Chris' Blog - 26th & 27th April

The Trip – 26-27 April

After a small meeting (and a long night) of wonderful fellowship and food, with the Rotarians at Tete the night before we bid farewell to Tete and off to Chimoio. The Rotarians form Tete dropped us off at the provincial boarder (about 130km) at a town called Changara and we met our new hosts. It was then off into a tight fit in a van with Nela and the president of the club. With another 300+ kms to travel, we discovered why Mozambiquen's say the roads are bad. Over 4.5 hours later we arrive in Chimoio.

We are all being hosted by Nela and Joao in their house and guest house. We then share dinner with a get together of members and friends.

Sunday starts with Greg, Fran, Jodie and I going to church. While it is Catholic, and it is all conduced in Portuguese, it is a fantastic experience, with the beautiful singing and the service. At one stage, following the collection, members of the congregation brought in foodstuffs, including eggs, bananas, fruit, other items and a live chicken. Amazing.

After that we visit some of the projects of the local club, including furniture building (tables, chairs and beds) a donation a living kit to a pair of teenage orphans that have their own hut. (Their parents left them with two functional huts and one that needed work. The one needing work has been cleaned up inside and had a new roof attached (a piece of plastic with straw over the top). With the other two huts they have the other filled with other relatives that are orphans and the third rented to pay for some of the fees of another brother who is a uni. (the rent a grand total of 100 met a month (about $4)).

For lunch we visit a local orphanage that is run by the Catholic Church and supported by the local interact club. This is one of the best orphanages that I have seen in my travels in developing countries. The grow food to sell, have a well equipped (by Mozambiquen standards) school. (with Celron computers!!). Most of these facilities have been donated through links with the church or Rotary. They are about to expand from 22 residents to 128 with their new facilities. Unfortunately, some of the food aid they have been receiving through food aid is about to be cut. I think it is a case that the place is going too well. So much for supporting those that help themselves.

After that we go off to a farm (about 50km+ away). The farmers are two Australians!! And a former Zimbabwe farmer, and is about 20km form the Zim border. It is interesting to see the number of zim plated cars, and English signs increasing. But no we turn off before the border.

Peter, one of the farmers is from WA and he and his partners have tried grow a range of crops, tea, tobacco etc. Their latest try is Banana’s for the SA market. It is interesting hearing about their difficulties and support (or lack of at times) from the government.

After this, it is a long drive back (and driving on Mozambiquen roads at night is interesting) to dinner at a restaurant with members of the club. A great day.

Cheers Chris

Chris' Blog - 25th April

The Trip – 25 April

After a big day yesterday, today was a lot less hectic, with a trip to the water treatment plant. All was built before 1973. (the significance is that 1975 was the year of the coup). While it is old, it seems to work well and the water supply here, based on the different lab reports, is well in excess of the requirements for fresh drinking water. However we are all sticking to bottled water and carbonated drinks.

This afternoon we had some free time so most of us enjoyed an Italian lunch and a look around the town on foot. Tonight we present to the RC of Tete and then off for a 400km drive tomorrow.

Chris' Blog - 24th April

The Trip – 24 April

Today started with a visit to the Major of Tete. We learnt a bit about the political system of Mozambique and the difficulties of running a city. Then it was off to the local Tobacco processing factory. Very interesting the way they can ensure particular content requirements (% of moisture, density etc). The factory employs 1,000 staff and has 1,900 farmers supplying product, so it is very good for the local economy. We then visited Vincent’s house that is being built and were very interested in the different building methods utilised, myself having only just completed our new home in the past year, and Ryan as the Civil engineer.

After lunch with our hosts we visited the local public hospital. What a challenge for the staff! The hospital is expanding (three new buildings under construction). At this time of year there is less demand on the facility and matters such as Malaria and Cholera are much lower. However there is still the HIV affected patients, which were in a fairly full building (some on mattresses on the floor). It’s a bit difficult to describe this, so I’m not going to.

Jodie was able to visit the Physio dept ( a room).

After that we visited the local radio station, which broadcasts in 4 languages across the province of Tete.

