Malawi MisAdventures of Tess and Jim

Christmas in Mozambique

We took a 1500 km road trip to the coast of Mozambique. The road was really bad in most sections. Our coworkers warned that it would be an adventure. I have never seen so many potholes in my life. Local kids would, sort of pretend, to fill the potholes as you approach by throwing dirt high in the air then put out their hand asking for money. A week later when we returned I think they were still by the same holes. The countryside was beautiful and there were tons of butterflies in some sections. From the state of my windshield I would have to predict that hurricanes next season in the Gulf of Mexico are going to be small and few in numbers. Driving in Mozambique is much different that Malawi. For starters, there are less: people, bikes, goats, cows on the road although we did see baboons. Next the police actually have cars and radar guns. This was evident when one waved me down for doing 95 in a 60 zone. Here you have to pay on the spot. The fine 1,000,000 Mozambicans dollars (meticas). That works out to be about $50 CDN.

Finally our first destination, Vilanculos where instead of five star hotels it was third world resorts which include such amenities as king size roaches, free malaria and diarrhea. One of the place we stayed had “Things to do in VILANCULOS” – “watch the local fisherman bring in their nets”. What we saw: the highly skilled technique of using an oar to shovel crabs, squid, 50 types of fish into buckets; boys playing with water balloons (actually puffer fish), and a man beat a sting ray until its babies came out. Highly disturbing. Another place we stayed was on a Island off the coast, which is a national park, called Gabriel’s. It is a quiet little hideaway with nice grass huts. One morning from there we went to the 2-mile reef by dhow. Tess was a little apprehensive as there were no life jackets and the fact that she can’t swim more than 25 m. However there were some heavily outfitted South Africans who lent us a lifejacket. Well the snorkeling was highly anticipated and it delivered. Tons of fish and coral (obviously). Bright sunny day so the visibility was great. It was better than FINDING NEMO. And on the way back to mainland we were accompanied a short ways by a school of dolphins.

As some may know we had the SEA, SUMMIT, and SAFARI planned for the break. Well… the SEA is all that we got to see, as Tess took advantage of the free malaria offered as it was too good to pass up. So we are back in Lilongwe, tess is talking gibberish, as she is on drugs, and will be fine just in time for work on Wednesday.

Happy New Years!!

posted by Tess and Jim O @ 3:26 PM