Masks, Monty, and a Full Moon

From Mangochi we decide to head back to the Lake for a night, via Mua Mission. You wouldn't guess it from the road, but a few km up the hill is quite an establishment. Mua Mission was the first missionary camp in Malawi, and now it's a campus teeming with people. It also has a nice museum highlighting the histories and traditions of the three major tribes in Malawi (Ngoni, Yao, Chewa). The masks are incredible, and there is a story behind each one. I recommend it if you can find it!

The four of us arrive in Senga Bay by sunset, and already I'm missing the charm of Monkey Bay. It's a much larger, dustier town and the beach is not so inviting; there are people bathing and washing their clothes, cattle roaming around doing their thing, and loads of trash. Cool Runnings is a lovely spot though, complete with a grass lawn (a rarity), nice breeze, and a bar with a lake view. The owners are very active in the local community as well. We stay 2 nights to see the full moon rise over the lake. Plus, we've run into “Uncle Paul”, his wife Maria, and Monty – their giant overland truck. They are true adventurers, travelling nearly 25,000km through 22 countries in the 10 sq metre truck. This time around they are headed to Ethiopia from Jeffrey's Bay over 6 months. He's got cancer, his wife nearly died on their last trip, he's been married thrice, but has more energy than most 30 somethings I know. This guy is a living legend with no shortage of tales to tell. Check out their website and this article for inspiration. Good times at the Cool Runnings bar. Two nights breeze bye, and it's off to Lilongwe (the 'big' city) to restock!

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