We finished off the night with a Mozambique BBQ, with Tandori, Portuguese and curry chicken, bread rolls and our addition cooked marshmallows, + the odd Vino or Chervasia. (Wine and beer)

Sorry for any spelling errors. Chris

Chris' Blog - 23rd April

The Trip – 23 April

Today we farewell Malawi and move to Mozambique. After some sad farewells to hosts, we travel an hour to the boarder and spend an hour waiting for visa’s etc, and then off for another hour and a half to Tete. I think we all notice the way the buildings are made have changed slightly, and the roads have a lot more pot holes.

After a puncture, we all meet our new hosts and have a quick rest before we visit one of the local club’s projects, an “orfanato” or orphanage. This one has been in operation since 1985 and has 84 children. We are all touched by the hard work of the helpers, and the delightful children. Most children have been left here by aunts, uncles or less direct relatives due to the passing away of parents due to HIV. Also a number of the older children there have been orphaned due to the previous war. This orphanage is proud of a number of children who have progressed through to high school on scholarships and in some cases through University. The only disappointment is that like most Rotary projects, there are no signs saying that Rotary is doing such good work. Jodie is an absolute legend working with the kids. Qld Ed are very luck to have someone like her working with them which her skills.

Chris' Blog - 22nd April

The Trip - 22 April

Today Lillian (Chris’s host) takes the boys (Greg, Ryan and Chris) are off to the Nyala Lodge. I find out that the boys are staying together and Fran and Jodie have separate hosts.

The trip to the lodge is interesting in that we descend into the valley where the water from Lake Malawi empties. (nearly 1,000m lower that Blantyre). The trip takes the best part of 2 hours.

At the lodge we go on a walking safari, along with a gun bearing guide. We see a number of impressive animals including buffalo, impala, warthog’s soldier ants and monkeys. After a hearty lunch, we view the museum and visitors shop that Lillian and Menno have been developing. We then go on a very quick tour and discussion about the local sugar plantation and then back for our first presentation to a joint meeting of the RCs of Blantrye and Limbe. All goes well.

Cure International Hospital

Today was our first day of vocational visits. My host family organised for me to visit a local hospital called Cure International Hospital. This hospital provides services to children with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, club foot, and spina bifida. There are also Private patients in the hospital, which help to fund the running of the hospital. Private outpatient appointments from the physiotherapist also help to fund the hospital.

They have around 50 beds in the children's ward. Each child has a guardian who stays with them 24 /7 - this could be a parent or a guardian from their orphanage. There is no Occupational Therapist working there. However, they have a 'Rehabilitation Technician' - these people are trained by OTs and physiotherapists. The Rehab technician at the hospital trained at the Rehabilitation hospital next door to CURE.

The children are seen for 'physio' treatment on the ward - there is not therapy space or room to take them. The children seem so happyand well cared for, in spite of the fact they have had major orthopaedic surgery.

I also had the opportunity to go to the Public Rehab hospital next door. Again, there were several Rehab technicians working, but there were OTs and physios also. Most of the OTs were employed as part of the school that teaches the Diploma of Rehabilitation Technology. The facilities are different to those in Australia, but the staff do a great job with the resources they have.

Today was also my first indulgence in the local maize meal - provided by the hospital kitchen. Nsima - which is kind of maize porridge (similar in consistency to that horrible Deb mashed potato you take camping) with a beef stew and a cabbage pickle concoction on the side. It didn't taste too bad, though left a lining of starch on the roof of my mouth that required copious amounts of water and some serious chewing gum to remove!!

The family I am staying with are wonderful! They have two children, who are 8 and 4, so I have been having a ball! We went for a picnic with the extended family to Zomba Plateau on Sunday, which was similar to Kondalilla Falls in Montville, with a little stream and waterfalls. The difference being we had our picnic at a trout farm and were hassled on the way up the mountain by lots of vendours trying to sell berries, guavas, bananas and other fruits. The kids have introduced me to Nintendo Wii - and I'm pretty awful at it - they both put me to shame! But, I have been enjoying the maths and spelling homework! I've been asked by Shaan (the older boy) to stay until his birthday on May 18th - so if I don't come home, you'll know where I am!

