Located in North Eastern Nigeria, Taraba state is bounded in the west by Nasarawa State and Benue State, northwest by Plateau State, north by Bauchi State and Gombe State, northeast by Adamawa State, and south by Nord-Ouest Province, claimed by both Ambazonia and Cameroon. #Taraba State has a ripple landscape dotted with mountains as evident in the beautiful Mambilla Plateau which has an altitude of 1,800 meters (6000 ft) above sea level and a temperate climate all year round.
My first trip to Taraba by road was so overwhelming, I couldn't eat, while the adventure filled my stomach with anxiety, the different sights especially the river we had to cross using a boat in Ibi LGA got me pumped up for the tour to Gashaka and the famous Mambila Plateau. At the river bank, all the passengers got out of the car and the driver moved it into a big wooden motorboat where the passengers would stand side-by-side with the car(s). I had never seen a thing like this, boats carrying cars, this was a culture-shock within my own country, where I come from we have nothing of this sort. Do we call this a local river port? Lol.
Leaving Akwanga today was discouraging because I couldn't get direct ride to jalingo as yesterday's arrangements failed. As an explorer I decided to go further to lafia where I would get a vehicle to Jalingo, I was not giving up. I got to lafia in good time and the car I joined moved at 10:30am, few minutes into the trip, the car stops and I get pissed off at the new development. I even spoke harshly to the driver who said he was not happy with my utterances. In good faith, we waited for the mechanic and by 12noon we were on the move, this time, we were unstoppable.
On this road, we navigated through Plateau State (Quan Pan, Shendam, etc.) And the many towns which linked to Ibi LGA in Taraba state. When we got to a particular spot, the road changed and beach sand occupied a large portion of it even before we got to the river bank. Here, we alighted from the car and it was driven into the large boat, then people joined in to be carried to the other side of the water, where people would step out of the boat and the car is driven off the canoe to dry land. I thought, "Is this how jesus walked on water?". This was thrilling in a weird way, different from how I imagined it. I was wondering if the governor and other public figures use this mess of a thrilling route, I mean it's fun but really risky. Only those who have been there can relate, life is a risk worth taking though.
At the waterside, there were traders selling food, soft drinks and snacks, what caught my attention was the fried fish, I had to taste it. These parts of Nigeria are popularly known for having fish in large quantities, people from all over come to buy fish here. We took off from the river bank got on the road again, this time we were heading to Wukari, one of the major cities in taraba state, I almost mistook it for the state's capital. By the time, we had reached Wukari, I was getting happy, I thought I was at the destination although I remember my friend saying its a three-hour ride from Wukari to Jalingo.
Looking at the six hour journey I made from Lafia to Wukari, I just wanted to see myself at the destination, I was tired of sitting in the car. The ride was smooth but in my mind It felt slow and maybe longer than the initial six hours I had spent. Thanks to ebooks, although it was dark, I had something to read and take my mind off of the tiredness and anxiety.
Finally we got to Jalingo at almost 10pm, at a place popularly called "Road block", a major entrance to the city, by then I was already fagged out. At this point, I was fulfilled that I made the trip, it was my first time in Jalingo and Taraba State. I was in for a real adventure and there was no turning back. Days like this though tiring, give a kind of mental boost that can last for months or years and the memories, they last a lifetime and forever.
I learnt quite a few things while on the road today and I will Itemize them below:
Patience: this can not be overemphasized because earlier today it was really challenging to find my way to this new place but I overcame that especially when the driver told me he was not happy that I had regretted joining his ride. I checked within me and I took back such stupid regrets. Patience saves stress.
Compassion: being in public transport is something that most Nigerians detests because of the bad roads and worst, dirty people. Sitting beside dirty and really lousy looking people should not be a big deal because they are still human and it doesn't take anything from you to just Live and let live.
Women education: this aspect came to me due to the state of some women and how they manage their lives. If women are better informed, they live better lives, otherwise, it's a total disaster. Even though she was a local woman I hated how her little girl looked so dirty an unkempt.
Travelling boosts creativity: the ideas that come to me while on road trips are more than a million and this is a good thing for me because it keeps me busy and makes me think of wild possibilities. Stayed tuned to my travelogue and receive edutainment.
Everything will fall in place, stay calm. In the end it doesn't really matter what comes your way whether good or bad because it all leads to an outcome which may not suit you but always remember that you can control what goes on within you. I tried to maintain a good attitude throughout the trip especially after my talk with the driver at lafia where the car had a little issue, it's better they fixed it in town rather than in the bush.
Welcome to Jalingo! The world is your oyster
This is just the beginning
