In the Village Day 9 Welcome Ceremony

In the Village

I woke this morning to the sound of the cock crowing, and sweeping in the yard. The sun was just up. After a hot bucket shower and breakfast of chips (made from 'Irish' potatoes) and roasted ground nuts I was invited to the school to a welcoming ceremony. Given that the school was on holiday I felt very honoured as there were many chiefs there, the school management committee, teachers and lots of children.

Children turn up for the welcoming ceremony.

Teachers in the staff room. Vincent is very proud of his Scottish scarf.

Village head men introduced themselves. Lucius third from the right is the head of over 30 villages.

Chiefs

Women teachers Ida, me and Gloria.
After prayers and speeches from the chiefs, management committee, teachers and me everybody shook hands and introduced themselves and we took lots of photos. We then walked around the villages and the market and greeted everybody we met. A crowd of children followed.

Anna (Leo's daughter) eats her porridge. She is no longer frightened of me.

Children turn up to ceremony and follow us around.

Making chips in the market

Playing 'duck duck goose' with some of the children.

Sara and Colline wearing one of the noses from my fellow cyclists. The gifts  were very much appreciated with most of them to be used as prizes for classes.

Skipping with a home made sissal rope

Tasting chips in the local chippie

In Leo's yard with Lessinya washing up.

It was a busy day. Tomorrow we are going to the TDC in Katewe for teacher CPD in computing.

Off to Chidewere Village

Off to the Village Day 8

 Having  completed the bike and mountain challenge, now the next adventure begins. It was sad saying good bye to my fellow cyclists, a night in Lilongwe on my own in order to get water and bags organised and then meeting Vincent at 8am and travelling Malawi style to the village. My little legs are still aching and Malawi Squat village toilets don't lend themselves to aching legs. I must remember to hold on to my glasses. Chidewere here I come.

The truck was full of people all travelling out to different villages and included mums and small babies all trying to keep cool in the hot Malawi sun.

Travelling Malawi style was quite an adventure and only 800MK

My first taste of raw cassava in Kabwaze 2 hours later. They arranged for the truck to carry us on to Chidewere, but first it had to be reloaded.

Vincent arranged somebody to help carry our heavy bags in Lilongwe. Yes that bag is mine full of things for the school from fellow cyclists and 10 litres of bottled water. I also had two other full bags which were all placed in the truck.


 After hours of bumping along in the truck with people getting on and off at different villages, we finally reached Kabwaze. Here some of the teachers met us on bicycles and after a reloading with bottles of fanta and pepsi we were off again to Chidewere (only 10 minutes more) and we were there!

Leo Chinseu the head teacher made me feel very welcome. I stayed in his house sharing a room with his older daughter Elise. It was good of everybody to meet me particularly as this is their school holiday.

Vincent gets to grips with a computer in Lilongwe.

A great welcome from the teachers. Tomorrow there is to be a welcome ceremony. It was strange seeing pictures of Gilmerton teachers and management on the wall in the Chidewere School office. Can't believe that I am really here!

Day 7 Down the Mountain

Day 6 Up the Mulanje Massive

Day 6 Up the Mountain (Mount Mulanje)

Cycling finished, our bikes put away, we put on our boots, grabbed our waterproofs and overnight kit and started up the mountain, first exercising with Siobhan and checking that our legs were still attached.

All still working....just.

Our first hurdle was the river crossing early on in the walk. The porters who were carrying our sleeping bags and food helped us to cross the river.

Then it was steep up up up through woods in typical Scottish weather. We climbed up through the mist and it was cold and slippery.

Lots of interesting plant life and we met many women on the way carrying large bundles of wood on their heads. However we could no longer see the mountain.

Made it to the CCAP lodge. interestingly this hut was reburbished by a school in Edinburgh, and they visit it each year. We met them climbing up on our way down...small world.

Soon we were warm and cosy in front of the fire, eating a fantastic meal cooked over the open fire and had sorted out the snorers and weak-bladdered into appropriate dorms. Much hilarity with singing around the fire and venturing out in the rain to the toilet.

Toasting our feet in front of the fire and drying out our clothes.

Apparently snow leopards have been spotted here... not to be mistaken for Pauline's scarf. Just loved Helen's hat with attached head torch. No showers tonight just the alarm set for 5 to start down with the sunrise. Getting up in the night (yes I was with the snorers and weak bladdered) there was a fantastic African starry sky (sorry Helen I know it was cold and damp but it was magnificent). Altogether a really great evening.

This is what it looked like in the morning when we could see where we had been.

Day 5 Zomba to Mulanje mountain

Boys eager to show their home made toys

Zomba was the capital of Malawi until 1975 and the seat of parliament until1994. The colonial influence can be clearly seen whilst a football practice goes on in the foreground at the foot of the plateau.

Last Day of Cycling Zomba to Mulanje

 Our last day of cycling and the longest. We cycled 107 gruelling km past fabulous scenery. The first part of the ride was downhill freewheeling from the plateau. Then the road seemed to go on for ever and four of us finished in the dark. We had to wait until the morning to see the mountain properly and then the mist descended.

 

 

No baboons visible today

Down from the plateau a gentle descent.

At the dam with Hazel, Helen, Karen and Jackie

Heading off again the man overtaking has a chicken in the basket.

Hazel stops to talk to the children who flock round

Lengthening shadows mean that we do not have time to spare getting to the Mulanje chalet but four of us finish in time. Our little legs feel like jelly and it was not easy cycling with no lights in the dark. Fortunately our mountain guide Robert came to guide us in safely. We were so pleased to see him. Goodbye bikes tomorrow we are trekking up the mountain.

Day 4 Liwonde to Zomba

Day 4 Cycling from Liwonde to Zomba

Although today's cycle route was shorter only 70 km, it was more challenging with steep hills.  

Crossing the Shire River with Zomba plateau in the distance

Long steep hills. Its the road that never ends.

High school learners want to talk to us. They have just finished exams.

Siobhan greets them.

The last bit of the bike ride was 12km of steep zigzag up, up, up

View from half way up

Was so pleased to get to the top! and I saw baboons. An adult female and her baby wandered across the road in front of me. I couldn't get my camera out quick enough.

Day 4 Optional Boat Trip and Cycling from Liwonde to Zomba.

Day 4 Boat Trip

Up with the sun we were able to take part in a boat trip on the Shire River and spot wildlife before breakfast. Unfortunately not all of us were able to take part as it had been a difficult evening.

Notice in the hotel grounds. Hippos can and do visit the gardens.

Crocodiles too. I am not swimming.

Dickson the captain of the boat was happy to show us the wildlife and was keen to show "us ladies" the elephants who come down to the water to drink. He wanted to "make us ladies happy". Unfortunately we were a little too early and although we saw hippos, impala, water buffalo and a fish eagle we did not see elephant this time and had to return in time for breakfast.

Dickson the boat captain was a very happy man

Sun rise on the Shire River 

We spotted a fish eagle. The national bird of Malawi.

Fishermen on the river (should not really be there)

Hippos

Impala

The only elephant that we saw was in the grounds

It was great start to the day and we didn't have to use our leggies. Breakfast and then Zomba here we come.