Tomorrow Fran and I are going to a local Orphanage called Open Arms - and we will do our first presentation tomorrow night at the Rotary Club of Limbe.

That's all for now - sending best wishes from Blantyre : )

The First Week

Sunday 13/4

Plane left on time 11.45pm Boeing 777. Brisbane to Singapore – Go team. Fare welled by families and GSE chair Darryl.

Monday 14/4

Arrive at Singapore Airport. We are all very tired and most of us did not sleep well. After dumping our hand luggage with the “left baggage” desk (s$12), off we go into the centre of Singapore on the MRT (rail system). It is packed (by Australian standards) but clean and very fast. On arrival we all have a little walk around and something to eat (I am sooo the unhealthy eater, I have toast with cheese and a coke, most others have yoghurt and tea or similar). We visit the world’s largest fountain and arrange some day tours. While it is not extremely hot, it is humid.

First tour is the Heritage tour. The bus is opened topped so we all take the opportunity to enjoy some fresh? Singapore air. We jump off at little India and I went on my mission to find a Sari for my daughter Annabelle. We all note the difference between the Indian part and Singapore proper. How can they let their buildings determinate when Singapore is moving ahead in leaps and bounds? After some success finding a Sari we rejoin the tour running past many of the major cultural areas in Singapore including the cultural centre, mosks, temples, china town and a lot of new tall and impressive buildings. IT is a shame we were all so tired as we are really not able to make the most of the chance to look at everything proper, but we all try to make the most of it. Jodie falls asleep and most of us have a little nod.

After this tour we stop for lunch, with most of us enjoying different Asian culinary delights (which all smell and look good. I’m felling off colour I so miss out on lunch at that stage (which I had later) and take a nap while the rest of the team go an enjoy a second tour.

After the second tour The City Tour, the team (with me a lot a fresher after an hours rest), get together to enjoy a drink coffee etc and a relax. While we know there is so much more to do there, we decide that the exchange is with Africa, so we will have to leave Asia for later. So back to the air port. While we get there very early (over 8 hours) for our flight, we all enjoy the many facilities at the airport, the gym (Jodie and Ryan), the free movies (Chris) and the comfortable??? Seats in the waiting lounges (Fran and Greg) at the departure lounges.

After this, we all enjoy a shower S$8 (separately of course) and enjoy our last Asian dinner (all very chilly hot. (All except Jodie who after taking some malaria medication too early is feeling sick). After dinner we all try (successfully) to get some shut eye around the terminal (Fran and I both set alarms, after trying to stay awake, so that we don’t miss our flights).

Tuesday 15/4

Leave Singapore at 2.20am Boeing 777. All sleep a lot better on the plane after Ryan and I scoot into some other spare seats on the plane, and everyone enjoys having a spare seat to stretch out on. A very long flight, but with longer stretches of sleep the flight feels some what shorter) Across the two flights we all have enjoyed some of the on flight entertainment (I ended up seeing I am Legend, National Treasure II, and all bar the last 15 minutes of American Gangster)

On arrival in J’burg we finally reestablish contact we out baggage (over a day an half since we last saw it), to basically shove it on another plane (1time) We enjoy a US$2 porter fee just because we are not thinking about the whole tip thing. We enjoy a good breakfast and then off to our flight. Our flight to Durban is on a McDonnell Douglas 80 – didn’t think I ever ride on one of these again. It leaves late because we are waiting for a plane tug on the ground and a huge line up on the tarmac. (I don’t think they are run as efficiently as Brisbane because from what I can see the planes are only leaving every 10 minutes or so (and they have 2 runways).

We arrive in Durban and meet a man (arranged by Jenny) who we borrow a car from. It is a mixture of a corolla station wagon top that sits a lot higher with a Yaris engine. Seems to work well on the 120km + speeds on the N2 that we drive along (150km form the airport) to get to Andy and Jenny’s farm (Friends of Chris’s family) who we are staying with for two nights. When we get there we are all very warmly welcomed, and allocated our rooms Fran and Jodie in one, Ryan and Greg a second and Chris the final room. While it is late afternoon, we take the opportunity to have a short tour of the local town ship around the farm and the house hold. We then all take the opportunity to have a shower, some of us snooze and just hang out until “suppertime”. We are then joined by Mike and Penny form the local Rotary club, and sit around a Boma (a open fire outside), and then dinner and a fairly long chat.

