Agodi Gardens, Mapo Hall Bower’s Tower, The University of Ibadan Zoo and Ado Awaye Mountain were the major places I had planned to explore when I traveled to Ibadan. While I achieved my aim with the first three, I failed at the fourth because of my crazy assumption of thinking since Ibadan and Ado Awaye are both inside Oyo state, it’d be easier for me to travel between the two destinations.



This turned out to be the craziest assumption I made in 2017.

The plan had been to either take a bus or a cab from Round-about on my way back from Bower’s tower in Ibadan. This was based on the assumption that one of them would be loading for Ado-Awaye. Unfortunately, everyone I approached seemed not to know anywhere with that name. Not even the bike men

It dawned on me then that all what I had read about Ibadan being the largest city in West Africa in terms of land mass were not false.

So I gave up on my plans but didn’t back, hence promising myself I was going to do a solo return before the year runs away.

I didn’t fail myself.

How did I get the fund?

It was self-funded. As soon as I could, I started saving up every hundred and thousand which came my way. I put the word out to my community so they could send in their prayers and well wishes. Then I started counting down to the day as the nights became longer.

The day finally came, and I can honestly say that I had a miserable journey. My trip ended up going beyond one day. Though, it ended up being worth it.

Preparation
Waking up at 8am on Saturday, the 2nd of December 2017 was on hindsight a very bad mistake, but since I didn’t know that then, I went on with my day. I rushed to have my bath; dressed up, unplugged my phone whose battery was still less than 50%; raced to a nearby barber to get a better haircut; then took advantage of an innocent Keke (tricycle). This took me to Sabo (Lagos) where a bus was on standby to accommodate just one more passenger before leaving for Ojota.

I was very happy because I thought I was very lucky. My happiness disappeared though when I realised that the time was already several minutes past 11am. I started trying to calculate just how long the journey was going to take; if I was going to return the same day as I had promised; and if I couldn’t return, how I would get extra cash since I was on a budget.

These were the questions running through my mind as I wandered around Ojota garage looking out for the next bus/car going to Oyo state. But no one was there to tell me I was on a long thing. Kudos to the driver though, he did well in terms of safe driving but did fairly well with acceleration.

I got to Oyo around 3:30 pm (Yes! I spent close to 2 hours waiting for the car to get filled) and after asking a cab driver how to get to Ado Awaye, he told me I had to get to Owode. From there I could take a bus to Iseyin, drop at Oja Agbe, before taking another to Ado Awaye.


Owode


My muscles immediately became feeble. I also suddenly remembered I hadn’t eaten.

“Who even send you message?” asked another voice from nowhere.

I was in a dilemma. Going further into the journey was going to be futile, and trying to go back home would be more brutal. So, I continued with little joy while I munched on a roll of Gala which I guess might have been close to its expiration date.


On transit to Ado Awaye

By the time I got to Ado Awaye, it was almost 7pm. I had just one option left then because there wasn’t even a guest house or a hotel anywhere in sight.

My only option was to look for the King’s palace and sleep there.

I soon decided against that when I heard a lady beside me say she was waiting for a cab going to Abeokuta. That was when I realised that Abeokuta was close by.
Thank goodness, I thought. I could pass the night at Dare’s place.


This was me right in front of the magnificent beast, but the time was 6:32pm. It’d make no sense hiking by this time. The next option was to locate the king’s palace to pass the night but I ditched that thought immediately as I heard a woman mentioned that Abeokuta isn’t too far away. So I headed to Dare’s place. Remember Dare? My very first host.


LOCATING THE SUSPENDED LAKE

On getting to Dare’s pace, I swore never to return to Ado Awaye again because that would mean spending way outside my budget which was very risky. But then, how could I suffer in vain? Going through all the trauma and returning home with nothing.

No! I decided I couldn’t go back empty-handed. A lot of people needed feedback about this trip.

So the next day, I washed my body and wore my polo and shorts again and this time around, I set out earlier. Off I went to Lafenwa, from where I boarded a cab destined for Igbo-Ora. There I joined another cab which took me to Ado Awaye.


