ILMENITE & "RAW-FISHING" VIDEO & PHOTOS

First up this beautiful photo of the rich mineral, ilmenite, found in the sea sand here in Taolagnaro (Ft Dauphin). The photo was taken at Hotel Talinjoo's beach.

Majority of ilmenite comes from sand. Ilmenite is resistant to weathering and that is why it is commonly found in sand. (Here on this Mad magical island I'm also resistant to weathering if I use loads of moisturising cream!)

Ilmenite is black (or dark grey) and has a metallic lustre. (Lustre, such a beautiful word.) It, that is, ilmenite is used in mineralogy.....the way in which light is reflected from the surface of a mineral. It is one of the properties by which minerals are defined.

Titanium is extracted from ilmenite in the form of titanium dioxide which is a bright white powder widely used as a base pigment in paint, paper, plastic and sunscreen.

North America and Europe together consume about 50% of the world's titanium dioxide production.
Demand by India and China is growing rapidly and may eventually surpass Western consumption.

So, next time you paint, go to the loo, use a plastic bag or sunscreen think of me!!

Thanks to Wikipedia for the info........

This is why we find ourselves on the island......mining is happening for ilmenite. For more information check out QMM Mining, Madagascar and Rio Tinto Mines.

The "dug out" boats the local fisherman use to fish from on the lakes and in the sea. Are they brave or what?

This one is slightly longer than the one in the previous photo. It looks pretty small and vulnerable on the big blue ocean!

Here are our three "little" fishermen neighbours in a dug-out like the one in the photo.
From left to right: Martin in the white shirt; Sela in the middle; and Tsikiv bringing up the rear.
The name Tsikiv means "don't worry" in Malagasy, tsikivy - don't worry. What a lovely name!

The fishermen on the rocks were awe inspiring! We watched, fascinated as they dive and swim to check their nets and stand on the rocks fishing while the waves are crashing in around them. They have this peculiar habit of standing on one leg when the waves crash, it seems to help them keep their balance! Amazing.

I have coined a phrase for this type of fishing: "Raw-fishing." It is like watching a "sea symphony orchestra" being conducted by this very talented fisherman with no rod!

On closer scrutiny you discover the fishing gut is wound round his head, his waist and attached to a little wooden stick that is tucked into the waist of his shorts.

With the most incredible gracious arm gestures, sometimes like an orchestra conductor, other times like a modern ballet dancer whose arm and body strength is amazing you watch mesmerised as he reels in (without a rod!) the fish he has caught. In our case it was a needle fish.

I hope the photos do our fishermen justice. I was captivated with my mouth hanging open and tears streaming down my cheeks as I watched them for the first time in my life.

When one is poor and faced with not many options and the family is hungry and one must survive, human beings are incredibly resourceful.

Sitting on the rocks in idyllic surroundings with everything I need in life and much, much more it certainly was a moment in time filled with such heart-ache and empathy amidst some of G-d's most beautiful creation......such a juxtaposition!

Experience some of the awe we felt as you view this video, filmed on the spur of the moment, by Hilton. Our son, Alistair has also posted it on YouTube under the title, Needle Fishing.