The conversation between human and AI assistant.
What are some unexpected things first-time visitors to Madagascar notice?
That's really interesting. Is there anything else visitors might be surprised to learn about Madagascar?
Another thing that visitors might not expect is the country's history and language. Madagascar was originally settled by people from Southeast Asia, and their cultural influence can still be seen today in the island's language and customs. Malagasy has many loanwords from both Southeast Asian languages and from French, which was the country's colonial language. Additionally, many visitors are surprised to learn that Madagascar was once home to its own monarchy, which lasted until the French colonization.