7 TERRIBLE PEOPLE TO TRAVEL WITH OR MEET AT A RESORT AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM

Sometimes when we go on vacation (as seen in the picture above), we just want to be in a serene space, enjoy the scenery and feel like a million bucks. Note: This article is NOT about the people I've met during our family vacations. I guess you can say we've been lucky not to run into anyone that fits the categories below.

For some people, their vacations do not always go according to plan because there are always a set of persons who indirectly affect your pleasurable trip. Whether it is at your final destination or on your way there, these people are sure to mar your vacation experience. 

They are:

1. Unsupervised kids - I get it, parenting is hard and even parents need a break from their children on a vacay. But having screaming children stuck with you on a long ride from Calabar to Afi Mountain or running around the Omu resort unchecked is just awful. It is frustrating to other guests when it seems the parents are oblivious to the nuisance their children create for others. If you can; intervene. You can call the parent’s attention to it or engage/caution the children if they will listen.

2. Loud angry guests - Bad service is hard to ignore and some establishments lack a standard of excellence. This type of tourists expect a lot and would do anything to get what they paid for. Sometimes rather than take customer’s complaints as valid, some staff turn a deaf ear or clap back. If you can, step in and diffuse the situation by mediating. Harsh words can be cruel, so try not to reciprocate whatever negative energy or words being thrown around. Soft words turn away wrath. If an employee got berated, call them aside and encourage them with a positive affirmation.

3. Attention seekers - These want to show off their skills, other times, it’s just who they are. They could have a loud personality or maybe they are self-centred. It’s either they are acting up or they may be inappropriately dressed like wearing bralletes with bum shorts on a Rainforest Safari. There is no point giving in to their charade, just avoid them if you can. Get away from any vicinity where they are by taking a walk or fixing an excursion trip out of the resort. If you are stuck with them on a trip to your destination, just ignore them.

4. Excessive PDA Couple - some people have no problem being touchy-feely in public. But it can get uncomfortable for others around. A little external romance is okay, like holding hands, a light peck, those are nice. But being pressed to a corner smooching in the pool while others are swimming or on Tarkwa Bay beach when families with kids are also hanging out there is too much. If you notice it is making you and others uncomfortable and also think, “Get a Room”, best to let a staff at the resort call them to order. Otherwise, excuse yourself from that vicinity.

5. Space Hoarders - there is nothing more annoying than to get to any place like Epe Resort and see a bunch of unused chairs with items on it when there is no chair for you to sit on. You could politely ask the hoarders who are keeping seats if someone is using it. Sometimes, they may just be propping their bags on the chair when the chair is actually free. But other times, they may be keeping it for people who may not show up or use it. To avoid causing trouble, you can ask the resort staff for extra seats.

6. Quarrelling companions - These people may not necessarily be shouting at each other but the shade in their conversation can be distracting especially if you are within earshot from them. Other times, it is the passive aggression they exhibit that might affect the mood of everyone around them. The key is to avoid being anywhere they are. If they are next door to you and their verbal conflict is affecting your peace of mind, lodge a complaint at the front desk so a staff of the resort can tell them to keep the noise down.

7. The photo freaks - Taking pictures is cool, but having people push you aside just to take a picture isn’t. Photo freaks don’t care who they are inconveniencing as long as they get the shots they want. They may even be oblivious to you waiting for them to move out the way to take your picture. It is particularly annoying if you are in front of a monument/structure when this happens like Kajuru Castle. If they are using a tablet that is blocking your view, politely ask them to lower their hands, let them know they are in the way. In case that doesn’t work, ask the tour guide for alternate places with a better view. If they are using a selfie stick, find a different angle where they won’t show and snap your picture. But if they are in a prime stop and taking too long with their shots, let go and photobomb them.

If you ever find yourself becoming one of these terrible of tourists, stop and reconsider how it makes those around you feel. The whole point of identifying behaviours that can ruin other people’s vacation is to learn to be considerate of others. Strive to be someone whose company is enjoyable. 

Do you have a story to share about a nuisance encountered during any of your vacation? Do share…

HAIR WORLD HISTORY

Fixing Cornrows with Attachments, French Braids, Weave-on and Dreads have become a vital part of the modern day African woman’s fashion. Even with chemical relaxers, hot combs and straightening or curling irons, most women can’t do without fixing their hair at least once a month.