It’s a Sunday but traders still went ahead with their thing.


Mud houses in Ado Awaye

All these happened within 3 hours. I was so happy that my energy levels soared and I barely remembered the pains of the previous day.




So the thing is, almost everyone in Ado Awaye is a tour guide. they can easily Identify a stranger and the reason behind visiting. Here’s Akande- on discovering I was coming to him after alighting from the cab, He asked if I wanted to see the mountain and I answered yes. He requested I paid #600 but I insisted on parting with #400 and he let out a mild grin after i promised I’d teach him how to take pictures with my camera.










Whenever there is sever drought in the land, the chief priest of the mountain will visit the mountain and wrap a white cloth around the ‘waist’ of Ishage rock; an action which will make rain fall heavily upon the land that night and the Ishage Rock will drop off the white cloth after the downpour.


A tale that has been repeatedly told to every tourist who’s hiked the Ado Awaye suspended lake is that these holes scattered all over the mountain are “Ese Awon Agba” meaning “footprints of the Elders”. I don’t think this is true. These holes must have been as a result of consistent grinding activities by the early settlers. since there were neither blenders nor grinding stones as at these periods.


The popular belief which I guess must be myth is that this lake is bottomless. Folklore even had it that whoever attempts to swim inside it will never be found again. Villagers however drink from it, professing it spirituality in terms of healing the sick and cleansing the filthy.


A view from the sky.






Tips on Hiking the Ado Awaye Suspended lake
- Leave home very early (esp. when you wouldn’t be going with a private car).
- Speak Yoruba (or go alongside someone who’s fluent). Majority of the locals are Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani.
- Haggle for everything with a Naira value.
- Carry water along. A lot of it.
- Hike light. carry only items you’d need. e.g camera water etc. as carry more than necessary items will get you tired easily.
- You should learn endurance as that’s the only skill required to get to the top.






sourced from:
http://www.nomadicnegro.com/ado-awaye-suspended-lake/

Two things were apparent as at 10am 17th December, we were either going to remain indoor or outside of it.

None of us would go to Church, at least, if put together, our combined attendance will be up to 30, with majority of the attendance (25) done by Dami with the rest of us sharing the remainder.

The summation was clear, we needed to have fun and the beach seemed to be topping the list of all preferred destination.

Without wasting much time, we came up with lists of possible bitches beaches based on just 2 criteria:

Accessibility
Affordability


Preparation For the Trip
Since we also wanted something a bit different from what we’re used to, Dami suggested Marwa Beach. His reasons? They don’t charge for entry. We thought that was a good idea, so we locked up our minds, Agreed on a budget of #30,000, smuggled ourselves into different Shorts, Shirts and Slips while an order for Taxify was simultaneously made. A quick stop at the ATM and a drinks store was also necessary as there’s a need to retrieve some cash and liquor for such an operation.




Getting to the Island.
The only thing we couldn’t do on getting to the said Maruwa beach was to combine efforts into lynching Dami.

The place would pass for a spiritual lab than a fun hub. It would have been perfect if one or all of us had come for spiritual cleansing. A quick snapshot revealed worshipers littered at different spots on the beach adorned in different colours ranging from red to purple and were supposedly praising God. Their caps going at alternate directions each time they rigorously shake their head to say a prayer point. “God must have been a lover of colours for people to have come all out with such collection to clad themselves”, I thought.

At other spots were more worshipers armed with local soap and sponge, washing their bodies while reciting some words I’m somewhat familiar with.

All in the name of free entry?!” Like it was planned, we gave Dami a collective scornful look for such atrocity. Our driver turned as we made our way out in search for somewhere better.

We must have fun. And It has to be by a beach.

A Cold Shoulder At Lekki Leisure Lake
Our anger quadrupled at Lekki Leisure lake as we weren’t allowed to go in with neither our drinks nor camera (but camera phones are allowed..smh). It was even too expensive for an off-peak period.




Ok we are cool with that but will you at least help secure this camera?

Manager said no and the body language wasn’t welcoming. Nigeria still has a long distance to complete in terms of customer service.


