Spent 3 days, riding the Ilala boat all the way north on Lake Malawi, from Monkey Bay to Chilumba. As I was riding my bike the 2 km from my lodge to the boat ramp on Friday morning, I came across the same cool-kat guy who'd been following me around last night. He was standing under a tree, talking with a white backpacker-looking-woman. He saw me first and said, "Hi!"
This morning, I wasn't afraid of him anymore because it was broad daylight, lots of people around, and I was about to get on the boat and leave Monkey Bay. I thought to myself, "Oh, I see you've found a new victim." I didn't say it, but should have. I just said, "Hi," and kept on going.
The next 3 days were lovely. Just relaxing on the boat, talking with fellow passengers and crew, reading. I stayed in one of the few cabins on the boat, which was really nice. Frankly, if I'd had a sleeping bag, I would have been perfectly happy sleeping on the upper deck floor, like others did, but I didn't have a sleeping bag, so the cabin was nice. No comparison between this cabin and the one we had with the TDA group as we crossed from Egypt to Sudan, by the way! The cabins on that boat had been ... ugh! The cabins on Malawi's Ilala boat were quite nice and clean.
I took quite a few pictures while on my boat voyage so I'll show a few of them here.
#1 is a view of Mozambique 
when we stopped at one of the 2 Mozambiquan ports.
when we stopped at one of the 2 Mozambiquan ports.#2 is a picture of our fine boat, the Ilala, taken when 
I got off at Likoma Island for a couple of hours. Likoma Island is one of the busiest and longest stops for the boat because this boat is one of the main sources of transport for people and goods going to/from the island.
I got off at Likoma Island for a couple of hours. Likoma Island is one of the busiest and longest stops for the boat because this boat is one of the main sources of transport for people and goods going to/from the island.#3 is a picture of Ruarwe, with a curious local 
paddling out in his canoe to see us better. Ruarwe is a small lakeside village that can only be reached by boat or footpath. No roads go to Ruarwe.
paddling out in his canoe to see us better. Ruarwe is a small lakeside village that can only be reached by boat or footpath. No roads go to Ruarwe.#4 is a picture of Moses, an engineer whom I 
made friends with on the boat. Nice fellow, we had some good laughs, and a long discussion one afternoon over whether drinking alcohol was "moral". He thought not, but that's o.k. In the background behind Moses is the port of Nkhata Bay.
made friends with on the boat. Nice fellow, we had some good laughs, and a long discussion one afternoon over whether drinking alcohol was "moral". He thought not, but that's o.k. In the background behind Moses is the port of Nkhata Bay.#5 is a picture of Arthur, with the Malawian flag waving in the background. Arthur was another nice crew member. 
When we arrived in Chilumba, after 3 days at sail, Arthur got off the boat with me and had a drink or two, before going back to duty and getting ready for the return trip (south back to Monkey Bay).
When we arrived in Chilumba, after 3 days at sail, Arthur got off the boat with me and had a drink or two, before going back to duty and getting ready for the return trip (south back to Monkey Bay).
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