Blogs from Southern, Malawi, Africa - page 14

Lazy Sunday Sunday afternoon was my first feeling of being on holiday as I sat by the bright green hostel pool reading my novel and sunbathing. Yes finally a day of complete sunshine and no rain - what bliss! At the hostel there is a craft stall with beautiful wooden carvings created by a guy called Godfrey. I met him earlier on in the week when I bought a few pieces of his work. He trained for three years to learn his trade and he's very good. As I sat in the sun Godfrey mentioned he'd like to teach me to play a special Malawian game. I buy us two bottled fantas and we sit down on metal chairs by his stall with a table between us. The game is called Bawo and consists of a ... read more

I had my first cup of tea at the orphanage today, and it made all the difference! Simple things! I plucked up courage to ask the project manager if I could have some of his strong loose tea leaves and borrow his mug (they don't have milk in the village, although you can get powered stuff). Caffeine at last! And there is something so comforting about drinking tea (I'm reminding myself about the tea drinking descriptions in the No 1 Ladies Detective books) as I sat outside with some of the orphanage staff learning more about their lives. It's Friday today so I asked what they would be doing over the weekend - there was only one answer - going to Church on Sunday, washing, cleaning, resting, and chatting with friends and family. One thing which ... read more

Here in Malawi, I have already given up on asking people what their real names are. I met Cruiser, Mr B, Coffee & Phonics this weekend in Cape Maclear. Our cook is called Computer. Our driver is called Gift. A colleague of mine is called Massage. It’s true what they say - Malawians ARE the friendliest people. I have been made to feel so welcome my first week here. I have already had several invites to join people for Kuche Kuche (beer) and Shake Shake (a local beer that looks like porridge and comes in large milk cartons). My first impressions? My work, my location, and the people I am with are all making me think this is going to be great. My journey from Lilongwe airport to Monkey Bay took 4 hours. It was in ... read more

Malawi - the warm heart of Africa - is known for its friendly hospitable people. And indeed wherever I go I receive a heartfelt welcome. Last night I dined with 5 pastors and their wives at the Reverend's house. There was food aplenty - meats, peas, maize, rice, potatoes, and some coated termites - a delicacy which is apparently too good to hang around - as they were eaten up before I got to try any! After the food came the dancing, and I copied the women as best I could. Then the singing - a special song welcoming me. Then a 'speech' from one of the wives saying how thankful she was to the Reverend for making it possible for them to meet and talk with white people and how honoured she felt. I quickly ... read more

…when a mazungu comes to visit. Without question, the most incredible experience of my trip to Malawi was the day and night I spent in the village of Njobvu. This is a “real live” African village which Central African Wilderness Safaris has helped establish a small tourist programme. A couple of huts have been built, in the local style, as accommodation for tourists, with associated “facilities”. A guide, Enoch, shows day and overnight visitors around the village, introducing them to the traditional healer and various villagers who demonstrate their crafts and skills, showing them round a typical home, and arranging for children and young people to sing, dance and chat to them. At present, however, they are only getting a couple of tourists a month, and I couldn’t over-recommend a trip if you are visiting ... read more