₦airaland Forum

ichommy:
Sanchez01 Baba

Chief!

Datedoboy:
I want a Liverpool vs Madrid final so we can explain one or 2 things to Madrid

Don't get cocky with Madrid. The Liverpool Real Madrid humiliated is even better and more motivated than this particular Liverpool now. Madrid is motivated and over a one leg game, it would be about the team who can score the most goals.

Game over!

2-2!

pargelenis:
Credit to Villarreal but Liverpool are in a title race and so could not completely rest starters while Villarreal are 7th in La Liga … either way, it’s a SHAME on Liverpool.

It is not a shame, TBF. The Champions League is the Champions League for a reason. One reason Liverpool probably didn't bench or rest players at the weekend must have been because they are two goals up and are playing a team like Villareal. If it was Real Madrid, I am sure Klopp won't be foolish enough to do so.

In truth, it is not about the position of the teams and what is at stake at their local leagues. Spanish teams play better than the English teams on a normal level. The only star studded sides in the La Liga are Real, ATM and maybe Barcelona. Even with the stars, almost all teams were beaten by Bilbao this season and totally outclassed.

Liverpool could win by a single goal. They have started playing well, compared to the first half and if all goes well with Villareal, we just might get a shocker today.

Modified.

Said it!

Unai Emery benched 8 of his first team at the weekend just to prepare for this match. Liverpool has been clueless so far and a single goal further will decide this. It would shock the football World if Villareal sink Liverpool.

truthsayer009:
Congratulations sire!

I see you moved Japa'ed but also want to avoid chaotic city like NY. The dirt, the crowd, the people, different cultures, the craziness. It's funny that we are opposites on this opinion, whenever I get to somewhere new, I look for exactly the Lagos lifestyle to blend with. My brain cannot re-focus to discover that I am no longer in Lagos, I think maybe it's PTSD lol.

Please do well to educate us on Culture shock that you see daily. We love to learn the experience, for some of us that was to travel there in the future.

LMAO! Lagos has never been for me even though I was born and bred in the state. To escape the madness, I barely went out and preferred to remain indoor save I need to shop. I don't like chaotic places and it's funny you do. I currently experiencing culture shocks almost on a daily basis and I have been documenting them.

I hope to start a diary on that soon. I already ordered a new digital camera from Amazon and hope to use that to document the entire experience here and do a beautiful thread.

GboyegaD:
These two are very hot peppers ooo, you may want to watch them. Never tried cooking with Ghost Peppers but tried the cheese once in a sandwich trying to copy some akata friends. I threw the sandwich away at the first bite. I don't eat pepper and that could be the reason ad I would cook a pot of stew with just one hananero and many bell peppers.

Eh wo! We bought some Jalepeno at Walmart. I intend documenting the whole experience in a new diary and then do a different thread on Utah and Salt Lake City at some point. Hopefully, the Jalapeño I got will be nice and not too hot but the warning on the bag is even scarier.

Guontey:
Lool. following...

You will soon realize tipping is standard culture here. It's like Nigeria's "dashing", only a lot more normal. When you tip, you are a good man. When you don't, they may actually spit in your food. You are better off not letting it stick on your person that you don't tip.

I have used Uber a lot in the past few days in Utah and I have tipped a lot and far more than I can remember. The tipping culture is quite weird but seeing that some get entitled to it is what is sending me.

I like to think or believe I am an altruist but this tipping thing does not count at all.

Ishilove:
Looks like Lagos Island, sans the ancient buildings and landmarks. A Lagos Island filled with white people.

Times Square has a touch of Marina but with lights and ads everywhere. The high rise buildings litter everywhere. Never had the chance to witness it at night but I don't doubt that it would be a sight to behold. It has Lagos written all over it, New York.

Ishilove:
Heh. That's the things about relocating in full adulthood. It will take time before the Nigerian in you starts camming dan. Your first instinct for a long time will be to unconsciously compare the costs and customs to those of your motherland. Knowing you, Sanchez, e go tey small before your inner Nigerian will stop asserting itself

See, nothing prepares you for this! . I still wake up every night and think "NEPA" has "taken the light" only to now remember that I am no longer in Naija. Everything in me screams "currency conversion" everyday. Uber, Walmart, restaurants, the list is endless.

