Paradise (a.k.a. Malawi pt. 2)
July 21-22
A good introduction to the beauty that was Nkhata Bay in Malawi is perhaps to say that, once we pulled into our backpackers in the small village along the lake the three of us looked at each other in awe, immediately and simultaneously deciding we were staying an extra day no matter what we would have to do to make that happen.
And you can see why.
The lodge was right on the lake, nestled within a beautiful little village. We got snorkeling equipment for free, rowed out in a boat, ate dinner by the lake, watched a group of teenagers from the local school perform a talent show in the evening, learned the “Malawian Battle Game” from some of the locals in the bar, and that was only the first day.
The next day was filled with more wonderful food, walking around the village, visiting the local primary school, and most importantly making two new wonderful friends.
The kids at the school all wanted to take a picture. When I showed it to them on the camera they got so excited, I had to wait a full 10 minutes for everyone to get a chance to see.
Back to new friends: While trying (and failing) for the 5th time that week to get on the internet at the lodge next door, Robb and I started having a conversation with a married couple, Molly and Steven (both about Robb’s age), next to us. They had been living and volunteering in Zambia for the past three months, and were now making their way up to Jordan to volunteer with an organization there for another long stretch of time.
We shared our own journey back with them, typical conversation for any travelers, and discovered that we were both on a similar trajectory – the only difference was our car vs. their use of public transportation (and they had an extra week and a half in Africa).
“Can we perhaps get a ride to Mbeya? We’ll help out a bit with gas” they asked near the end of the conversation.
“Sure, I think we can make that work” we both replied. They seemed really nice, and we had no problem lending a helping hand to fellow travelers. I’m sure if I was in a similar situation I would want the same courtesy extended to me.
And that decision was perhaps one of the best we could have made. What started as a one day ride to Mbeya turned into a two day trip to Dar es Salaam, turned into staying in the same lodge and hanging out in Dar, turned into taking the ferry to Zanzibar together, turned into getting a big cottage and spending time in Zanzibar on the beach as well.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Instead let me just say the five of us met up the next morning at 8:30y in Nkhata Ba, threw all our bags in the car, and began our way out of beautiful Malawi and on into Tanzania.
Bye Malawi! I will find my way back to you one day.
