Walking the Zomba Road

          Walking along the right side of Zomba Road just east of the Thondwe Trading Center, and the Namikango Maternity Hospital and Mission, it is difficult to understand how anyone can move from place to place along this road if they are physically handicapped, and have difficulty walking.                                                                                                   

Malawi is a "nation walking" and the average person walks ten miles a day. This means heavily traveled roads like this one are very dangerous to both drivers and pedestrians. On this walk along the road I hold my camera in front of me, and walk directly in the pathway so many people are walking every day

As I watch the oncoming traffic a large truck begins to pass on the curve a short distance in front of me. The truck tire rides the edge of the pavement, as the truck hurdles toward me. As he passes me the side of the truck is just inches from me as he passes.

Another truck approaches and I can see the concerned expression on the face of the driver, in spite of the broken window in the cab and the glare of the sun on the windshield.

I was able to breath a large sigh of relief when we reached the maternity hospital and mission grounds after just a short walk to the east along the roadway. It is no wonder so many people are killed on the roadways of Malawi.

That is Close Enough

 "At a time like this one has to be glad to be safely in a boat, with a wise and prudent guide. If we were on land we would be in a bit of trouble getting this close to the elephant herd. But when on water, with them on the land, they are not as fearful of us ... and neither are we of them (I think). It is morning in Liwonde National Park in Southeastern Malawi, and we are on boat safari on the Shire River. This is the same river David Livingstone traveled on his quest to explore the interior of Africa over a hundred years ago."