I sincerely want to stop converting currencies when I buy stuff but it can't be helped.

Just arrived Utah and time is 11:38 PM (Friday). Without a doubt, I prefer Salt Lake City to New York. The "Lagossy" life is one I don't plan to experience in any way or form.

Originalsly:
Jet Blue is pretty good. Your flight may be considered international..... usually cut off check in 1 hr before flight time. If considered local.... check in is less.... call their customer service .... make your case... and ask for some form of compensation.... they may give you free ticket to
NY. Double check time..... and luggage requirements ... think they have fees for everything.

I was able to rebook for free to my final destination on the spot yesterday but their level of professionalism, handling and quality of response is troubling. On our way from the gate back to Bronx, I just couldn't help but look up reviews and 17,000+ people had horrible experiences (https://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/jetblue-airways/) with them. I clearly don't like them and would gently check in my bags today by 3:00 PM. It is 1:40 PM now and I can't just wait to get to SLC and unpack.

Ishilove:
The Nigerian in me is protesting this pasta overload. It's too much

I swear! From my Nigerian eye, the pasta is nonsense sha. Thank God for my friends in New York who don't joke with peppers and Nigerian stuff, I would have thrown up all my intestines since I got to New York. From the plane to eating out, it's been bread and lots of pasta, rice, lobsters and salmons without proper pepper. Good thing I packed some ground peppers with me.

Can't wait to cook efo riro with their Habanero or Ghost Pepper in Salt Lake.

The Nigerian in you was acting up. We too like awoof

I have been data starved all through the flight. I was able to get 2 plan SIM cards yesterday for $75 monthly with unlimited Internet. I didn't queue to get any SIM identification or ID, no thumb print capture, no stress, nothing at all. See, Nigeria is not a real place.

Ishilove:
Sanchez ma nigaaaaaa!! So you relocated without me ever getting to taste your fabulous cooking?

Babes!

I just had to japa jare. Nigeria wasn't obviously working and the frustration of struggling to get basic stuff just facilitated the whole thing.

The cooking part pain me ooo.

JetBlue is a terrible airline. We missed our flight to SLC even after trying to check in our bags 50 minutes before departure.

Solanaa:
Okay use this hack


Screenshot then upload the new screenshot.

I'm trying. It seems like a bit of work. I unfortunately replicated so many pictures via screenshot and my gallery looks messy. I should get a digital camera after now and upload via my PC.

Originalsly:
Nice of them....to drag you out... for your own good! You can't come to NYC and not go to "the City"!

Times Square...

Originalsly:
Hmmm...... this leg needed a longgggg stop over! Not really much to see or do in the Bronx ... unless if you're around a commercial area. If traveling later in the afternoon.... I suggest you get on the #4/#6 Subway this morning around 9... after Rush Hour.... and ride down to 42nd Street Grand Central Station ... find your way out of the station ... find 42nd street and ask anyone which direction to Times Square.... a 20 minutes walk. Leave around 2 hours before the time you need to get back. Take taxi to drop you off at the nearest #6 uptown station except Grand Central.
Shorter trip.... #2/5 subway to 149th Street 3rd Ave..... after 10:30 a.m ...shopping area in the Bronx.....or Fordhan Road... your host should fill you in.
If neither.... get on the #4 ride to 149th street ... get off.... get the same train in opposite direction and back to where you got on. Runs above ground up to Yankee Stadium then dives underground to next stop 149th... just for the experience.

It will be a longggg time if ever you return to NYC. Make the best while you can.

Lol! Thank you for this! These folks are about dragging us out to Times Square and a couple of other places. Would definitely be touching some places you mentioned. I'll equally be dropping some pictures later.

Thanks once again

Modified:

Pictures!

Originalsly:
Where are you staying in New York?..... and for how long?

Currently at Bronx. JFK is our second stopover and we'll be moving out to our final destination later today. It is currently 3:22 AM here.

seunny4lif:
There is nothing to see in stopover unless you are stepping out of the airport or it’s just only 3 hours max.
The max stopover I have experienced is 3 hrs and Its the worst, because our flight got to Lisbon early.
I promised myself since then never to wait for more than 2 hrs except I want to step out around the airport.

