Hey Guy
http://www.pravak.com/reach.php?evening=wfeeebb3673bydpkzh
deelessard@yahoo.com
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Thursday, May 6, 2010
May 6 update
May 6
Just left Abuja at 10:15, right time but only after two bag xrays,
three different bag searches, one electronic body search and one pat
down. Funny thing, after you go through all that, you can buy soda or
water. But 5 minutes later, they confiscate it as you board the plane.
Bet they resell the unopened ones. Though they don't live too far from
the airport, it took two hours driving cuz of traffic. Five of us
piled into UU's SUV, Of course UU, Sintiki, Kisha, Sawi, (Sintiki's
sister) and my unexpected flight companion, Sintiki's niece Adati who
will be with me up to NY where she heads off to Iowa for school.
Now cruising at 36,000 ft around 500mph
Last two days were productive. We raced around Abuja yesterday trying
to find a FireWire card for the office computer so they could download
video from there new camcorder. Today I installed it and everything
works according to plan.
Have you ever noticed on the last night of a big trip, you start to
regret things you didn't do? Well I didn't want that happening to me.
All week I wanted to climb the hill near UU's home (picture of it in
the very first slideshow). So here was Rotgak getting ready to drop me
off at the house when I noticed no power again. I turn to Rot and ask,
"got any plans?". When he said he didn't, I replied, "Let's Climb!".
So off
We went to the hill with no name. Took me more than a few breaks to
get to the top but the view was awesome. From there I got pictures of
UU's condo, And alot of Abuja. Not to to mention on the other
side was the National soccer stadium. We towered over all of it. So
after taking my pictures, we named it "Kisha Rock". Of course pix will
follow. Oh, and on the way down, not one break, hehe. UU was amazed
we did it. He said no one here climbs it since there is no reason to
but as in one of my favorite Peter Mayer songs, "Yukon Sally",
"Climbing is only half the joy, you might reach the peak. But that's
not the point."
Just left Abuja at 10:15, right time but only after two bag xrays,
three different bag searches, one electronic body search and one pat
down. Funny thing, after you go through all that, you can buy soda or
water. But 5 minutes later, they confiscate it as you board the plane.
Bet they resell the unopened ones. Though they don't live too far from
the airport, it took two hours driving cuz of traffic. Five of us
piled into UU's SUV, Of course UU, Sintiki, Kisha, Sawi, (Sintiki's
sister) and my unexpected flight companion, Sintiki's niece Adati who
will be with me up to NY where she heads off to Iowa for school.
Now cruising at 36,000 ft around 500mph
Last two days were productive. We raced around Abuja yesterday trying
to find a FireWire card for the office computer so they could download
video from there new camcorder. Today I installed it and everything
works according to plan.
Have you ever noticed on the last night of a big trip, you start to
regret things you didn't do? Well I didn't want that happening to me.
All week I wanted to climb the hill near UU's home (picture of it in
the very first slideshow). So here was Rotgak getting ready to drop me
off at the house when I noticed no power again. I turn to Rot and ask,
"got any plans?". When he said he didn't, I replied, "Let's Climb!".
So off
We went to the hill with no name. Took me more than a few breaks to
get to the top but the view was awesome. From there I got pictures of
UU's condo, And alot of Abuja. Not to to mention on the other
side was the National soccer stadium. We towered over all of it. So
after taking my pictures, we named it "Kisha Rock". Of course pix will
follow. Oh, and on the way down, not one break, hehe. UU was amazed
we did it. He said no one here climbs it since there is no reason to
but as in one of my favorite Peter Mayer songs, "Yukon Sally",
"Climbing is only half the joy, you might reach the peak. But that's
not the point."
