The Trip 5 May - 24/47 (Half way)
Today started early with travel from my host’s huts (Tim) to the city. We catch up with the others and arrive at the Lilongwe Tobacco Auction Centre. We are shown the operation which is interesting, the entire collection and distribution. They process over 13,000 bales of tobacco a day, with an auction of each bale. It is interesting watching the auction process, as the auctioneer and the buyers walk past each bale (not stopping), and bids are made on the sign of a wink or movement of a hand. We couldn’t tell what he was saying, so were all surprised to find out it was in English.
After that we visited the Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company. While we had previously been through a factory, it was interesting to revisit one that was much larger, and be given some deeper insight into not only the production and processing process, but to see the logistical side of it as well. During the process we met the CEO, logistic manager and were lead around by a long serving engineer.
After lunch at cross roads, (becoming a favorite haunt) we went to the local Maize silos. Admittedly we all through “so what” but after viewing the entire process, including walking on the roof on top of the West tower, (over 100 meters), and then across on standard industrial grates about 90 meters in the air (and being able to look down and see the ground between our feet) to the east tower, we were very impressed.
Dinner was then with the group and some members of the RC of Bwaila, at a local Chinese restaurant, which was similar to western Chinese, but had some of the spice of Asian Chinese. Home at 9.45pm after a 6.45am departure this morning.
Chris
Today started early with travel from my host’s huts (Tim) to the city. We catch up with the others and arrive at the Lilongwe Tobacco Auction Centre. We are shown the operation which is interesting, the entire collection and distribution. They process over 13,000 bales of tobacco a day, with an auction of each bale. It is interesting watching the auction process, as the auctioneer and the buyers walk past each bale (not stopping), and bids are made on the sign of a wink or movement of a hand. We couldn’t tell what he was saying, so were all surprised to find out it was in English.
After that we visited the Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company. While we had previously been through a factory, it was interesting to revisit one that was much larger, and be given some deeper insight into not only the production and processing process, but to see the logistical side of it as well. During the process we met the CEO, logistic manager and were lead around by a long serving engineer.
After lunch at cross roads, (becoming a favorite haunt) we went to the local Maize silos. Admittedly we all through “so what” but after viewing the entire process, including walking on the roof on top of the West tower, (over 100 meters), and then across on standard industrial grates about 90 meters in the air (and being able to look down and see the ground between our feet) to the east tower, we were very impressed.
Dinner was then with the group and some members of the RC of Bwaila, at a local Chinese restaurant, which was similar to western Chinese, but had some of the spice of Asian Chinese. Home at 9.45pm after a 6.45am departure this morning.
Chris
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