NIGERIA: Lagos: A Name (PART 1)

Let's face it, I can wear the colourful dashiki (derived from Hausa language which means 'shirt'), put on a kufi, fila, or mahadu abanki (all are skull caps.... I have to check with Zaharan), wear the Super Eagles football jersey...speak in Yoruba or even fluent Pidgin like Petros (A Greek descent, but born in Nigeria)..I can tell you the state of Kogi with Lokoja as its capital is adjacent to 10 other states in Nigeria...But with my skin colour..I am but an Oyibo (not local, not Nigerian)

At Lake Como (Lago di Como)

Worse still, I am pretty sure that there is no Yoruba name begins with the letter 'Z' (I think) much worse when it's "DZ" in my case. So I get the stares. To pronounce my name is even worse than the tongue twister. 

My friends from the North mostly have Muslim names (Zaharan, Yahaya...even the President, Muhammadu Buhari)  You either will correctly identify them as Hausa (here muslims are the majority), a Muslim or they originally comes from the north of Nigeria. 

From the East, names like Amaka, Chibuzo, Chukwuemeka, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Nnamdi Azikiwe or Ngozi (the list goes on and on). But I noticed, a healthy dose of 'Z' and the sort of name where consonants combine could be a dead giveaway of the origin of the person.

Lagos (pronounced as Lay-goes) the melting pot of various sort of people around Nigeria and Africa, a Yorubaland. You would find names that begins with Olu (ooh-lu, which means God), Oba (means King), Ade (crown/royalty..hmmmm the footballer Adebayor seems a likely match), Akinwunmi (current Governor of Lagos), Babatunde (name given to a son which has the similar trait as his forefather, Babatunde Fashola...previous Lagos Governor's name, now Minister of Power, Works and Housing), Taiwo (name given to a younger set of twin) and some named their children according to the day of birth. Sunday is quite famous. Each day has its qualities according to them

Good names makes person, naturally. Parents give good names to their children which hopefully, will aspire them to greater heights in life or a higher purpose. To a foreigner like me, pronouncing the names here is another matter and worse, not pronouncing it properly. I remembered Anthony (a friend of mine in Abuja) mentioned that they know you are saying their name, but they most probably would not respond to you because of how you say it.

And since name is important..and I am beginning to miss the point regarding this particular posting, my friends at Madams workplace had given or rather bestowed me with one. I am humbled by it, felt given a batch of honour by them. 

You can call me, Femi (which means, love me..)

Oh my!..I was gobsmacked when I heard it. I was studying about the names of the main tribes of Nigeria when the news came. I guess, if it's easy for them...easy for me too. Aheh!!

at Lake Atter (Attersee in Austria)

RARECATION 13: ITALY (Lake Como) - Switzerland (Maloja) - (PART 2)

From Maloja, we drove on a little further. The town how should I say..quiet? I mean there were people walking here and there... hiking the terrain, but I am sure this place is livelier during winter. That was what we noticed, travelling around this mountainous area. 

A few kilos further down the road from Maloja we came to a lake, Lake Silser (Silsersee). We stopped again, naturally, to take photos of the area. How we decided to stop at one place, instead of the other...it depends on how loud the request for the driver to stop the camper van by the roadside. 

"cantiknya..berhenti, berhenti berhenti!!!!"
(Nice...stop, stop, stop!!!)... someone would called out. 

RARECATION 13: ITALY (Lake Como) - Switzerland (Maloja) - (PART 1)

This trip, to me was an exciting one. 

The drive up to the destination was scenic too! The sun finally decided to show up, it promises a day of trouble free and no drama.

A1 "California" and "Temerloh" at the gas station

doing a 'time-lapse' using the GoPro

RARECATION 13: ITALY (Lake Como)

What can I say, I was raised listening to my father's LP (vinyl) on Sunday mornings. I can remember it quite clearly, after breakfast we would be listening to his selection. Simon & Garfunkel, Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, Boney M, Beatles, Santana (Black Magic Woman, especially) and then mom would select songs from Allahyarhamah Datuk Sharifah Aini (Seri Dewi Malam), tunes from Tan Sri P. Ramlee and Puan Sri Saloma and once a while, Hamzah Dolmat. So oldies are nothing 'new' to me. I enjoy them, still! Since we were at Lake Como...the song by Cats Steven, then Yusuf Islam "Morning Has Broken" seems appropriate for this occasion.

Sab and Che Mun were already with Syibli. Radzi was there too. Obviously taking pictures of the lake using the filters. I joined them and tried taking a few pictures with it but the result was appalling. I don't have those holder for the filter and my hands must be trembling against the lens....

some part of the huge lake

RARECATION 13: Switzerland - Italy (Lake Como)

From our last stop, with Didit safely on board we moved on towards the Swiss town of Lugano. From there, Allah willing we will reach the fabled Y-shaped Lake Como. 

George Clooney, Stallone, Madonna, Versace made home along the shores of Lake Como. In the movie Star Wars episode II, part of the Naboo scenes (with lake) were shot in Como especially the marriage of Anakin to Amidala. Suffice to say, it is one of the most desired place to stay in Italy or maybe the whole of Europe if you have cash to burn. 

Autobahn

travelling along the streets...

RARECATION 13: Switzerland (Day 2) : FRIEND GONE MISSING!!!

Before we begin this part of the story...I would like to give credit to Radzi Yusoff from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania who gave the title of this particular posting.. It was, from the rest of us men point of view..excluding the victim, it was sort of funny how it happened. 

Anyway, en route to Lake Como which is in Italy we stopped at a lay-by and use the much needed toilet. We do have it in the van, but  usually reserve it for emergency. 

All of us went down at once and since it was the last stop in a maybe long journey, best get it done with. This last stop proved to be a good one. A Full fledge stop centre with a cafe/restaurant, petrol station (pump station), toilet and a souvenir cum-convenience store. All needed by hungry petrolheads with active bladder and money to burn... 

There's also lots of info regarding the nearby Gotthard tunnel which this place is famous for. There's also another service area opposite this one..servicing the Northbound traffic. It has been around for ages and renovated to serve the road users in this area.

The last major stop before pushing on
towards Lake Como

Ok, for the sake of accuracy and to tell you that this really happened, we stop at My Stop Gotthard. The full address as follows:

Gotthard Raststätte A2 Uri AG
Dimmerschachen
CH–6467 Schattdorf

MY STOP Gotthard

RARECATION 13: Switzerland (Day1 - 2) : Schwyz

OK.....This part of the trip really puzzled me. I can't really recall much, even with the pictures. This was because, I was unable to get connected to the Wifi. 

Yes, there was Wifi available for us to use. Two units of moving hotspot for the whole convoy, but each unit only able to connect to 8 mobile phones at a time. So we have to take turns to be able to use it. But I was busy looking outside the camper van's window that I totally forgot to check my location. But we were heading towards Schwyz, which is not far from Lucerne.

From one town to another..to get to our
destination

RARECATION 13: Switzerland (Day 1): Rhein Falls

Driving in convoy of camper van requires you to check the rest of the vehicles from time to time. Each time we reached a roundabout or about to take a junction..we would relay the news first and later check with each driver if they had successfully navigated the road. We tried our best not to be too far from each other...lest we have to pull over and guide the missing van back to us.