EASTER IN U.A.E & OMAN

The United
Arab Emirates was not among my top two Easter vacation choices. When plans fell
through for other locations, I had to make do with Dubai. I was not initially
keen on the trip, I mean it’s like the 37^th State of Nigeria. It feels
like a cliché saying you are going to Dubai for a holiday.

I saw several Dubai deals but that of Socialprefect tours stood out, mostly because it wasn’t just for U.A.E (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) but the itinerary also included a trip to another country – Oman.

First activity on arriving Dubai (of course after checking into the hotel and settling in) was the desert safari where we had options of quad biking, Carmel riding and dune bashing.

First, I had to get the Arab scarf (Ghutra) to complete my look.

The major activity was the dune bashing. It was so scary, yet thrilling.  The way the SUVs meandered through the desert mounds, sometimes sharp turns got us thinking the vehicle was going to tumble.

Small piece of advice, don’t eat any meal hours before taking the ride, else you’ll most likely throw up. Most of us alighted from the vehicle feeling nauseous.

SAND DUNE VIDEO Download

After the ride, we retreated to the camp where we did Carmel ride and then had a dinner buffet. During the dinner, we were entertained by a belly dancer, tanura show and fire show.

Second day, we were off to explore Abu Dhabi. It’s like the Abu Dhabi is on a mission to have the tallest everything in the world - mall, building, hotel, residential houses e.tc. The buildings stand tall in all their glory showing off intimidating architectural prowess.

Frist stop we made in Abu Dhabi was the visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The Mosque was constructed between 1996 and 2007 at a cost of 2 Billion dihrams ($545 million). Starting from the outside to the underground pathway leading into the main mosque, you'll be wowed by the structures. 

Best part for me was the lights, the Chandeliers were everything. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from the company Faustig in Munich, Germany that incorporate millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier is the second largest known chandelier inside a mosque, the third largest in the world.

We had a city tour of the Abu Dhabi and a quick stop at the Abu Dhabi mall and detour to the Ferrari world before heading back to the hotel.

The following day we had a city tour of Dubai city. Our tour guide gave a rundown of the history of the city while the bus drove through the residential areas.

We had a stopover at the Jumeirah beach, after which headed to the Dubai mall before heading to the IMG world of adventure.

The world of adventure was another highlight of my visit to Dubai. It felt like a world of its own. The biggest indoor theme park in the world. The first activity we did was the Avengers Battle of Ultron, where we wore 3D glasses while seated in a circular cinema like hall of sort, watching the avengers save the world till the theater started to rotate and vibrate violently…the moving hall and vibrations took me by surprise.

From there we went to the Thor’s Thunder spin. This one was the ‘baba’ of them all. It didn’t help I had just seen Final Destination movie part 5 a week before the trip, Boy! I thought about all the possible freak accidents that could happen while we were being spun around.

Thor’s Thunder spin Download

After recovering we went for some more crazy stuff, some were plain PG13, like Predator and Ben 10. The Amazing ride of Gumball was enjoyable till well, my competitive spirit which I thought I had tamed showed up. I remember enjoying the ride and shooting at the walls as the cable car drove from door to door. My instincts made me check everyone’s gun score on and mehn I was the 2^nd least scorer. That was where the fun ended for me. I became so serious with my aim and shots, I left there fulfilled when the ride ended and I had thrashed everyone’s score with a good margin. I guess some things really never change. Lool

I did several other rides, my head began turningoninown…the velociraptor ride was the craziest and scariest of them all (had the track going out of the building, straight up into the sky and then back to the ground surface in full speed). The forbidden territory ride was another remarkably scary one.

The next day was the trip to the second country – Oman. This happened to be a milestone for me. My 10^th country visited, yay!!

To get to Oman, we had to travel through all the provinces in the United Arab Emirates, and of course Dubai and Abu Dhabi stood out in terms of development. After clearing at the border, we made our way to the ocean side where we had a boat cruise and chilled by the beach.

