Somewhere round Ntchisi (we had taken the scenic forest route up to the Lakeshore road) we got trapped in his presidential parade and for the next couple of hours, trailed him about the country side, stopping to hear the endless speeches, waving at the gathering crowds and then ceremoniously covering them in dust as we rolled on by.
Having sat for ages in the car, boiling, when we came to a halt in the next town, I tried to wiggle into the shade a bit but as a wiggled forward, the truck in front did too and eventually we found ourselves tantalisingly close to the road we wanted to take but still blocked in by the official vehicles.
Then, what is this I spy, 3 police men with much scrambled egg, dingly dangly braids of red, medals flashing in the sunshine. I lent out the window and with my most polite, ‘Muli Bwanji’ and a few flutters of my lashes, I told them an enormous lie… I said that we had been told by the soldiers to move off and leave the convoy but how is this possible if I can’t get through…flutter, flutter, flutter.!
Next thing we know, Ed and I are ushered through the collected cars as soldiers and police are told to reverse and move out the way…5 mins later we on the open road and the holiday begins, Bingu and his buddies a disappearing sight in the rear view mirror.
We stopped at Nhkota kota, Nkhata Bay and Kande Beach – lovely, all three. Lots of sun, sand and scrabble!
Nkhota kota
Nkhata Bay
Kande Beach
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