Monday, January 19, 2009

Wreck Beach

Shipwreck Beach... again... but never boring. As usual, the shifting sands exposing new parts of the wreck not seen before. An upcoming post will show how the beach has changed over the last two years.
Beautiful palm trees in the background, beach hut and umbrellas on the left, boats along the beach and plenty of trash on the beach.
The group relaxing in the shade. Pictured from L to R is Joanne, Gord, Kevin, Ingo and Sheryl.
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Kids from the village standing in front of their cassava plantation.
One of the boys next to the water well.
Some of the people from the village
The people that help us carry our stuff to the beach.
A close up of momma and her baby.
I have many photos of this woman and her baby. I will print all the photos shown (and more) and take them back on my next visit as I always do.
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Sheryl and GordIngo and Joanne
Kevin and Lisa
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Sand for construction is collected by hand from Badagry Creek. The sand boats start off empty and are filled up over the course of the day by a few men with small buckets. Lucky for them the water is not too deep (I don't think). Pictures taken at about 10AM.
By 2:30PM the boats are partially filled which requires our boat driver to drive by slowly so that the sand boats do not take on water and sink! Once filled they boats are towed to their sales point and the men move the sand with shovels. These men work VERY hard.
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Partially sunken ships, like the two on the right in the picture below,
are a common sight in the Lagos Harbor.
While there are nice boats in Lagos, I think this is one of the nicest ones I have seen to date!

10 comments:

aok438 said...

WHY TAKE PICTURES OF THESE POOR HAPLESS PEOPLE?,DID YOU TELL THEM IT WOULD BE POSTED ON THE INTERNET? WHY DO MOST OF YOUR PICTURES HAVE AN IMPERIALIST FEEL TO IT?,YOU SURE ARE NOT BETTER,NOR DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERIOR EDGE OVER THOSE VILLAGE PEOPLE,COMMON.WHY DO MOST OF YOUR POST HAVE A GENERAL NEGATIVITY TO THEM,AFTER ALL THE HOSPITALITY SHOWN TO YOU?Are you being forced to live in the country?why dont you just QUIT?
AREN`T YOU A FREAKIN` GUEST?
America is almost f**cked,and you were all living in a CREDIT BASED,$14trillion debt-ridden bubble. you really need to be humbled!!UGLY DUCKLIN.YOU ARE A NOBODY!!,NO ONE LIKES YOU GUYS.BE CAREFUL!
YOURS`
M.E.N.D

Lisa said...

I am sorry you feel this way. I am happy to be in Nigeria and am having positive and negative expereinces here, as would anyone living anywhere. That is the point of my blog, to share these experiences with friends and family.

The people in the village ask me to take their pictures and I bring prints back for them. They collect money from us for the use of their beach. I don't consider them poor hapless people and I am sorry you do.

Unknown said...

hi there, my husband is two stages into talks with a role based out in Nigeria. We are a family with 3 kids, girl 10 and 2 boys 8 and 6.
We think your blog is great as it gives us a real insight into life there, however, we have a few questions if you wouldn't mind?
Having been there around 2 years, do you think it is a place for a family?
Can you say what the best things are about living there and maybe let us know the niggling things that chip chip and get you down?
We have previously been in Poland 5 years, Athens 3 years, Holland, Belgium and my husband Saudi years ago.
We would really appreciate your input.
Look forward to hearing from you
Thanks in advance

Gotti22 said...

Lisa,

Please ignore the dolt who posted as "MEND". Many of us (Nigerians resident abroad) thoroughly enjoy your blog and eagerly look forward to partaking in your experiences. Cheers.

Lisa said...

Gotti22 - Thank you for your positive comment.

I was not sure what to do woth aok438's comment, respond to it or delete it. I left it so that followers could see that my blog was not always viewed positively by all Nigerians. I do hate the post though! It has made me more conscious about what I write, especially when it comes to the negative experiences I have had here, which is good.

9ja's OT said...

lisa plsss dont be concious of wat u write here, if u do then it defeats the purpose of the blog. it is ur personal blog and you can write whatever you want on it and also the experiences are your personal experiences so why would you allow one idiot to ruin your perspective on life.... we nigerian in america (yankee) love your blog and look forward to read your post daily. and i hope we meet on my next visit so that we can partake in the fun of the country together.

By the way that "nice" boat is for Femi Otedola the oil mogul of Zenon oil. I LOVE IT!!!

gbenro said...

Look I am a Nigerian, but I do not like how some Nigerians are always quick to critise foreigns. Honestly, I do not understand what aok438 meant by hapless people. Fine! They may not be rich. But they are still pictures of Nigerians taken in their own environment. To me, these are just honest pictures.Pictures of people these guys have come across in their adventure or vacation.
The pictures do not depict any impearialist view whatsoever.So let's stop treating foreigners, especially whites like this. When I read things like this, it makes me think that we are racists ourselves.
Why do we have to make big issues out of everything somebody does, simply because he or she is white. Is this becuase of the history, there is something else to it.I fear that a bit of inferiority complex might have something to do with this.
Lisa, I thought the pictures were beautiful. I am a reporter, so I take pictures myself. So I know what I am saying.

Nemo said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nemo said...

I stumbled on his blog a few weeks ago, and I've quite enjoyed reading it. I have to say I have not found anything offensive about it, other than the fact that I miss being there. I was taken aback and quite surprised when I decided to read some of the comments. Aok438's comment is untypically Nigerian. Your blog paints a true picture of Nigeria, the vast contrast between the rich and poor, the beautiful beaches that I miss so much, and great hospitable people, not the one aok438 would like with all the mansions, private jets and wealth which makes up less than .5% of the population. What I like about it is for one, it It dismisses the myth that Lagos is very unsafe, You guy's obviously survived an overnight camping on one of the many beautiful beaches Lagos has to offer, and (2) that Lagos, and most of Africa really are jungle's where people live in trees. I'm glad you guys have found that Nigeria has so much to offer people who are open-minded and who are willing to take her at face value. Nigeria is a great country with lot's of potential, sadly, it is just void of good leadership. Still trying to get the camping overnight part though, not sure it's something I would venture in. Keep up the good work Lisa!

trinity cupncakes said...

I am just reading this post and I am so surprised at aok438...if you are having issues please don't take it out on innocent people.....if you follow this blog you will know that she enjoys being in Nigeria can the same be said of you...