Our lodge was built right into the cliffs on the lake - lots of stairs. Here we are at dinner Friday night: Me, my housemate Megan Parker, Vera (Dutch, working at the hospital), Jason and Ann (Americans, working at a nearby refugee camp), Mike (Duke MBA student, doing research on fortified peanut butter manufacturing for malnourished kids). Not pictured are Garry and Owen (Irishmen, UNAIDS and UNICEF ambassadors.)
The view from the front porch of our cabin in the morning, it took my breath away. Mozambique is on the other side of the lake, but you can't see it. Mayoka Lodge was built by an azungu (foreigner) who spent years living and working in Nkhata Bay. The land was practically given to him because it was so rocky and seemingly unusable - but over a number of years he and his wife built this amazing series of chalets, cabins, and stairs right into the rocks. Mayoka Lodge is now a non-profit that employs lots of people and the profits support families and schools in Nkhata Bay Town.
Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa, and one of the deepest lakes in the world. The water is clear and blue - before it drops off (to over 700 meters!) you can see all the way down to the rocks. Its famous for being home to over 300 species of brightly colored tropical fish, called cichlids. 90% of them are found nowhere else! I wish I had an underwater feature on my camera, the fish were amazing!
On Saturday afternoon we watched a dance performance by women and children from Nkhata Bay town (photo above). It was a fundraiser for the nursery school the town is trying to build. I wish I could attach more photos but the internet is so slow here! At any rate, it was a fantastic weekend of sun, swimming, reading...chill time. I'd love to bring the rest of my UNC Project housemates back - but its such a long, tough drive, I hope we can work it out!Hope everyone is doing well.
Back to work for me, so bye for now!-meg
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