With all of the team very sleepy we are off to bed at 10am.







Wednesday 16/4

Up at 5am – Leave at 5.30am. Off to the Game Park. After an Hour and a half drive we arrive with hopes of knocking off some all of the Big Five (Buffalo, Elephant, Lion, Cheetah and Rhino)

All up we only got to see two of these, but there were lots of other animals along the way.


After staying in the park until just after lunch, we headed back. (Fran Jenny and I just about ran about ran out of petrol). We had a little rest and then we had supper on a barge. The highlight for me, sticking my feet in the Indian Ocean which was at the end of the river. We were joined by some other members of the local Rotary while we were on the barge.




Thursday 17/4

Early Morning. I’m up at 3am after having some chat time with Andy and Jenny the night before. Everyone else is up at 3.30am and after packing the car, and some teary good byes it is off to Durban Airport. We drop off the car and it is back to check in. We discover that we have all extra weight in our suitcases and less in our carry on. Fortunately after some sympathic looks we are able to get our very overweight bags on. After that pretty much on to the place (MD87) and off we fly to J’burg. We arrive and after transferring from Domestic to International, we check in and through we go (both Fran and Ryan are frisked.) We then have something to eat look around the terminal and then on to Lilongwe. (B737).

We arrive and after a fair amount of time through customs, a 3 wheeled trolley, and Greg and Ryan’s bags being checked (a BAC cap helped) we meet at least 10 of the Rotarians from Lilongwe. We are then taken to Ash’s lake holiday house by Ash and Alex (about 100+km). The countryside is in many ways similar to Australia, but there are lots of people walking along the side of the road, (down to very small children), at their markets, bikes, motor bikes (with large loads – house doors, calves and a massive assortment of things), goats, cows and dogs with us flying past at 130 km/h. We are also stopped by a road block. All very usual.

The house is great, right on the lake (which is massive). There are a lot of children looking over the fence at us. We have dinner in the back yard, some curry, veggies and rice which is served by the servants and after some chatting we all hit bed, boys in one room (with Alex) and girls in the other.


Friday 18/4

After a slowish morning (Greg was up to watch the sunrise but the rest of us stayed in bed), we have a breakfast of corn flakes, eggs, fried potato, onion and juice, we decide to go for a walk up the beach.

Before that we have a number of locals showing us their wares (paintings, bangles, necklaces and key rings). They are very polite as these types of vendors go. After some haggling (but nothing is sold at ridiculous prices) we all end up buying something and off we go. We then go off on our walk (with Alex leading). These vendors walk along with us and explain a lot to us about their lives and what is ok to take pictures of and what isn’t. We later discover that the vendors are trained by the government on how to deal with tourists, thus their politeness. We cause a bit of a stir as our skin colour and size is very different.

It is interesting to view the luxury of the houses along the fore shore and compare it to the life styles. However the local seem fairly settled in their lot, and are generally friendly. One of the big thing that we all notice is how hard the women work, clothes washing and washing themselves and their many children in the lake, carrying all sorts of things on heir heads, cooking, (and occasionally offering themselves). The fishing village is very cramped, with people everywhere, lots of boats and small fish drying on tables.

We walk past the local tech college – they teach things like bricklaying, typing etc. About US$4,000 a year, for 4 years but that includes lodging and board. Still that is a fortune to these people.

At the end of the beach is the 5 star hotel. What a difference. When we get there there are a lot of people in suits (obviously at a conference). It is strange that a wall can make such a difference! While we a re very casually dressed, we are welcomed in (white people must have money it seems!) If they only knew!!

We walk back along the road, and through a different village. We pass a lot of children on the road, on the way home form school. Again they are mostly friendly. I buy a sim card for my phone (which I later discover only works in Ryan’s phone) and at we wind our way back to the house. After some more sales with the vendors, (the some ones waited for us at the front of the resort) we have lunch and hang out for a while. (All up we walked about 7kms). In the afternoon Alex takes go for a drive. When we get back we do some language training with Alex (I’m awful at it, but Fran, Jodie and Ryan seem to have a knack for it)

Ash and his family join us for dinner and we say farewell to Alex.

