Foto: The wooden toll bridge near the old market in the capital Lilongwe (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Malawi - At the souvenir market, dozens of vendors try to sell their carved wooden figurines. Since we’re the only tourists here at the moment, everyone comes to us. The more skilled vendors politely introduce themselves, strike up a conversation, and try to guide us to their stalls. But others try as well. In the chaos, it’s almost impossible to browse calmly. I feel a little guilty when vendors remove the cardboard covers from their stalls just for us, quickly dust off their figurines, or unroll textile paintings. I soon realize that all the stalls offer nearly the same goods, and my interest fades. We move on. While crossing the Lilongwe River, we take a look at the local market. The riverbed resembles a garbage dump — and smells like one too. We enter the market. The rickety stalls are crammed together and packed with all kinds of goods. It’s clear that people spend the entire day here, hoping to make a sale. Children play around the stalls, people chat, and some sleep inside their booths. After our initial astonishment, people greet us kindly. Only a few try to sell us something. The deeper we go into the market, the messier the stalls become. At the back, clothes are piled up in heaps. We cross the Lilongwe River again via a small wooden bridge. On the other side, the stalls mostly sell fruit and vegetables. Someone there asks for ten Kwacha (about €0.05). "It’s a private bridge," he claims. I get the feeling I’m being scammed and only have large bills on me. I don’t trust I’ll get the right change. I politely say I don’t have ten Kwacha. We’re allowed to pass for ‘free.’ Later, I notice even local city residents pay when crossing other bridges. I feel a bit guilty about that.
Cape McClear on Lake Malawi
Malawi - A day in Cape McClear. After breakfast in the morning, we go for a hike in Lake Malawi National Park. The original plan was to hike to the top of the mountain, but we opt for a three-hour walk without any steep climbs. That’s all possible here. We leave ...