Andy and Esther dangerous road users

I saw this video of Andy and Esther on Youtube. They were traveling by road from the UK to Africa, an expedition across the Sahara and West Africa sponsored by Toyota.

I commend their courage to go on such expeditions (because I travel a lot and I know what it is like as regards their travel adventures), but I must say that I strongly disagree with their attitude towards the road safety rules.

Every one who leave and travel around Nigeria would agree with me that the country is one place where you really do have to be very careful and cautious if you must sit behind the wheels.

You might want to take a look at this video and you will understand that this couple are a serious danger to fellow road users. The driver Andy was even proud to say in the camera that they have been driving all the way from Morocco without their seat belts. Listening and simply looking at him (his tired look driving all day), I was frightened and I imagined what the situation would look like if there is to be two of his kind on the road.

Driving in Nigeria might be very annoying given that there is a police road block almost every 200 to 500 yards and the police officers tend to ask for money from drivers. But I think that this couples' manner of approach was unruly.

I asked myself why Andy was proud to say in the camera that they have been driving since Morocco without there seat belts. I hope the sponsors of this expedition (Toyota) realises that the man in whom they are investing is a danger to fellow road users.

This article is not meant to be nationalist article but I wonder if Andy and Esther are not taking the African road rules for granted. If he said that they have driven all the way since they got into Africa without their safety belts, it confirms the fact that he is disrespectful to the rules of driving. Why did they not start their expeditions all the way from the UK without their belts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBpYDBtwBCo

The police force in Nigeria is about 99% corrupt, yes we all know that, but I can say that the National Road Safety is about 90% far from being corrupt and they are there for the safety of all road users.

I laughed at Andy's statement of being frightened driving on the Nigerian roads. What can be more dangerous as driving without safety belt. Even your co-navigator was relaxed with the idea of driving without safety belts; I must say that you guys are courageous because what you did was suicide mission.

I have travelled far and wide, I have driven in most countries where I have been to, and I can tell you that one thing one should try to respect, is the law enforcing body of a country.

To Andy and Esther, before you complain in your video that Nigeria is the only country where you've been the most frightened to drive, please make sure that every security checks that might make you be in fault have been examined. Then and only then can you criticize others.

Such acts (neglect and disrespect to a law enforcing officer) can only be condoned in Nigeria and the reason you got away with it is because you are a foreigner. If it was to be a citizen who acted the way you did (like saying to the police or road safety officer that you do not have your vehicle's particulars in hand), you know it would be considered as an offence.

Keep traveling safe and try to consider other road users. Anyway, I love your travel blog and your expeditions.

Diving the Gulf of Siam

Thailand is one of the most visited countries in Asia. Despite the Tsunami, people were still trilled to visit this country and so was I; which made Thailand to come on top of my February2006 travel destination.

Since Phuket was touched by the devastating Tsunami, my group of friends and I decided to visit Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. We only had 10 days holidays, which is not sufficient to make a remarkable trip but we tried as much as we could to make good use of the time we had.

The aim of this trip was to go diving in the sea of Thailand. I do not swim even till date but after my first dive (CMAS) in Bora Bora in the French Polynesia, I decided to try the PADI "discover scuba" diving training. I do love diving and wish to take classes in order to have either the N1 or the "open water" diving certificate, which will allow me to be autonomous at greater depths. But my only problem till date is the courage to learn how to swim.

Some images of my Thailand travel:

Bangkok train station

Monument at the Grand Royal Palace

Grand Royal Palace soldier (Bangkok)

Grand Royal Palace (Bangkok)

Diving Ang Tong national park

Guardian Grand Palace

Tuck Tuck quick transport

Elephant ride

Client extortions by Western Union

Today is workers day, am not a worker but as a student, its equally holiday for me. So I need to profit of my free time to communicate with my blog companions.

I often have remarks to make about what goes on around me. This time, I wish to make a few comments on the way and manner Western Union money transfer functions.
If you live abroad or have a child who studies abroad, and the bank system in your country is not up to the international banking standard (transfer of money using IBAN), you will agree with me that you will be more or less subjected to using the international money transfer agencies.

This is where agencies like Western Union Money transfer comes handy. I appreciate the fact that there is at least a system that makes it easy to send and receive money, but what I do not appreciate is the level of extortion these agencies practice.
I doubt if clients of these agencies have not noticed the high level of fees one have to pay just to send money.
Firstly, you are obliged to pay a transfer fee that is close to 7% of the amount you wish to send. Secondly, you equally pay 3.3% of exchange rate, which means that you actually loose money because these agencies definitely do not practice the official exchange rate. And lastly, their rates keep increasing almost every quarter of the year.

So many people use these money transfer services (mostly legal and illegal immigrants), which makes that these agencies make a huge income.
I would love to strongly pass a message across to these money transfer agencies (mostly Western Union ). Please, when dealing with clients try to apply a bit of decency and consider clients because this is the soul of business. Stop extorting your faithful clients.
It is true that the main aim of every business is to make profit, but this does not justify why after haven made your clients pay more than 3% fee for service rendered, they (clients) still have to pay inconsiderate exchange rates.

Take for instance, the official rate of 1 euro = 183.97 naira, but with these money transfer agencies, 1 euro = 173 or 175; which makes a difference of 10.97 naira. Imagine you need to transfer a few thousands of euros and you have to loose 11 naira in every euro you send, you definitely agree with me that this is extortion.

I imagine that these agencies already make enough money through their transfer fees and for this reason, I suggest they stop cheating on their faithful clients and practice at least a fair exchange rate. They surprisingly will keep their clients and every one (agencies as well as clients) will smile, which will make business to continue to flourish.