After all the back and forth, There was just an option left. Elegushi beach!!! The golden boy among beaches! The over-mentioned dude who springs varying surprises every time you make a trip to him. Musicians have done their bit in making it stick and we’ve come to agree it’s the best even though there are better ones.



Elegushi beach!
Only a few do not know this beach is owned by the Elegushi royal family in Lekki, Lagos state. Though two post-graduate students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) got drowned sometime in June Last Year, it did little in deterring us from asking the wind to take charge of our caution. only a few will kuku remember us should we die without doing remarkable things.

Since our Taxify had left, we figured it’d be a wasteful move to hail another, so we jumped into an approaching Maruwa who agreed to take us all to our destination for a fee of #700.

It was after driving for close to twenty minutes that the Aboki discovered we weren’t going to Bar beach but Elegushi beach. He got mad, but were we to blame ourselves for his ear defect? We acted considerate by adding 300 bucks to round it all up top #1,000. It’s needless to say that he was overjoyed.

On getting to Elegushi beach
It was an unwritten rule, haggle your way in OR pay through your nose at the entrance. In our own case, we opted for the former, especially when alcohol was swimming in our bloodstreams.

We ended up paying #2,500 for the 4 of us.


Kunle’s goal was to ride on a horse like a Dothraki warrior.

All Dami wanted was to play with water like a baby.

Noble needed to just chill and feel the atmosphere.

I had just 1 aim: capture the moments from start to finish and maybe watch beautiful girls in bikinis (If they revealed tits or butts, it’d make the fun more filled).

Fair right?

But how did it go?


Kunle was the first to achieve his goal.


You can’t truly understand this feeling if you’ve never had a cold shower in the sun as a kid.


Trust me, people who enjoy the most are those who watch others have fun.


2 to 1 plate of full chicken and chips. We later discovered we were outsmart because the real cost for a full chicken and chips was #3,500 but the thugs who presented themselves as the sellers had printed a fake menu list and we fell sheepishly.

Home came calling so we had to call a Taxify around 4pm so as to escape the horrors of Island traffic jam. Christmas is close and Olic4 was also happening.

EVERY TIME I STAND BEFORE A BEAUTIFUL BEACH, ITS WAVES SEEM TO WHISPER TO ME: IF YOU CHOOSE THE SIMPLE THINGS AND FIND JOY IN NATURE’S SIMPLE TREASURES, LIFE AND LIVING NEED NOT BE SO HARD.

PSYCHE ROXAS-MENDOZA

Things To Do At Elegushi Beach

1. Watch people have fun


2. Stroll along the shore


3. Take pictures


4. Eat asun


5. Ride horse


6. Appreciate art


Tips On Going To Elegushi Beach
Try not to go alone to the beach: go instead with your squad and don’t stay away from them.

Haggle till you are abused: we learned our lessons the bitter way.

Dress as simple as possible: allow the goddess of the beach see through you.

Hold cash instead of cards: there are no ATMs there

Be careful of the thugs: most times they are more focused.

Try not to spend beyond the time budgeted: trekking home is no child’s play, neither is begging for money.

AT THE BEACH, LIFE IS DIFFERENT. TIME DOESN’T MOVE HOUR TO HOUR BUT MOOD TO MOMENT. WE LIVE BY THE CURRENTS, PLAN BY THE TIDES AND FOLLOW THE SUN.

SANDY GINGRAS

Nomadicnegro.com is where this piece got stolen from

cc; lalasticlala,
cc: Mynd44,
cc: Ddominique,
cc: Obinoscopy,
cc: MissyB3

Here's How My 5months Old Blog Got Approved By Ad Sense With Just 12 Posts.

https://www.nairaland.com/3517281/how-5months-old-blog-got

So I was researching on how to make my blog more outstanding (such that it'd rank well on searches and also resonate well with my audience) when I stumbled upon Neil Patel's online analyzer.
NB: Neil is arguable one of the most consistent bloggers alive.

This analyzer unlike many others will not just tell you what the problems of your blog/website are, it'd also proffer solutions and steps you can take to make things better.

All you need is input your address.

