http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Rach-and-Marc/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Rach and Marc en-us Fri, 25 Dec 2009 06:41:10 +0000 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 06:41:10 +0000 So hello again everyone. Welcome to our last bloghelliphellip We are now officially on our way homeThe last 2 weeks have gone pretty quickly all things considered. Irsquove been rushing around trying to get everything done in time and eventually wersquove both managed to hand over all our little projects to the new volunteers. The health centre remains waterless but at least I have http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-373855.html So wersquore now really excited about seeing everyone again. Wersquore also pretty excited at the thought of real food again and I think Rach would like a few hot baths so that she can show her feet in public again. She keeps complaining that theyrsquore ldquodisgustingrdquo but they look the same as everyone elsersquos round here i.e. black.Wersquove both been really busy but I http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-367949.html Hello EveryoneWell we are in our last month and conscious of the fact that we have to tie up all the loose ends or attempt to before we leave.Marc continues to battle with the water tank water pump electrics and securing the microscope for the Health Centre. Problem is we need a room with running water for the District Health Officer to release the Microscope to us. Sounds simple Oh no. You http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/blog-363950.html Hello everyoneSo as usual all is well in Malawi. The rains held off for a week so it got pretty hot again but a big storm last night has sorted things out again. Wersquore sort of on a wind down now. Rach and I are the longest stayers in camp at the moment and wersquove just had 5 more volunteers arrive in the last few days so itrsquos back to work after an excellent Xmas and NY break. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/blog-360651.html Hello AllWell I'm sitting here at the internet cafe in Chintheche while Marc is doing the ward round at the hospital and I thought I's post a Christmas Blog to you all.Last week was a busy one as the Preschool's finished last Friday so I was busy with the Coordinator Jimmy otherwise known as Super Jimmy making the final rounds before Christmas. I even managed to get Marc to come with us on Fr http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-356802.html Hello EveryoneWell Christmas is drawing near and we are beginning to wind down and have a little break from our schedule. Things are pretty low key here so much so that the staff wanted their Christmas Party on the 25th December We have insisted that they should probably spend the day with their families but they are still trying to convince us that itrsquos a good idea. We have arranged our http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-354642.html Blog for Ripple AfricaWell wersquove been here for nearly 4 months now so I guess itrsquos probably about time we told you where all your hard earned donations have gone.Yoursquove probably already seen from the website the sort of things Ripple are doing here. Essentially they split their work into 3 sectors Health Education and Environment. Probably the least well funded for a variety http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/blog-353589.html The next installment from Malawi. It is so hot we think we might just melt away at the moment Temperatures have been soaring into the high 30rsquos with high humidity and itrsquos really making all our walking more difficult. We walked 10kms yesterday in the heat of the day to do the Under 5rsquos Clinic and spent the rest of the day recovering. We have been assured that the rains are on t http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-345241.html Hello againSo the Mango season has arrived and wersquore pretty happy about it. One of the local boys dropped off 31 mangos today and at 5 kwacha each it worked out about 60p for the lot We also have some new volunteers here who are really nice and have fitted in perfectly to our little team. Within 1 day of arriving here Henry had already set up a touch rugby club on the beach and has bee http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-341812.html Well my Mum and my sister Kristie arrived from Oz last week for the adventure of their lives which was very exciting. They landed in Lilongwe quite jetlagged but wide eyed and bushytailed for the fun ahead. We left Malawi behind for five days and ventured to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia last week. It was well worth the 3 hours drive over the worst possible roads in the worst possible car http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-338301.html Hi everyoneWell the last few weeks have been busy so much to tell I donrsquot know where to begin. First of all two of the volunteers who had been here for 8 months were leaving so a party was in order. A goat and two pigs were the guests of honour and were they welcomed They arrived already slaughtered thank goodness in a wheel barrow and the butcher had a very interesting technique. I th http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-332212.html Hello there. We are now officially back in touch with the world after Marc bought himself a shiny new Chinese radio from Mzuzu and we can get the BBC World Service 24 hours a day. Marc is hanging onto every word said at the moment as the Ryder Cup is on. He is slightly disappointed that there has been no rugby or cricket news so Rich keep the email updates coming Our trip to Mzuzu was an excit http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-326973.html Mon 15th SeptHi again to everyone wherever you are. Especially hi to Rachael and Dave who are getting married this week Wersquoll toast a beer to you from here in Malawi.Allrsquos still going well. Work is still challenging especially as I now seem to be running the OutPatients Dept with just an interpreter most of the time. Because I am the only Dr within 100kms of here I am also gett http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Northern/blog-323750.html So itrsquos now 2nd Sept and all is still well here in Malawi. Wersquore settling into a bit of a routine now and have found ourselves very much part of the community. My work has been going really well but it is often very difficult at times. The vast majority of the patients coming in have a fever and the Malawian DOH recommends that everyone with a fever be treated for Malaria as there http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-320460.html Well we arrived in Malawi safe and sound and have been living in our camp by the lake for over a week now which is absolute paradise. The volunteers staff and locals have made us feel very welcome and I can honestly say Malawians are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. You greet everyone you go past with lsquoHello how are you Irsquom fine. Where are you going OK bye.rsquo http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Northern/Nkhata-Bay/blog-317545.html Its nearly time for us the leave the shores of England and head to Malawi. Our flight is tomorrow night. We still have to pack and do various things before we leave but we are nearly done. We can honestly say the last few weeks have been as exhausting and as emotionally challenging as they could ever be. Our worldly goods are on a boat to Australia we are both unemployed and we are at Marc's pare http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/East-Sussex/Brighton/blog-309641.html By now we were really weary and wondering whether our legs would actually get us up Snowdon at all. It hurt to walk it hurt to sit and we actually thought our legs would seize up all together at one point. Here we met with Sara and Austin who grew up in North Wales and are dedicated climbers with lots of local knowledge and expertise. Also Marc's great friend Steve who had previously managed the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/Betws-y-Coed/blog-309639.html After an early start from the Brook House Inn we met up with Nigel Oli and the 2 dogs and decided that we drive around the otherside and climb Scarfell Pike from the North. After a few wrong turns very scenic ones we found ourselves at Seathwaite Farm and we set off. Our legs were really feeling it after the burn from Ben Nevis the day before but none the less we carried on. Then the rain st http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Cumbria/Lake-District/blog-309636.html Well we got off to an early start the morning before with a mamoth drive to Scotland from Brighton. But armed with a trusty Sat Nav we got to see the delights of the Scottish Highland including Loch Lomond which was absolutely gorgeous. Pod and Shanthi had made a little detour from Edinburgh to join us in Fort William which sits at the base of Ben Nevis. After a wholesome curry in our bellies and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Fort-William/blog-299459.html Hi EveryoneWell we are doing our best to prepare for our upcoming challenge of walking up Ben Nevis in Scotland Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales in 3 consecutive days. Many of you have said we are crazy but its all for a good cause We will be raising money for Ripple Africa before we go out to Malawi to volunteer for this wonderful organisation. Hopefully Pod and Shanthi will join http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/East-Sussex/Brighton/blog-288318.html