I enjoyed a nice "lay in" till half 7 before the birds ruined any chance of an actual lay in. After that i had what the lodge manager claims, "best shower in Lilongwe" (can't say no to be fair but actually having shampoo would've been a nice touch) and then I was all set for a yet another fun day off.
I had a to-do list as there were a few things I needed to buy before Zambia and finding a way to Skype home was vital considering it was my Mother's and my Niece's birthdays tomorrow. Don't know how old my mum is (age doesn't matter, first number begins with a 5) but my niece is 1 and skyping home was essential otherwise it would be at least another 5 days till I got any sort of Internet again.
Other things on my list were buy Nigel some oil, get dollars for Zambian visa and use fancy hotel facilities. I started my day with a walk around the white areas of Lilongwe, I could hear a lot of South African accents which was a good sign I thought. I ticked off dollars and oil with no problems at all and had a fancy breakfast at the second place I found. The first place said its opening hours were half 7 but it was 9 o'clock and the chairs were still on the tables. Only in Africa I thought, there was no major issue with electricity or water or any sort of public apology notice, the guy just said, "yeah, we are a bit behind time this morning"
After my breakfast I headed straight for the fancy hotel for some time by the pool. I walked in like a pro, past the security etc and out into the pool area but must've left my tact at the door. I had come prepared with battery pack for the phone and bottles of water as I knew the hotel prices would be extortionate, and I proceeded to set up camp on a sun lounger by the pool. Sun was out, top was off but as my focus was intent on acting like a seasoned regular to the Crossroads Hotel, Lilongwe, I failed to recognise until I had sat down that everyone was still eating breakfast and I was sat on the only sun lounger within a 20m radius of the pool area.
Thanks to Beirdre, I hardly fly under the radar anyway but to say I attracted a large amount of attention from the staff, business groups and hotel residents has got to be the understatement of the year. I gave myself 3 minutes before I was escorted to the door but instead I was approached many times with "hellos." One waiter tried to recommend that I had some breakfast first before putting everybody off theirs with my Zebra like tan lines, however I declined (I had just eaten) he then tried to charge me for using the pool, "it's ok, i don't fancy swimming just yet, but I will have a fanta thankyou" I'm not the sort of guy to enter a fancy Hotel and not give anything! I managed to get an Internet card that worked in random hotspots around the town so that was tonight's Skype sorted and that was the list complete!!
I had nothing left to do but relax and it was still only 10 o'clock. I stayed at the hotel till lunch time. It wasn't that sunny and I kept getting interrupted by the severe amounts of staff walking past me and asking me if I was alright. There was nobody else to ask and I thought to myself that i might of been hassled less back on the bike. I could see some staff in a doorway just standing and looking at me, probably waiting for the topless Moses to part the swimming pool or something!
I had a chilled walked around some shops then had lunch. There really wasn't much to do so I headed back towards my tent and a restaurant that i had eyed up previously for dinner. En route I stopped for a few hours at fancy hotel number 2. Again, nobody by their pool but I just sat at a table and used the Internet this time.
When I get to Zambia I have 4 days where my plan says I will be camping in the bush. This just means my map isn't detailed enough to show the small towns that there will be but I decided to buy some rations anyway. I got the usual packets of noodles and soup which will save me like they have done in the past, in times of expensive restaurants or no restaurants at all.
After dinner, I headed back for a good Skype session with the family. It was a day that went completely according to plan. I can only hope that this continues for the foreseeable future, next stop...Zambia!!
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