Crossing Borders: From Mozambique to Malawi’s Tranquil Shores
I’ve often pondered the stark contrasts we encounter in life-like when flying over a warzone. Down below, lives are being torn apart-people are fighting, fleeing, or facing unimaginable suffering. Yet, up in the sky, I’d be sitting comfortably, sipping a beer, a few thousand feet from the chaos, as if to be in a different world entirely. The disparity between my experience and theirs never failed to baffle me. why am I here, on this side? and they there on that side?
A similar feeling washed over me when I crossed from Mozambique into Malawi, finally arriving at Monkey Bay. After enduring the rough, dusty roads of Mozambique and witnessing the displacement and hardship faced by so many, stepping into Monkey Bay felt like entering another reality-a tropical escape with white sandy beaches, friendly service, and an atmosphere so relaxed it was almost disorienting. I’d been warned not to come to Monkey Bay, told it wasn’t worth the stop because theres nothing to do, but something about the place intrigued me. So, I decided to see for myself.
To my surprise, Monkey Bay was incredibly safe, and it didn’t take long for its charm to work on me. As I gazed out over Lake Malawi, I could see Mozambique in the distance. I knew all too well what lay on the other side of the lake-those same horrendous, dusty roads, the people displaced by conflict, the stark reality of life there. Yet, here I was, surrounded by the soothing sounds of tropical music, enjoying the comforts of bar service, TV, and a setting that felt more Caribbean than African. but. my informant was right. there wasn’t much to do and so i didn’t unpack and moved on the next day back on to the MV Illah
These kinds of contrasts aren’t just about crossing international borders. We see them every day, everywhere. In cities, a homeless person asks for spare change at a petrol station while luxury cars glide by loaded with £100 of fuel. On a crowded train, corporate professionals, who often have their fares covered by work, sit beside working-class individuals who spend a significant portion of their wages just to get to their jobs. The differences between lives that are worlds apart can be stark and jarring, yet they often coexist within the same space, separated by an invisible border. writing this i am reminded of one of my favourite films Crash
The contrast in Monkey Bay was just as surreal. How could two places, so geographically close, feel like different worlds? The disparity between the chaos across the lake and the tranquility here was jarring. It was a reminder of the complex and often harsh realities of life in this part of the world-how peace and turmoil can exist side by side, separated by nothing more than a body of water.
In Monkey Bay, it was easy to forget the troubles just a few miles away. But that view across the lake, toward Mozambique, served as a stark reminder. It made me appreciate the safety and serenity of Monkey Bay all the more, even as it left me pondering the strange juxtaposition of my peaceful experience with the turmoil just beyond the horizon.
