Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Abeokuta

I went to Abeokuta yesterday. Ogun state might be right next to Lagos, but it feels like it's worlds apart. Sure it's a much smaller state and Abeokuta also a much smaller city, but it's so peaceful. Driving around the city was very relaxing and almost a surreal experience after Lagos's chaotic traffic and drivers. I used to think of Abeokuta as a small sleepy town and, in many respectives it might be, but after the hustle and bustle of Lagos, I could do with some peace and quiet.

I remember when I used to say that I could not imagine life outside of Lagos. Well, now I can. No, I can't really envisage moving to Abeokuta either (though you never know ....) but sometimes it feels like the cachet of living in Nigeria's most happening city is not sufficient compensation for all the traffic, noise, pollution and general chaos you get in return.

13 comments:

Quest said...

Tell me about it. The air pollution in Lagos is horrendous...I don't know how people are surviving. IMO Lagos is overrated. Yeah it's the "happening place" and all that, but sometimes I feel that if I was going to work in Nigeria (and spend most of the rest of my life there), I can't live in Lagos. If not for sharia, Jos would be my number 1 choice. How many hours away is Abeokuta? I can't remember.

Ore said...

Depends on how fast you are driving. You can make it in about an hour or an hour and a half.

I'm yet to visit Jos, but I can't wait.

Vixen said...

I only remember going to Abeokuta twice. However, I did go to secondary school in Ogun state and I loved it. You are right, it's definitely less congested and more serene.

Quest said...

Jos is lovely. I went (I think) summer of 1997 with my family and stayed with friends for a month. It gets a little cold though (grr), but there's hills and rivers and all that. Enugu is another place I want to visit.

Anonymous said...

i love the yoruba states outside of lagos. so peaceful and quiet. ibadan is beautiful too, and doesn't take long to commute to.

Anonymous said...

but lagos is a true city...i love to hate lagos..but really i love lagos.

Tutsy said...

I can't; No, Correction, I will never live anywhere but Lagos when i do move back to Naija. I mean i don't get it......aside from Abuja, Lagos is the second closest thing to civilization...lol. Yeah the air and noise pollution sucks but that is the cost u pay for living in a big city....just like in New-York, Detriot, Atlanta, even Downtown DC is fast turning to Oshodi.
Its just the euphoria u get when u are around city atmosphere, the hustle and bustle .....its priceless. If i had to live anywhere else but lagos i don't think i would survive...(no kidding). Anywayz i know there are some nice scenery in Abeokuta that might wanna make u reconsider if Lagos is really worth living but trust me if u moved to a quite area like that u would get bored out of ur mind. Abeokuta is nice sha, isn't that where Olumo Rock is located...abeg correct me if i am wrong...lol I have been away for too long.

Pilgrimage to Self said...

Hi Ore, whats happened to your blog? Your entries are all way down the page, or is it my PC playing tricks on me?

Anonymous said...

I grew up in Abeokuta, visited Lagos frequently and later worked there. Absolutely hated the traffic jams in Lagos. Loved the peace and quiet in Abk.
The distance - just an hour, but depending on where you're going in Lagos, you have to account for the time you'll spend stuck in traffic.

Ore said...

Pilgrimage, it looks fine on my computer. Maybe it's your browser? I'm using Firefox.

Ore said...

Tutsy, like you, I also thought that I could not live anywhere else but Lagos.

When I was in the UK and the States, I lived in some pretty quiet places and thought I would go mad. But you know what? I started to appreciate the peace and beauty of these places. Now, I'm not so wedded to one place or the idea of a place. I think I could live just about anywhere - preferably somewhere with warm weather though. ;-)

Olawunmi said...

i'm not sure i agree that lagos is bigger than ogun state, or do i have my geography wrong?

you're right though, they feel worlds apart.

dblog said...

I live in a small town in texas. Its very peaceful and I love it..