Blogs from Lake Malawi, Malawi, Africa - page 21

February 4, 2006 - New Group We left Livingstone with our new group, a great bunch of people from Australia, England, New Zealand and the States. We had 8 people from our original group continue on, and added 10 from another group, and 2 new girls who joined in at Livingstone. It seems like an excellent group, a great group of people to travel with! Other than getting to know each other, we had a relatively boring day, driving from Livingstone to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. We stopped in Lusaka for a few hours, to shop for groceries for the next few days, and use the internet and get supplies (like mosquito repellant!). It was surprisingly developed...there were really nice shops, tons of tubabs everywhere, and really nice facilities. I was surprised by the level ... read more

It's nearly pitch dark when I wake up, the room is only lit by the eerie moonlight shining through the half open window. My watch reads 2am. I curse the men shouting outside. They sound upset but it's hard to tell - I don't speak the language. Africans oftens sound more agitated than they really are. Selling tomatoes or offering taxi services may sound more like someone holding up a bank than a friendly local trying to make a living. 'Why can't they ever speak in a civilised manner,' I say prejudicely to Helene, assuming she's awake. Interesting how suddenly "I" am the civilised and "they" are the villains. I never was much of a morning person. 'It's probably nothing,' I say with a guilty look on my face, hidden from Helene by the darkness. 'It's ... read more

Jeudi 27 octobre - Iringa to Chitimba (Malawi) Ce matin nous nous levons avant les oiseaux et bien avant le soleil. Il est 4h30. Nous avons une très longue journée de route à faire. Les gens marchent le long de la route et marchent et marchent. Hommes, femmes, enfants. C’est une procession sans fin de marcheurs, souvent pieds nus, qui défilent devant la fenêtre du camion. Les hommes se déplacent aussi à vélo. De vieux machins tout défraîchis, rouillés mais robustes. Parfois ils poussent des brouettes remplies de marchandises. Les femmes portent des bidons remplis d’eau sur la tête et un enfant attaché dans leur dos dans une couverture. La vie passe. Lorsqu’on arrête sur le bord de la route pour installer nos tables et chaises à pique-nique, les enfants du coin arrivent en courant, comme ... read more

After an eventful journey of being stopped by Malawi police to search the truck and a stop at a rubber plantation were the workers had the biggest balls we’ve seen and a very scenic drive we arrived at Kande Beach campsite, what a gem! Straight into the lake for a swim and snorkel, even Charmaine braved the water and got right into snorkelling. The lake is just teaming with fish (Cichlids don’t you know?). Darren, Lloyd and Koen decided it would be fun to play the locals in a little 5-a-side, the final score was 3 all but playing in the heat and sand is definitely not fun aginst the locals who are used to it and hence run rings around you. A quick shower and its on with the glad rags for a fabulously glamorous ... read more

After Lilongwe we travelled up to Kande beach which was on the shores of Lake Malawi. We caught the first combi from the local market and I got my pocket picked for the first time in my life. I felt my cheap - ready for stealing - sunglasses leave my pocket but I was paying the taxi driver and holding my packs so there wasn't much I could do. I didn't see anyone when I looked around. After about 5 hours on the combi we were supposed to change for another in Dwangwa but the guys on the bus offered us a ride to Kande for 10$ more for the 5 of us - which seemed a fair deal. The three of them then proceeded to laugh and clap and high five while chatting to us ... read more