Here is the link: https://neilpatel.com/seo-analyzer/

I own www.nomadicnegro.com

seunny4lif:
Ibadan

Been there?

Afam4eva:

I used to follow your website but lost contact. I think you may consider capturing your trip on video in the future.

Valid point bro. I'm currently learning how to do that.

Thanks for the tip. I don't want you to lose contact again, hence i'd advise you subscribe freely on the blog so you can get my travel updates as soon as I return from every journey.

Afam4eva:
No be this guy been go Owerri early this year?

Lol
Afam, You aren't far from the truth.

My Story which started here: http://www.nomadicnegro.com/lagos-to-ibadan/ is continued and concluded here.

The first point of contact on arriving at Agodi gardens was the gate man who directed me to the main entrance where entry tickets were sold. I’m not sure if baba was trained on customer service but I was impressed at how organized the whole process went. Visitors were offered multiple options of either cash payment or via a POS machine. And like most tourist attractions in the country, #500 was the entrance fee here too.

While a group of guys took full advantage of the neatly trimmed lawn to play a 4-a-side football, another group comprising just ladies got together to celebrate a birthday in an amazing fashion. I wished I could join them but my liver failed me.







The flesh was willing to remain within the 150 acres garden but my spirit yearned to see more of Ibadan before the day runs out. So I hopped on another bike heading destined for round-about as this will enable me join a cab or a tricycle which will take me to Bodija where I was told I can get nice Amala for lunch.

The Cocoa House

After traveling for close to 6 minutes, I saw the legendary Cocoa building and immediately commanded my biker to stop, sorting him with a rough #100 note. A Shoprite was located within the same facility but I doubted it’s still in operation, so i placed better focus on the skyscraper.


I strolled into the reception where I met a woman whom I’m sure was the receptionist to ask if I can go up the building. but she told me I can’t because it’s not a work day, as she would have wanted me to see the museum located in the penthouse, from where I can have a fantastic view of the city.

I could still remember few facts about the historic building as I reached for my phone to take some shots.

*THE 26-STOREY BUILDING LOCATED IN DUGBE WAS COMPLETED IN 1965, 5 YEARS AFTER NIGERIA’S INDEPENDENCE.

*IT WAS BUILT FROM COCOA PROCEEDINGS AS THE COUNTRY EARNED SO MUCH FROM THE CROP AT THAT TIME.

*THE BUILDING IS THE FIRST SKY SCRAPER IN NIGERIA AND WAS ONCE THE TALLEST IN AFRICA.

*IT GOT BURNT IN 1985 BUT RENOVATED IN 1992.



“Egbon E jor, e gbe mi lo sibi ti mo ti le ri amala gidi je ni Bodija.” I hinted the bike man how badly I needed a good Amala for lunch, hitting the passengers’ seat in the process with my palm. “Ha dandan ko no ko lo si Bodija.” He advised, insisting there’s somewhere around the corner where they sell doper Amala aside Bodija, so I obliged but threatened jokingly not to pay him if I get disappointed. He in turn smiled confidently as the bike tyres propelled us downward a sloppy streets of Dugbe. That was all I needed.

On getting to the restaurant, he told me to go in and eat while he’d wait outside to hear the result.




To say the least, I’ve never eaten such a sumptuous meal in a while. I scooped hurriedly the content of the stainless plate, defying the hotness of both soup and fish. I was almost stepping out before discovering water should be drank during/after a meal.

A grin was all I needed to pass a satisfactory message to my partner who returned the same gesture. He volunteered to take me around from the famous Bower’s Tower to Oke Mapo and back to my hotel in ring road. I promised to give him #1,000 and he happily kicked his bike to life directing the front tyre towards Oke Sapati.

We Soon Got To Bower’s Tower

He warned me to hold him tight while he replicated same to his bike as the three of us ascended the hills of Oke-sapati. Our funny ascension reminded me of the biblical Elijah and his Chariot, only that there was no fire. While at it, I wondered how the engineers who constructed the road managed to get their heavy machines to execute such a daunting task. Torrents of horrible thoughts ran through my head but I rebuked them all with the blood of Jesus.