The brave ones went for banana ride, which closely resembles white water rafting just that here, the banana shaped boat is tied to a bigger boat and pulled across the ocean. There is no raft or need of paddles, but just as in white water rafting, the boat tumbles and throws everyone into the ocean. I didn’t come to drown in Oman, so I sat this one out.

A friend told me you can’t go to Dubai and not go on a shopping spree. I pride myself as a disciplined shopper but thankfully I listened and took my dollar debit card as back up. Boy! Maybe it was because I went shopping with two renowned impulse buyers, or maybe I got lost in the shopping craze, I never for once thought I would spend a whole day shopping! From morning till evening, we were dragging big bags across shops and malls buying everything.

I had to tell the cashier to announce the names of my co-shoppers twice at the last mall, so we didn’t miss our flight back.

Once again, Socialprefecttours delivered on an amazing trip. Not only did I leave with great memories but I made new awesome friends.

And if you know me, you'll know by now traveling affords me a chance to explore landscape photography...

CONVERSATIONS WITH MYSELF

After a long day at the office, I got down to my favourite activity just before sleep comes: scrolling through Twitter to get updates on what has been going on around the world. I use Twitter mostly as source of News and an avenue to release all the crazy going on in my head. It’s also been worthwhile as regards getting music referrals from the awesome music buddies I have come to know on the app.

Anyway, that day I was spent both physically and mentally, I needed to rant and get a few things out of my head. I tweeted something about how I keep hearing nice stories about things happening for others, but such never happens to me. Like I have to work hard for every damn thing and how I needed a break from this narrative, even if it was just once.

I deleted that tweet a minute after. I had to tell myself to shut up, literally.

You see, I let myself get lazy over the years. Even Reward Davies saw my laziness and left me alone. I can’t fault him tho, my indecisiveness must have made his head spin.

Looking back, I don’t have any regrets. I mean, on relocating back to Benin in 2014, I could easily have started a Graduate program at University of Benin and would have been done with it by now. But nah, I was damaged from working in Lagos and I needed to take time off to recover. Which I did, but I let it linger for far too long.

I was hiding under the excuse of ‘I’m not a hustler’. Don’t get me wrong, I am still strongly of the opinion that ambition is such bullshit which takes away happiness. I’ll still take contentment over ambition, but there should be a limit to this. A thin line between contentment and laziness.

Anyway, like they say, it’s never too late to make a change. No use regretting wasted time. I have already stated in my first blog post of the year that in 2019, I am going to put myself in inconveniencing situations. Those exams I have been avoiding, I would take them and I will prepare meticulously for them.

Why did I delete my tweet? Because I knew for real, luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. I am not naïve to ignore the fact that some persons, really do have it all planned out for them, but that’s just a few of the world’s richest population. Most of us need to actually put in some level of work.

I mean, even those friends I was referring to, the ones doing Masters abroad, or those that have left for other establishments all made a move. Even Dr. Uyi who is also a believer in the ambition is bullshit movement, I know the sacrifices he made to move to NY to practice medicine. I knew I was being irresponsible, wanting those nice things to happen to me as well without putting in the work.

I know I’m very good at ranting or should I say lamenting? but to a large extent I will say I have been intentional in not losing the essence of what life is about. My mind would always go back to 2016 when I had a paradigm shift. It hit me I was just existing. I was there wishing on a star for a better life. Constantly complaining about work stress and how it was consuming me, till I woke up and knew I had to be intentional about creating my own happiness.

“There comes a point where you have to suck it up, and stop whining and start living” _ Callie Torres (Greys Anatomy)

If I have been able to get it right as per my pursuit of happiness, why then am I finding it difficult to change the status quo as regards my career path?

January till date, I have been feeling stuck. Feeling like I am in a place where I no longer belong. I have had same job function for Five years plus now. God knows I desire a new path. As Makua aptly put it after reading my lamentation on Instagram, he asked “Do you like your job or you just want to experience another type of freedom?”

