Let's Go to Downtown Zomba!



 



First stop, washateria.  Main drawback - closed for 6 months during the dry season due to water outage.

You might want to shop for groceries at Peoples Kwiksave.  But first, you have to get through the assortment of  beggars at the entrance with handicaps, each sadder than his neighbor's. 

Look carefully to see the wooden "leg" on the woman to your right - a simple wooden stump painted black. 

I like to save at Shoprite that also
has front-entrance challenges.







Got plastics - chairs, basins, all types of containers, waste cans?  

If you need plastic, EVERY plastic store in Zomba carries the exact goods at the same prices.  I guess they compete based on location?  I haven't figured this out.

This could just as easily be Pam and young Markie-Parkie about 20 years ago, were it not for the Master Checklist for Dispostion of Human Beings where we were checked off as being 1) White; 2) United States of American (I am pledging allegiance to Old Glory right now!);
3) Endowed with optimal blessings - access to the finest choices in education, work and  healthcare.  The operant word here being "choices."

Who decides that?

More poly for purchase, there on your right.

Satemwa Tea & Coffee Estate, Thyolo, Malawi - 1-29-2011

Below are tea pickers at Satemwa Tea & Coffee Estate. 


Tea and coffee growing is very labor intensive, particularly coffee growing.   You can see how much of the cultivation must be done by hand.

 The tea grows on waist-high shrubs and teapickers cut the tender new leaves at the top of the plant.  

 They cut the leaves with shears attached to which is a plastic container into which the young, cut tea leaves drop. 

When the plastic container is full of tea leaves, the picker throws them over his shoulder into a lightweight basket on his back.

A light, cool drizzle helped to infuse our walk with the loamy smell of tea.  Delightful and serene.

 

A Very Fine House

Daily Commute

Ode to Ham

I miss U.S. food so much (and my well-equipped kitchen) and stay a "little hungry" all the time so that I take every opportunity to chat about food. 

On my Christmas safari,  I remembered the way we bake ham so fondly (with its tart orange marmalade glaze and festive pineapple and cherry garnish), that my companions laughed out loud at my homage to the swine.

 My personal mango trees in the backyard are in full ripeness now.  The only trouble I will have is in finding glass jars to capture it.

Are you kidding?  Mango chutney will be delicious with ham.