Beasley-Taylor Family World Adventure

Dear friends, here is a presentation I have been working on for a long time, since Tanzania in fact! I researched the facts, wrote the script, and recorded the voice over. All of the footage was filmed by me and my mom filmed in Ruaha and Serengeti National Parks, unless it says "from google". I learned lots of cool facts, And I hope you do too! (I have also made French subtitles but that version is coming soon!) It allows you to learn about  elephants, and see the amazing wild world of the east African savanna. I hope you like it! Eloise

We have seen lots of lemurs in Madagascar but bamboo lemurs are my favorite! Here are some things to know about bamboo lemurs. 1.  They are small and cute!  They are between 26-46 cm (10-18 inches) and they weigh up to 2.5 kg (5.7 lbs).  Their tales are just as long or even longer. 2.  They eat bamboo!  Bamboo has lots of poisonous cyanide and nobody knows how they can eat this and not get sick. 3.  Bamboo lemurs around Lake Alaotra can swim!  Most lemurs are afraid of water. 4.  My sister got bitten by one!  But she is OK. 😁 Here is a picture and a video . We also saw lots of other lemurs like the Indri, Black and White Ruffed Lemur, Red Ruffed Lemur, Sifaka, Brown Lemur, and more.  This Brown Lemur is climbing on my head! You can see more of our lemur pictures here .  Veloma!  (That means bye in Malagasy).

Hi, it's Eloise, and I'm going to tell you about a tree native to Madagascar, the Ravinala. the Ravinala The Ravinala is also known as " L'arbre du voyageur " which is French for "the traveler's tree." That is because for a lost thirsty traveler, it is all you need. The legend says that if you are very thirsty, you can get water if you pierce the center of the tree and water will shoot from it, but it will kill the tree. That is not true. You will indeed get water, but the tree is not killed. Personally, I think that that legend is told so that tourists won't go piercing every tree they see. The reason that it doesn't kill the tree is that the water that comes out is actually rainwater stashed between the thick leaves, so it doesn't have anything to do with the tree itself. But the water is not the only useful thing about the Ravinala. The leaves can be used as piercing for water bundles of leaves to make houses. plates,

We’ve really gotten up close and personal with these very endearing primates! Check out our album below! https://photos.app.goo.gl/qjujC4NhM2A4XDaf6

When we lived in Madagascar, from 2005 to 2008, I did a series for NPR about my experiences here. Being back is making me relive some of those experiences again! For those who missed them the first time around, or who want to hear them again, here they are! The one that started it all: Madagascar's More than I Bargained For https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4946339 A Tumultuous Affair with Orange Kely https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18145216 A Maid in Madagascar https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5515373 Going to Market in Madagascar https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5149503 What it Means to Notice Race https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6859742

It’s great to be back in Madagascar after 10 years! And especially fun to share this amazing place with Eloise and Loic. We’ve reconnected with friends, visited some favorite places and had new adventures. Here are some pictures from our trip so far! Île Sainte Marie is a beautiful tropical island off the east coast. In the 17th century, pirates would land here to hide their treasure. There is even a pirate cemetery! There could be worse places for homseschool... In Tana, the capital, we experienced ‘la pluie’ like we never have in Seattle! Rain that floods the streets in a matter of minutes! Once it starts, you’d better be in your way home, otherwise you could be stuck for hours! Our  old house! The market....with some shoes Vary sy loaka! Riding in the ubiquitous Renault 4L...same kind of car we used to own! I did an NPR piece about it back in the day, check it out !  Lots of time with friends!

Hi, it's Loic again. Here's a new video I made about Tanzania! It's in English but there are subtitles in French. I hope you like it!