Here’s an excerpt from my post on Instagram –

‘My entire being currently feels stuck in a place I don’t feel I belong to. I’m still having the urge to tear it all up, burn it to the ground and start my life afresh. Cause chaos and for once know what it’s like to live with uncertainty.’

This change I strongly desire would not come from wishful thinking. I saw this tweet recently and it spoke volumes to me –

“If you want a better life, you have to be willing to pay the ‘true cost’ of a better life. Leaving behind old friends, bad habits, unhealthy ways, saving money, making new connections, e.t.c” – @Nappyb0yy

The cost I have to pay to change my narrative if I am serious about a new life path/journey is giving up my convenience. No more lazying about, I have rested and I have healed from the scars of working in Lagos. I am taking this post as me making a commitment to actually get up and do something proactive to change things.

Even if I don’t succeed, or things do not work out as wished for, I will be at peace knowing I did put in effort. That I made an attempt and I worked towards not just one, but two paths I am interested in pursuing.

For now I am a bit confused as to which I truly desire but nothing’s lost. I will chase all nevertheless and when it comes to the bridge of deciding which to go for, I will cross it.

Peep this lyrics from my current favourite song -

“You got to get up

You got to get up and make a move

‘Cause the world will never see you until you do

No, they don’t really care what you’re going through

So you got to show them, baby

…

‘Cause everybody’s got their own damn problem

So everybody’s trying to find their way

And day by day is the struggle

In this world you know you have to hustle

Just know that you are not alone

You don’t always have to be strong all by yourself

I said, it’s okay to ask for help”

-          Like you by Tatiana Manaois

“I don’t know how some people can just accept what life gives them and be okay with that. I don’t care if I have to struggle and go through the pain as long as it’s building the life I see fit for myself, I’ll take it.” – Luis Garcia

It’s really quite simple though, if you dream about a certain life, you gotta work towards making it a reality. Enough with the day dreaming and get to work! This post is mostly for me, first as a commitment and also to serve as a reminder I can fall back to just incase I derail and lose focus. Also, I want to believe this can also help someone make a stand to kick laziness to the curb and actively work towards that life envisaged.

I sincerely hope that a year from now, I’ll read this piece and I’ll smile with pride because it would all be worth it.

“Be intentional, you can’t afford to continuously let life happen to you. Figure out what you want and all the small steps required for you to get there.” - @glory_osei

MUSIC REVIEW - MY TOP ALBUMS OF 2018

I spent a better part of the month going through about 40 albums released in 2018. As with previous years, my list usually comprises top 10 albums but this time around, after reviewing and shortlisting 21 albums, I couldn’t but end the list with Top 12 albums.

I need to make it clear about the criteria I used. I draw my list strictly from personal preference and experience with music. This list is made up of albums I could relate to, those that saw me through dark times, those that broke me and yet put me together still, albums with lyrical depth and obvious themes.

These albums gave me life in 2018. Take note of the worthy mention category, those albums are just as good as the Top 12.

12.  Dan + Shay by Dan + Shay

       Genre - Country

This self-titled album is the third effort from Country music duo – Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney. It’s my favourite country music album of 2018. The album has a feel good dreamy flow that makes you think of the one who holds your heart. When listening to the album, I always picture myself on a road trip with the windows down, the air blasting into my face and the album playing at top volume while my mind travels through memories made with that special one.

Favourite Tracks – Speechless, Tequila, What keeps you up at night

11. Origins by Imagine Dragons

       Genre – Electropop

I will always compare any new Imagine Dragon’s album to their debut album which was and still is a masterpiece. Sadly, none of their follow up albums has been able to meet same level of excellence. Origins feels like a continuation of their previous LP – Evolve, though in itself, Origin boasts of some memorable songs. I’ll say the band did well on this album, though it’s a typical Imagine Dragon sound, nothing new per say. Songs like Boomerang and Stuck hit home ‘cus this album came out at a time when I was struggling with moving on from a broken relationship.

