Hediyeh in Malawi!

 

Sure enough, after nine months in Malawi, someone came to visit. And we tried to give her the royal treatment. We took her to Salima (the lake) . . .

 

 

the safari beach lodge where she ate the best fish kebabs of her life (by the way, take a look at Darian's expression in this picture--its a mix between I'm working really hard so back off and Don't even think about taking this pool cleaner away from me) . . .

 

and to Kumbali village, a cultural center that has Malawian music on weekend mornings and lets you cart your kids around in wheelbarrows, pioneer-style. It is an all you can eat breakfast, which is a mistake to start with. The breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, granola, yogurt, juice, toast, and this amazing Malawian tomato/onion sauce that makes you overeat each time. So together we ate at least a carton of eggs. We haven't been back since.

Photoshoot: Kian & Darian 4+20months

 

 

 

 

Photoshoot: Darian

 

 

 

 

Photoshoot: Kian

 

 

 

 

More Mumbo Island

 

 

 

 

Mumbo Island

 

Jeff and I have been married for eight years. To celebrate we went to one of the most beautiful places in Malawi: Mumbo Island. You take a boat there from Cape Maclear. Its a one hour ride. The island is private and has no electricity.

 

 

Everyone sleeps in tents on top of rocks overlooking the clearest water. There is amazing snorkeling and kayaking around the island. It was so peaceful. We were the only guest on the island when we stayed.

 

Sensitive Kian

 

Kian is sensitive about certain things. When he was two, I made cookies one day and we sat down to eat them. We each had two cookies. I ate mine and he ate one of his and then walked away. He was gone for a while so I figured he didn't want it and I ate it. He came back soon after and noticed his cookie was gone. He asked me what happened to it and when I told him I ate it, he looked at me as if I had just punched him in the face. And then he proceeded to cry for a long time. And he's not one to really cry too often. Well since then we have learned not to eat the boy's cookies. And when I make cookies at night and he says he wants to have some when he wakes up, we make sure there are some cookies when he wakes up. I never want to see that sad face again. He's made this easier by labeling his cookies before he goes to bed to remind his cookie-loving mom to steer clear.

The Mulanje Massif

 

The Mulanje Massif, also known as Mount Mulanje, is a chunk of rock rising sharply from the tea-growing plains in southeastern Malawi. Jeff and I went on a 3 day backpacking trip there in April.

 

Mulanje measures about 13x16 miles and is a series of impressive peaks that break through the clouds and green valleys with pools and waterfalls. It's one of the most beautiful places we've been.

 

Sapitwa is Mulanje's highest peak and the highest peak in South-central Africa at 9,900 feet. It's a steep, treacherous climb especially since by the time we got to the top, the clouds had rolled in and the wind was whipping hard. I'm sure the view is usually nice.

 

Kian and Darian stayed with a babysitter in a lodge at the base of the mountain while we hiked, but as we initially drove into the town of Mulanje and the cloud covered peaks came into view, I told Kian that Jeff and I were going to hike to the top of the mountain. Kian then asked, "Are you going to touch the clouds?" and I said, "Sure," to which he asked, "What will God say?" It's a reasonable question.

More Scenes From Mulanje

 

 

 

 

Lujeri Falls Hike

 

This seemed like a good idea when we started. The waterfall looked beautiful and close from the bottom. We had a baby backpack that we thought we could have Kenneth, a porter, carry Darian in while Kian walked with us. Turns out Darian didn't want anything to do with Kenneth's backpack...

 

...but he was more than happy to be strapped to Jeff's back with a chitenje (basically a piece of brightly colored cloth women carry their children in)

 

The hike also ended up being A LOT more difficult than we thought, which I think is pretty evident by Jeff's shirt. But it worked out because while Darian was in Jeff's chitenje, Kian got to ride in the backpack.

 

The end of our hike went through a small village and it was mayhem. I think it is safe to say that this was the first time this village has seen a white dude carrying a baby in a chitenje on his back. The whole village came out to see the scene and have a good laugh. Turns out it was a good idea.

The Easter Bunny Visits Malawi

 

The Easter Bunny chartered a flight to the Mulanje Massif (see above)...

 

 

 

...and made some kids really happy by hiding sugar-heavy treats amongst the rocks