I am always interested in what people in other countries think of other countries (so it's unbiased) so I was wondering what people think of Australia?

I can say that I like Nigeria because it's a very pretty place and most people are friendly enough (most people are very nice but a few people sometime ruin it for the rest). I say it often to my friends back here at home that I enjoy my trips to Nigeria because of how diverse it is

Potentially Nigeria could make alot of money off tourists if they wanted to but at the moment it's too hard and extremely costly.

Hunter, I love the fact that you like our country! What are the difficulties you face when you come to Nigeria as a tourist?

I think one of the most treasured experiences about Nigeria is the sense of freedom from all man-made restrictions (what you in a so called "developed " world would call laws). In Nigeria there is so much freedom that you can {urinate} on the streets while a policeman watches out for you. Is it not amazing? This might sound ridiculous, but every time I leave the country and I am coming back it is one thing I miss so much.

Concerning freedom, as per tourist, ... the difficulty is that of an innocent sheep running into a wolf. Nigerians do not like people who are generally ignorant, which is why they are very witty. If you come into Nigeria as a tourist and they realise that you know nothing about your environment, they are bound to use you. So, when coming to Nigeria as a tourist, be sure to have somebody in Nigeria as a guide.

It is quite difficult to get visa's to enter Nigeria (and quite expensive ($160 Australian, N16000)) and a lot of vaccinations are required so that you don't catch things that have been eliminated in Australia (small pox etc)

um Medication is expensive (Normally our government pays for most of our medicine if it is required (most medicines cost less than N1000 or $10 AUD)) but for malaria prevention tablets there not covered (we do not have malaria anymore) and we have to pay about $500 AUD N50000 for enough tablets for a 2 week stay.

Once in Nigeria, main problems are had at the airport in Lagos and the amount of people that need to "inspect" my passport. It would even be somewhat more reassuring if they made customs officers where a uniform or similar because I don't really like handing my passport out to someone in normal clothes saying they are an "official"

I have spent very little time in Lagos but from what time I have spent it seems ok and once at the domestic airport for the short hop over to Eket (customs there is strange, I do not understand why a local airport needs to stamp my passport and check I am not importing anything when I have just been inspected in Lagos)

All of this is a bit daunting first time around but by the second time your used to it so it's not a problem

(One guy in Lagos customs last time I was on the way out was a jerk, he read my passport out wrong and kept saying my middle name and then was abusive to me when he figured out he had been calling out my middle name (after I had tried to say it was my passport))

Anyways, thats most of the difficulties faced that I can think of, but I do enjoy my visits

First of all, I hope this site grows to the point where opinions expressed like this will eventually reach politicians and other people who can make a difference.

I wonder why anti-malaria drugs are expensive in Australia. They are quite cheap here, in the order of 1% of what they cost in your country.

They are expensive because they are non subsidised and not needed for general use (very few countries still require it for travelling now)

(I haven't travelled out before, so I wouldn't know if it's legal to) simply buy one or two packs of anti-malarial drugs here and take them back home for your next visit. Or simply buy the drugs on arrival here ...

Unfortantly you cannot do that for two reasons first being that you have to take them several days before arriving and secondly in Australia we have very strict medicine control to ensure that it is of the highest grade only and i don't think that a product sourced locally would of been tested. (if they think you have a disease they put you in quarantene (basically isolation))

Our malaria drugs work quite well, thank you ().

Anyway, what do you usually look forward to seeing in Nigeria as a tourist?

out in Eket there isn't very mich to do tourist wise but it's just interesting seeing how different everything is.

I hear that there is a few good nature parks near lagos though

Thoughts on other countries? Well, take Senegal for example. There the presidential palace is guarded by 3 policemen (read that last week). Imagine that in Nigeria (there would be a coup every day!)

They don't even speak their own languages (Djollof, Hausa e.t.c) but they speak French (I wouldn't want that to happen here but Seun I expect you would be happy if that happens)

armani:

I think one of the most treasured experiences about Nigeria is the sense of freedom from all man-made restrictions (what you in a so called "developed " world would call laws). In Nigeria there is so much freedom that you can {urinate} on the streets while a policeman watches out for you. Is it not amazing? This might sound ridiculous, but every time I leave the country and I am coming back it is one thing I miss so much.

