History lesson

Today started with a guided tour around the local village, Ngala. We passed the fishermen who had been out fishing during the night and was now cleaning nets and letting the fish dry. Along the beach was lots of women dong washing. 

We continued into the village where we was told about how they get land, build houses, what they grow etc.

They took us to the local school. It is a primary school standard 1-8. They have 1400 learners and 9 teachers. A class is often just over 200 learners.

Schooling is free and most families in the village send their kids to school. They might not finish the eight standards and few move up to secondary school and further. 

We visited the health clinic. Two doctors, three nurses and the rest of the in total 26 staff look after around 220 patients a day. In average 3 babies are born here every day.

The most common illness and reason to come to the clinic is Malaria. 

They also have hiv testing and family planning on top of the medical help.

The last stop for our walk was the little local market where people tried to earn some money on their crops and to buy things they don't have or grow themselves.

It was an interesting and very hot morning. Back at the resort most of us spent the time around and in the pool. A lovely relaxed afternoon. Before dinner was served our little group of course met up for our "Happy hour". Coming to the dinner we were met by a set table and candles. We got served a very nice dinner of fish. 

Me and my roomie went to pay our bill and got stuck there sorting that out and chatting to the owners of the resort. Very nice people. Due to this we missed a dance performance by some local kids. Not a big miss for me, I'm sure we hade a much better time chatting in the bar.

The next morning we left early going to the capital, Lilongwe. On the way we stopped in Nkhotakota, a village with a lot of history, from both former country leaders and Dr. Livingstone. In the village was also some runs of a mosque that used to belong to the village Bonga, a village nowadays under water.

At our lunch stop along the road we got to eat with an audience, a group of children stood a few meters away watching us carefully. It felt a bit uncomfortable I must admit. 

When we reached our camp there was a bit of a problem. The rooms for the accommodated travellers had been given away to another Nomad truck arriving just before us. So after happy hour and dinner our friends got moved to a different accommodation. But, for me and my roomie there was a room available. A room they normally don't rent out as their accommodation, but there were two beds, toilet and a shower and we even got towels. What more can you ask for for a few bucks?