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Final Mountain to Climb
May 4th,
Last full day in Abuja. Started slow, got up after most had left, got on the computer and edited and uploaded some pix. Then called Rotgak to come pick me up and take me to the office. There I worked on Ojorndies laptop. For everyone's computer I was double checking Anti-Virus software, firewalls, basic maintenance stuff. Also switched them from Internet Explorer to Firefox. Tomorrow I will introduce Sintiki to Facebook so she can keep Dee and I up to date with their family. After I left the office (great hours, in by 10, out by 3, I could live with that) I took Rotgak and we went around town. Stopped at a photo lab to make some enlargements for UU's office and one for the home. Then I stopped at a few stores looking for a Firewire card. They have this nice camcorder they got delivered to them from England and it can't connect to any of their computers. I had no luck but still a few leads. Oh and then I stopped at a Garden shop to buy Sintiki a new plant for her garden which is just being started. Found a nice Amaranth, one I didn't have (but kept a few seeds for myself) Love Amaranth plants, I must have at least 4 species, one from Boston Commons, one from Montreal, and a few I grew from a seed packet. This one here resembles "Love Lies Bleeding". It has soft flaccid flowers that flutter with the breeze.
After that today's adventure began. Ever get that feeling when your trip is coming to an end and you still haven't done everything you wanted to? Well there is this hill near their home. It was in the first slide show. I'll have to upload another shot of it since tonight, me and Rotgak climbed it. He was dropping me off at home and I was thinking that time was running out. We pulled up to the house and you'll never guess......the power was out. So sitting inside with no AC and no computer didn't appeal to me. I turned to Rot and said, "wanna go climbing?" He readily agreed so I grabbed us a couple of cold waters from the fridge and off we went. Not a long climb up, maybe 1500 feet??? but had to take a bunch of breaks on the way up, ahem, cough "photo opportunities" I mean.
From on top we saw the sunset, then took pictures of UU's house and and the other side of the hill is the national soccer stadium. Great hike, and took only a third of the time coming down......with no breaks. Isn't it always the way?
When we got back to house, Rot headed home and UU, Sintiki, Kisha Elise and I sat at the table and had a wonderful family dinner together. Fish, goat, rice plantain, and a salad. Most salads here are coleslaw but this one was topped with brown baked beans and hard boiled egg. The whole meal was delicious. Oh speaking of hard boiled egg, with my rice and chicken at Skippers during lunch I had a Scotch Egg. It was a hard boiled egg, deep fried and it was awesome...very original. Wait till American fast food restaurants get a hold of this idea. Skippers is our favorite "go to" restaurant for a quick meal . Couple of meat pies at breakfast is my habit.
Just don't ask what kind of meat.
Last full day in Abuja. Started slow, got up after most had left, got on the computer and edited and uploaded some pix. Then called Rotgak to come pick me up and take me to the office. There I worked on Ojorndies laptop. For everyone's computer I was double checking Anti-Virus software, firewalls, basic maintenance stuff. Also switched them from Internet Explorer to Firefox. Tomorrow I will introduce Sintiki to Facebook so she can keep Dee and I up to date with their family. After I left the office (great hours, in by 10, out by 3, I could live with that) I took Rotgak and we went around town. Stopped at a photo lab to make some enlargements for UU's office and one for the home. Then I stopped at a few stores looking for a Firewire card. They have this nice camcorder they got delivered to them from England and it can't connect to any of their computers. I had no luck but still a few leads. Oh and then I stopped at a Garden shop to buy Sintiki a new plant for her garden which is just being started. Found a nice Amaranth, one I didn't have (but kept a few seeds for myself) Love Amaranth plants, I must have at least 4 species, one from Boston Commons, one from Montreal, and a few I grew from a seed packet. This one here resembles "Love Lies Bleeding". It has soft flaccid flowers that flutter with the breeze.
After that today's adventure began. Ever get that feeling when your trip is coming to an end and you still haven't done everything you wanted to? Well there is this hill near their home. It was in the first slide show. I'll have to upload another shot of it since tonight, me and Rotgak climbed it. He was dropping me off at home and I was thinking that time was running out. We pulled up to the house and you'll never guess......the power was out. So sitting inside with no AC and no computer didn't appeal to me. I turned to Rot and said, "wanna go climbing?" He readily agreed so I grabbed us a couple of cold waters from the fridge and off we went. Not a long climb up, maybe 1500 feet??? but had to take a bunch of breaks on the way up, ahem, cough "photo opportunities" I mean.
From on top we saw the sunset, then took pictures of UU's house and and the other side of the hill is the national soccer stadium. Great hike, and took only a third of the time coming down......with no breaks. Isn't it always the way?
