Exploring the East- NYSC Final Days

Hello everyone!

Happy December! This 2018 has been a year. I cannot believe the year has flown by this quickly. I still recall last Christmas like it was yesterday and now, another one is almost here. Also, Stan Lee died November 12. He lived a long life. But does this mean no more cameos?😭

In October a few days after its release I went to see King of boys, a Nigerian movie by Kemi Adetiba. Impressed is not sufficient to express the degree of emotion I felt. It was about 3 hours long, but just like Sound of Music, I did not realize when the time went by. I think my favourite quality about the movie was the fact that they spoke not only English, but Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.The way they were just dropping the Yoruba proverbs eh, it was giving me goose bumps. I also saw a play with my sister titled “Such is life” at Muson Center, Lagos. As per live action theatre, meaning the actors had to memorize their lines. This was my first and I was not disappointed. I would admit I was lost at a point , but soon after I caught on with what was happening.

The month of November was filled with me travelling from one place to another, visiting and achieving as many things as I could before the month of December came and I would leave the east. I found affordable and delicious Ofada rice in Vegas, a restaurant in Abakaliki, but one has to go before a particular time because it finishes very quickly. I saw a lot more of Enugu city, went to visit friends, hung out with another friend who took me to a goat meat joint known as Intelligence. I also visited a poultry farm and saw all the machinery used to incubate fowls and other poultry.

In the last week I went to Owerri in Imo state. First of all, for a journey that is meant to be about 2 hours and 30 minutes, we spent almost 5 due to the terrible roads. From Enugu state through Abia state was good. Once we entered Imo state, especially from a place called Okigwe and further down, it was a different story entirely. And coupled with the harmattan and the lack of air conditioning in the public bus, it was not a lovely road trip at all. We had to even pass inside a village settlement and avoid the main road completely at a point. All of this discomfort faded however when I saw my cousin and her family. The journey was worth it.

For most of my inter state road journeys up to 4 hours, I used Peace Mass Transit, the transport company, if and only if GIGM does not go that route. To go to Imo state however I used ITC- Imo Transport Company. However they have smaller buses than Peace Mass, so the journey was more uncomfortable. The advantage I feel they have over Peace Mass is you are more assured of your safety, because they employ drivers who are middle aged and drive more carefully. Using Peace Mass is like being a passenger in a GTA vehicle- sometimes your heart is in your mouth when you witness the speed some of them use in overtaking other vehicles on the single lane roads. I also used Romchi Mass Transit once from Enugu to Abakaliki. Very tight bus, but the driver drove well. Now for road journeys exceeding 4 hours I use God is Good motors, also knows as GIGM. They have one of the best air conditioned private buses. Their fares are a little higher than others like Peace Mass- for example to go to Lagos from Enugu with GIGM is about N7,500, while with Peace it is about N5,500- but the extra money is worth it. No hassles, no disturbances, you won’t even realize the state of the roads. And their drivers (who are called Captains) drive very well. GIGM internet services are also extremely functional. One can book for their trips online or via their app and even get discounts for booking online.

I am spending the next few days rounding off the service year and getting ready to return home. I still have a few more trips planned, but they are subject to change based on various factors.

I apologize for the lack of images.

Till next time,

Bye!