Senga Bay to Cape MaClear

I sent a parcel from Salima, Malawi to London, Canada. I wrapped my parcel in front of a massage crowd of spectators. The average person in Malawi grosses 3000 kwacha per month, and I spent three times this on postage. There were many stamps. We'll see if it makes it. I'll be amazed if it does. But the travelers I've talked with have a 100% success rate with the post system when given ten months.

I hopped on a minibus, and then onto the back of a truck with more than 60 people on it. The 'conductor' of the truck was extremely drunk. When we got rolling, there was a lot of yelling and threats and angry people uttering things about mazungus (white person in Swahili) and seeming disapproval of English. I had no idea what was going on and just sat there smiling. About eight young guys seemed to be on my side of the disagreement (white people's side?), and twenty older people seemed to not like me very much. I asked what it was about and the answer left me even more confused.

I arrived in Cape MaClear. The scenery and sunset was amazing. I met many people and partook in lots of socializing, drinking, and whatnot. Good fish curries.

One guy named Henk was working at the lodge after  driving down to Malawi from Holland. His trip had been derailed when the engine of his car cracked, his traveling companion was subsequently attacked by a crocodile, and the two of them had been thrown in prison for 'theft by trick' when they refused to bribe the police. Ridiculous stories.

Ralf, a master carpenter and millwright from Germany had "taken a year off" to convert a big yellow fire truck into a motor home, and drive it from Germany to Capetown via West Africa, DRC, Angola, and Namibia. He's the first person I've met to have traveled through many of these places. He's somewhere into his third year of travel now, supporting himself with the odd construction job here and there. Amazingly interesting guy. He has cool stories and an extremely cool vehicle - like my Epic Pull x1000.

Its fun to meet a bunch of travelers from such diverse motivations, backgrounds, and interests. I'll stay for a while before heading to the Mulanje Massif.