When we got back to house, Rot headed home and UU, Sintiki, Kisha Elise and I sat at the table and had a wonderful family dinner together. Fish, goat, rice plantain, and a salad. Most salads here are coleslaw but this one was topped with brown baked beans and hard boiled egg. The whole meal was delicious. Oh speaking of hard boiled egg, with my rice and chicken at Skippers during lunch I had a Scotch Egg. It was a hard boiled egg, deep fried and it was awesome...very original. Wait till American fast food restaurants get a hold of this idea. Skippers is our favorite "go to" restaurant for a quick meal . Couple of meat pies at breakfast is my habit.
Just don't ask what kind of meat.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Finally back home.......to Abuja
May 3rd
Well, we're back home.....to Abuja that is. Another eight hour drive, another overturned tractor trailer truck, or as UU says, "Lorrie". This was a truck delivering beer. I thought "we should have stopped to help"........." Don't worry little bottle, we're only here to help..." "Hope in the boot and we'll drive you to safety."
Well, we're back home.....to Abuja that is. Another eight hour drive, another overturned tractor trailer truck, or as UU says, "Lorrie". This was a truck delivering beer. I thought "we should have stopped to help"........." Don't worry little bottle, we're only here to help..." "Hope in the boot and we'll drive you to safety."
Uneventful drive but we did stop by UU's moms house again to drop off some things. A picture I took of her with UU we had printed and got to give it to her. Also we bought some honey in the mountains and gave that as a present to her. For breakfast we had some fried yams and some fried Akara which is ......you'll never guess........made from beans.
Imagine a plain munchkin or even a hushpuppy from Tacobell. About as good as the former and better than the latter. When I got back I told Sintiki we should have it with the honey to which she broke out laughing and replied, "that's exactly how we like to eat it!" If you've ever eaten at an Indian restaurant, it reminds me of a dessert they serve, (sorry for the spelling) Galubjumin. In a menu I once saw, they were described as "honey covered cheeseballs" which is hilarious enough. But what they meant to say was honey covered cheese danish. Tried some tonight while watching that survival show with the former SAS guy named Bear. In case I need to eat some bugs or leaves or something.....jk
Off to bed now which is like plywood with sheets. (only kidding Utiang, I slept like a baby every night) UU likes his beds extra firm. Only thing missing was my teddybear.
So tomorrow we're off to the photo lab to print. Should be interesting.
Guy
ps: more road shots tomorrow. Also, my new favorite...Shagga the Elder
Sunday, May 2, 2010
From the Holy Mountain to the Grotto...
Saturday, May 1st,
Oh Holy Mountain, what a sight. We started the day at Obudu with a quick breakfast (piece of sweet bread) and started our hike with Emmanuel, our guide. First part was easy down a road for a bit, then a turn off down dirt roads and trails past Waterfall view. On our way past the waterfall, you could see sheep and cattle grazing on distant hills, a verdant oasis.
But past this the trail led upto Holy Mountain. Imagine the letters U and J now turn the letter U upside down and put it over the J. The top of the J would be Holy Mountain and the mountain ranges would surround it. Holy Mountain is completely bare except for grass and two small mounds of rocks. Upon close inspection, you find the mounds conceal small holes or caves. They were bunkers were locals used to hide in we were told. So the mountain was a refuge like in the Psalms 94:22. UU says they could be just local stories. But the peacefullness of the peak could not be denied. As we started our descent, a huge cloud came in from the West and slowly covered the entire area. I commented that God wanted his peak back. From the top, we could see into Cameroon. Earlier I had asked our guide how far Cameroon was and he replied 3 hours away......, paused then added by foot. We asked if we could be taken by the Grotto but without having to backtrack. Our guide assured us he knew a shortcut and proceeded to take us down a path no one seemed to have been down in several years. I said to my friend Elise, "we're four-wheeling now!" Only thing missing was a machete. Down and up, down and up over several ridges, once pausing as Emmanuel jumped two feet in the air as I saw a black snake cross our path. It was a spitting Cobra we were told, not poisonous but nasty bite he said. When I look up them up online, they're not as harmless as he described. At the Grotto, the gate was locked so instead of waiting for our guide to run back and forth for a key, we climbed over it, all five feet of it with barbwire to the sides. Below was a relaxing little waterfall similar to what one might find in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. A small pool at the end for swimming seemed inviting but I just washed the mud off my legs from the hike and soaked my feet. Enjoyed a short break and took out my last loaf of sweet bread, broke it and shared it with Emmanuel. Just imagine, I had just come down from the Holy Mountain and now I was breaking bread with Emmanuel in the Grotto.
