http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , Malawi , Lake Malawi en-us Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:04:34 +0000 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:04:34 +0000 Now having been traveling for about 6weeks you'd have thought that the bus trips had been perfected from a guaranteed sleeping position to feasting on nutritional treats well thought of in advance. Sadly not quite yet We had headed from Moshi in Tanzania on to Morogoro I'm not making these names up and then to Mbeya before reaching the Malawi boarder. This trip took 2days and in that time http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-469204.html Project holiday denial this was my goal all through the holidays. It is WAY too HOT to be Christmas time Instead I decided to pretend I was just on summer vacation. Here is what I didWell first I had to show up in Lilongwe a few days early because I was sent a message that there were some problems with my proposal mainly the location of the PLHIV Resource Centre. So Melanie and I paid http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-464837.html SOOOOOOOOOO....I know I failed this time. I have not been on this page in months SorryI don't have much to say about December. My birthday on the 6th was nice and quiet and Thanksgiving was it's usual brand of PCCrazy. BUT after Halloween I did a few interesting things. My Christmas adventure is on the next blogFor instance just after Chitipa I had a few days to kill before going to L http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/Kandi-Beach/blog-456271.html Irsquove just returned from 4 days at Lake Malawi having been invited to go only a few hours before we left by Alekeni who I work with at SJA and 5 of her friends Themba Mazaza and Josh. A 34 hour drive from Blantyre the lake covers 20 of Malawi it is a lot warmer then Blantyre thus why Irsquove managed to burn my shoulders and neck despite repeatedly applying sun cream most days http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-447730.html We spent a few days by Lake Malawi which was incredible. The lake is so big that it looks like the sea because you can't see the other side of it and there are waves. The only difference is that is it fresh water so much nicer to swim in The first night was spent at Chitimba beach were a few of us went for a walk to a clothes market but never really made it because we got distracted by lo http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/Kandi-Beach/blog-446303.html After having the truck fixed we headed south to Malawi given the fact we'd lost a night due to the breakdown we spent one night less in Chitimba and so only really stayed overnight though we did get the chance to go to a witch doctor who predicted that both Rhian and I would have long happy lives and we'd get married and have two children a boy then a girl. The good doctor was wiling to elabo http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/Kandi-Beach/blog-438786.html Best laid plans of mice and men...So after completing what will probably be my last offshore trip for a while which was actually my most interesting to date doing lots of flying and fixing lots of indepth stuff that was very interesting. Getting out was another story entirely.Because Omar Bongo died suddenly the Air Gabon route through Libreville was no longer safe.... the fact that quite a fe http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-432859.html Day 15 Chitimba Malawi 13809Another early start this time around 0600. Found my flip flops they were left outside my tent. Climbed onto the great big green truck for now the almost routine long drive though the African bush was really looking forward to reaching another country country number 3 Malawi. Again I fell asleep for a couple of hours then when I was awoken by the sun beams http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/Kandi-Beach/blog-430991.html Back on the mainland we drive through Tanzania to our next destination Malawi one of the poorest countries in Africa. Our main port of call is Lake Malawi the vast body of water which accounts for 30 of the countryrsquos land area. Driving into Malawi we immediately notice a difference to the other African nations to the north most houses are traditional mud and straw huts and there ar http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-429437.html On July 9th we crossed the boarder into Malawi. This was very easy boarder crossing. The first city that we went to was Chitimba. The campsite was right on Lake Malawi which is also known as the calendar lake because it is 365 miles long and 52 miles across. I went for a 32km walk about 20 miles round trip up this mountainhill to get to a town called Livingstone. I have to admit I barel http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/Kandi-Beach/blog-422018.html Nkhotakota Lake MalawiI've just got back from seeing Lake Malawi for the first time at the coastal trading center of Nkhotakota and two things struck me instantly upon arriving.One Lake Malawi is big.Two Nkhotakota is truly a hidden gem.Sani Beach ResortA friendcoworker and I last week decided that we were going to get out of Ntchisi and see some of the rest of the country so the obvio http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-412102.html When do the other students arriveYou are the only student in the course.So it goes.I enrolled in a two week pottery course along the shores of Lake Malawi. Had hoped it would offer me some interaction with people who could talk about other things besides travel. Instead I was left feeling like Tom Hanks in Castaway. Of course I wasn't stranded on a deserted island and I had a sweet room h http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-400044.html its been too long. which means im going to scoot through as fast as i can to catch up with myself and be able to be more detailed next time.we vacated moshi the day after kili. the bus joourney to dar was non descript save the AGAIN aweful choice of tv they played.... generally adulterous women getting bashed about by their husbands then a film about an albino boy devils child in africa who k http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-399344.html A big driving day which took us via the number one highway through Mkumi National Park. Amazing to be driving on a main highway and passing giraffe and elephants along the way Saw our first impala some baboons and as well as vultures Kirst was lucky enough to spot a Hornbill. Saw lake Malawi for the first time as we arrived at our campsite on the shore at Chitimba Beach. Whilst staying at Chiti http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-396123.html On the road again..So after the luxury RR we returned to the truck and back on the roads which were slowly getting worse as we headed south. Our next port of call was Lake Malawi the 8th largest lake in the world lake Malawi spans the length of the country and is also said to have more species of fish in it than any other lake in the world.Our mission in Malawi was really to make it to the othe http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/Chitimba-Beach/blog-396076.html After a rigorous trek across the Nyika Plateau and a few days of licking my wounds in Livingstonia Irsquove slumped back to Mzuzu in time for a cold drink a hot meal a hearty welcome and after a couple of days an equally hearty farewell. Itrsquos been a lovely and laidback fortnight in this pretty jacarandastudded city but at the risk of missing the ferry to Likoma and having my b http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-390171.html Day 282 17109Rise and shine at 4.30am for a earliest start to date and our longest DRIVE DAY Happy with our decision to hire a Banda for the night and not tackle our tents to the ground in the dark we boarded the truck with thirteen hours ahead of us Not surprisingly the truck was a little quieter than usual. We passed time napping reading watching movies on the IPOD playing trivial pu http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/Kandi-Beach/blog-374527.html 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 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