Malawi > Meeting doctor Jeannette

Today is the fifth and final birthday during this trip. It’s Brenda’s birthday, the day we move toward Lake Malawi. In the village of Liwonde, we stop to buy some supplies for Israel. The truck comes to a stop at a busy intersection. Minibuses stop here from various directions, and people get on and off. There are also bicycle taxis, where people ride on a small cushion behind the cyclist. Various vendors try to sell food and drinks, surrounding our truck as well.

Malawi - The village of Chembe on Lake Malawi

It’s a fun sight to watch all the activity. We continue north. Along the way, we make a short stop in Mangochi for fresh bread rolls. In the supermarket, I buy some soda and peanuts. I cross the main road and walk past the houses and small businesses. Tourists clearly never come here. People look at me in surprise, but it’s always followed by a friendly smile or greeting. A group of construction workers, busy building a small wall, are thrilled when I take their photo. Laughing loudly, they admire the result. We continue toward Cape McClear on Lake Malawi. We pass Lake Malombe. At the town of Mangochi, we turn left toward Monkey Bay. About ten kilometers before Monkey Bay, we turn left onto the road to Chembe on the Cape McClear peninsula. The distance is only eighteen kilometers, but the road is very poor. Everything in the truck rattles and shakes.

Malawi - The clinic in Cape Maclear is run by a Dutch doctor

After about an hour of bumping along, we see the first houses of Chembe. From all directions, children run up to wave at us. We stay at the Fat Monkey Lodge campsite, right on the lake, setting up our tents close to the beach. In the afternoon, we can choose from several activities: a boat ride on the lake, a village tour, or a hike. We decide to walk through the village on our own. From the Netherlands, I brought a ball, a small book, and a bag of licorice for a niece of an acquaintance. Jeannette is a doctor at the Chembe clinic and has lived here for five years. After lunch, we walk to the clinic. As soon as we leave the lodge, children come running to join us. They are curious where we are going and notice the shape of a ball in my bag. At the clinic, Jeannette is free this afternoon. An Irish doctor explains how to reach her lodge: walk to the large Baobab tree, turn left there, and walk for about a minute. There lies the MGozo Lodge. The boys wait outside for us and accompany us back as well. Following the directions, we quickly find the lodge. Inside, we meet Jeannette, Alex, and their little daughter, Timba. Together, we have coffee while Timba plays with the ball. We return to Fat Monkey Lodge along the beach. In the bar, we celebrate Brenda’s birthday.