Blogs from Malawi, Africa - page 13

Four days spent at Cool Runnings was a peaceful oasis in a busy and chaotic fishing village. Apart from snoozing on comfy loungers, or wallowing in the shallows of the lake to cool off, there wasn't a lot to do there. We went for a long walk down the beach, passing children playing, and mothers doing their washing, though I was heartened to see several young men washing their clothes too. There was a small hotel further down the beach and we went in there for lunch. It took an hour to come, and it was only cole slaw and chips. It took them 10 minutes to decide which of the soups used fresh ingredients, and 20 minutes to devide there was no soup available at all. And the chips were flabby, which is quite a ... read more

On the move again, arriving at the Kilimanjaro airport our temperature was taken now for the second time. They motion us on, so far so good. No signs of Ebola. Once through all the security we discovered that our flight is delayed an hour and a half. Didn't find out why until we finally boarded. There was an incident at the connecting airport (Narobi), the airport was shut down and the air space cleared. WTF???never did find out what the incident was. Finally on board and fly to Narobi then onward to Lilongwe and was uneventful. Except for the fact our luggage did not follow us. Well it did follow us, they just didn't take it of the plane and sent it through to Lusaka. Now our bags have been to more cities than we have. ... read more

Weekend at Cool Runnings Friday we worked in the morning and left at 12.30 for lunchtime of chips at Lumbadzi market. They are cooked in shallow pans in the open air and are wonderful. A portion is 200 kwacha which is about 30p. A nearby shop sold wonderful 'tingling ginger beer'. We arrived at the backpacker's hostel called Cool Runnings on Sanga Bay on Lake Malawip and some of us went straight to the clear blue lake at the back of the garden and wallowed in the wonderful sensation after hard I'm a dusty environment, and a long drive in a rattling van on a bumpy road. The food here is marvellous: fresh fish from the lake, caught by the local fishermen. Sam, the owner of Cool Runnings will only buy fish from those who have ... read more

Monday morning Breakfast at Mabuya is varied and mostly at reasonable prices. At the weekends we pay for our own food. Yesterday I had French toast with syrup, today I'm having eggs and bacon on toast. It's all cokked individually by two jolly cooks. After breakfast we're walking down to the Landirani office for a meeting with Mphatso the project manager. There is a bit of a problem that Aidcamp hasn't come across before; there is no way that the project will be finished on the 26th which is our last day when there will be a 'handing over 'ceremony of the building to the local communify with dancers, singers, local dignitaries and national politicians. The roof struts should be on, the thatching will have started, the inside plastering may be finished. Decorating may well be ... read more

Sunday 9am Eating breakfast at Mubaya Camp in the sun with 6 other Aidcampers. The journey from the UK on Friday at 8pm to Lilongwe at 11am Saturday can be sumnarised thus: Hours travelled 10 hours Films watched 2 (Veronica Mars - Yes, me too. Noah - Mel Gibson hero, Ray Winstone villain: war, water, Emma Watson's angst). Hours slept 3 Meals eaten 4 Hours spent hanging around airports 6. But it passed. Met the other six Aidcampers, and four more arrived on Sunday. A couple and two friends. We're a mixed bunch ranging from 25 to 72 years, some who have been on projects before, and some Aidcamp virgins. We're at Mubaya camp for the weekend in chalets and A-frame huts, before going to the project on Monday. We'll go to the supermarket first to ... read more