Week 3 - Some of Ijero, some of Ado, Ekiti


Greetings from Ekiti State, again

Part of this post was written in week 3 along with the first 2 posts. I didn't have the time nor the energy to finish the write up and post it. Each day is very long and after factoring the heat, exhausting. By 7 pm, I just want to eat, take a cold shower and sleep then repeat. 

Anyway, I extended my trip to Ekiti by a week to spend more time with my grandmother and to visit other locations in the state. She told me more of her life stories, fed me constantly and showed me how to make some of the meals. Her meals are typically made fresh and consumed within a few days. Nothing is refrigerated and her only seasoning is salt and locust beans preserved with salt. The locust beans have a somewhat unpleasant smell but makes the meal delicious. In fact, any soup without preserved locust beans is almost tasteless. The soups are usually made with okra or spinach and eaten with a starchy side made from yam. The yam is usually peeled and boiled then pounded in a large mortar and pestle (I need to find my video of the yam being pounded) then rolled up into large balls and served along with soup.

I spent some time in the capital - Ado, Ekiti. We visited a friend of my dad's who worked most of his life in the US before retiring and relocating back to Ekiti. They met when my dad trained as a pilot in Texas. The local residents were kind enough to link the visiting pilots to fellow Nigerians who were studying in the area. He was excited to chat with someone familiar with the US. Unfortunately, i didn't take any pictures with him. 

 I also visited Fajuyi Memorial Park, built to memorialize a 40 year old indigene who served as a military administrator of the state at some point. I was able to get ground and aerial photos (thanks to the 6 story viewing platform in the middle of the park) of the park and some video shots using my drone (most of the drone videos are too large to post but they came out great so I will have to find a way to share them).

 Things grow with very little effort here like the cotton plant in my dad's yard. I spotted and plucked two juicy oranges in my dad's yard. According to my dad, they were the first oranges produced by the tree after growing for i think 3 years. And I was the first to eat of the tree.

Here are some pictures and videos from this week.


Correction she turns 102 in October 2019. She is always willing to get into the picture and give a great smile

Ever restless and in constant contemplation or just looking out to see who is coming down her hallway

Front of my Grandmother's house. She inherited it from her father and moved back in after her 3rd and last husband passed away

Cotton plant/tree growing with very little in a flower bed in my dad's compound

 
An orange tree, A paw-paw tree (not sure the scientific name), A pineapple plant in my dad's yard. 
 
Oranges and orange tree in the background; Peeled oranges ready to be devoured
Dressed and ready to head out somewhere. Could I be contemplating my my grandmother?! hehe

Random picture of the sunset behind the dense fog that covered the town, normal during the dry season.

Two different plates (on separate days) of veggie soup and stew with cow meat ready for my pounded yam

I saw my dad's flying uniform hanging in the hallway of the house

Can get enough pictures of this woman. I love the colors of her outfit. To think those legs have walked for 2 days many a times, phew. And she doesn't even think it could be part of why her legs are not as strong

A large rock formation seen as you drive into Ado, Ekiti
 
Rice and Stew with Beef, from a local restaurant in Ado. Wrapped it up with a famous drink called Limca. Helped me focus better on finishing weeks 1 and 2.




Random rock formation. There are a few in the state. I need to climb at least one

Aerial viewing platform @ Fajuyi Memorial Park

Statue of Army officer Fajuyi

 
360 view of the city from the viewing platform

Water fountain inside the park, currently out of service. The pictures online look great though!



360 View of the State Multipurpose Grounds

 
Some local treats. Not sure if TUC crackers are available everywhere. Origin (bottled by I think coca-cola) is a drink made with flavors from local herbs. Soaking herbs, usually tree barks, in hot water or gin used to be very popular. These herbs are known to be medicinal and are typically what drugs are made from

 
Water fountain outside the Fajuyi Memorial Park (I have a great drone shot of the park from this angle)

A grinding stone used to blend practically anything. Tomatoes, peppers, garlic, onions, you name it!

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