March 21, 2016

Driving through Owerri and Calabar

Hiya!

How was your weekend? I hope it went well. I had a fun fun time here, and I'll share photos eventually. Again, my Snapchatters already saw everything that went down :) The username is BerryDakara.

Before I left Nigeria, one of the most important things for me to do was see my grandparents. Cakes also wanted us to visit his sister in Calabar. The easiest thing to do was to fly to Port Harcourt, staying with my parents and then drive down to our various destinations. The week before I left, we set off on our tripping across Southern/Eastern Nigeria and while it was tiring, we had a lot of fun. Scroll through for a few photos.

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

This is supposed to be a 'Welcome to Imo State' sign. Is there anyone who's in charge of making sure all these signs in Nigeria are maintained and kept in order? By the way, a soldier at the checkpoint there was trying to threaten me for taking pictures... he obviously didn't know that Cakes knows karate.

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

There's this Freedom Falls thingy in Owerri. I'm not sure what exactly it is or what it's for. Lots of people are usually around taking photos.

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, freedom falls

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, freedom falls

Did you know that the first time I saw these kekenapep tricycles was in Owerri? I was very fascinated by them at the time. I didn't know what pests they actually were.

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

I love taking photographs of sculptures I see. If I had my way, I'd stop the car every single time I saw a sculpture, come down and take lots of photos. I always want to know why the sculpture was made and what the significance is. This one below was in Owerri.

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

These ones below are some of the ones I saw in Calabar - there were soooooooo many but I took only a few!!!

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

Oya o, Calabar friends! Why do you have random sculptures of feet and hands? I was really intrigued by them.

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

Meanwhile, on the way to Calabar, we drove through some village settlements that had these contraptions. My mum said we should stop and ask what they were for...

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

They were making KAI-KAI! I've never had it before, but I think it's supposed to be extra, mega, ultra potent and will have you drunk in mere minutes!

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

We were really excited about being in Calabar, especially me, as it was my first time. 

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

We went to the famed Tinapa, but honestly, we were all very underwhelmed and disappointed. Maybe because it was a weekday, the whole place was dull. But I can't imagine this kind of place being in Lagos and empty on any given day. We took a few photos but all the hype we drove in with, had died. :(

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, tinapa

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, tinapa

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, tinapa

The Marina Resort made a lot more sense. I had begged my parents and Cakes that we should go there at night, but they were all too tired and slept off. So the following morning, I made sure Cakes and I drove up to have a quick look around.


berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort

There is a Slave History Museum at Marina Resort. We were able to get in, and the ticket was just N100 if I remember correctly. I almost wanted to ask why it was so cheap, because again, having something like this in Lagos would cost quite a bit more. We weren't allowed to take photos inside, but I took some of a mural on the side of the building.

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort, slave history

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort, slave history museum

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort, slave history, slave history museum

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort, slavery

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort, slave history museum

Also in the same resort is a section where you can dine and drink by the waterside. This is where I wanted to go the night before. I'm sure it would have been so cool! I'm pretty bummed we weren't able to.
berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort

berry dakara, travel, nigeria, tourist, owerri, calabar, road trip, marina resort

I wish I had spent a little more time traveling throughout Nigeria, and not just spending a few hours or a day in different cities. My advice... don't wait until it's too late. You can follow Social Prefect, Naija Nomads, Naija Treks, Unraveling Nigeria on different tours across Nigeria [and Africa these days]. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. Subscribe to my blog via Bloglovin, so you don't miss any single one of my posts.

15 comments:

  1. Lovely! i really want to take a tour of Nigeria! hope youre settling right in? Cheers mama

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nigeria has a lot to offer in the way of tourism.

      Settling in okay, thanks for asking.

      Delete
  2. Lovely post and pictures dear. I loved Calabar, definitely going back there. I visited Marina resort 3 times during my 5 day trip, lol. Nigeria is blessed, we just need to open our eyes and see the beauty. Thanks for the mention dear, I appreciate it.

    www.socialprefect.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally agree. The tourism industry in Nigeria would do soooooooooo well!!!

      Delete
  3. Yes cakes knows karate so that soldier had better beware. Calabar is such a pretty and clean state. It's a pity I hate travelling.

    Epiphany29
    Tips on paring jewelry with different necklines

    ReplyDelete
  4. You should consider photography Berry. You'd do so well.

    www.mylifeasmoby.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm taking an online Photography class right now. I'd like to do it on the side if possible

      Delete
  5. I was in Calabar after our wedding. I didn't bother to go to Tinapa, I had heard of the underwhelmingness that can overcome you when you go there. I was at Obudu but I wasn't so impressed either. Ish

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I haven't heard great things about Obudu as well. In fact, I heard that if there aren't enough guests, they may refuse to turn on their generators. Not good at all.

      Delete
  6. I miss Owerri! Can't believe it's been five years!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why haven't you been back there? You should go when you have another break.

      Delete
  7. Great photos!! Love this post!
    Xoxo,
    Love from www.trangscorner.com {a lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and food blog}

    ReplyDelete
  8. Seeing through your lens...itching to go.havent been on a #tripchallenge this year

    ReplyDelete

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