I love to travel but I hate digressions. Doing other stuff doing stopovers won't work with me. To be fair, the Turkish Airport is packed with so many things that you could be there for over 20 hours and not feel it. That said, I am never subscribing to stopovers again. The experience isn't too bad for a first time international traveller but for someone who doesn't like seeing so many people moving around, I definitely wouldn't subscribe going forward.

CountVersailles:
Following...
Long stopovers are only interesting if you have a transit visa. Otherwise, it's boring staying in the airport.

Funny enough, I wouldn't say it was exactly boring. I enjoyed the sleep pod and movies kept us preoccupied.

I am definitely not wifey book tickets going forward. Long stopovers are ridiculous.

Just arrived JFK in New York and the time is currently 10:31 PM (Wednesday). I should be uploading pictures shortly.

So this is hilarious and would make it as funny as possible.

We were directed to take a different exit route if we intend using a taxi so we moved our cart to the exit point. A lady was in front of us and one traveller at a time is only allowed to exit in order not to make the front of the airport rowdy. When the lady in front us exited, a crazy cold breeze slapped my essence that I turned to my wife what just happened. She didn't have an answer and I wasn't sure if what hit me was the AC within JFK airport or it just came from outside. When it got to our turn and we exited, the cold was unbelievable. "But they said they are in spring, how come it is this cold?" I asked the taxi driver. The driver laughed and just said "welcome to New York". We packed our stuff in the car and moved.

Our destination was about 40 minutes away and all I had my eyes on was the fare meter. Something that was reading peacefully just added $6.55 after passing a bridge immediately. "Ah, do you guys have Tinubu or LCC here?", I exclaimed. The black driver laughed but didn't get the joke. "Please, how come $6.55 jumped on the fare just now?", I asked. "Oh, that's normal around here. It applies to Queens Midtown, blah blah blah..." At this time, the fare had jumped to $49 dollars and I kept wondering what the eventual fare would be after arriving our temporary destination.

Long story short, we arrived and fare cost was $69.10. Mi rogo! Lori taxi!? . I almost had instant migraine because the Nigerian in me just started converting $70 to Naira, in line with the latest Black Market Rate. While I was lost in thoughts, the driver jokingly asked if I wouldn't tip him after driving the long distance. I looked at him in confusion. "But I just paid you, I know tipping you isn't important. The Nigerian in me is converting the fare and you are asking that I tip you again?" E wo l'eleyi bayii? "So, how much do I tip you?" I asked, trying to prepare my mind for one unbelievable response. He looked at me and responded; "usually, it is 20% of the fare", about $7 or so", he replied. I gave him $10 from the $30 change he gave to me, converted $77 to Naira on the spot while he thanked us and drove away. I was shivering almost two minutes after alighting while trying to move our bags into our host's apartment. Cold ran up my spine even with a jacket on and was almost shaking. It isn't even in Utah yet or even winter but spring and the cold is this insane. Nothing prepares you for this as a Nigerian. Nothing does.

In total, flight time from Turkey to JFK, New York was 10 hours via Turkish Airlines. For a Nigerian, I suffered because the choices of food weren't so good. First was "herbed yogurt and supposedly rice white minced beef and stuffed eggplant or aubergine" with another round of tomatoes salad and white cheese with some funny vegetable that gave me an instant OBE when I tried it . Iya yii po.

The second was fair; Zucchini Pasta with tomato sauce, which almost everyone on the plan requested, including myself. The vegetables were basically the same for both menus. About 15 Turks and Americans combined lined up before the lavatory after eating. Yours truly joined the queue

Immigration experience at JFK was almost unbelievable. We were attended to in less than one minute and queue time was about 6 minutes maximum.

We connected to the JFK WiFi immediately we landed and it didn't require your passport to use it. It is not passworded and connection is instant. In the space of about 15 minutes spent at the airport, I did about 40 GB download. The speed was insane.

Finding our luggage was easy and simple and it costs $6 to use cart. The process is automated as opposed to the N500 experience at the MMIA and ticket you would get after.

*Scratches head.* The pictures look great and super sharp on my phone but for weird reasons, they become blurry when I upload them.