Dinner is massive, chicken, T Bones, veggies, salad and some little pastries. All very yummy. After some chatting we all go off to bed. Big day tomorrow.


19 April

We start out at the lake house watching the sun rising, with the reflection over the water. It is strange to think that the mountains on the other side are a different country (Mozambique). Most of us go back to bed, while I catch up with the log.

After a hearty breakfast, (Eggs, snags, baked beans, cereal, toast, onions, potatoes, juice, tea, coffee) we all pack up and head toward Lilongwe. On the way we stop off at a fish “farm”. Really it is more just a huge fish storage facility for pet and research fish; they are not fish for eating. The business sends divers into the lake to catch what ever fish they need and bring them back to the facility. After that they are then held and shipped off wherever they are needed around the world. It seems that the original owner (originally from the UK) passed away 6 months ago and his family have taken over running it. As a result locally it is felt that the facility is detracting.

After that Ash stops at a shop and treats us all to ice cream. When we have finished we give the cups to the locals who lick them clean and then use the cups for other uses. It has been the same with our water bottles. Two children get very lucky as there is still a fair bit of ice cream left.

We then visit Ash’s house which is beautiful.

As an overall comment, one thing we are all aware of is that building quality is a fair bit lower than what we would find acceptable in Australia. Not bad quality, but a lot of things look like they have been done by a handy man rather than trade professionals.

Lunch is at Nando’s which is great. We then go to the shop to get some munchies for our 3.5 hour bus ride to Blantyre. It is then off to the bus station, and fair well to Lilongwe and on to the bus.

5 hours later we arrive at Blantyre. The trip is fairly good, but lots of beeping from the bus driver and slow trucks, cars, wagons, bikes and people. Every time we stop traders try to get our attention to sell things.

When we arrive we are met by local Rotarians and whisked off to our hosts. I know that Fran and Jodie are together and Ryan and Greg have gone off in different directions. The plan is a day with our hosts and then a vocational day on Monday, so we may not see each other until Tuesday possibly?

I am staying with the Dean of Social Sciences (Menno Welling) at the local catholic University (300 students very small and only opened in 2006) and his wife Lillian who is a Lawyer. Had Internet access for the first time (the beauty of Unis)
The Trip -20/4 (End of week one)

Today was a day with our hosts and is the first day since we met at Brisbane airport that we have not seen each other.

I had a short tour of the Uni and then we went on a drive around the local area. The most imposing thing was the local mountain chair, Mt Mylanje which was huge!! We had lunch close to it. To get to the top is a day hike. You can stay in cabins on the top and then return the next day.

After lunch we looked at some of the tea plantations and Menno showed me a couple of the local sites. One was the rock, Mwalewanthunz, which is sacred. The story with it was that when the road was being built it was moved, but yet the next day it had returned to its original place. As a result the road changed alignment. Some people say that it was a sign of local resistance, but I like the thought of it moving itself.

After some more exploring we went to a baby shower of one of the local Dutch families, yet another language. Fortunately all spoke English, so I wasn’t left out. So here I am drinking champagne and Carlsberg beer, in Africa. All very amazing

And the winner is...

Our raffle has now been drawn and congratulations go to:

Jenny Wilson (first prize)
Ken Taylor (second prize)
Trish O'Brien (third prize)

Thank you to all those who supported our raffle! We have been able to use the money to purchase small gifts and giveaways to take to the orphanages, schools, and other centres we will be visiting whilst we are away. The only problem now is waiting to find out how much we will need to pay in excess baggage...

The final countdown

We are now in the final week before departure and it has been a long but quick road!

Our quest to get the official team photo led to an investigative stroll through the grounds of University of Queensland and we decided to go with the 'waist up' shot.































On Saturday night the 5th April we attended a function hosted by District 9600 which saw 2 inbound (from Canadian D5550 and Southern Africa D9210) and 2 outbound GSE teams together at a common point of our various journeys as GSE team members.

Here's a picture of the four teams, along with Darryl Gommersal (GSE Chairperson) and Steve Kruger (District Governor).