Mumbo Island Paradise

This is about as close to paradise as you can get!  Mumbo Island  is situated off the beach resort of Cape Maclear, off the shore of Southern Lake Malawi.  The water around the water are crystal-clear and offer an amazing snorkelling (and if you can diving) location!  

The luxury, yet rustic cabins are perched on rocks high above the water, each with its own shaded view-deck and hammock, offering sweeping views of the lake.  

Spending a couple of days there is the most relaxing way of  chilling, swimming, relaxing, sunbathing, birdwatching, and enjoying the vista.  No power, no computers or cell phones to interrupt your time on the island.

I went there with a group and we had the best time, snorkeling, swimming, riding the boat around the island, swimming among the fish, and at night taking all part in a murder mystery!  

Next time, if there is a next time, a nice romantic getaway would be nice!

A different way of life

This poster used to be posted at international arrivals at Kamuzu International Airport, informing women of the dress code in Malawi back in the old days, up to about 15 years ago.  

Modesty was crucial.

Things have changed quite a bit since then, but modesty is still important, with the advice given that women do not show too much above the knee.  Actually, you will still see many women wearing a pair of trousers that they cover up with a chitenche (African Printed fabric)  wrap.

There is even a rumor that immigration officers would go through suitcases and remove trousers or skirts deemed too short!  

Something not mentioned on the poster was that men had to have short hair....  Rumors fly that immigration officers would keep a pair of scissors to snip men's hair if it was deemed too long to adhere to the expected short hair rule.

Thank goodness things have changed a bit since then, although with the variety of the colorful chitenche fabric it wouldn't be too much of a burden to have to wrap up...  I still believe it would be the black abaya I had to wear for two years while living in Saudi Arabia :-)

Breathtaking

Malawi has offered the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets I've had the privilege of witnessing...  Doesn't really matter where I am or what I do, but dusk and  dawn just offer magical sights on a fairly regular basis....  Here are just a few...  Enjoy!

Camouflage Moth

Probably one of the best camouflaged insects.. Except this one had decided to land on the concrete floor!  Just imagine it among the leaves of a small bush or bigger tree!  Invisible!

Lilongwe Cricket Club Alendo Rally 2013

Talk about fun!  One Saturday morning in May, two friends and I boarded a decked out land-rover decorated for the occasion and took part in the Lilongwe Cricket Club Alendo Car Rally. The goal of the day was to navigate without getting sidetracked or last on dirt roads for over 70 kms around Lilongwe.  Our team were named "The Victorious Secret", we were all glamed-up, car included!

Rally was not just driving around...  that would have been just too easy.  We also had a list of clues that led to specific points to photograph.  During the whole day we deciphered the clues written as poems as we were driving around.  Among the many clues, one had to do with the presidential palace, another one with Madonna's school that didn't pan out, one about a specific hair salon/barber shop and one with the power supply towers...  Those were a lot of fun and we were truly admiring the cricket guys who actually wrote all those clues in poem forms.

Along the way we had three stops: target shooting, tire chance and a bicycle challenge.  Of course, those had been kept secret till you actually arrived on the spot of the challenge.
Target shooting was done by using sling shots, small rocks and aiming at various size containers.  One of our team did well with this.
The tire change was also just that: changing a tire under a certain amount of time.  To our credit, the team did well, considering that none of us had really changed a tire completely without help.  We were dressed in black slacks, white tops, healed shoes and were all wearing pearls. AND we did change the tire, unlike many other teams who elected to "pay a bribe" to get points for work they didn't do.

The third, and last, challenge was the most physically demanding... One of us, me in this instance, had to ride a bike around a football/soccer field, with a child from the village sitting on the bike as well.  It was a little tricky as the turns were pretty sharp, but again, we finished the challenge, not first but not last either!

When we arrived back at the Cricket Club, the atmosphere was electric:  every team had to show their solved riddles photographs, then all had to wait for the prize giving ceremony...  The wait ended up totally being worth it:  The Victorious Secret won a dinner for 4 at one of the best restaurants/steakhouses for best named team. We hollered and hooted for the winners of various categories...  and even for the grand prize winner, a two guys team who won 200,000 MK (570 USD) at the big box store Game (the South African Wal-Mart)

Overall a great day!  Can't wait for next year ;-)

Already two years!

