A little something called...... Mallaria

Mel, The African Discovery Adventure
Mel Grice
Here's to hoping all things happen in three's!!

1. Chicken Food Poisoning
2. Mushroom Food Poisoning
3. MALLARIA

4. there better not be, or I’m getting a helicopter off this continent!

So why go to Africa without experiencing everything, that’s my theory. So to put it into practice i was fortunate enough to pay the lovely hospital another visit. This time things were a little more scary as Mallaria's not something you really wanna play around with. Although if nipped in the butt early it can pass without too much trouble. However stubborn Mel, who thought it would pass without visiting hell (thats my nickname for the hospital) prolonged getting treatment. Well needless to say that turned out to be a big mistake.

Mallaria takes over your whole body, and for me the worst part was the compression on the lungs making it hard to draw deep breathes. But other fun symptoms include severe muscle and abdominal pain, sweats and chills and a general lack of energy. And im not talking having to cut the morning jog down to a couple of km's but i'm talking not having the energy to roll yourself over in bed, not to mention get out of it for the bathroom. It was then that i decided that this might be more than a cold and went to hospital. Fortunately we had the resources to get me there and start treatment but sadly for hundreds of thousands of Malawian's they cannot afford the cost of local transport to get to hospital to receive the free treatment. Which is one of the cruel realties of life in Africa and its the major killer far worse than aids.

Luckily for Mel i got there, received treatment and was on the road to recovery within in a couple of days. Although i did get attacked by a stupid monkey whilst waiting to be seen(only in Africa), passed out in the dirt on the side of the road but apart from that i was fine.

And thanks to those who were there for my poor mother during that time whom i know would’ve been a bit of a mess.... sorry ma xox

So now my time in Malawi has come to an end and a new chapter called "Mel, the African Discovery Adventure" has begun. In colorful form I might add.

Yesterday i crossed the border from Malawi to Zambia, although it almost didn't happen that way. At immigration an officer asked to see my Health Card because for Zambia you need to have Yellow Fever treatment before entering, which of course i didnt have. So he took me into a back dungy looking room and gave me a spill on how important it is to have this card and he cant let me into the country etc etc then he said it could all be resolved with a simple payment. hehe a corrupt African Police official, who would've thought. As he wanted US$20 and i didn't have any to spare after visa payment he told me to go back to Malawi. We eventually agreed upon 1,000 Malawi Kwacha which is about AU $7 and i was allowed in. Awesome start!!

I changed over my remaining Malawian Kwacha to Zambian and got a taxi to the border town of Chipata. From there i had just enough currency to get me to Lusaka the Zambian capital. The bus took 10 hours and arrived at 11pm at the bus depot in town. Lusaka on a good day is known for its daylight muggings etc so departing the bus, at the station the worse place in town in the middle of the night and being a single, female mzungu is a little dangerous. As i had no money, and the taxi drivers are predominately the dodgy people i didnt dare get them to take me to a teller machine so i just stayed on the bus. I was seated next to a sweet teenage boy who was the brother of the bus conductor and they let me stay on the bus all night. It was a cold, uncomfortable evening but at least it was safe. I had to borrow some money off him to use the bathroom as i didn’t even have the 20cents required. ow :( but all good now.

Today i got myself some kwacha and a place to stay tonight and am meeting another volunteer from Malawi this afternoon to travel together with tomorrow to Victoria Falls. So very excited!

Zambia is not as poor as Malawi and it even has a Subway which made me excited, although I cannot afford to indulge its still cool to know its there.

Well another tale of Adventure and stories of not only laughter, but its a combination of the good times and the bad that makes up a good learning experience.

Next entry should involve some amazing scenery and me probably throwing myself down the falls one way or another either bungy jumping, rafting or something else crazy cool to add to ‘Mel, the African Discovery Adventure.’

Till then take care
xoxo

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