After that, it was a short hike back to the hotel, a short lunch and word was we had missed the tram for the day. Utiang was insistent that we take the tram so we've extended our stay another day. So here we stand, Sunday afternoon, hanging in the lounge waiting for the morning fog to burn off so we can take the tram.
Sorry just had to stop to visit with a passing elder from a neighboring village named Shagga. White haired man with long nails, white braids and a staff blessing us as he passed.We politely asked permission for a picture to which he graciously acquiesced.
The hotel is surrounded by many tiny villages and at any time of day or night, random people wander through. They are not chased off, they are treated with respect. I will try another attempt at an upload of pictures. They are often interrupted by random power or wifi issues.
Wait till you see the sunset......
Oh Holy Mountain, what a sight. We started the day at Obudu with a quick breakfast (piece of sweet bread) and started our hike with Emmanuel, our guide. First part was easy down a road for a bit, then a turn off down dirt roads and trails past Waterfall view. On our way past the waterfall, you could see sheep and cattle grazing on distant hills, a verdant oasis.
But past this the trail led upto Holy Mountain. Imagine the letters U and J now turn the letter U upside down and put it over the J. The top of the J would be Holy Mountain and the mountain ranges would surround it. Holy Mountain is completely bare except for grass and two small mounds of rocks. Upon close inspection, you find the mounds conceal small holes or caves. They were bunkers were locals used to hide in we were told. So the mountain was a refuge like in the Psalms 94:22. UU says they could be just local stories. But the peacefullness of the peak could not be denied. As we started our descent, a huge cloud came in from the West and slowly covered the entire area. I commented that God wanted his peak back. From the top, we could see into Cameroon. Earlier I had asked our guide how far Cameroon was and he replied 3 hours away......, paused then added by foot. We asked if we could be taken by the Grotto but without having to backtrack. Our guide assured us he knew a shortcut and proceeded to take us down a path no one seemed to have been down in several years. I said to my friend Elise, "we're four-wheeling now!" Only thing missing was a machete. Down and up, down and up over several ridges, once pausing as Emmanuel jumped two feet in the air as I saw a black snake cross our path. It was a spitting Cobra we were told, not poisonous but nasty bite he said. When I look up them up online, they're not as harmless as he described. At the Grotto, the gate was locked so instead of waiting for our guide to run back and forth for a key, we climbed over it, all five feet of it with barbwire to the sides. Below was a relaxing little waterfall similar to what one might find in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. A small pool at the end for swimming seemed inviting but I just washed the mud off my legs from the hike and soaked my feet. Enjoyed a short break and took out my last loaf of sweet bread, broke it and shared it with Emmanuel. Just imagine, I had just come down from the Holy Mountain and now I was breaking bread with Emmanuel in the Grotto.
After that, it was a short hike back to the hotel, a short lunch and word was we had missed the tram for the day. Utiang was insistent that we take the tram so we've extended our stay another day. So here we stand, Sunday afternoon, hanging in the lounge waiting for the morning fog to burn off so we can take the tram.
Sorry just had to stop to visit with a passing elder from a neighboring village named Shagga. White haired man with long nails, white braids and a staff blessing us as he passed.We politely asked permission for a picture to which he graciously acquiesced.
The hotel is surrounded by many tiny villages and at any time of day or night, random people wander through. They are not chased off, they are treated with respect. I will try another attempt at an upload of pictures. They are often interrupted by random power or wifi issues.
Wait till you see the sunset......