We finally got to the topmost part of the hill where houses with funny postures stared at us. I needed no help in telling we’ve gotten to the destination so I asked him what the place was originally built for. He made me understand that it was in its prime an amusement park where people come to relax but met its doom after falling out of love with the government.

“Can I sha see all the brown roof if I make it to the top of the Tower?” I cut in. He replied yes, so I told him to wait while I approached the only man within the building who was obviously the one in charge.

Read My Dangerous Trip To The Unpopular Fall In The Wilderness

After few lines of salutation, Baba made me understand that the tower was built in memory of CAPTAIN ROSS L.BOWER, the first resident and travelling commissioner of Interior Yoruba land. This was after I had injected #200 inside his feeble palm. This was the required compulsory fee to be paid before gaining entrance to the tower itself.



According to a report on The Nation’s newspaper, one could see at a glance the four corners of Ibadan metropolis from the top of the Tower. It gives a panoramic view of all the important places in the ancient city. One can see a bird’s eye view of Gate, the University College Hospital (UCH), University of Ibadan, Adebayo, Cocoa House, Dugbe Market , Agodi Gardens, Iwo Road, Ife Road, Olorunsogo and the defunct Lagos /Ibadan Toll Gate. Other far-flung places like Adamasingba, Felele, and many more become visible. Some of these places are far flung but standing atop the tower gives one a precise picturesque of them.

A view from the topmost point inside BOWER’S TOWER

Can you spot the Cocoa house?

My muscles (esp. those in my laps) ached badly while I descended the tower so I instructed my biker to take me straight to the hotel. I needed a sound sleep. They kuku said something about he who fights to run.

On our way back, he pointed to me a bungalow with unattractive paint as the building where Galaxy television is located. It became clear to me why the TV station churns out poor quality works.

We also passed by Mapo hall where he asked if I’d be willing to see but I declined. the pains were unbearable. But like an unrepentant masochist, I was somehow enjoying it.

Mapo Hall is the colonial style city hall, perched on top of Mapo Hill, in Ibadan, Mapo Hall was commissioned during the colonial era by Captain Ross in 1929. Just like the Centenary hall in Ake (Abeokuta), Inside the hall are pictures of all the past Olubadan (Kings) that reigned till date.

This time I took my bath on getting back to the hotel because I wasn’t ready to go outside again for the day since we’d be returning to Lagos the next morning.



Back To Lagos

Night came like there was emergency and before I could ask what was going on, morning had crept in too in its usual regalia. It was a smooth sail as we checked out around 10 am that Sunday, boarded a bike to Challenge where we waited for 2 other passengers to join in before the driver zoomed off to Lagos.


Amazing sisters at the park who parted with a #500 bill after completing Dami’s challenge of reciting 1-10

Lagos is synonymous to that irresponsible boyfriend who you can’t stop going back to after each maltreatment.

I did a mental permutation of my next trip and concluded after few minutes it has to be the suspended lake in Ado Awaye, Oyo State.


When was the last time you visited Ibadan? Please share your experience in the comment section so I can learn a thing or two from you too!

Have you visited Ibadan before now? what was your experience like?
I record all my adventures on www.nomadicnegro.com

If you can't do the following, stay away from blogging for now:

1. Read
2. Save enough money to get a domain and hosting
3. Learn few tricks in html.
4. Build good relationships
5. Be patient.

Lastking147:
Damn so much love Art stuvz
Op please give more infoI'd love to visit this place

Ask about whatever you'd like to know and I'd be glad to provide answer(s).

We had a quick stop while returning from Erin Ijesha at the famous Nike Art gallery Osogbo. The major intent was to confirm if It actually matched the hype around it.

Needful to say is the fact that We didn’t stay long there as the place wasn’t really conducive for visitors as it was obvious the gallery lacked care.

For you to have a clearer picture, here are 4 quick things you need to know about the Nike Art gallery Osogbo branch.

The Location Is easily Accessible

This branch of Nike Art gallery is located by the road side at Dada Estate area Osogbo, Osun state in a one storey building where all the art pieces which adorned the gate and the building itself are enough to tell you what the quiet house is about.

