I’m back to regular programming now aka off the road and back home getting the year started; and with all that it has been a liiiittle more than a day since the last post, but I’m back with all the gist about Day 3 🙂

Hiking enthusiast or not, a visit to Kinigi which is home to the Volcanoes National Park is an absolute must. If you’re not braving the climb up one of the various peaks in the Virunga mountain range, it is enough to hang around in the fields and just soak in the views of Mounts Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Muhabura, Gahinga and Bisoke.

The plan was to hike Mt Bisoke, an active volcano with a crater lake at its peak. Taking about four hours to ascend – and about the same to get back down with temperature at the top between 6 and 9 degrees, it is said to have a stunning view that is totally worth the trouble. However, because you conquer obstacles in your mind before you hold victory in your hands, and our heads were not just there at that time, Mt Bisoke will have to miss me until I’m back in drier season.

The day was spent leisurely exploring the neighbourhood, chatting with locals, and then we headed on to Musanze, a larger town a few minutes away, exploring the shops for any interesting buys, and having a delicious lunch of wings, fish strips, salad and lemon + ginger tea, before heading back to Kinigi to spend the afternoon on a guided tour of the village.

This very authentic experience had us walking through paths lined with rocks from volcanic eruptions from decades past, stopping to play with kids spinning tops in the street and learning about culture, lifestyle and even government policy from Joda, the very pleasant guide. We talked about all topics from free, compulsory education for all children in Rwanda, to merit-based university scholarships provided by the government, to relocation of homes to areas close to social amenities to ensure everyone has access, to agricultural policy executed by the villagers aimed at replenishing the land. While practicing some Kinyarwanda, it was really funny when Joda noted that we were getting people confused by looking somewhat different yet sounding the same  🙂

And when it was time for the highlight, a performance of Intore, the Dance of Warriors, it was impossible to not join in.

I may not have conquered Bisoke this time, but Kinigi definitely has a piece of me and I have a feeling I will be back 😉

After the New Year Countdown shenanigans, Tuesday got off to a slow start. Thankfully the driver who the host S had graciously helped hire for the next six days was scheduled to arrive by 11am, and we spent no less than two hours in the morning discussing Rwanda’s recovery and growth, Nigeria’s state, our countries’ prospects and our people, over breakfast of brown bread and homemade avocado spread. Have I said how amazing S is yet?! While the conversations made my heart heavy and left me personally challenged, I was still excited about the adventures ahead.

The plan was to head to Akagera on Tuesday, go on the Night Safari to see nocturnal animals, camp overnight and go on the Day Safari, hoping to see the Big Five. Water, drinks, snacks, insect repelllent, torches, warm clothing, blankets and a padded mat (bought after combing all of Kigali in search of sleeping bags with no luck) were loaded in the back of the jungle- ready 4×4, and off we went on the 2.5 hour trip from Kigali.

Fees settled and introductions to the guide done, while chilling at the reception before heading to the camping area to retire for the day as the night Safari was fully booked, a group returned with news of sighting a herd of elephants. We quickly set off to see them just in case we were not as lucky the following day. Smart move.

Excited about having seen the elephant, hippos, baboons, impalas, warthogs and a whole bunch of other animals, we called it a day and headed to the camping area which was overlooking a lake with a stunning view, and surrounded with an electric fence to keep us from becoming dinner. With the fence open at the camp entrance, the slight hint of danger made it all the more exciting.

Nothing prepared me for how cold the night was going to get! Jacket, thermals, socks and I was still freezing. I must have woken up to look for the warmest position I could curl into a hundred times. Each time I woke up it seemed like a new place was numb. Fam! I still don’t understand how I zipped myself straight-jacket-style to maximise my body heat, but I can’t forget the confusing discomfort that woke me from the awkward position. This was Type 2 fun that I’m ready to do all over again!

The campsite was overlooking a lake with a stunning view, and the sunrise in the morning is hard to describe. Nature is the most perfect artist!

Four hours and sightings of buffalos, girraffes, zebras, more hippopotamuses later, while listening to the Park Guide talk about his love for Tekno and Patoranking and how he stopped being a PSquare fan after the group split, it was time to depart. To the elusive lions and rhinoceros, see you later.

Next stop on the trip was Kinigi, home to the Volcanoes National Park where Mount Bisoke is located. Heading from Akagera, we made the 2.5hour trip back to Kigali, had lunch and the absolute best lemon and ginger tea ever made, and  continued 2.5 hours or so to a quaint little guest house at Kinigi. Dinner was a little unfamiliar to the Nigerian palate – but there are few things large doses of chilli oil won’t fix. After sleeping off in front of the fireplace at the lounge and then sauntering off to my room, Day 2 was done.

