We are so far behind!\u00a0 Now that I\u2019ve written about our amazing trip to Mozambique (back in April) I can talk about our amazing time with Mary Katherine and Gardner in May!<\/p>\n It was one of the most stress-free trips we\u2019ve had and loved every minute of it.\u00a0 We were able to hit all of our favorite places and still discover new ones.<\/p>\n Here are the\u00a0top twenty things<\/strong>\u00a0I learned during their time here:<\/p>\n 20)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mary Katherine and Gardner look great even after traveling for 28 hours strait.<\/p>\n 19)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mk and G adjusted really quickly and really well \u2013 here is their photo of a roadside market on the way from LLW to Blantyre<\/p>\n 18)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s easy to make friends at the Mulanje Mission Hospital<\/p>\n 17)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 MK and G share my view that Mulanje pizza is the best \u2013 and that you don\u2019t have to have climbed Mt. Mulanje to appreciate it.<\/p>\n 16) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Gardner\u00a0hates\u00a0<\/em>it when I slurp my coffee, tea, or soup. \u00a0And he\u2019s quite right.<\/p>\n 15)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We could easily get used to Huntington House style living\u2026 tea on the khonde anyone?<\/p>\n 14)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Croquet is the best game ever.\u00a0 I\u2019m thinking of starting a national team.\u00a0 We could drink gin and tonics and play croquet all over the world.<\/p>\n 13)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We think Chalet #5 at Mvuu Lodge might be the best one.\u00a0 But it\u2019s tough to say\u2026<\/p>\n 12)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 MK and G are good luck \u2013 with them we saw: elephants, elephant babies, buffalo, buffalo babies, roan antelope, sable antelope, hartebeest, hippos, hippo babies, a two-week old hippo baby out of water, a crocodile eating something, porcupines, water bucks, monitor lizards, a duiker, bush bucks, about 40 different kinds of birds, and of course, plenty of impala and warthogs.\u00a0 Even our fabulous guide Duncan was impressed.<\/p>\n 11)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our surprise breakfast, sneakily organized and prepared by the incredible Mvuu staff, at a hide deep in the bush, along the bank of the Shire river, alongside amazing wildlife, with eggs cooked to order, coffee, tea, muffins, sausage, bacon, and fruit, was definitely the best breakfast I\u2019ve ever had.<\/p>\n 10)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The idea of enjoying your sundowner drink while floating along in Lake Malawi sounds wonderful.\u00a0 The execution of this idea is surprisingly difficult. \u00a0But laughing so hard at watching \u00a0 the others try and stay balanced on pool noodles, sip their drinks, and not let any water from the waves dilute their gin and tonics, burns off a lot of calories.<\/p>\n 9)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We look dazzling in snorkel masks and flippers.<\/p>\n 8)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With these little kayaks, we think we could even keep up with Alex, Ginny, and Ginger\u2026 at least for a little while<\/p>\n 7)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If Robinson Crusoe lived life like you do on Mumbo Island, he had it pretty good\u2026<\/p>\n 6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Eco-loos and bucket baths on Mumbo Island are pure luxury.<\/p>\n 5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Back in Blantyre, Mary Katherine has a new fan at Open Arms.\u00a0 And so does Gardner\u2026<\/p>\n 4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gardner can cook anything, from anywhere, from any ingredients, and it\u2019s always incredible.<\/p>\n 3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gardner eats sugar cane like a real man.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/intomalawi.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/p1050231.jpg\" "\\"P1050231\\"")
<\/a>Stopping off for a sundowner<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Enjoying Breakfast<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Photograph of a market scene<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>New friend<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Ready for pizza<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Gardner enjoying his soup properly<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Feeling right at home<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Sandy, of course, took to it immediately<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Gorgeous chalets<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>A big hippo butt and a two week old hippo baby!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Sable antelope<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Roan Antelope<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Elephant!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Setting for breakfast!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Our breakfast table and view<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>The whole breakfast team<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Trying our best not to spill our drinks<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Awesome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Fast, Agile, Stable Kayaks<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>MK and G with a chalet in the background<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Mumbo Island<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>And it’s a loo with a view<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Mary Katherine and Grace<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Gardner and Sheila – Wyson looking on<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Market shopping<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Gardner hard at work<\/p>\n<\/div>\n