It Costs Little Or Nothing To See The Gallery

We paid #100 each to the attendant on duty to gain access into the gallery. If we were to go by the uncoordinated setting of the gallery, we shouldn’t have paid anything.




The Interior Can Be Improved

The first spot every visitor will get to see like we did is a large reception area where a lot of beautifully carved art pieces defaced a large rectangular table, making it even more appealing. There are about 3 rooms on the left where different collection of artworks are displayed. We admired every of the works (but briskly) before proceeding to the staircase which leads upstairs where another set of rooms accommodating several other collections are kept.




The Gallery Is Begging To See More Visitors

There are really good works of art in this branch of Nike Art Gallery but the gallery is thriving way below its capability probably due to the very poor attitude of Nigerians towards tourism and Arts.




I might be wrong with my descriptions though. If you’ve been here before, kindly share your experience or add to what I have submitted up here.

Source: www.nomadicnegro.com

From whom do I make my findings about my proposed trip to Cotonou?

I noticed her, related with her on few occasions and requested that she be featured on the blog. She not only sent in her draft earlier than agreed, she ensured every needed picture was well understood.

For a mother of one who’d stop at nothing in getting happiness through wandering, Uwonano is sure leading a life which still is a dream to many.

Here is a conversational report on her trip to Cotonou.

Getting into Cotonou

I’ve heard tons of story about crossing the Seme border from different people at varying times. While some narrate how tedious a task it is crossing the dreaded border, others recounted their sweet experience crossing this notorious demarcation. Uwonano is one of such.

Hear her.

“It wasn’t my first time of traveling to Benin Republic so I had learned a lot from my previous outings. 7am was the exact time I set out with my son (who happens to be my only trusted travel partner). We took a shared cab from mile 2 straight to Seme border where unlike many travelers, we didn’t pay a dime for crossing the border because my son got on the right side of the border officials.


Aux Martyrs Du Dimanche: The monument stands as a memorial to the victims of the coup d’état that Bob Denard and his mercenaries tried in 1977. The monument features three statues of soldiers with weapons in their hands and a flag behind them.



Welcome!

With disappointment well spelt on my face, we changed our cash immediately on crossing the border. Things have really gone bad for our dear Naira (our 1,000 is now worth just 1,500CFA). I had to stop brooding, my son mustn’t detect my state of mind since I told him we would be off to have fun.

On Getting to Cotonou

The shared cab we boarded from the border charged us 1000cfa each for taking us into Cotonou.

Brief fact about Cotonou
Aside being the country’s largest city, Cotonou is where the Benin Republic’s only seaport and international airport is. This is why it’s more popular than even the capital (Port novo)?

We again took another cab which showed us around Cotonou. As travelers, this is one of the most important things to do.
While I instructed the driver to take us to some places, he suggested others, and we ended up seeing few churches, a mosque, plazas and even culture centres.






Arts and Culture Centre


Arts and Culture Centre


Chinese culture centre


After the sightseeing, we took another shared cab to Ouidah (@ 1300cfa each), a journey which took about an hour.
On getting to Ouidah, we took a bike (1000cfa) straight to Casa del papa (one of the most popular resorts in the country).

Here’s a short one on Ouidah:

Ouidah was once a prosperous kingdom located on the Slave Coast of West Africa in what is now Benin. It rose to prominence as an exporter of slaves in the late 17th century and flourished for about sixty years before falling to the inland kingdom of Dahomey in 1727.


Casa del papa
They have a beautiful pool, a lake and kayaking is also available.




Front view of Uwomano’s room (facing the beach directly)


The cheapest rooms were about 35,000cfa but we opted for the one of 45,000cfa. It was a beautiful room which enabled us have a good view of the beach.


The next day, we went to the point of no return and Memorial Du Grand Jubile de I’an 2000).


point of no return.


Memorial Du Grand Jubilee De Lan 2000

Communication problem as travelers

Majority of the citizens speak Yoruba and a few speak English too, so this made communication easier for me even though the country is of a french colony.

“I WOULD RATHER OWN A LITTLE AND SEE THE WORLD, THAN OWN THE WORLD AND SEE A LITTLE OF IT.”

