MY FAVOURITE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: I Made a friend who is now family

As someone who loves travelling, I always look forward to it. Though I am not mobile, I don't mind travelling for long hours as long as I am comfortable in the vehicle. I most often use public transport for all my journeys.

Public transport is usually a necessity for most people because it has become an integral part of most people's daily routine in big cities. It is also cost-effective, though sometimes it can be less convenient. There are moments when using it can be quite annoying and frustrating, especially while travelling interstate in my country, Nigeria. I have had both terrible and beautiful experiences boarding public transport.

One of the best experiences I had that practically lives rent-free in my head was one of my journeys from Abuja, the country's capital, to Jos.

On a Sunday morning, I got to the park hoping to follow a particular bus back to Jos, but unfortunately for me, the last bus for the day had already taken off. I was disappointed that I missed the last bus. I really wanted to use that particular transport company because of the comfort and how good their drivers were.

Immediately I had to opt for another option, a smaller vehicle (a Sharon vehicle that carries 8 passengers, driver included) since I needed to be in Jos that Sunday. Fortunately for me, it already had passengers and needed two more passengers to be complete, which means we would be taking off early.

As I settled into my seat, I could not help but notice the friendly faces and the way the passengers were conversing with one another, as if they all knew each other. Luckily for me, the last passenger came almost immediately after I had settled down, so we took off almost immediately after the last passenger got in.

Barely 15 minutes into the journey, one of the passengers began to humour us with jokes and funny stories. That created a warm atmosphere, and it felt as though the vehicle was boarded by a group of friends and not just a public transport. We all chatted as though we had known each other for a long time. Different passengers shared different stories and spoke on different topics, which were quite educational.

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As we drove past different checkpoints, the men in the car bought soft drinks and fruits such as bananas and oranges from the hawkers, who always stand by the roadside, selling their goods to all passersby and sharing them with everyone in the vehicle. At some point, one of them pleaded with the driver if he could stop by a particular spot where they were selling roasted corn so he could buy, and the driver was kind enough to oblige.

What I initially thought was not going to be a good journey turned out to be a remarkable journey filled with beautiful memories that left a lasting impact. It reminded me that the strangers we meet on our way can add colour to our lives in an unexpected way. I met one of my very good friends who is now family in that vehicle that day; truly, it was an unforgettable, beautiful experience.

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