Malawi September 2009

     It took us a good while to find Malawi on the map.  I thought I'd never heard of the country, but Dave pointed out that that's where Madonna adopted some children from.  Okaaaaaay.  Armed with that information, we were set to explore!  
     Unlike other poor countries, the pictures I found of Malawi didn't look wretched.  They looked charming.  Probably this is because the country borders on a huge lake and has some mountains and valleys that look a bit like Switzerland.  It IS a desperatley poor place however quaint looking.  The guide books repeatedly warn travelers about difficulties getting from anywhere to anywhere. "Drivers are often drunk" is a common problem apparently.  Still, it would be a fantastic adventure to go there.  The thing to do--according to the book 1001 Places to See Before You Die, is to book a three week water excursion.  Everything is included and you can probably see more of the country that way than any other. 
    I learned a little about the game Mancala.  Some of the version in Malawi are much more complicated than what we typically play here.  But the game is supposed to represent seeds and birds.  On your turn you represent the farmer planting the seeds in your own field and the bird gobbling up the seeds of your opponent.  I never knew that!
    We also checked out a huge coffee table book on African Textiles.  I was especially fascinated with the batik style designes which are made in much the same way as Ukranian easter eggs (a hobby).  I'd like to feel the fabric made this way--is it really stiff?
     For dinner I made a stew with lamb meat and pumpkin---very rich, and some deep-fried yam balls. Also yummy, but not worth the calories.  Dessert was a baked banana dish which surprised me---very tasty and I don't usually like baked bananas.   Most meals in Malawi are eaten outdoors around the fire.  I didn't have a fire pit, but we did spread some blankets in the backyard and had a picnic.