Diving into Nigeria: My Little Adventure
So, I’d been hearing stuff about Nigeria for a while, you know? Little bits here and there. Finally, I just thought, “Alright, I gotta see this place for myself.” Packed up my stuff, not really having a clue what I was walking into, just wanted to experience it, really.
First Up: The Wild Ride of Lagos Markets
Landed in Lagos, and wow, the place just hits you. The energy, I mean. People told me it was full-on, but you really have to be there. First thing I really wanted to do was check out one of their big markets. I heard Balogun Market was the place to go if you wanted the real experience, so that’s where I pointed myself.
Just getting there was something else! These yellow buses, danfos they call ’em, zipping all over, horns blasting. I jumped in one, got squashed in with a load of locals. People were cool, actually. Some even gave me tips, told me what to watch out for. Felt like I was properly in it from the get-go.
And the market? Man, it was a total maze. So many colours, so much noise, all the smells hitting you at once. Sellers shouting, people haggling like their lives depended on it. I gave it a go, probably got a bit ripped off, but hey, that’s part of the deal, right? I remember this one woman selling these amazing fabrics, ankara, I think. We had a proper laugh, me trying to speak a bit of their pidgin, her just finding it funny. Walked away with way more fabric than I needed, but what can you do? That’s just how it goes sometimes.
Getting Out of the City: A Bit of Green
After a few days soaking up Lagos, I needed to chill out a bit. Someone told me about the Lekki Conservation Centre, said it had this super long canopy walk. Sounded like my kind of thing. So off I went.
It was like stepping into a different zone. Seriously, all that city racket just… gone. That canopy walk they have? It’s seriously way up high! And a bit shaky, not gonna lie, got the old heart thumping a bit. Looking down over the trees, seeing monkeys bouncing about – pretty awesome. It wasn’t one of those super slick, polished tourist spots; it felt a bit rough and ready, which I actually preferred. Just me, the quiet, and a few monkeys looking back at me.
- Walked the whole length of it, no rush.
- Spotted some massive tortoises just chilling near the entrance.
- It was just nice to have that peace, totally different from Balogun.
So, What’s the Big Deal?
You know, Nigeria wasn’t just about the sights. It was the folks there. Everyone I bumped into seemed to have a story, always busy, always pushing. There’s this amazing get-up-and-go attitude, always looking ahead. I went there thinking about “things to do,” but I ended up finding a whole lot more. I only saw a tiny bit, of course. There’s way more to the country than you can see in one go.
Why am I even telling you all this? Well, I reckon the best trips are the ones where you just dive in. I didn’t have some strict plan. I chatted with people, listened to what they said, and just kinda rolled with it. That’s how I found these little moments. It wasn’t about crossing stuff off a list from some book. It was about really doing things and being there. And to be honest, that’s the only way to get a proper taste of a place like Nigeria. You’ve just got to go and live it a bit yourself.