Saturday, May 1, 2010
On our Way to Obudu Mountain Resort (with a stop at Moms)
April 29th, 10:30 PM
Great, wonderful, tonight while sipping my Maltina (a non-alchoholic malt classic) I have a laptop WITH a camera I might add and no one to talk to. Wifes at the gallery, daughters in school, and son's too busy killing zombies or watching a movie, not sure which. Anyways, I leave tomorrow morning at 6 for a long road trip south. Be away three days. But might get internet while there. Will post when I can.
April 30
hello hello
Day started at 5:00 AM, and after some quick packing, we headed out for an eight hour road trip, cross country. Utiang drove the whole way since I don't have a Nigerian drivers license but I bet I could buy one cheap. (JK) We've stopped by to visit his widowed mom Utianglikong, sister Ashiema and brother Akomie. They live in the village of Bekukwel (which means "People from the Hills") After a brief visit, we headed to our final destination, Obudu Mountain Resort.
This place is a mountain top resort 5,173 feet above sea level and the road leading to the top would make my wife cry with it's 22 hairpin turns riding up the cliffs. At least it made UU's wife Sintiki cry. Tomorrow morning our guide Clifford will take us on a three hour hike to a different peak for some photographs, then it's back to the hotel to take a tram ride. But this is like none you've ever seen. It's the longest in the world at 11 kilometers. (look it up Americans, I did) I was watching some chickflick (hey remember, 10 channels here) on the tv but never saw the end of it since it's lights out at 11:30. Power is only on in the rooms from 6-9 AM and 6-11:30 PM. Riding up the hill was amazing as we were being chased by a rainstorm. but I was able to snap some interesting shots before it caught up to us.
I'm going to try to upload some pictures but I took a couple of hundred today and I need to spend some time editing them......in the dark. Feels kinda like a little kid staying up in his room with a flashlight after you've been told to shut your lights and go to bed. Maybe I should take the laptop under the covers with me so I don't get caught. I might have luck since it appears the wifi is still alive so I just have to run against battery time.
Pictures in the album will have geotags meaning if you open them on the Picassa website and you click on a picture, Google maps will appear on the right and you can see where in the world I was standing when I took it. That's all tonight, Lights out.
Great, wonderful, tonight while sipping my Maltina (a non-alchoholic malt classic) I have a laptop WITH a camera I might add and no one to talk to. Wifes at the gallery, daughters in school, and son's too busy killing zombies or watching a movie, not sure which. Anyways, I leave tomorrow morning at 6 for a long road trip south. Be away three days. But might get internet while there. Will post when I can.
April 30
hello hello
Day started at 5:00 AM, and after some quick packing, we headed out for an eight hour road trip, cross country. Utiang drove the whole way since I don't have a Nigerian drivers license but I bet I could buy one cheap. (JK) We've stopped by to visit his widowed mom Utianglikong, sister Ashiema and brother Akomie. They live in the village of Bekukwel (which means "People from the Hills") After a brief visit, we headed to our final destination, Obudu Mountain Resort.
This place is a mountain top resort 5,173 feet above sea level and the road leading to the top would make my wife cry with it's 22 hairpin turns riding up the cliffs. At least it made UU's wife Sintiki cry. Tomorrow morning our guide Clifford will take us on a three hour hike to a different peak for some photographs, then it's back to the hotel to take a tram ride. But this is like none you've ever seen. It's the longest in the world at 11 kilometers. (look it up Americans, I did) I was watching some chickflick (hey remember, 10 channels here) on the tv but never saw the end of it since it's lights out at 11:30. Power is only on in the rooms from 6-9 AM and 6-11:30 PM. Riding up the hill was amazing as we were being chased by a rainstorm. but I was able to snap some interesting shots before it caught up to us.
I'm going to try to upload some pictures but I took a couple of hundred today and I need to spend some time editing them......in the dark. Feels kinda like a little kid staying up in his room with a flashlight after you've been told to shut your lights and go to bed. Maybe I should take the laptop under the covers with me so I don't get caught. I might have luck since it appears the wifi is still alive so I just have to run against battery time.
Pictures in the album will have geotags meaning if you open them on the Picassa website and you click on a picture, Google maps will appear on the right and you can see where in the world I was standing when I took it. That's all tonight, Lights out.
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