (probably from Borneo or the southern Celebes) arrived in outrigger sailing canoes. Bantu settlers probably crossed the Mozambique Channel to Madagascar at about the same time or shortly afterwards.

The flag of Madagascar was adopted on October 14, 1958.The colors of the flag represent Madagascar's history, yearning for independence, and traditional classes. Red and white were the colors of the Merina kingdom, which succumbed to France in 1896.They were used in the flag of the last Merina monarch, Queen Ranavalona III. They may indicate the ethnic origins of the Malagasy people in Southeast Asia, and are shared by the flag of Indonesia. Green was the color of the Hova, the prominent class of peasant commoners, that played an important role in anti-French agitation and the independence movement.

Someone living in Madagascar visited my blog on Thursday Oct.15th.. At the same time I visited another island - Mallorca - the 145th largest island in the world. Strolling around in Palma´s streets you will never miss Plaza de Cort.Years ago this beautiful tree was brought to Palma from an estate in Pollença and planted in the central Palma square, Plaza de Cort, as a symbol of peace and our deep-rooted attachment to the earth.

If we look at it carefully, we can see intriguing shapes like the «Ear of Mallorca» or the face of a giant. For me I got immediately memories back to Tolkien and his Lords of the Ring when Pippin and Merry was saved by the old Ents in the forest Fangorn.
Ents are probably the most ubiquitous of all creatures in fantasy and folklore, perhaps second only to dragons; for the word can refer to a variety of large, roughly humanoid creatures, such as giants, trolls, orcs, or even the monster Grendel from the poem Beowulf.
Let your fantasy carry you away and see what you can discover in this old tree.
"Olivera de Cort" is a listed tree, protected under Act 6/1991 which regulates the protection of unique trees.

Protected is also Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve , a nature reserve located close to the western coast of Madagascar, and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990. Since that time the southern end of the protected area has been changed into a national park covering 666 square kilometres (257 sq mi). The northern end of this protected area complex remains a strict nature reserve (Réserve Naturelle Intégrale) covering 853 square kilometres (329 sq mi).

You see, there is always a possibility to be motivated to write a blogpost.