Concerning freedom, as per tourist, ... the difficulty is that of an innocent sheep running into a wolf. Nigerians do not like people who are generally ignorant, which is why they are very witty. If you come into Nigeria as a tourist and they realise that you know nothing about your environment, they are bound to use you. So, when coming to Nigeria as a tourist, be sure to have somebody in Nigeria as a guide.

I live in the US and folks urinate on the streets (even on the train) all the time. No biggie.

I dont find nigerians to be a wolf0like as you describe them. Most, especially outside of Lagos, are cool folks

kodewrita:

Thoughts on other countries? Well, take Senegal for example. There the presidential palace is guarded by 3 policemen (read that last week). Imagine that in Nigeria (there would be a coup every day!)

They don't even speak their own languages (Djollof, Hausa e.t.c) but they speak French (I wouldn't want that to happen here but Seun I expect you would be happy if that happens)

Senegalese speak wolof and fulani, but they love french. My favorite thing about them is thier low aids infection rate, less than 1%

Hidden_Hunter:

I am always interested in what people in other countries think of other countries (so it's unbiased) so I was wondering what people think of Australia?

I can say that I like Nigeria because it's a very pretty place and most people are friendly enough (most people are very nice but a few people sometime ruin it for the rest). I say it often to my friends back here at home that I enjoy my trips to Nigeria because of how diverse it is

Potentially Nigeria could make alot of money off tourists if they wanted to but at the moment it's too hard and extremely costly.

If you are ever back in nigeria, check out Yankari game reserve, or the new Tinapa City being built, the cable car ride and Obudu ranch. These are supposed to be some good areas to visit.

I'd like to check out the australia for the reptiles (croodile farms) and the Barrier reef. I love the way asutralia has 'branded; itself, i.e. once you think of kangaroes, the outback and boomerangs you thin aussie. Nigeria could learn a thing of two from that. Perhaps our unique gorrilas, and special florals could be used to create a brand

obong:


I live in the US and folks urinate on the streets (even on the train) all the time. No biggie.

I dont find nigerians to be a wolf0like as you describe them.  Most, especially outside of Lagos, are cool folks

Here in Uk, people don't pee on the streets, but they vomit on the streets and er, they eat on the streets while walking. That's freedom cos I know peops in Nigeria can never eat on the streets cos they like posing too much. Imagine walking and eating Mr biggs' rice...no, Nigerians will say they are too much for that. It's good sha.

I dont know if pissing on the streets happens all over the country, but it happens in new york city. NY is a lot like lagos, but with trains

Point of correction,most people don't eat on Nigerian roads not because they are posing, but because they are not sure of what they'll see while eating(k'oju ma r'ibi).....dead body.....smell of tendays old piss.....shit...

Nice one, kemmy!

Hidden_Hunter:

I am always interested in what people in other countries think of other countries (so it's unbiased) so I was wondering what people think of Australia?

I can say that I like Nigeria because it's a very pretty place and most people are friendly enough (most people are very nice but a few people sometime ruin it for the rest).  I say it often to my friends back here at home that I enjoy my trips to Nigeria because of how diverse it is

Potentially Nigeria could make alot of money off tourists if they wanted to but at the moment it's too hard and extremely costly.

Australia is a lovely place with lots of deadly creatures but most of the people are nice.But like everwhere else there will always be some wankers who will try spoiling your trip.

obong:

armani link=topic=99.msg646#msg646 date=1114321325:

I think one of the most treasured experiences about Nigeria is the sense of freedom from all man-made restrictions (what you in a so called "developed " world would call laws). In Nigeria there is so much freedom that you can {urinate} on the streets while a policeman watches out for you. Is it not amazing? This might sound ridiculous, but every time I leave the country and I am coming back it is one thing I miss so much.

Concerning freedom, as per tourist, ... the difficulty is that of an innocent sheep running into a wolf. Nigerians do not like people who are generally ignorant, which is why they are very witty. If you come into Nigeria as a tourist and they realise that you know nothing about your environment, they are bound to use you. So, when coming to Nigeria as a tourist, be sure to have somebody in Nigeria as a guide.

I live in the US and folks urinate on the streets (even on the train) all the time. No biggie.

