(Brand New Start) 2

A few months ago, I posted Brand New Start that was about my relocation to the Queen’s land and my first relocation ever. Not had I know that the second (and soon the third) relocations will be comng this quick. Had I known this afore, I shouldn’t have mentioned it at all over the blog. But since I did the first time, I think the trend should continue.

This time, I left my home (Karachi, Pakistan) and my home away from home (Manchester, UK) for …… of all places in the world….. (c’mon make a guess)…….. Ibadan, Nigeria! Yes, Nigeria in Africa!

Now at this moment, don’t make think you are just opening google maps in the neighbouring tab of this blog window and wondering, ‘Ibadan? What’s, I mean where is this place?’ I won’t blame you if your geography is not that good enough to know where this shanty slum-like third largest town of the south-western Nigerian state of Oyo is. Like who would know? I didn’t, not until I came here and found out that this is a big city 128 km inland northeast of Lagos and the place where my Company thinks they needed me. Like, hath my luck!! Ibadan?? After Manchester, Ibadan? Oh no!! Hell yeah!

At first I was given an option to either stay back in Manchester or return to Pakistan, but the thought of having a REAL African safari, work wise, was too tempting to ignore. After a quarter of year spend in pondering which assignment to take, before I could get in terms with my decision, I was on a place, bound for Lagos and full of Indian and Lebanese businessmen in the Business class of Emirates. Now I wonder what they do there. Certainly, Shell & Mobil don’t ask just the Asians to come and work here in the Deltas, As we are as foreigners as any other fairer creature in the world (no offense). Later, I got to know what these men were investing in: Import of commodities meant as supplies for the thousands of Expats and (locals) living and working in Nigeria for the Oil companies and other corporate.

Now who would have thought that J2O or Kellogs or Lurpak or OldenBurger will be just usual home brands for an average household in Nigeria? Not me! But thanks to the revenues from petroleum, which constitutes over 80% of Nigeria’s earnings, production exceeding 2 million barrels per day, a big community of Expats (estimated at close to 100K), are all factors contributing to what is now locally called, Expat lifestyle. Just to give you an idea how grandiloquent this Country has become, Corporate tenants are willing to pay rent up to five years in advance and as much as $50,000.00 per annum for a three bedroom luxury Town House in Lagos or Abuja. So much so to keep the Expats happy.

Fact 1: Shell Trustees Estate in Maitama, Abuja: $47,000.00 per annum plus a 15% service charge for a three bedroom Town House

Fact 2: According to the annual Mercer Cost of Living Survey in 2009, Lagos ranks as the 32nd most expensive expat city in the world

Fact 3: For 90% of the Nigerian population, the cost of living and income, both are around $1 per day.

Bad Münstereifel

Bad Münstereifel literally translates to “Bath the cathedral Eifel,” a name coined by the historical background of this small shanty town, The attractive mediaeval town of Bad Münstereifel is recognised by the German authorities as a spa resort (as ‘Bad’ translates to Bath) , and since it’s just on the edge of Eifle, it is called “Bad Münstereifel”. It is also often called “Rothenburg on the Rhine” cause of its proximity with the River. It is situated in the Upper Erft Valley on the northern fringe of the Eifel. During the 12^th century, the impressive collegiate church was built in this town, which still rises high above the old town center. About a hundred years later, a fortification with four city gates and 18 fortified towers was built, which today is considered the best-preserved city wall of the Rhineland.

Only a countable number (around 20,000) people live in this Kneipp health resort, which attracts a good number of “Weekend Tourists,” as they are called. This picturesque town lies on the banks of the river Erft, (which I still had to explore as it was just a small stream by now), presents its visitors with a charming contrast between a historical townscape and a vibrant Kneipp health spa.

Town Center

The town is so small that all destinations are at a cozy or intermediate stop, which again makes this town a worth just day-trip. But I was to dwell in it for a whole two months (October & November, 08), which at times made me quite exhausted of its beauty and serenity. But that is just exactly what you expect from a traffic-jams-trodden and metropolitan Karachiite. Bad Münstereifel has been part of the district of Euskirchen since 1969, the district we had to commute up and down for straight two months (as this was where I had my “adopted workplace” for the trip).

Around the town, there are loads of gardens and parks for people looking for relaxation, with sufficient space to linger and rest. Popular with people of all ages is the “Eifelbad”, a swimming pool with whirlpools and a giant slide. I unfortunately didn’t get the time to visit this luxury, but that was a decision I had to stand by while freezing under a foot of snow. My recreation in town was limited to a walk down to the old town center, or a drive to the indoor sports facility at Zikürat.

The weather was quite pleasant in the beginning of October, around 10-15 Celsius, and then it started to cool down around starting of November, around 1 or at freezing point. The mornings are extremely pleasant, especially on the weekends, when you see lots of troupes of hikers or bikers filling up the empty rooms in the hotel. Here, with fishing, tennis, archery or outdoor horseback riding being on offer, every visitor can indulge in his favorite leisure time activity in a beautiful landscape and a pleasant climate. But all these come to almost a complete halt when the snow comes down, around about last week of November. The temperature then dip to as low as minus 10 Celsius, but one of the locals told that it gets worse when blizzards hit at the end of December and all of January, and mercury could go to as low as minus 15 Celsius!

The town has very limited number of places to dine in, but the ones it has serve good and solid delicacies, among them is the nationally known icon of folk music, Heino. The one place that I most often went to was this shabby little Italian eatery called “Trattoria Portofino”, with this extremely gregarious Italian server, perhaps the only one in town’s restaurant propertiers who knew English 🙂

Bad Münstereifel is a romantic small town with pictorial half timbered houses, a lively pedestrian precinct with attractive business and many lively Cafés, grown historically, along the Erft. You can reach the historical local centre with its narrow roads and lanes by means of four historically important city gates in the four directions. The castle tower thrones above the city, which also has the 15th century city fortifications to surround the inner part of town. From here you can enjoy a wonderful view over Bad Münstereifel.

Dawn breaking outside the hotel

The whole area around the town is heavily wooded and there are more than 150 miles of pathways as well as woodland recreation areas where people can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. The radio telescope in nearby Effelsberg is well worth visiting as it boasts a parabolic reflector the size of a soccer pitch and is the largest fully-mobile radio telescope in Europe. The sight was breathe-taking! And when it rotates, you feel the Earth move! It was an amazing experience watching it target the exact location!

Bad Münstereifel is worth an attendance at each season, but definitely not worth a stay for over a week or two at most 😉