Favourite Tracks – Stuck, Bad Liar, Boomerang, Birds

10. Bastian Baker by Bastian Baker

       Genre – Country, Pop

I discovered Bastian Baker last year when I took a risk in downloading his fourth album. I was drawn by the album art and it was worth the data consumed. I remember the shiver that went down my spine when I heard Time.  I sent the track - You Should Call Home to Kareem, this was his response – “I practically stood still in the office after listening to this”.

Favourite Tracks – Time, You Should Call Home, Another Day

9. Camila by Camila Cabello

    Genre – Pop

I remember wondering how 2018 was going to be music wise, then Camila dropped her debut solo album fresh off her split from Fifth Harmony. The album started the year for me and gave  a promise that the year was indeed going to be a good year for music. This was a good pop vocal album well deserving of its Grammy nomination for that category.

Favourite Tracks – Never be the same, Consequences, Something’s gotta give

8. Bridges by Josh Groban

    Genre – Classical crossover

This album couldn’t have come at a much better time. I discovered the song Granted when I was dealing with a bit of quarter life crisis. I decided to get the full album and it was a blessing to me. I remember that time I almost cried listening to Bridge over troubled water (Simon and Garfunkel cover), not because of pain I was dealing with but because one of my best pals was going through so much and there really wasn’t anything I could do to ease the ache. If you are looking for up-lifting music, you should get this album.

Favourite Tracks – Granted, Bridge over troubled water, River, Bigger than us

7. Burn the Ships – For King & Country

    Genre – Gospel Pop

What I love about this album is that it’s not your typical gospel album, but still it delivers messages that enriches the soul. The theme of the album focuses on moving on from the past. Forgetting your past and fighting on. One of my favourite lyrics on the album goes ‘Step into a new day, we can rise up from the dust and walk away, we can dance upon our heartache, so light a match, leave the past, burn the ships and don’t look back’.

Favourite Tracks – Burn the ships, Fight on fighter, Control, Pioneers

6. Only Love – Jordan Smith

    Genre – Pop

I got to know Jordan Smith from his The Voice Blind audition, where he blew everyone away with his rendition of Sia’s Chandelier. He eventually went on to win the show. Smith’s vocals on this album is fire. The lyrical content is excellent and impressively, he co-wrote six of the twelve tracks on the album. The album track opener – Please and the closing track – Sleeve are sure to get your emotions stirred up. Only love is another stand out on the album, his vocals are sure to give you goose bumps. The vocal runs on Feel good is another exciting highlight on the album.

Favourite Tracks – Sleeve, Please, Find yourself with me, Only love

5. The Greatest Showman OST by Various Artists

    Genre – R&B, Pop

The album was released early December 2017, but only gained traction early 2018 and went on to be amongst the top selling albums of 2018 (pure sales). Well, I’m also grouping this album with the re-released Reimagined version that had A-list artists cover all tracks on the album. Kelly Clarkson’s cover of Never enough is such a delight. Sadly, a wrong artist was chosen to cover This is me. A Christina Aguilera or Demi Lovato would have done the song justice than Kesha.

Favourite Tracks – This is me, Never enough, Rewrite the stars

4. Bad Together by Rozzi

    Genre – R&B, Pop

I love it when the message on an album is very clear and the songs have a flow, such that it tells a story. Bad together is one album that delivers perfectly on this. It tells the story of a relationship, from the start, through the bad times to the end of the relationship. This album was released after my break up. Having something I could relate to gave me comfort. My favourite track, Uphill battle felt like I was staring into a mirror the first time I heard it. Two things you can’t ignore on this album are Rozzi’s song writing prowess and her vocal talent.

