Enjoyable bars

I say!

The mvula is now becoming slightly tedious. Some of the land has become rather waterlogged.

However - chin up!

My favourite bar is, of course, Sir Harry's. But here are some others I have enjoyed.

The Makghadighadi Salt Pan Bar. It is so dry in the Makghadighadi area that frequent refreshment is necessary.














Menzies IV, at Riley's Bar, Maun. Sir Laurens wrote about this excellent establishment.




















Mrs M and Henry Morton, looking out from Kubu Lodge, Chobe. Excellent coffee served thereabouts!














MM III

Children

I say!

I was very saddened to hear about what happened to Joan Root, up at Lake Naivashu. It only goes to show that one can never be too careful about matters of security. When Abdul is on his evening off, I always ask Doviko to be on standy.

On a more pleasant note, it is always wonderful to note how many children there are hereabouts. Wherever one goes, even in the bush, it seems that there are children everywhere.

This country has a high birth-rate. Not only that, but the children are not distracted by computer games, and the like. They tend to make their own entertainment, and can almost always be found outside.

Here are some snaps of children in this part of the world. Note their wonderful teeth, and the happy smiles, even though most of them are poor, in western financial terms.

The first two were taken up at the north of the Lake, near Livingstonia.







































The next one was taken from a train, half-way to Nayuchi, on the Mocambique border. Those in blue are wearing their school uniform.



























The next one shows a group in a village by the Lake. As soon as I got the camera out, they all became very excited, and started to make 'kung fu' poses. Living near the Lake, they are more likely to be well fed.














MM III

A carving

I say!

To add to the examples of African creativity which I posted recently, here is a snap of a woodcarving. A most impressive, and large, mask. Partly visible beside it is an example of a 'chief's chair' - a simple but effective construction. We have one similar to the one shown in our house, here in Kalimbuka. At the Mangochi turnoff you will usually find quite a number for sale or barter.



MM III

African creativity

I say!

There is an impressive amount of ongoing creativity, hereabouts. The snaps below show, firstly, baskets and mats on sale by the roadside just past Mangochi; a lovely model of the Illala - the boat which operates on Lake Malawi, and on which Mrs M and myself have enjoyed various trips (I will hope to post some more snaps later); Mrs M talking to one of the Fathers at Mua Mission; and a closer snap of one of the painted rondavels at Mua.

If you are ever hereabouts, you should not fail to visit the Mission, and especially its cultural museum.

MM III

Various snaps

I say!

On the 4th January I posted a painting of the market. Here is a snap taken in the same market, from nearly the same point. Sadly, the market burnt down last March. It was a very vibrant and colourful place.


This next one is quite interesting, in my opinion. It was taken on the road to Lake Turkana, in Northern Kenya, on a six day 'Exodus'-type trip (where everyone sits on the back of a truck and watches the world go by). It is interesting because it shows that Mrs M, on the right, is the only one of the party contributing to the wood-gathering effort!


The following snap was taken on safari in the Luangwa Valley in Zambia. MM III to the right, watching some hippos on the far bank. Sadly, there are no black rhinos ('chipembele' in the local Nyanja language) there any more, even though the area was once famed for them.


L to R, Casper, Mrs M wearing her lovely Egyptian dress, and Farley.


MM III

Collage

I say!

No mvula today, but the forecast is for more to follow shortly.

I have discovered why Mrs M. has asked me to scan and then print so many family snaps. She is making a photo-collage!

Here are a few that she has requested I reproduce, though I fear this blog is becoming little more than a historic scrapbook, and losing much of its previous African awareness bias.

The first one was taken on the Gabs to Francistown road. L to R - Henry Morton, Mrs M, and Menzies IV on the bongo.



This is one of Mrs M's favourite snaps, taken in the high Atlas, Morocco, near a village called Imlil, the day before we did Jebel Toubkal. Mrs M. is clearly 'striding out'!



This one is rather dark, unfortunately, though it has special memories for us. Henry Morton and Menzies IV are centre, and Mrs M. is one of the other shadows (not sure which one). Castaway Island, Fiji, is in the background. What a glorious locale! Fiji is at roughly the same latitude as Malawi, though the geology is quite different. I shall hopefully post some more snaps taken thereabouts, soon. The boys really enjoyed the banana boat ride back to the resort! We visited Fiji on our way to visit Carslemane, in Daly Waters, a few years back



MM III

Okavango from the air

I say!

Here are some more snaps taken in the Okavango Delta, at, or near, Oddballs Camp. Its a wonderful place!

The light aircraft arrives.


Mrs M. and the boys sheltering from the sun under the wing.


The rather dry swamp from the air.




A village.




An oxbow.


Just to show what the results of a lack of rain can do, please ponder the next couple of snaps. Firstly, a few hours east of the Delta, at Victoria Falls, moi in front of the Falls.


From more or less the same vantage point, taken on a more recent visit.



MM III

Zomba Market

I say!

Its been rather busy hereabouts, what with royal visist to Chiradzulu and such like. Of course, my own role in this is too 'hush hush' to reveal, so I'll say no more.

I've been asked to post some snaps of the Okavango taken from the air, which I will do shortly. In the meantime, here is a delightful painting of what was Zomba Market, before it burnt down last March. If you look closely, and unfortunately there appears to be a little glare which I do not know how to avoid with my rather silly little camera, you can see Mrs M. and myself, slightly right of centre.



The bright colours are wonderful, don't you think?

MM III