A bit about the Turkish Airport, the architecture is insane and almost unbelievable. A downside about the airport is the availability of WiFi which is only available to travellers for free for one hour. They have WiFi stands scattered across the airport. All you just need to do is swipe your international passport on the machine and a WiFi password will be generated. An alternative is also using your MTN line to browse for free for one hour using the mobile login option on the Internet login page after connecting. You only need the OTP sent to your phone and that's it. Airtel failed to send OTPs both on my device and my wife's even after several retries.

A tiny fraction of the Turkish airport architecture captured below

So we stayed about 13 hours in Turkey before our connecting flight to JFK. To be sincere, I tried applying for a transit visa before leaving Nigeria since I read Turkey no longer issue visa on transit and that one would need to apply ahead before arrival. I didn't even bother.

Cost was a factor somehow as I had already booked Airbnb of $42/night for 28 days pending when accommodation is sorted. A couple of the apartments we saw from Nigeria wanted security deposit of either twice the rent or exactly the rent and other ridiculous charges which the Nigerian in me won't allow.

Anyways, knowing a transit visa and transportation cost around Turkey would demand money, we chose sleep pods instead and they cost €8/hour, spent roughly three hours before getting one stale spaghetti (two servings and two chicken fillets with salad primarily consisting of tomatoes and one diced wara + water for hundreds of Lira which was approximately $40 per person).

The long and short of it is that I am in Turkey right now for my first. The next is in New York before finally moving to Salt Lake City, in Utah. In total, the travel time is 56 hours, which was the main reason for bemoaning the "mistake" I made while booking. Wifey thought booking a longer flight hour means an experience that is worth it. As a first time international traveller, I am fast learning the implication of having stopovers that are longer than the flight time themselves.

Sanchez01:
Not sure if this is necessary but I recall making this post in 2020 and was sure I'd leave the following year, which was 2021. Well, for good reasons, it didn't happen.

The long and short of it is that I am leaving permantly to Salt Lake City, Utah, exactly a week from now. I hope to document the journey somehow. I wouldn't say I am excited and I wouldn't say I am not. To be fair, I'm indifferent, at least for now, largely as a result of a funny mistake I made while booking my flight ticket. Finger's crossed.

First, I am not a picture person so this is a whole lot of challenge taking pictures at every turn.

Anyways, Richdee1, here is a mention as promised.

KingKO22:
Jagaban is a matured leader


I sincerely give him credit for handling Osinbajo speculation with triviality.

Baba is only focus on his lane

Which useless Jagaban is a matured leader? The same who quickly flew out of Nigeria when Osinbajo visited Lagos and tried to see him?

In truth, Osinbajo has no business with or being around Tinubu. The farther he moves away from him, the better.

GEJ is a fool and not so smart and I don't doubt that he could take the bait and run.

As much as I want Tinubu to be disgraced and humiliated and his political career come to an end, I would not want it to be at the detriment of Southern Nigeria.

The North needs a Southerner who would spend just four years and move aside for them to stay in power. GEJ can't do more than four years and that would be the loss of Southern Nigeria. We definitely can't afford that, not with the slow Islamisation of Nigeria.

BigBashiru:
At your last sentence, I agree....

The concept of exploring has no basis in biology and instead is based on greed.... most "explorers" eventually regret it.... all ppl get from Exploration is sex but not compatibility....

Even if she didn't explore, she will still be a victim of "choice paradox"....(Google it) which will still lead to her getting married at 30....

Exploration is not in any way tied to greed. It is a human thing and depending on our personality, it is loud or reserved. Most explorers often understand life better as they have experienced different perspectives.

In human relations, exploring means learning, experiencing and becoming a better judge of character. However, like every human decision, exploring might come with regrets which we definitely tuck away as "pasts". Exploration is not just about sex and I don't agree that it is sex an no compatibility. Demisexuals like myself will always disagree about this.

I disagree with the choice paradox assertion. It is not tied to age and is not responsible for people marrying late. One is likely the consequences of choice if one suffers from indecision.

I personally wouldn't consider anyone under the age bracket of 26 downwards as ripe for marriage. The might have aged but sometimes, the consciousness and epiphany of marriage hasn't hit home. Some would speak "marriagy", sound smart and seem ready but their subconscious, more often than not is still very much open to roaming, adventuring and living life. If you take those things away in marriage as a man. Ten years or so is all they have to wake up and realise that they want more and want away.