Malawi: the lake of stars
The sun sets over a mass of still water. Collapses painting the sky blue and red tones, almost violet. I placed the camera tripod and portrait these 20 magical last minute of each evening. Cross in front of my lens some small wooden fishing boats lost in the horizon. To my left I see some larger barges full of people returning to town. Actually the comment is inaccurate, than to see them the first listen. I hear the voices of a dozens of people who sing, sing on the lake. Her voice has the sound of African songs, melancholy, sad. They sing with the stomach rather than the throat. I turn my eyes ahead, the sun disappears. One of the most beautiful sunsets I have referred in my life. Night falls and subsequently, small lights, flashes, and understand the nickname of this place: lake of stars. Its author is the discoverer (for the West), Scotsman David Livingstone.
I hear the voices of a dozens of people who sing, sing on the lake. Her voice has the sound of African songs, melancholy, sad
Lake Malawi is one of the myths of African geography. And 1859, Livingstone was the first European to reach this freshwater sea anchor in South Africa (the continent's longest, 560 km, and eighth in the world). The pious discoverer baptized then this place as a "lake of stars" by the lights they carried out the fishermen with their boats at night to fish in its waters. The same century and a half later viewed from the shore, flashes of light sprinkling of the dark. There, sitting, looking at that immensity, I peered at the time that this point in the maps and I feel a quiet happiness, the joy of discovering: "I'm finally here".
The pious discoverer baptized then this place as a "lake of stars" by the lights they carried out the fishermen with their boats at night to fish in their water
To get to Malawi at night we had to overcome one last hard dirt road near 100 km. The gps misled us and chose the wrong path. Wrong for the times and facilities, but very interesting for what it taught us to their side. We impact the lives of that road. You think that the African villages without electricity go out with the rhythms of the sun. Usually well, the fire becomes your TV to watch before bedtime, but this road we found a lot of life. People walking along the tracks on foot or by bicycle. Many. Too much for a site where we did the test several times to remove the vehicle and check lights not seen anything.
Llegamos por fin a Monkey Bay. We stayed in the Mufasa Lodge, un backpacker barato, no light, at the edge of an idyllic cove. The next morning we went out to explore the environment for our August trip. We arrived in Venice Beach, a large beach where we find another backpacker in which a beer. There was a lot more there. On both sides of the backpacker hotel beach was crowded with women washing clothes, fishermen sewing their nets, children playing on the shore, salio boats that fish the bag ... Dani su video camera, has a special gift for people camelarse, filming, create joy in the environment. The postcard was idyllic as soon discover that happens in every corner of Malawi.
We sailed a catamaran; dive from a water background full of amazing goldfish
Then we went to Cape Maclear, another population of the lake full of small houses, living near 10.000 People, that overlook the waters. There he created a mission Livingstone, preceding this city, then called "Livingstonia Mission". We stayed at the Eagle's Nest Lodge, a hotel with cabins and camping area. Our tents on a hill from which there is a nice view. We spent three wonderful nights when we discover fabulous beaches; observe the life of a people who are in this huge body of water its essence; look at the more ludicrous aquarium we've seen in our lives, the National Park, display cases with no water or only a few fish and stuffed animals; sailing with a catamaran; dive from a water background full of amazing goldfish; look at the comings and goings of the flimsy wooden boats; to do at night drank the night before the silent waters and a full moon; buy some crafts; listen to a group of children carrying their handmade instruments play illusion; We laughed out loud in casual conversations with people who are especially friendly . They spent four unforgettable days in the middle of a place that catches you, which you never want to go. Who would want to leave the lake of stars?
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The travel magazine with History » Malawi: Encounters of water and fire
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[…] If you want to know more about Lake Malawi recommend the article by Javier Brandoli: Malawi: the lake of stars. If you want to know more VaP. organized trip that includes a visit to the Kruger Park, […]
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