Favourite Tracks – Uphill battle, Lose us, Bad together, 66 Days

3. A Star is Born OST – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

    Genre – Country, Pop, Rock, Folk

I played this album a thousand times, fell in love with it a hundred times over before I even watched the movie. This album is a masterpiece and one of the best Original Soundtrack Albums out there. The stand out song on the album - Shallow has won an Oscar, a Golden globe and two Grammy awards.

The only downside I’ll say is the addition of the dialogues from the movie to the album.

  Favourite Tracks – Shallow, Heal Me, Before I cry

2. Look up Child by Lauren Daigle

    Genre – Gospel

This album saved me. I found rescue and peace from this album during one of my most trying times of 2018. Going through tough/dark and looking for something to motivate you to keep going on, to not give up on yourself? This is the album for you. One thing that also stands out on this album is the song arrangement. The message on each track flows perfectly into the next, taking you to the next level of strength. I love how the songs go from you realizing you can’t do it on your own, to acknowledging Him as anchor and then the final surrender. The album is a journey to safety.

I wasn’t surprised the album won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and the stand out song on the album – You say won Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/song.

Favourite Tracks – You say, Everything I need, Love like this, Rescue

1. Only human by Calum Scott

    Genre – R&B, mid-tempo Pop

Ever since I heard Calum’s cover of Robyn’s Dancing on my own, I was on the lookout for his debut album. His album was much more than what I wanted it to be. This is an album of love and well…it was kinda the unofficial OST of my relationship in 2018 (sadly that’s over now).

My mind always go back to good times when everything was rosy anytime I hear You are the reason and Hotel Room.  Maybe I chose this as my best album of 2018 because of my sentimental attachment to it or well, maybe because Calum Scott has that voice that carries so much emotions you can almost feel them listening to him.

  Favourite Tracks – You are the reason, Dancing on my own, Hotel room, Not dark yet

  BONUS

  Birthplace by Novo Amor

  Genre – Indie

Ever since I got this album, it has been my new go to album whenever I need to get lost in a trance. The album takes me to a place where I feel like I’m floating with nothing bugging my mind.  Birthplace has same calming effect on me like Coldplay’s Ghost stories album.

   Favourite Tracks – Sleepless, Anniversary, Repeat Until Death

WORTHY MENTIONS OF 2018

1.      Simisola by Simi

I have overplayed this album so much Simi should be begging me for water to drink. One of the best albums out of Nigeria in 2018. The lyrics, track arrangement, production and of course Simi’s unique vocals makes for a complete work of art.

2.      Sex & Cigarettes by Toni Braxton

The Best traditional R&B album of 2018 hands down!

3.      3 (The Purple Album) by Lukas Graham

This band forever gets us reminiscing on our growing up phase. Love someone is definitely a standout song on the album and one of my best songs of 2018.

4.      Forbidden by Todrick Hall

This visual album is pure art. Everything about the juxtaposition of society in expressing his message about forbidden love is pure talent.

5.      Ready (EP) by Ruel

I wish this was a full length album so we can be blessed with more of Ruel’s awesomeness.

DISAPPOINTMENTS OF 2018

1.        Everything is love by The Carters

By every standard ‘Everything is love’ is a good Hip hop album, but like Uche said, how can two greats come together to deliver such an average album. I mean its Beyonce and Jay Z who have given us magic in the past like Crazy in Love, Déjà vu, Bonnie and Clyde, Upgrade u, Welcome to Hollywood and Drunk in love. I have always imagined their joint album would be explosive with several top Billboard Hot 100 hits. *sigh

2.        Electric Light by James Bay

This is not the James Bay I fell in love with. I get he wanted to try another sound but sadly it didn’t work out well.

3.        Glory Sound Prep by Jon Bellion

It feels like blasphemy having Jon Bellion on the list of Disappointing albums but damn, this album was a hot mess!

4.        Cage to Rattle by Daughtry

Should I take this as a bad break up between Daughtry and Myself? I mean, their last two albums have not been all that, but this one was the final nail on the coffin. I actually forgot they released an album last year till I was making a list of albums I downloaded in 2018. Such a forgettable album.