And were in Malawi, staying at Kande Beach!
Its the first place weve stayed 2 nights straight and with that luxury, the first opportunity to get some laundry done.
Kande beach sits on the shores of lake Malawi, and so big in places, you cant see the opposite shore. Its fairly well equipt here with optional extras like diving, snorkling, horse riding, and Malawi Wow-wee should you so wish. Its the busiest campsite weve been to so far, with another 5 trucks parked up, which can only mean cold showers if your not fast.
Our first evening is taken up with random constant un-co-ordinated drinking games (which I retire from when my 3rd Malawi Vodka does nothing to numb my inpending sore throat), and news that tomorrow the meat eaters will be having goat for dinner and are welcome to watch it being killed at 9am.
Making myself scarce in the morning, but coming back to inspect afterwards, I befriend one of the goat preparers who has plenty of time on his hands, teaches me how to play “Bao”, as we chat about Malawi.
The afternoon is taken up with horse riding for the girls (and Dean) as I sit a top the largest/tallest horse ive ever been on. Decked out in chaps and biker helmets, Clover and I set out on the 2hr trek. Keeping at the back with Anna’s challenging horse, we were all enjoying the peacefulness of our ride through fields and small villages. In fact it was all so lovely (obviously except for the impending sore rear), too lovely, that on the home straight of beach strip where the plan was to take the horses down the beach, remove the saddles, and then taking the horses into the lake for a cool down, two horses got spooked, depositing both riders on the wet sand and nearly creating a domino effect with all the rest. It took all my non riding skills not to come off, but nothing was going to keep me from my many hands high mare, and I have the inner thigh bruises to prove it!
Next morning we make plans for an evening fancy dress party. We have a budget of 500 Kwacha (3 USD), and are dropped into a 2nd hand clothes market in northern Malawi. Armed with my secret name to buy for, I plow in like a shopper possessed…30 minutes later, and im in possession of a full length tie dye kaftan, blue Elvis belt, and lime green salwar harem pants.
My “outfit” is going to Colin, a soccar mad, Mancurian future doctor who has a purchant for being topless at all times…In my shopping fever and love of tie dye, ive bought the man who loves to flash the flesh – A Habit. I think a couple of hours later when were explaining our choice and exchanging…poor Colin is mortified (sorry Colin).
Ive got off rather lightly in comparison to the lace/lame’ and leopard print I see befoe me. Im wearing a pink/gold sequined empire line princess dress from what looks like the “House of Disney”, a matching sequined elastic belt ive wrapped round my head (flapper style) and pink fish net knee highs ive turned footless, so I can wear my jandles…ooh yes, I am Rocking it!! There needs to be no ellaboration on the search party later that night, or the two cups of punch and your legless, but a fun night was had by all!
WheresRu 