The Ferry | Malawi | Digital Download Photo

The clock says 15:50 PM. The old Scottish vessels appears on the horizon. The whole village seems to gather on the beach, for what seems to be the weekly highlight. Women are balancing things on top of their head, whilst carrying babies in their arms. Young men, some still boys, quickly dust off their banana boats which they have carved from a tree trunk. Some are headed out to the ferry to sell snacks. Others are offering white muzungus like me their V.I.P personal transport service out to the ferry. I decide to pass on their offer, partly because of my ego refusing to be that stupid tourist and partly, because I just want to stand here and take in this spectacle.

From the ferry itself, the official ferry shuttle service is arriving. It is a sight to behold. Two ferry employees are rowing a small wooden boat onto the shore. The little boat is sitting only inches above the water, it is packed to the brim with everything from fresh produce & fishing equipment to generators and basic farming equipment. I think to myself thank God it is calm afternoon today. As soon as the two ferry employees make it near the shore line, the first villagers are already out near the boat helping them offload it. They seem excited to see what sort produce are coming to their village today.

A young boy desperately tries to sell me some fried dough and a Coca-Cola. I have always been amazed at Coca-Cola's ability to reach every corner of the world. I tell the boy "no thanks" as give him some pocket money. I respect the hustle.

It is now my turn to board the shuttle boat. Once again they overpack the boat with shipments and passengers, such that the little 5-7 meter long boat is only just sitting about 5-10 cm above the water line. I do my best to keep my backpack dry.

As we reach the ferry it dawns upon me, we are going to have to climb a rope ladder to board the ferry. I look to my side at an older local couple, they don't seem nearly as worried as me, so I relax. I grab the rope ladder with my hands and pull myself up. As the little shuttle boat disappears from underneath my feet, all I can think is: do not make fool of yourself Sebastian, do not fall into the water! As I make it up on deck I make my way to the top floor of the ferry. I instantly catch the eye of a local white guy, he smiles and waves me over, I see that he is drinking beers, so I approach as my mouth runs in water. All I want at this moment is to share a beer and have chat, just like down the pub back home. I shake his hand and present myself, he says "Take a seat boy and have a beer". The man turns out to be a Dutch man living in Malawi running some kind of game lodge somewhere else in the country.

This photograph is taken in Ruarwe Village on the shores of Lake Malawi.

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