Travel

Travelling is for life

Keep up to date with my travel adventures.

Cameroon Sue Aspinall Cameroon Sue Aspinall

Baham Bird House

Baham Bird House is Clement's dream project manifesting itself in the hills of his village. He bought the land and then brought in the architect and grounds designer couple Jule and Julie Courcelle Wokam to create the concept of a bird watchers hive filled with art and books. An art house in the countryside - sitting side by side with the small houses of the villagers.

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Cameroon Sue Aspinall Cameroon Sue Aspinall

Baham

I have taken the rare opportunity to join a German resident of the Cameroon, Betina, on her return to her village. She is going to a funeral and has invited me and two other German tourists, Freideman and Jutta to join her.

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Cameroon Sue Aspinall Cameroon Sue Aspinall

Douala

Today I spent more time discovering the wonders of Douala. It is good to be able to wander around this city without the worries of safety like I had in Nigeria. Cameroon is certainly more relaxed and less edgy.

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Cameroon Sue Aspinall Cameroon Sue Aspinall

Douala

I moved to the Foyer du Marin today; a mission establishment intent on providing seaman with a land based retreat of humanity when they dock in Douala port. It has a wonderful terrace and excellent restaurant.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Lagos

The journey back to Lagos involved a classic African waiting game at a motor depot. in Iyaro Motor Park. The 18 seater minibus eventually left at 12:00 noon costing 13,000N. I’d waited three hours for the minibus to fill and to be loaded with all the luggage.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Benin City

Within the central roundabout of Benin City, stands the City Museum which houses an extraordinary exhibition tracing the history of this renowned city.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Benin City

Today was one of those unpredictable ones with a lot to gamble with. Firstly, the car I took to Benin City from Osogbo was old, rickety and definitely felt as if it wouldn't make it.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Ie-Ife

Just a short journey away from Osogbo, is Ife a small town considered to be the birth place of Yoruba civilisation.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Osogbo

Today was another of those treasured times on my trip, full of rich learning and wonderful meetings with like-minded people.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Osogbo

The Nike Adire Batik workshops are incredible. Here I was able to see the whole process of this revived art form in process. Young artists have been taught the traditional methods and designs and are now working ambitiously to make the fabric outcomes desirable for an ever increasing market.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Lagos

I spent the afternoon at the Nike Art and Cultural Centre in Lekki. This centre was founded by Nike Okundaye, (the picture below of her is made of tiny beads), an accomplished artist who uses richly detailed and arresting batik images to represent the views towards women in Nigerian society.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Ikoyi

I said goodbye to Ikeja today. I have loved staying in this area of Lagos. It's busy, buzzing and close to the centres of Ogba and Berger - and I can travel around on local transport easily. You feel part of the hum of Nigerian city life.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Ikeja

'The cash palarver' has become a thing in Nigeria. All over the country there is a shortage of cash and people are queuing for a long time outside banks to try to get restricted amounts out of cashpoints. Today, I decided to go to the airport to sort out my own cash flow.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Abeokuta

Abeokuta is a two hour taxi ride from Lagos. I did this journey in a shared car from Berger Motor Park, north of Ikeja to Kuta Motor Park in Abeokuta, for 2000N.

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Nigeria Sue Aspinall Nigeria Sue Aspinall

Ikeja

Arriving back in West Africa was exciting even if at 04:00 in the morning. I was a little apprehensive about arriving in the dark and to a country which is always portrayed as dangerous - so needed to be on full alert.

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Benin Sue Aspinall Benin Sue Aspinall

Ganvie

I took a shared taxi this morning heading for Cotonou and got out at Calavi, the junction closest to where you get the boats to Ganvie. I walked down to the water side and arranged the ticket (8000CFA) and a guide (5000CFA) for the trip.

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Benin Sue Aspinall Benin Sue Aspinall

Abomey

This was another day I’ll always remember, packed with visits and knew knowledge. Sylvian was brilliant. From 09:00 to 17:00 we were on the go visiting different places around the town.

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Benin Sue Aspinall Benin Sue Aspinall

Abomey

After a wonderfully relaxed start to the day spent in the guest house garden, I set off back to Cotonou and then out on the road to the north heading for Abomey.

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Benin Sue Aspinall Benin Sue Aspinall

Ouidah

Staying in a lovely hotel is such a treat. This morning I indulged in wonderful food at the inclusive breakfast – a feast spread out over a buffet table with endless cups of tea.

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