Yesterday evening seems like a blur.

I had skipped lunch, and so opted to make myself a lovely dinner. The kind of evening I was going to have was clear in my mind – a quiet one with me huddled on the couch, in my living room which I’d have made too cold, all by myself with no one to get in the way of my thoughts as I allow my mind wander after a delicious plate of seafood pasta and a glass of wine.

Cooking done, dinner had, everything was going according to plan and then it begun…

It started as a dull ache in my tummy, and before long I was in pain all the way to the soles of my feet. I hope I never find out how 10/10 pain is, but it sure felt like it. Lying in the floor with my feet elevated gave little relief. Before long I was puking out everything in my bowels, while intermittently ‘cleansing my colon’. I was going from having my face over a place it has no business being, to replacing my face with my bum, to lying on the bathroom floor and back again.

By the time this had gone on for a short while, I began to feel faint. I staggered to the front door and unlocked it so that if I passed out, help will have easy access to me lol.

Now here’s the interesting part. At some point, my body had enough and went to sleep. I don’t even recall when that happened. Have to say I’m surprised I woke up on my bed rather than the floor. This morning I feel as good as new, with the added bonus of feeling really light – no detox needed! My first thought when I woke up was “what exactly happened last night?”, and until I started to write this the details of how bad I felt were but a distant blur.

Often times we have pretty plans all laid out, like my quiet, introspective Friday night, and then fate goes “Just whollup!” Here’s wishing that painful patches, if any, in this journey called life are over so quickly that we look back and can barely remember if they really happened.

Here’s hoping we heal right away and are better off for the lessons that they teach. Or at least we get free detoxes.

🙂

1:10 am. Sunday night/ Monday morning.

I should be asleep, but thanks to my sleeping pattern – or lack thereof – I’m not.

A montage showing Lewis Hamilton’s F1 victory just jolted me into the realization that I hardly ever invest emotion into anything with an outcome I am unsure of. If I loved a football club or a MotoGP team for example, each match or race I watch is another chance to go through a spectrum of feelings with no guarantee that the end will leave me on a high or low. It’s almost like a little piece of life.

I have always thought my life is pretty exciting, but right now I kinda wonder what I’ve missed out on.

Being in control is great, but maybe it’s time…

Just maybe.

I dreamt DJ Khaled came to my house.

The dream was really vivid. At first I was about to leave a parking lot somewhere when a friend brought an elderly Herbert Wigwe to take a look at my car cos he was looking to buy a similar one.

My car is a Honda Civic 2007 model. 😐

After I did Herbert the favour of getting a closer look at the car he wanted – opened the doors so he could check out the interiors, opened the boot so he could have a look too-  he got into his large SUV and we all left. I got home, and shortly after DJ Khaled arrived. He came cos i was meant to interview him. Because i had been out, I hadn’t got the chance to arrange my house so I was dashing around getting the place in order while he was chilling in the living room, and at some point he went to ease himself in my scattered bathroom. It really was like a friend visiting. Afterwards I grabbed a little notepad, we chatted like friends and then headed to a venue of some sort. Turns out he was also performing at a show.

The show was in what looked like a church hall and the audience looked like an after-church crowd. He sat on a wooden desk towards the back of the hall. At some point, the organizers started to set up his corner with entertainment and  drinks and his desk began to look like a VIP section at a club. This they were meant to have done earlier, but were late because Nigerian time… He was uninterested and unimpressed. They had told him he was meant to perform with a robot, and the robot was yet to arrive. Being his friend, I kept checking to see if he was alright and he asked me to convey his displeasure to the organizers. He complained that rather then get the robot ready for his performance, there they were offering him alcohol and white powdery substances! He was really pissed off. I tried to placate him, and went to tell them what he said. The guy in charge of the robot seemed pretty laid back and not flustered at all in-spite of his guest’s dissatisfaction. He said the robot was working, but they had sent it to a workshop located opposite FUT Minna (an area called ‘Front of School’) to have it quickly checked, to be returned within an hour . When I told my friend Khaled, he let me know he was only going to wait a little longer, and then he was going to leave. He clearly was getting to the end of his rope. I continued to act as intermediary between my friend and the organizers who were set up in what looked like the lobby of a hotel. While trying to let them know that they needed to get their act together as DJ Khaled was on the verge of leaving, one who was sitting at their spot which looked like a hotel reception desk was trying to convince me to buy an MTN SIM card! I turned it down, then ignored him and continued to talk to the next guy about my friend’s annoyance. Moments later, two young women arrive carrying the slightly rusted robot which looked like a school project from a few years before. I chatted the ladies for a little bit, trying to find out if both of them made the robot, and then I woke up.