Wow, I can't believe it's already been almost two years since we moved to Malawi.  So much has happened in the past 24 months, while it seems it's truly been a few months.  Time flies when you're having fun!  Emma and Alex have grown a lot, physically and mentally, while I've had the chance to work and live in one of the most beautiful countries (and one of the best kept secrets) in Africa!
Malawi offers the best of it all: plains, plateaus, mountains, hills, National Park and safaris, and let's not forget its largest attraction the majestic Lake Malawi.

I'm currently on holiday back in the USA and have the joy to visit with friends who are all wanting to hear about what it's like to live in the middle of Africa, how we deal with water and power cuts, with lack of petrol and diesel at times, with shortages in foreign currencies...  Well, you know, honestly, you learn to live with that and you adapt.  The pace of life in Malawi is much more relaxed than in the west, a commute to work for me (and the children) is at worst 10 minute walk and not having to fight any kind of traffic on the way to work.

For those who know me, I think Malawi has succeeded in calming me down...  I know, some may snicker at that, but it has!  There is no point to worry endlessly about what could happen.  Just take it one day at the time and it will all work out!  Live in the now!  Tomorrow will be soon enough to discover the future.

Being back in the USA is a little overwhelming.  I'm trying to do a good bit of shopping for stuff you can't buy in Malawi, but going from store to store is just too much!  The shelving is so packed with a multitude of choices...  How on earth do people ever get to do their grocery shopping in one hour.  I've been limiting myself to one store at the time...

Oh, and for those who don't know, I've signed another 2 year contract, so we will be back for more African adventures, and I will try to post more regularly to the blog...  Haven't been doing too good the last few months..  So stay tuned for more.

Bikes, bikes and more bikes

The other day a sight to be hold was happening right by my house: a huge load of bikes was being transported. And when I say huge I mean an entire 18 wheeler loaded with bikes, stacked on top of each other.
We had to stop to snap the pictures and inquirie about the bikes. They were brand new, straight from India and to be sold in area 2. The tires were new and not yet inflated.
How many happy people will they make?
I wonder how long it will take me before I spot some around Lilongwe?

Feeding the crocs

One of my friends lives out in the country and has the distinct provilege of having a croc enclosure in his backyard! How many people do you know who keep crocs as "pets"? Granted, he's renting the house and didn't totally choose to have those crocs in his backyard, but they came with the house!
From the stories told about those crocs, eggs were found over 10 years ago on the shore of Lake Malawi by the owners of the house who picked them up, incubated them and saw over 10 crocs hatch! Out of that bunch only three remain!
But boy, are those things intimidating or what? They are kept in an enclosure with a pond, bushes and mud, the perfect environment to lounge in the sun all day and take a quick dip when too hot!
The crocs are fed about four kilos of meat once a week. After rattling the gate to the enclosure, their keeper aims and throws the food towards their mouths!
Feeding time is truly a sight to be seen, with those three predators lurking in the water and moving so quickly to catch their food! As I am watching this feeding, all I can think is that I am glad those three reptiles are on the other side of the fence and that I hope none of them will escape, again, as it seems one did a runner once, only to be caught quickly and safely put back into the enclosure!
Yet another first in Malawi: feeding your pet crocs ;-)

What on earth?

What on earth are those things? Simply the wings of flying ants! Those insects just appear out of nowhere, fly in swarms and, before they actually get used to flying, loose their wings and turn into crawling ants!
Finding the list wings in the morning when you open your door is quite baffling, at least the first time!

Yet another critter

It is quite common to see lizards, geckos and all kinds and sizes of a ants. Lately we've also seen "flying ants" who loose their wings mid flight and are an extremely sought after delicacy! Just the other day, at the market, they were being sold roasted- right next to the cucumbers!

This one pictured right above, though, still left me scratching my head. It's the prettiest beetle I've seen in a long time. Its blue and yellow shell may not be the best camouflage but it does pop on photos!
If you know its name or can find it, let me know. I've done a quick search, without too much success!