Braiding which is actually the intertwining of strands of hairs into a complex structure or pattern overlapping a mass of other hairs, can either be done close to the scalp or loosely from the scalp. Long ago, People braided for different reasons such as to show distinction in religion, kinship, status, age, cosmetic adornment and ethnicity or cultural preferences. These days, it’s done mostly to change up one’s look without causing permanent damage to one’s hair. But this is not a new trend brought to Africa from the West. Hair plaiting is one whose roots are steeped in Africa. In doubt? Check out the cornrows on any Nigerian Nok terracotta artwork which dates as far back as 500BC.

History has it that those ancient wall murals or Stone Age paintings – artworks like the Sphinx – in Egypt and Algeria (Tassili Plateau in the Sahara to be exact) which dates back to 3500BC show early Africans wearing their hair in plaits. This is not to say people in Europe or America didn’t also have evidence of their hairstyles then.

Take the Native Americans (aka Red Indians) for instance. It’s safe to say that before the arrival of the Europeans to North America, the Red Indians had their hairstyles. It was usually divided from the centre of their head and braided to the sides with feathers, beads or ribbons from deerskins either at the tip or at the spot where the tip was looped into the loose segment of their hair.

The ancient Celtics, inhabitants of today’s British Isles and Western Europe, as far back as 750BC wore braids. Those of noble blood or heritage wore elaborate hairstyles while folks from the lower class wore theirs simply for functional work purposes. The Greeks and Romans are not left out in the use of braids especially the Flavian and Antonine era where with the likes of the Spartans and Greek goddesses show evidence of its use as early as 79 -192CE. Although, they had more elaborate up-dos which involved crescent-shaped wireframes cascading with curls in the front, and divided, braided sections at the back.

Even Chinese men at a point in time (actually it was during their imperial dynasty’s last days, the reign of the Qing dynasty (1644 – 1912)), were mandated to wear their hair in braided pigtails and hide it under a ‘queue’ or be accused of treason. Don’t forget dreadlocks which the Jamaicans made famous, even though the first examples of such was seen in North Africa or among Maasai men from Kenya as far back as 15th century.

So you see, braiding is a universal concept even though proof of its origin lies in Africa. Braiding is not exclusive to natural hair, the use of Hair extensions or artificial hair integrations go way back to the source of braiding. Egyptians were known for wearing fringed wigs with braided and adorned strands hanging out from it. While in the Edwardian era, they were used to create pompadour hairstyles and elaborate ‘Apollo Knots’. By 1940s and 1950s more natural styles of hair weave returned and later in 1990s Asians learned how to mass produce them, and they became commonplace throughout the 21st century.

Braiding is also not exclusive to women only. History is full of men both modern and ancient who braided their hair from historical figures to athletes and musicians representing the hip hop culture.

Now you know the history behind plaited hair, feel free to use whatever style fits your face frame and express your personality more aptly.

Celebrities and their headgears

Hats and face caps are part of our casual fashion wardrobe. There are so many types of them out there but can you tell the difference?

I’ll name a few celebrities that can help you identify the trendy hats and face caps that you can rock with your casual outfits. You ready? Let’s go:

Lil wayne and P-square – flat brimmed baseball cap (worn snap-back)

Chris Brown and Mo'Cheddah – flat brimmed baseball cap

Paul I.K. Dairo and Brad Pitt – Newsboy cap

Ruggedman and David Beckham – Beanies

Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie – Panama hat

Bez and Bruno Mars - Fedora with rolled up brim

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Indiana Jones – classic Fedora

Adams Oshiomole and Rihanna – Military style cap for the Army.

Now you know, choose the one that best suits you and go do your thing!

Trendy Eyeglasses

Everyone’s rocking fashionable eye glasses which go very well with the semi-corporate trend showcased by musicians and celebrities like D’banj and Justin Timberlake. You probably know these retro glasses as Ray Ban but that’s actual a brand like your Gucci or Prada. To get in on the trend, you need one of the three distinct types of trendy glasses out there:

Aviator glasses – this sunshade’s dark & reflective convex lens with thin metal straps has been around for ages and still remains stylish. Not all aviators have dark shades, these days they come with a variety of coloured lenses as well as non-coloured lenses. Check out the likes of Angelina Jolie, Kanye West or even Huge Jackman.

Cat eye glasses - this sunglass has so many colourful versions, that it can range from playful to austere. It’s mostly sported by ladies like Katty Perry, Rihanna, Scarlet Johansson, etc. The most popular is the type worn by Kourtney Kardashian (hers is designed by Tom Ford).

