Chipata

Chipata is the first town that pops up if you cross over from Malawi. Rather undeveloped with the exception of South African supermarkets and international banks Chipata is cruising into the 21st century.
The banks only accept Visa, which made it necessary for my mother to send some money via Western Union. This whole process took virtually a day, which can feel endless in the dullness of the country side.
I slept at the bus station which was always bustling and each guy that walked into the bus station and slightly looked like he´s there to take a bus was virtually attacked by about 15 competing bus company employees. It was funny to watch because they were mocking each other, yelling and fighting. Each passenger was completely upset after finally siting down in the coach.
There are some volunteers in this region, mostly from the Peace Chor. They sometimes come down from their villages to enjoy the cosmopolitan groove of Chipata. Otherwise there is not much happening.
I wanted to go to South Luangwa National Park which is only possible by minibus. And of course they only leave if they are full. So the drunk guy in charge of getting the bus full was telling me the night before to be there "8 o´clock sharp". Because I am Swiss I showed up 7.30. Of course there was nobody around and I had to wait 7 hours until the minibus started to move. The road up to Mfuwe is bad and took for ever. I was squeezed in the back of the minibus between well fed Lady's with my backpack on my lap and pot holes shaking the whole circus.
The villages on the road side are very small and very African. People live in poverty and are struggling to survive. "Economical suicide" is a big topic in this area.