Traveler's Insight with Anne

                            

Drum roll guys!!!! I introduce to y'all a very interesting person, he's one of those people that can just crack you up without trying so hard and I am blessed to have him do this interview to share his experiences with us all. 

His name is David Atabo, he has a bachelor’s degree in computer Science from Covenant University, Ota. He's currently the brand developer of ComeMkWeGo (an African tourism promotion start-up), a travel and business writer at miztaatabo.com.ng and the content curator for Village culture Africa.

 

1) What Inspired you to start traveling? 

I started this personal project called “village culture” while at school in a quest to uncover African cultures and I discovered the only way I could really understand these cultures was to travel, meet and interact with these people that I would like to understand. It was more of an “experience is the best teacher” situation.

  

2) What do you love most about traveling?  

Leaving my coven, meeting new people, getting lost in a different tongue – languages not familiar to me, getting cheated in a strange land (this may be inevitable but it’s part of the adventure), eating food I wouldn't eat on a normal day and Inhaling different air. Lagos can get chaotic sometimes and its just really refreshing to get out of all that.

3) How do you afford to travel and what are the necessary steps you take to make sure your wanderlust goes as planned? 

This question ehn…Lol, I pray one day the answer would be “I get paid to travel” but as for now, I try to save penny by penny each month, for a travel in two months’ time. But when the penny isn’t available to be saved (as per this Lagos life Lol), my cousin, who has been a major cheerleader in this my travel thing comes to the rescue.
I barely “plan” my travels because most times, I am too intrigued by the destination to follow up plans, nevertheless, I try to read up as much as i can about the destination before jumping on the road – the kind of food I should expect (Very necessary… lol), the major tourist sites, the ways and culture of the people like how to greet their elders (This is very key especially in Southwestern Nigeria), and other cultural or religious embodiment they might have.

4) What is your travel style, would you consider yourself a Traveler or a Tourist?  

Traveler or Tourist? – This is subjective to other factors influencing my journey. But personally, I think the thin line between a traveler and a tourist is how close they get to the locals (people in the visiting community). I also think a traveler acts more like he has been living among the locals for a longer time. I am naturally a traveler when traveling alone much more than when I go with a group because there is no one to tell me “oya, let’s start going abeg…I am hungry…I am scared of the place and people…my pastor said I should not go there oh…or I had a vision not to eat that food…blablabla”

 

5) What are the top 3 travel destinations in your bucket list and why do you love these places?

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (I would like to test my agility in climbing), Victoria Fall in Zimbabwe (The gist and pictures I have been seeing about the fall is a magnificent something) Trekking with Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda! (I hope they don't bite sha)

6) What has been the biggest cultural shock you've experienced while traveling?

I haven’t come across any “ghen ghen” shock so far but I have heard about somewhere in Imo state where they don’t kill snakes, rather the locals worship it. I would love to face that fear soon. Imagine walking and coming across one mighty python probably crawling towards you – You can’t run, you can’t kill it – This thing is scary!

7) What are three things you cannot honestly travel without? 

If my phone battery is dead, then I rather not travel. My power-bank is a by force something. My ATM card (well, even though it is almost always empty).

8) I've been stalking you like forever Lol.. and i see you've been traveling to some interesting places, what was your last wanderlust and what were the highs/lows of it? 

Osheyyy Madam Stalker, it is allowed sha haha...My latest wanderlust highlight was when I lost my virginity sometime in August at the Osun Oshogbo festival. It was amazing getting lost in a crowd of different religious believers and i never for once thought of the religion differences. The low point was getting exploited over a plate of Amala (If you like say I like food).

9) Share with my readers your best travel tips  

Do not be afraid of getting lost; this is usually how you can find the best places. Always try the local food; you can eat your “chicken and chips” at home. Don’t over plan your travels; leave room for the unexpected.

 

10) What Practical advice would you give to people struggling with identifying their adventurous side? 

The truth is, traveling/touring should be a “conscious” experience. Don’t just travel because everyone is traveling or because someone pulled you along. Travel with your mind open. Travel because you want to learn something new. Travel because you are conscious that there is this other side of life you want to see. Travel because you are conscious that life is a book and wherever you are is just a paragraph off the book.

You shouldn’t wait till you hit that billion dollar mark before you start traveling, you can start from traveling to the next street, the next local government, the next state etc. – if you make traveling a conscious thing, with as low as 500 Naira ($2) you can get more experience than someone that spends more.

 

11) Why you think people should travel and the positive things to be gained from traveling?

For real guys traveling is amazing, your mind gets opened up and liberated. I would never have known certain things i know now if i didn't travel.

Experience is the best teacher; Traveling is the best experience.

 

 

Special thanks to Mizta Atabo for taking the time out to answer my many questions Lol... You can follow him on all his social media platforms @iamatabo. Feel free to send me an email 'wanderlustwithanne@gmail.com' if you want to be featured in the next edition of my Travelers insight.

Remain Blessed.