Lilongwe

Hilda from the first house. She was very shy

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When we arrived in Lilongwe we were met by about 10 people from Helen's family + friends, said hello to a lot of people and then were whisked away to a rich woman's house for a nap! She had a very cute little girl called Hilda. After being fed, going to the shop and sleeping we went to Alex Chiwala's house and met a lot more people. There was a blackout when we arrived- apparently they get them alot and without warning. Pretty hard to remember names in pitch darkness. Started learning some chichewa which was good. We had nseema which is the main carbs of malawi, they make it out of flour and water and its like a soft lump of pasta that you break bits off of and use to pick up your other food- no cutlery here!

The next day we got up quite late and got served home made chips for breakfast (Dad they may even have been better than yours) and Pearson and Dixon took us out for the day basically, we visited Banda's mausoleum, the government buildings, the centre and bought our bus tickets for Blantyre. Lilongwe city is absolutely packed with people and bikes, people carrying things, matolas which are little minibuses crammed with people that drive verrrrrry fast. Its not too hot, basically like a bad english summer, all the days we complain about. Atleast no rain though. At lunch time we went to Helens cousins house to meet her family and have lunch. We met the whole family including a cute baby called Jeremy who Kat carried typical African stylee on her back to the hairdressers! We saw lots of children on the way back who abandoned their pretend wedding to see the europeans and have their photo taken. Later on our walk we met the chief and his wife as well as the wise old lady of the village! All were very friendly and found it hysterical when we tried to speak chichewa.

On the steps of Banda's mausoleum. It was quite strict, you had to 'ask permission' to look around and some parts you had to ask Banda's family

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Then today (Sunday) we left for Blantyre at 6.30 am. The coach journey had amazing views, lots of villages and women carrying water, and huge mountains/lumps of rock on the ground. There are lots of road blocks and when you get out there are lots of people selling vegetables and fruit me and helen got a mango and some peas to take back on the bus with us. Anyways I will write again when we come across more computers!