I don't find nigerians to be a wolf0like as you describe them.  Most, especially outside of Lagos, are cool folks

Gosh.where in the US cause i'd love to go there and just pee on the street without some 5-0 giving me a ticket

IAH:

obong link=topic=99.msg5060#msg5060 date=1118619913:


I live in the US and folks urinate on the streets (even on the train) all the time. No biggie.

I don't find nigerians to be a wolf0like as you describe them. Most, especially outside of Lagos, are cool folks

Here in Uk, people don't pee on the streets, but they vomit on the streets and er, they eat on the streets while walking. That's freedom because I know peops in Nigeria can never eat on the streets because they like posing too much. Imagine walking and eating Mr biggs' rice...no, Nigerians will say they are too much for that. It's good sha.

omo na lie be that o! I've seen 2 guys (white) urinating on de street of london twice o!

Red:

obong link=topic=99.msg5060#msg5060 date=1118619913:

[quote author=armani link=topic=99.msg646#msg646 date=1114321325]
I think one of the most treasured experiences about Nigeria is the sense of freedom from all man-made restrictions (what you in a so called "developed " world would call laws). In Nigeria there is so much freedom that you can {urinate} on the streets while a policeman watches out for you. Is it not amazing? This might sound ridiculous, but every time I leave the country and I am coming back it is one thing I miss so much.

Concerning freedom, as per tourist, ... the difficulty is that of an innocent sheep running into a wolf. Nigerians do not like people who are generally ignorant, which is why they are very witty. If you come into Nigeria as a tourist and they realise that you know nothing about your environment, they are bound to use you. So, when coming to Nigeria as a tourist, be sure to have somebody in Nigeria as a guide.

I live in the US and folks urinate on the streets (even on the train) all the time. No biggie.

I don't find nigerians to be a wolf0like as you describe them. Most, especially outside of Lagos, are cool folks

Gosh.where in the US cause I'd love to go there and just pee on the street without some 5-0 giving me a ticket
[/quote]

I live in Brooklyn. Its not all over the place, but it happens often enough. Im sure some people have gotten tickets for it though

anugirl:

omo na lie be that o! I've seen 2 guys (white) urinating on de street of london twice o!

It happens in Jand but if the police catch you then you are in for it! But why would anyone say they like naija for the fact that he can piss on the road without any problem Is that a thing to be proud of? I tire for some people o!

to Hidden Hunter, all those "officials" are probably trying to get you to bribe them and the same with the guy stamping passports in a local airport!

Actually I have very prejudicial views of Australia, for some resaon I always think of it as the land of Skippy that does not welcome blacks, I have always avoided going there on holiday but if you ask me where I got this idea from I honestly could not tell you! Maybe I have watched a neighbours episode or something!!

. America their America . People urinating on the street dem !!. Nigeria has less polluted, fresh air to breathe (* Lagos not included) compared too many developed countries.

Viera, I also see Australia as quite racist. Maybe because of their history with the aborigines or because of John Howard. Those folks just seem to Texan for me.

Racism is everywhere my brother, you would be suprised that asians too are racist. It just in different degrees.

apparently the most racist people on this planet are Japanese!!

Vieira:

apparently the most racist people on this planet are Japanese!!

Well i did have Japs in my high school. And i find them quiet Nice. infact i have a family friend a Nigerian who is married to a Japanese lady. So i really dont get you there. Perhaps you are reffering back to historical events?

kazey, I am refering to current events. If you read about the culture of japanese in japan you will see.

I have read many accounts of foreigners in Japan and they all agree. They are racist towards both whites and blacks but they look more down on blacks as objects of pity.

I will try and remember the books and articles i read and post them here. I like the Japanese culture and plan to visit Tokyo and hence why I was reading up on the culture.

Those people you know are removed from Japan and obviously not evryone will be the same but I am talking about a foreigner living in Japan.

be right back.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/geted.pl5?eo20030106jl.htm

http://joi.ito.com/archives/2004/01/12/yet_more_public_racism_by_japanese_politicians.html

I am still trying to remember the book but if you do a google search about racism and Japan you will see many articles but the best ones are the ones that are a cultural study and not just a report on one incident.

Gaijin is the Japanese word for all foreigners and it means Babarian

hum well you got your proofs, but as far as i know i am yet to meet a racist japanese. And untill then, my opinion about them is neutral.

Kazey that is the best.

Treat them as they treat you. I would not treat Japanese any other way becuase of what I have read. I still intend to visit Tokyo sometime soon.