Traveling tips for those intending to Travel to Cotonou

– Travel very light. Don’t take along anything you wouldn’t be needing.
– Always be you.
– Traveling is very expensive now especially for Nigerians, so save as much as you can as that’s my secret+my husband usually helps too.
– Be happy and responsible.
– Always have your passport or Id card with you to avoid stories that touch.
– Lastly, to save cost, do more of street food, take public transport because this is one of the easiest ways for you to know the locals well and feel their culture first hand.



Uwomano’s budget for the trip was #120,000 and her infinix zero3 took care of the pictures.

Her Instagram handle contains loads of amazing pictures. Please it out via @uwomano

Please don’t forget to vote for my Blog at the 2017 travel blog awards.

Follow me on twitter and Instagram for witty and relevant updates @nomadic_negro

Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog too, as I usually send fresh posts firstly to subscribers before every other group.

there are loads of amazing adventures on the blog @ www.nomadicnegro.com

Bibi294:
done

Hi Bibi, I'd be in Ekiti this weekend to do a 48 hour tour within the state. I look forward to meeting you.

sayo147:

That aside, thing is I need something like what's in the picture below .

Oh, I only deal in the printing aspect of packaging

sayo147:
So you went for the propak conference, does that mean you make packaging stuff?

I'm a print broker whenever i'm not traveling.

chizzy161:
How much were you paid for advert.

I wasn't paid ma'am.
I write reviews and report travel adventures on my blog

My heart raced like it hadn’t done in months, I could feel the pain with every beat, exactly like that of a timid Lagos ‘danfo’ driver racing on one way.

“Why would Evelyn agree to such crazy suggestion?” “How do I tell the team I haven’t been to this kind of place before? ”“Or Should I tell them I’m not hungry?” “’lemme kuku’ go and use the opportunity to see what the place looks like. At least, I’d brag to Aisha that I ate in Spur restaurant.”

It was a team of 5 and we had come for the sophomore edition of the PROPAK WEST AFRICA CONFERENCE staged at the famous Landmark center VI, but unlike many other events, no food was served, hence the intensity of the hunger.




The Ambiance

Since PWC (the building where Spur restaurant is located) isn’t far from the venue, we soon settled at a table of 6 inside the restaurant which looked more like an amusement park than a house of food.





The service

I was already enjoying the vibe until she came. Fausat should be in her late 20s, her chocolate skin agreed well with the make up she wore, a collaboration which made her attractive even though her cap wasn’t too convenient sitting on her head.

…then my woes began

The first she attended to was My boss and since he was still busy with his phone, He requested for just water with lime.Then she faced me. I should have also requested for the same thing so I can at least observe how others will place theirs if I had known life will be this miserable, but since I didn’t want to fall hands, I decided to risk the ridicule. After all I’ve read well the menu book and she cant be so wicked that she’d ask questions outside the book.

I was also at Cafe Neo Ikoyi. Read my review

Then she started:
She: Hello sir
Me: hi (inaudibly)

She:what would you like to have?
Me: What do you have?

She: ok, we have bla bla bla
Me: * chose all second options (the same thing I did during my post utme in unilag that got me into the merit list…kill yourself)

She: how about drink? What is your preference?
Me: what do you have?

She: water, milk shake, bla bla bla
Me: milk shake

She: strawberry, chocolate, blah bla bla
Me: *already getting frustrated* chocolate

And just when I though food and drink were all I needed to deal with, she came again but let me pause here to talk about the food.

The food

After everything, I quietly pulled Tope closer to ask him If I hadn’t selected the wrong options and he smiled before telling me no, that all I had requested was jollof rice+Chicken with Salad.




“So upon all those questions, all they’d bring?” I said with a disappointed face.

I was still dejected when I overheard Fausat mentioned while taking Chi Chi’s order that if she opts for the day’s special (which was steak), she’d be entitled to a plate of waffle topped with ice-cream. “Perfect!” I shouted within me and hurriedly told her to add it to my menu too (even without knowing what waffle means). I further messed everything when I requested that mine be packaged in a take-away pack since I won’t be able to finish it.

