A Birthday to Remember in Malawi

If I am honest I wasn't really looking forward to my birthday, worrying myself that it could be somewhat of a let down being away from home and without a familiar setting. But, as it turns out, I needn't have worried as it was one of the best birthdays I can remember.

A birthday lunch with a view

Matt had arrived two days prior to the big day, giving him enough time to settle into life in Nkhata Bay and acquaint himself with the incredible group of friends I had come to make during my time at Mayoka Village, and me enough time to both get used to having Matt in Africa with me, and the excitement of seeing him.

Happy to have Matt with me on my birthday

Knowing how much I had loved my night dive on the PADI Advanced Open Water course Johnny and Kate at Aqua Africa gave me an early birthday present, another night dive, which signalled the start of the celebrations, albeit a night early. The only catch was that I sing 'Happy Birthday to Me' at the bottom of the lake, following which I spent forty minutes trying to get as many cichlids killed by dolphin fish as possible.

The Expansion of Hope Tour 2009 - Nick and Luke

The big day itself started with a long overdue beard trim - finally I realised my beard was making me look like Hagrid's stunt double for the new Harry Potter film, something people had been telling me for quite some time, and it was time to tame the beast (which I know at least a few people are very grateful for). Following birthday wishes from home, which is always nice when so far away, and a cool little 'Hippo Head' from Fish (many thanks guy), the day was out of my hands and over to everyone else.

The chefs hard at work

Nick and Luke, the founders of the Expansion of Hope Tour, as well as being two good friends, had arranged to cook lunch at Safari (one of Nkhata Bay's classier local establishments) with their kitchen staff. Beef byrani and a cold beer looking out over Lake Malawi could well be the best birthday lunch a traveller could ask for, short of a whole hog on the spit!

Birthday dinner fit for a king

In keeping with Nkhata Bay's laid back vibe the afternoon was spent lazing around the lake, indulging in a few more beers and a bout of snorkelling before the real celebrations began. Needless to say as the night went on my memory becomes a little vague, which could be due to several factors, but something tells me the main one was a touch too much alcohol.

I do however remember that, following a delicious butterfish braai (bbq for all you non-South Africans), I had two cakes which just about topped the day off. Without doubt the banoffee cake was the pick of the two, sorry Mayoka but your chocolate cake is good but not that good, and was rounded off with a rare treat - a bottle of Captain Morgan's Spiced Gold.

From there the night is a bit of a haze, although I do remember devouring an entire piece of biltong before going to bed, and waking with just a hint of a hangover, and by hint I mean almighty. A big thank you to all those, you know who you are, who played a part in making my birthday on tour such a memorable occassion.

written by

MarcusInAfrica on July 28, 2009 from Nkhata Bay, Malawi

from the travel blog: Cape to Cardiff

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