Geek chick glasses – these glasses can make you look nerdy but in reality, it actually actuates your cheek bone structure. The lens can be transparent like the one used by Tinie Tempah, Ann Hathaway and other celebrities. the good thing about these types of glasses is they can embody both aviator and cateye frames just asl long as they make you look nerdy.

Shopping tips for fashionable items

Now I must confess, shopping is not one of my strong suits but that doesn’t mean every now and then I don’t indulge in a little splurge. The most popular reasons to shop for fashionable items is the need to feel a sense of pride, dignity and have ‘effizy’ among one’s peers. It’s a symbol of our financial status, to let everyone know “we’ve arrived”. For some people, the desire to overindulge comes from a need to cheer themselves up after having a bad day. For others, it’s simply to give themselves a treat; a little something for ‘me only’. Or it could be to celebrate ourselves as a consolation after a job well done when we’ve achieved a great feat in our careers.

But mainly in Nigeria, it is done to show that one has control of money and not the other way round especially after struggling with being ‘broke’ for so long. Plus, there is a need to feel a little bit irresponsible after being too careful about money.

There are different ways to shop; you can either go on a spree, for a steal, or shop comparatively.

STEAL
By steal I don’t mean going to raid a boutique. I’m simply referring to buying things – clothes, accessories, shoes etc – of high quality at cheaper prices. Getting great items at steal may a bit of hard work because if everyone knew how to, then most of us would be out of luck. So if you decide to go cross-country while looking for that item at a steal, well, good luck to you! It’s always better to be informed before you step out in your quest for a steal, that way you don’t expend too much energy and feel too exhausted to enjoy yourself. So it’s important to plan to:

Pamper your body with a little refreshment after your purchase. Even if you decide to go to a shopping mall, you’d still feel tired after checking out a few stores because the task of wondering from shop to shop can leave you mentally and physically exhausted as it is time consuming.

Make sure when you go shopping you take a friend along. It may seem financially burdensome but it’s necessary. It’s tons of fun to have someone ‘trip’ over your purchase. For you are looking for a great price for that quality stuff you need, go with a friend who can take you to where you can get great quality stuff at very low prices and praise you for your bargaining strength. This street-wise shopper knows when a purchase at a discount is a disadvantage to go for because another brand of that product of equal quality is cheaper... la, la, la. Bottom line, shopping is no fun when you are alone. If you doubt it then ask yourself why you need to run your purchase by the first person you see when you get back from shopping alone.

The Internet is also a good place to shop. You can use comparison search engines to check out prices and brands.

Now this leads me to another form of shopping.

COMPARATIVE SHOPPING
It involves not only comparing prices but also different brands of the same product like a Nike or All Stars sneaker. Here you can sample a variety of products by different manufacturers to determine which best suits your budget. I think the reasons for engaging in comparative shopping are pretty obvious and they act as guidelines for practicing this type of shopping.

Endeavour to get value for your money. This shopping allows you to buy only that which is necessary because the shopper is well within his/her financial capability. This enables the shopper to get value for his/her money’s worth and also to save a few extras for other expenses. Plus, the more the merrier, right? So you can say comparative shopping allows for variety of possessions with the illusion of abundance in the midst of little.

Bargain till the price is right. Sometimes comparative shopping is just as exciting a form of shopping as spree because your bargaining power is what allows you to feel on top of the world when you get stuff cheap or very cheated when you don’t.

SPREE
This is simply a carefree wanton spending or a pleasant outing in pursuit of enviable items. With a lot of cash to throw around, this form of shopping can be exceedingly fun-filled. In a case where cash inflow isn’t a limitation, most people are inclined to spree. So I think it is safe to say that a true shopping spree isn’t about one’s bargain power but about buying that ‘treasure’ for keeps. It’s the fact that you could get that TM Lewin or Thomas Pink shirt that you’ve been eye-ing or that Gucci or Louis Vuitton bag that you saw in Vogue magazine that makes spree very exciting. In which case, it is important that you:

Keep up with the trends. There’s nothing worse than spending a fortune on an outdated fashion item. Trends can be seen in fashion shows, articles/blogs or by following different fashion icons (TV presenters, movie/music stars) or designers’ lines. Even if your item is no longer in vogue, listening to fashion reporters can enable you learn how to combine your expensive piece with other items to enable you stay on trend.

Beyond the availability of cash, it’s a wonder what makes people choose one form of shopping over the other. Whatever form of shopping you decide to indulge in a spree, steal or comparative shopping, remember the main aim is to look good, so be satisfied with your purchase. This is coming from a convenience shopper. Over and out!