Blogs from Malawi, Africa - page 7

Geo: -13.7158, 34.6287As mentioned yesterday we are staying in a place called the Mushroom Farm, it is on the side of a mountain with spectacular views. Our bedroom is a cob house (straw and mud construction, as seen on Grand Designs) and the bathroom is huge, it only has three walls, the fourth is open with a 1000ft drop immediately below so there is no danger of anyone looking in although it is a bit disconcerting when you go to the loo in the middle of the night. It is a vegetarian establishment but they seem to think that if you are not given meat you must eat lots of greens. Yesterday's lunches were huge and then dinner was beyond us, I managed 70% of my plate of food but Gill was completely defeated and only ... read more

Geo: -10.606, 34.1063Throughout Southern Africa there is a strange, almost religious, custom which is performed every day. Guest houses, lodges and hotels insist that at around 5pm you get in a vehicle, drive up the nearest hill, unload a table, a few chairs and a cool box and have a "Sundowner" which is either a G&T or a beer whilst you watch the sunset. You then all climb back in the vehicle and return home in the dark. Whilst I rather like a nice G&T or a beer I have never understood this custom, the sunset happens every day as, unlike England, it is always sunny, why leave a perfectly serviceable bar to drink somewhere there is a high probability of sand, flies or other rubbish getting in your drink. This strange custom even takes place ... read more

Geo: -11.607, 34.2794We have spent the last couple of days doing very little, that is what holidays are supposed to be isn't it although this is a bit of a novelty for us as we usually plan our trips such that we do something every day. We have borrowed a two person kayak and practised our Hawaii Five 0 skills (mostly going round in circles) and reading lots of books, I have particularly enjoyed Boris Johnson's book on Churchill with of course lots of Churchillian stories;He was sitting next to a clean-living Methodist bishop at a reception in Canada when a good-looking young waitress came up and offered them both a glass of sherry from a tray. Churchill took one. But the bishop said, ‘Young lady, I would rather commit adultery than take an intoxicating beverage.' ... read more

Geo: -11.607, 34.2794A headline to grab you attention, have we been taken ill, run down by one of the 13 cars on the island? No, we needed to catch the 8am ferry and the lodges boat would take too long so they arranged for the local ambulance to double as a taxi, Gill was in the front, me in the back the only disappointment was the driver did not switch on the blue light and siren.The ferry was a modern one with a landing craft type front which is supposed to enable the customers to walk on and off but because the lake is low it would not reach the beach. Cue for chaos, the fishermen make 10p a passenger carrying them the 10 yards to the boat without getting their feet wet, some people just ... read more

Geo: -12.0559, 34.7616Likoma may be a small island, 5 miles by 2 miles, and only have a population of a few thousand but it has a cathedral. Not just any cathedral but one of the biggest in Africa. The Victorian Anglican missionaries built it (I don't suppose they built it themselves) between 1903 and 1905 on the site one of them witnessed three witches being burnt to death a few years previously. It is the size of Westminster Cathedral, many of the bricks were imported from Mozambique and the choir stalls, font and baptism pool are carved from soap stone. It seems lovingly cared for and one of the gardeners was very pleased to have the opportunity to show us round. It was surprisingly light inside despite having very small windows quite high up above the ... read more