Malawi Adventure

An African adventure wherein we try our hands at a kind of B&B in Malawi. These are the field notes of our progress.

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The end. #nature #trees #macrophotography

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A walk in the woods. #fall #nwmi #trees #landscape #nature

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Chives have blossomed. #flowers #garden

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Baboon searches through elephant dung. #malawi #malawiadventure #liwonde

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Bee eater in Liwonde National Park. #malawi #malawiadventure #birds

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Doing guard duty. #malawi #malawiadventure #Liwonde

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The self-serve bar at Liwonde Safari Camp.

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The mountain finds a patch of sun on an otherwise cloudy day.

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Divvying up the dinner bill at Mulange Pepper. #malawi #malawiadventure #Kwacha

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The blue bugs gather. #malawi #malawiadventure #insects

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A bit of the mountain. #malawi #malawiadventure #Mulange

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Road-side snack. Malawiadventure.tumblr.com

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What's for dinner?

Women tip the red, blue or green plastic bowls so passing motorists can see what they're offering. 

“Can't tell if it's bugs or beans,” I say.

We pull to the side of the road and the women come running over. 

It's bugs. 

“Zingati? I ask. 

"Hundred Kwacha,” she says showing me the cup she measures with. 

These are the termites that live in the big mounds that emerge like stalagmites in the African countryside. 

“Chabweno, okay,” I say holding open a plastic bag. She dumps in the bugs and takes the kwacha. 

The women laugh uproariously at the azungu buying bugs.

“Salani bwino,” they shout as we drive away. Travel well. 

I've read they taste like popcorn. 

They do not. 

The first thing you notice is the little legs on your tongue. The body is crispy with a semi-soft center, almost like a just barely undercooked bean. They taste earthy and smoky with a slight mineral aftertaste. 

Not bad as far as bugs go.

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Standard sized brick, non-standard bug. (at Likhubula Hiker's Nest)

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Yesterday's beast.

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Yesterday's beauty.

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Another cool #malawi tree that no one seems to know what it is called.