Malawi Maddness!!

Some photo's relate to previous blog and the rest to the stories to follow..............

1. Phil, Jess and Nicky in the pick up

2. SUPER SEXY 6 at the nature sanctuary in Lilongwe

3. Simon, me, Jess and Phil at Cape McClear

4. me waterfall behind and mountains

5. We shal go to the ball!

6, 7,8, 9 relate to previous blog entry

10, at Snakebite party!

From the humble start and get used to the hospital, Bari with some SA people, Lake of stars festival, watching Rugby (still 2nd in the world!) a week on the MV Ilala cruzin around the Lake, going to Lilongwe which turned into the start of an amazing time,snakebite and skinny dip! via Cape McClear to then ending up seeing Mount Malijie, picnic and sitting in a water fall, then staying at a coffee plantation ending up going to a Dinner dance and making it back on public transport not smelling too much of raw fish..........i have to say i have had an amazing time and truly truly fallen for Africa hard and at least it is reliable it will always be there and in it's beauty.

Guy's where do i even start trying to tell you about Our trip to Lilongwe............. grab a brew!

On the way broke down......smoke and everything.....TIA

Arrived and walked around the city for the day Lucas, Jess, Laura, G, Nicky and me making the 'SUPER SEXY 6" (In a sexual way - volunteer joke they know what i mean)

We all get on well and went for a meal at a place call Buchannon's (for you John) it was beautiful and not chicken and rice like our daily diet! After we wondered over to a bar but we were all really tired as been up at 4am. However before we left and not spoken more than 2 sentences to other people we had been invited to a Snakebite party the following day and it was just down the round from the British Embassy! WINNER!!

Following day went to the Nature Reserve in Lilongwe, which was quite interesting and the guide told us lots of natural facts! Laura, G and Lucas only wanted to stay one night so left after lunch. We had heard nothing about the Snakebite party and they said they would call. Felling a little low about it we headed back to the hostel, where a message had been left for us and we called the number........a 3rd of a sandwich, change and 45 mins later we arrived at the party!!! Just what we needed drinks, pool table, skinny dips, showers, good times. Jess KO and vomited, Nicky got in to drunken debates and i ate bread rolls in the kitchen for about an hour!! (why do i love food so so much- sturdy girl)

Next day we had been invited by the guy to watch cricket, which we did and the party started again with penalties being drunk and all us girls had to down them for certain reasons from the previous night!!!:-) Then one of the guy's (Simon) said he was going to Monkey bay, so we arrange that we could grab a lift, not to mention he was intriguing to me. That night again ended in a party Jess Casino, Nicky watching DVD's and i was playing darts with Si.

Next morning all with a fuzzy head, loaded up in the back of a 2 seater pick up and set off to Monkey Bay, via the mountains which were beautiful, plus i was left to navigate.....um for those who know me well!!

Dropped off and said our byes to Simon and Phil. Or so we thought.......... later that night got sms and they invited us to Cape McClear for afternoon. (kinda hoped they would;-) so Jess and i to

ok them up on the offer, chilled, swam in the lake (i miss swimming now, going on a misson in oz to swim, surf and dance to get fit) and had fresh fish cooked on the beach round a fire. I have to say i like the style and its cheap too!! then chilled on beach, ended up crashing with Phil and Si the next day they had sorted out Kayaking out to one o the islands, it was beautiful and even though i had been there before, being on the water paddling yourself is the only way to do it. And guy's you know me, im at home on the water. We stopped on the island and snorkeled for a while seeing all the bright colours of the fish and some of which are only in Lake Malawi. Jess and Phil were funny and seemed to ramdonly wiggle around in their Kayak. Back quick lunch and dropped us off in Mangochi (our weekly trip out) to meet up with the others.

Not too much happened then for a day, i packed another bag and set off with G and Lucas to Blantyre. Took 6 hours 3 matolas which is rapid transport in Malawi so don't knock it! ate and walked around up to the big westernised shopping mall. Cake and milk shake. SMS from Si ....can u see me? Oh bloody hell! Ended up Si and Phil where staying at the same place as us and going back our way the following day, so grabbed a lift again! Really good of them and the banter was great even though it involved the 3 guys taking the mick out of me constantly, but you know i can handle that!!

I was dropped at the house on the Coffee plantation, stunning views. The reason i was there was because Riaan who Nicky got on with had invited us the previous week to a Dinner dance. Never turning down an opportunity, we said yes! Hence i was at Beany's house (where Si and Phil had stayed the previous night) as he had the ticket and it was at a country club in Cholo (i think) about 2 hours away. They again made us feel so welcome, fed us steak, OMG i chomped my way though a lot of that, uuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmm STEAK! Drinks were flowing and games followed, Jess and i bed early as needed beauty sleep for the ball.

17th the night of the ball, we had put together outfits from the other volunteers and bit we had and i have to say looked ok! My dress which i was kindly lent of Paula (vol) was not really my style felt like a marshmallow but pulled it off very well! The night was great we were so excited and ate great food, danced until we were the only ones left, doing YMCA on the stage in front of nobody!!

Thank you to all the guy's (basically the SKY BAND CRICKET TEAM) who helped us and treated us so well throughout the past week. It has truly been amazing and we owe it all to you. Stay in touch and really anytime we can help you we will. Bring on Beany's Jacuzzi cocktail party in 08!!

Well time to wrap up but last week has been good at hospital now and my experience has increased my skills and knowledge no end.

Going to club on Friday and than Lilongwe in Sunday, so the SUPER SEXY 6 can enjoy our last dinner together, i will miss them all and they are the people i have spent toe most time with so far. Living with them 24/7 well that when i was at the house.

Hope everyone is well at home and i really do think about you despite the adventures im having. Now get off your bum and live life to the full....................................

Karen XX