Atoke’s Monday Morning Banter: Seychelles, Ogbomosho, Barbados…In Search of a Little Peace & Quiet

The first paragraph of this banter is usually so difficult to write. It’s what will show on the home page that’ll determine whether it’s something worth clicking or not. So, in the past 4 weeks I’ve tried to be as airy and as inane as possible but I find that I’m getting bored. I mean, if I had to read me spewing some diatribe EVERY Monday about how Mondays are a drag, I might have to pull out a pistol! But you guys are kind and patient so you really should be celebrated.

Anyway, as the year draws to a close it’s getting more and more difficult to think of work as my mind finds itself drifting towards the holidays. I mean; time off work, food, family and just generally being a bum is so attractive right now. It is said that Nigerians don’t know how to relax, and before you bite my head off saying it’s a lie “they said” I’ve heard it said before that we have ZERO concept of holidays but I don’t agree. It is said that Nigerians equate holidays with “shopping season” and not necessarily a time to just sit back, sip cocktails and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

You see, when I was younger, my folks would pile us in the back of two vans (large extended family sontin) and we’d head up north, or the east. I remember the trips to Shiroro dam, and the war bunkers in Umuahia! Those trips were blissful. Just seeing the sights and no feeding restrictions.  No Lacombes, or Understanding Maths, or New General English…. none of that… just a blessed departure from the realities of life.

As I grew older, real life started to take its toll on me. To plan a holiday required money, time off work, the weather of the place you’re going, the logistics of getting there… and it became more and more difficult to get away. This weekend, I was talking with a friend of mine about holiday destinations and he said London! I screamed “You people who go to London, Manhattan and Lagos for HOLIDAYS are heroes oh!” Those places are too busy and too noisy for any kind of rest to go on. I mean, how do you just “chill” in London? Everything is so BUSY and everybody is rushing. Isn’t a holiday meant to be restful? People with kids even have it more difficult; imagine going on a trip with 3 toddlers. All of them screaming for attention or heaven forbid one of them falls ill. There goes your holiday, right into the dumpster!

I asked a couple of my friends and I got a diverse range of responses, Mauritius, Yankari Game Reserve, India, Zanzibar, Singapore, Kenya. My friend, Tanwa had the best response, “Anywhere where the weather outside is bearable and the sheets in the hotel are clean, the bathroom is sparkling and the comforter is indeed comfortable.”

Anyway, so where’s your perfect holiday destination for peace and quiet? Where’s that place that your heart longs for when everything is just so busy and you need to shut down? Where’s that place that you think about dreamily and know you just wanna go!?

Please share your special places with us. Have a great week ahead, remain positive and keep a smile on your face.

Love, peace and cupcakes!

Toodles!

Photo credit: stanthonyscu.ie