Continually moving dates on my Nigeria departure have me frustrated. The latest delay, (combined with a manic four months at work,) have put me over the edge. Sick of waiting for it to materialise I’ve booked my next travel fix. They say “a change is as good as a holiday” right? Well, I’m going to cash in on both and do some quality relaxing.
The Change
By nature, I am an organised traveller. I like the facts. I like to know where, when, why, how and what type of clothes I need to pack. I am tacking a plunge! A plunge that has me a bit nervous and going against my deep ingrained need to organise. I am doing a “no plans” overseas trip. I booked my flights to Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada last week. I’m going to visit loved ones and meet the parents.
I’ve been instructed not to organise, and advised to “relax” and “go with it”. I even have my return flights booked with a flexible date. I think I’m doing pretty well!
The Holiday
I have a few ideas on things I would like to see while Im there including visiting National Parks and Lake Winnipeg. (In my defence, it is a short mental list- no pens put to paper.) After a little sneak reading up, I also have a few key facts on Winnipeg;
It is currently summer and the templates are average high 20’s. During winter is Winnipeg is the coldest city in the world with a population of over 600,000. ( Temps range from -40C to 40C in a year. Yes this is the place you need to plug your car in at winter to stop your engine freezing!) I’m glad to be avoiding those extreme weather with temps that seem to make it the punch line of so many Canadian jokes.
I also know the areas has a rich Aboriginal history and pre European presence, was populated for thousands of years by First Nations and that at present the city is made up of a population of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
The unplanned trip
I don’t need to know anything else right? I am trying to repress my inner organiser and remind myself that I am diving into a family full of local knowledge and expertise. And, we all know nothing beats local knowledge when it comes to travel. So now, just to ignore those inner nerves and enjoy the “no plans” trip experience…
Who knows, maybe Bernard Fanning was onto something. Maybe we can’t truly really relax in a scheduled life.
Your local want-to-be Nigerian Adventurer, Georgia
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Trying to reach you Georgia. emailed you just now and received an auto reply from your official email that you are on vacation till July 1! What happened with the planned Claabar trip? I have received several questions on why you are not in Calabar. Anything i should know? More than happy to help. Please get in touch with me right away. Regards, Ann
Love the unplanning – I just booked a flight to Bangkok for August so we will see what materisalises from there
Have fun in Winnipeg!
Oh fantastic Ross. Have a great time in Bangkok. After Winnipeg, I am totally on the “unplanned trip” bandwagon. Had a blast. G
{ 1 trackback }