Driving, Driving and More Driving...

We’ve been driving a lot to make it to our next grand adventure (Zanzibar). We passed through many towns and cities, but nothing major to report. It appears, however, that Malawi has some of the highest HIV infection rates in all of Africa. 22,000 people for 1 doctor and 2 nurses and very little education on safe-sex.

I’m sure the national rate of HIV infection is 22%. In fact, I’m not just sure, I’m HIV positive.

But I probably shouldn’t be making AIDS jokes.

We stopped at a wood market (HUGE) of carvings made out of ebony, teak, and various woods. Everything was very well made and VERY cheap (it’s the low season after all). I bought a globe, a chess set, a bao game (I’ll explain the rules later, its easy and really fun), coasters, some smaller craft as well.

Everyone claims they “give good price”, but really, if you don’t negotiate it down, you’re getting screwed. I came out of there with far too much stuff for the 20 or so bucks I ultimately paid. If I had bought everything at their starting price, easily into the hundreds I would have gone. And remember, this is stuff that, if sold in the states, would have cost $20+ a piece without the ability to negotiate. I remember I got a coaster set here for all of 2 bucks (Less, actually), made of teak wood. In fact, now that I think about it, I think I spent less than $15 that day…