Blogs from Malawi, Africa - page 80

Leg One: Harare to Blantyre: Bus Jas covered this trip pretty well but I think I would just like to mention that we had no money left and so no water or food. There were no bathrooms so it was probably a good thing...and even fewer stops. The boarder crossings were the most ridiculous things ever. After waiting about 30 minutes for everyone to cram back on the bus (the aisles were packed with goods), we would drive about 1 minute where everyone would take another 30 minutes to get off the bus. It made the journey especially long. At least the windows opened a bit though. Blantyre: Blantyre was our rest stop just to recover after the long bus joruney. Once again we ignored advice about an area being too dangerous and once again we ... read more

May 11, 2006 - Day 26 - The morning had another optional game drive or walk, but I decided no to do it. I woke up early and had to go to the bathroom, but could hear hippos that sounded awfully close, so I waited until Barbel was awake at 5:15am for her 6am walk and we walked to the bathroom together. Afterwards I got a bit more sleep. Had a morning shower, so rare for me, and some breakfast before breaking down the tent with Ashley’s help. We were supposed to stay at this campsite for two days, which would have been wonderful. I wanted to sit at the river and watch animals all day. But we have an Argentinean in the group and he needed to get a special visa sticker in his passport ... read more

As proof that life ebbs and flows, after our easy bus trip from Blantyre to Lilongwe, we experienced a hellish 10-hour bus trip from Lilongwe to Mzuzu. Not only was it very long (it should have only been about six hours) but about seven hours into the trip, we stopped at a town and the bus got so packed that people were standing in the aisles and sitting on the backs of the benches. A lady with a chicken stood over Vicky which caused Vicky (the English Princess) to freak out for the rest of the three hour journey. In addition, a baby being held near Vicky peed on her. I laughed as, after having traveled in India, everything is EASY. After the hellish bus trip, the girls wanted no more "public transportation" and we took ... read more

After crossing the border from Tanzania, we spent a night in Mzuzu before heading to Nkhata Bay. Nkhata Bay is a small village on the Lake Malawi shores. We spent three relaxing days at Mayoka Lodge eating, reading and staring at the Lake. I read Chitra Divakaruni's Arranged Marraige stories. This chic definitely does not like men, as almost every story the woman is the victim/hero and man is the culprit ! But, she does write good stories. Mayoka Village owners have built picturesque chalets constructed out of stone, bamboo and wood overlooking the bay. Gary, one of the owners of Mayoka, had a rambuctious birthday for himself and got the entire village to drink with him. At one point, he flashed on top of the bar ! We also met a bunch of Peace Corp ... read more

For the record dar es salam is I think the largest city in Tanzania. Not a disease. I am in Mzuzu right now, we came here again yesterday to catch the bus to Mbeya (another town in Tanzania) however that all went terribly wrong. First I'll comment on other things The intruder into our tent was in Cape Maclear. We had bad vibes about that place to begin with, and it didn't help when the fellow came into the tent. WE were sleeping. I head the zipper open. I thought oh, pauls got the shits again (NOT) but as I opened one I to make sure he wasn't letting any mozzies in, I noticed paul had become black, and about 15 years old. I looked at this fellow, he looked at me. I screamed GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... read more