The food arrived few minutes later and for the first time in recent past, appearance of a dish matched the taste. I took every bit with caution and savored the taste till the last grain. Many thanks to Apenuwa Samuel, a friend who thought me how to handle knife and fork 2 years ago.

If the glamorous interior design will be what will take me back to mega chicken, and the awesome customer service will trigger that of Cafe Neo, then my returning to Spur will solely be because of the food.

Cost of the food

I sure would update this space whenever I return to spurs and pay for the food myself.

but for a hint, ensure you have up to 10,000 naira because my eyes saw too many 3,500 while studying the menu.

funfact : everyone finished their food

Though we had a swell time, here are the things I don’t like.

Downsides
– Getting into spur was war, we glided through numerous corners and doors before finally getting in. there was even one particular door that threatened to clip us if we weren’t smart enough but thank god for the kind receptionist who stood by us.


I have also reviewed few other food houses and will still do more.
I record my adventures on www.nomadicnegro.com

Bibi294:
done

Seen and acknowledged.

AlwaysUltraPad:
same feeling here.


You can support the OP here.

I really appreciate this bro.

Bibi294:

Ado Ekiti...Erukelele omo ado dey

Fantastic!
After my next two tours within Lagos, Ekiti is my next stop. Please send me a mail to tunde@nomadicnegro.com so I can keep you posted.

Bibi294:

But I'm not in lag

Where're you based?

Dexema:

voted! Please tell me that picture on your contestant profile is photoshopped.

lol...The picture wasn't photo-shopped. I have a video of how everything was planned. Check @nomadic_negro on IG and scroll down a bit to where you'd find a picture of white sand- just beside a picture of me feeding 3 chickens.

I really appreciate you for voting for me.

Skinnienigga:
OP nice one! And yes I've voted for you and I'm now a reader of your blog. You too much!

Love night waka like mad sha..yes I've been robbed.. but that's only cos the place where I dey do night waka na Benin/City.

I never try this one sha..waka n snap pictures. That's my next project.

OP, if you ever wanna tour the city of Benin.. just buzz me any time. Creativity is always welcome in my abode.

Keep it up!

Many thanks bro!
You sure will know when I'm set for Benin. just keep watch on my moves either on Twitter or Instagram using @nomadic_negro.
I randomly give out gifts too like i'm going to still do tonight.

DarkRebel69:


Are you saying Nairalanders are "simple"?

look at the website design/UI and tell me what your observations are?

DarkRebel69:
@OP, this is great stuff. I liked the pictures and the narrative. A bit amatuerish and unrefined, but nonetheless brilliant.

Please, could you your next tour take you to either Ikorodu or Bariga?

Thanks for the kind words. Regarding being amateurish and unrefined, what you should understand is that communication will not be actualized if the supposed reciever finds decoding difficult. So I actually took out time to study my audience, and gave them in the most simple way I can.

For my next run, follow my blog closely.

OliveCynosure:
Beautiful pictures
But, the security men at Banana Island though, what if you were men of the underworld?

truth is, we saw an average of 5 well armed security men within almost all the buildings.

Melian:


Too funny. Thanks for making my morning.

awwwn.
I'm glad I did.

naturalwaves:
The island part of Lagos is generally safer than mainland. You can move around midnight and even 1,2 am without any fear and even cabs to take you to wherever you are going. Most fun lovers on the island are very responsible and police and other authorities respect people more here. I don't even panic if I'm still out of the house at late hours because there is no cause to unlike mainland where you will have to sleep wherever you are and wait for dawn in order to be safer.

true.
Things are gradually changing though,as places like Ikeja, Egbeda, Maryland et al are slowly but steadily catching up with tides.

LolaCole1:
This is just lovely. OBA good one

Thanks fam!
Have you voted for me (nomadic negro) yet?
https://couponcode.ng/awards/travel-blog-awards-2017/

Phynicz:
dude I'd like to join your next adventure. this is amazing.

I'm currently planning another in few weeks time. Kindly send a mail to tunde@nomadic negro.com so I can keep you posted.