I think I need malaria medicine.

It’s 11:48 pm. I have no plans to go to bed for the next hour and right now, I am hungry.

 

 

 

 

 

In a bid to be more responsible about my eating habits, I decided to cut out all that late night chowing I have become fond of. Feeling like someone whose birthright was slimness, I’ve been known to start cooking in the middle of the night and have dinner way past midnight because …well just because. In light of recent events (Re – last post here ), old habits are dying. However, days like this test my resolve. I have just eaten half an avocado – cos the other half was not fit for consumption and I was too hungry to toss the entire thing. That has done little to soothe the pangs, but as my six packs need some help to shine through, let me ‘face my forward’ till I can have my next meal guilt free at an hour holier than now.

Here I am whining about my self-induced hunger. I can’t help but think about those who are hungry because there is nothing left in their pots, pantries or pockets.

Spare more than a thought tomorrow. Find someone who’s in need, and give.

Happy Holy Week everyone!

Some years ago, I conceived a dream of having washboard abs.  I’ve gone through the time that has passed since that dream began with way more talk than action about my future six pack abs. At some point, with the cockiness of the naturally skinny, I made the grand declaration that ‘the gym is not for me’, and I have gone on to become the bona fide Chocolate Keeper on my team at work – the one who stashes away sweets and soda and the extra bags of chocolate travelling team members bring, to make sure we have a steady supply for as long as they last.

And then one fine day a few days ago, I looked in the mirror.

While I was ‘carrying shoulder up’ and acting like the self-appointed president of #SkinnyGang, all my reckless eating has steadily been finding a home around my waistline.

I looked in the mirror to find that I suddenly will need to suspend all bodycon-related activities till this muffin-top that is forming around my tummy is appropriately handled. With my tail between my legs, I quietly packed long-abandoned workout gear into my bag and have retraced my proud steps to the gym.

Until further notice, the gym is now for me. 😐

This seems like a really shallow post as we are a lot more than our body proportions, dress size or numbers on a scale, but here is today’s lesson: Some days you find motivation, other days motivation finds you. Whatever it is you want to be, do all you can to make sure you and your motivation remain in the same space. Keep your eyes on your target, and reach it.

(Off to do some flutter kicks with pot-bellied tears in my eyes.)

Coffee makes me feel like a superstar.

I’ve been gone a long time, cos in addition to my laziness, I decided to switch webhosts.

You see, if you’re remotely connected to Nigeria, you’d know that in the ‘spirit of recession’ (whatever the hell that means), we’re all on the lookout for anything that seems like a better deal. And that’s exactly why I decided to go with a less costly host to save a lot of money. And me being me, I figured I could do the transfer myself. Hello DIY!

Like a good friend once told me, if you do not want to spend money, you will spend time.

Indeed, time have I spent. Let’s just say that this life is not by gra-gra. One month after my old plan got cut off – and website went down- and I’m still on the matter! Files on the old server have been deleted, so it’s time for this to become a prayer point.

Knowing me and my strong head, I still shall not give up on DIY’ing. Matter of fact, I really should go and install my window blinds – drill in hand, stool under my feet, all by myself!

I really hope this doesn’t turn out to be the very first post on a new onenigeriangirl page with old posts stuck in my back up files ‘unrestorable’. Either way, it wouldn’t hurt too badly cos I’ve still got you. We’d have more to share. 🙂

Speaking of super-stardom, yesterday was International Women’s Day. I don’t mean to be such an ostrich, but am I the only one to whom this feels like the very first IWD? I don’t recall the day ever being celebrated this widely. It really does make a difference to listen to life lessons and draw inspiration from the lives and achievements of women who have made a mark. Sometimes we all need reminders that we’re not here to just get by and go. We actually are put here to thrive and rise above it all. Above our challenges, above our weaknesses, above our pain, above our limits.

Coffee does make me feel like a superstar. But that lovely feeling passes after a few minutes. The kind of feeling I’m ready for now is that which comes from crossing out the items on my goals list. New tip to use: keep your eyes on a star. Or a few stars. Remember how those three wise men found Jesus? Find your star, follow it, trust the process, believe, and you will find the manger you seek.

And one of mine is getting this website back up!

 

ADDENDUM:

 

 

 

 

 

Mama we made it!!! To the Glory of the Most High, I’m back at ya! After tinkering under the hood a bit, I finally fixed the glitch.

Welcome back guys!

XO