Day Seven - Malawi
It's a driving day today, but only a short one. I woke up from my terrible attempt of a sleep and found out just how bad my burn is, I have photos to show you. I think I'm going to complain about my doctor because he seriously shouldn't have put me on tablets which make my skin MORE sensitive to sun. It's the last thing I need! I can barely walk or bend my legs because the back of them are terrible. So sitting in a bumpy truck all day is HELL. I think I'm going to cry from the pain.
Besides that rant, we stopped at this roadside arts & craft place and I got a few things :) I can't tell you though cause they might be presents!! ;)
We got to the campsite which is also on a beach! Well, they call it a beach, but it's still part of lake Malawi, and we couldn't swim here because there were crocodile spottings recently. Most of us opted to upgrade our tents into rooms, which I also did, for $6 a day! Bargain! I was just glad not to sleep in a sandy tent where I'd be sticking to the plastic covered pathetic excuse for a mattress. The room was basic. There was a bed, a mozzie net & a window. That was pretty much it. Oh and a light! Such luxury!
What was also good about this campsite was that their showers worked! May have only been cold water, but it worked!!! I had a lovely refreshing shower made warm with the cold water & my intense sunburn & finally got to wash my hair! I was almost sure I'd have dreadlocks soon. That night I slept fantastically, tricked into thinking I was being spoiled with the thin foam bedding & very lumpy pillow.
Day Eight - Malawi
I woke feeling like I'd slept 16hours, refreshed, ready to enjoy my day to the fullest! It was only 7.30am... I guess when you're generally already driving at that time it's a sleep in. I REALLY needed to get my laundry done! There were local ladies who came to the campsite to collect & (hopefully) return your washing. They
were supposed to be there 7.30-9am to collect everything, but when I went over about 8am she wasn't there, and I thought she waited outside the gate. (I should mention there are markets right outside the gate, and you'll get swarmed if you venture out) so I went out. BIG mistake! There were a herd of men crowding around me trying to get me to give them their washing to do. I didn't want to, but they told me it goes to the same people and he told me the price would be 3500 kwache. I very reluctantly handed it over & went back inside where the actual washing lady had just arrived & said her price was 900 kwache!! I was fuming! I went back out & demanded my laundry back, which they handed back, surprisingly.. Very good timing washing lady!
Anyway, a few of us had planned to visit the local 'witch doctor' & get our fortunes told. A group went before we did & when they returned said it was absolute bullcrap, & not to even bother, so we didn't. Instead we decided to venture outside the gate again & look at the stalls set up. I was already cranky from the stunt they pulled this morning so I basically told them to stuff off & leave me alone. I looked around & ended getting some stuff made up & traded some of my worthless stuff for a cheaper price. Oh, if anyone is planning on coming to Africa, if you can, bring stuff like old shoes, sample shampoos & conditioners, hairbrushes, that sort if stuff, and trade!! You'll be amazed at what you can get for trading!
Another highlight of having a room, is packing! No more 5.30am scrambles with torches trying to shove what you can in your bag to leave on time. I packed my lovely freshly washed clothes neatly & sorted out everything, including my backpack :) it's almost getting to the point where it's sad that we are happy when a campsite has showers & toilets or if we get to sleep in til 6am. Oh well, T.I.A! (This is Africa)