My Mauritius Experience

I am an avid listener of Smooth FM 98.1 in Lagos. On a daily basis, you will find me at the office with my earplugs listening to the wide array of music genre available. I also listen to them based on the wide range of programs they have for budding and emerging entrepreneurs.  My favorite presenters or OAPs (as they’re called now) are Aderonke, Kirk and Halima Atta. Kirk Anthony handles the program known as the ‘Kazbah destination’ which explores and educates listeners on exotic tourist destination. The program is sponsored by South African Airways and airs every Friday. The icing on the cake is the chance to win a return ticket to a particular destination.

At the beginning of the year (January to be precise), I won a ticket to Mauritius. Mauritius has been on the list of destinations I wanted to visit. So it was really fantastic to have won the ticket just by answering the question of the day. I was called by Kirk to pick up my ticket and on getting to Smooth FM premises, I discovered  the tickets were actually two. Imagine my excitement, I called my sister and told her to pack her bags as we were going to the sunny island of Mauritius for a well deserved rest. From the pictures below, you can relate to the serenity on the island.

Once we booked our tickets at the South African Airways located at Churchgate Towers on Afribank Street, adjacent to Law School on the island, we were good to go. We visited TripAdvisor and Booking to check affordable hotel rates, tourist attractions to see and read consumer reviews before making a final choice. Tourists from Nigeria do not need to apply for a visa as a 2weeks visa will be given on arrival at Mauritius and its’ free of charge. Yeap!!! you read it here. We finally settled on Jet Villa Tourist Residence located at 111, Avenue Tourtereaux, Morcellement De Chazal, Flic en Flac-Mauritius. The residence comprise 2 – 4 bedroom luxurious apartment. We made a reservation for the 2bedroom apartment and paid only $280 for a 7day stay.

My first impressions: I used to think Nigeria was green in terms of vegetation till I got to Mauritius and my opinions changed. I am yet to see a more greener environment as the beautiful cities of America, U.K. and South Africa do not compare to the beauty and serenity I have seen and experienced. The experience was awesome. The Republic of Mauritius is an island nation  in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) off the south east coast of the African continent.The country includes the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, 560 kilometres (350 mi) east of the principal island, the islands of Agaléga and the Saint Brandon. The islands of the Republic of Mauritius form part of the Mascarene Islands, which also include the neighbouring island of Réunion. The area of the country is 2040 km², its capital is Port Louis.

The first Portuguese explorers found no indigenous people living on the island in 1507. The island of Mauritius was the only home of the Dodo bird. The bird became extinct fewer than eighty years after its discovery.The Dutch settled on the island in 1598 and abandoned it in 1710, Mauritius became a French colony in 1715 and was renamed Isle de France. The British took control of Mauritius in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars. The country became an independent state as a Commonwealth realm on 12 March 1968 and a republic within the Commonwealth on 12 March 1992.

The country’s populace is composed of several ethnicities, mostly people of Indian, African, Chinese and European descent. Most Mauritians are multilingual; English, French, Creole and Asian languages are used. Exchange rate to the U.S $ is 1$= 30MRP (Mauritian Rupee). Enough of history and back to present day Mauritius. I experienced peace and serenity like I had not gotten in  a long time. It was overwhelming to the senses and I cannot wait to go back. Secondly, it left me thinking once more on the choice of environment I want my children to grow up in. The views every morning were breathtaking and I could just see myself and my unborn children reading or soaking in the weather. The environment innately encourages children to be curious and enjoy the love of reading which is lacking in our environment. Furthermore, I began to give more thoughts on the country I’d like to retire to and Mauritius comes top rather than the West. It’s idyllic and a paradise on earth.

Tourist attractions visited:

Domaine des Aubineaux

Bois Cheris (known as the tea factory) We

Le Caudan Waterfront We also visited the capital and other locations such as Quatre Bone, Curepipe, Bagatelle and many more. It was a fun filled experience and we enjoyed the warmth and hospitality of the Mauritian people. Port Louis – the capital reminded me of Lagos Island (Marina) with its’ tall buildings and narrow alleys. It was a magical experience and my children are definitely schooling here. No doubt about it. One more thing I found enchanting about the island was the way and manner houses were built…quite romantic with the long french windows and shutters. The french influence is mostly prevalent in architectural pieces across the island. How could I forget the beaches dotting the island? Quite picturesque and vividly brilliant, sparkling like sapphires.  Transportation is easy as there are buses plying every destination on the island. Average bus fares range from 10MRP – 32MRP.

If you are planning on visiting Mauritius, you can make your reservations at Jet Villa Tourist Residence via email: resa@jet-villa.com or call +2307724807/+2307290630.

Travel Writing Scholarship 2013 – Beijing, China

Entries close April 19th, 2013 at 2pm AEST (UTC +10).
Keen to turn your passion for writing into a profession?

This year we want to send you to Beijing, China!

Crisscrossed by freeways, spiked with high-rises, this vivid metropolis is China at its most dynamic. For a thousand years, the drama of China’s imperial history was played out in Beijing, with the emperor sitting enthroned at the centre of the Chinese universe, and though today the city is a very different one, it remains spiritually and politically the heart of the country.

In this Travel Writing Scholarship, your assignment will be to get under the skin of this city of 22 million, discover the stories of the culture and its people, and write about it all, under the mentorship of two seasoned travel writers.

Here’s the deal:

First you’ll head off to Beijing to go on assignment for five days under the mentorship of Rough Guides writer Martin Zatko to review and update the Beijing chapters of ‘The Rough Guide to China’.

Then join international travel journalist and Beijing local, Kit Gillet, for an adventure into his backyard to explore some of the hidden, and not so hidden (camping on the Great Wall anyone?) charms of the city.

All of this writing is sure to work up a pretty serious appetite, so for the last leg of the scholarship, you will spend three days with Hias Gourmet getting well acquainted with the history, art and technique that accompanies the Chinese love of their cuisine.

Important Dates

**You need to be available between June 24th – July 6th, 2013 to participate on the assignment.**

April 19 Submission deadline

May 10 Winner confirmed and announced

June 24 Arrive in Beijing

June 25-29 Writing Assignment with Martin Zatko

June 30-July 2 Mentorship & Beijing adventure with Kit Gillet

July 3-5 Chinese Food extravaganza

July 6 Depart

August 9 Copy deadline
On assignment with Rough Guides

Your Rough Guides brief

* We’ll fly you to Beijing from your country of residence.

* After spending two days learning the ropes with mentor Martin Zatko, you will have a chance to explore this bustling, progressive city for two days on your own. In this time, you will research, review and update essential travel information for ‘The Rough Guide to China’, including accommodations, duck restaurants, theatres, teahouses and – best of all – the Forbidden City itself! On your final day, you will meet back up with Martin to go over your work together.

* Your mentor will be at hand to offer guidance, but essentially this is your assignment; you will travel on your own for this part of the journey so you must be comfortable travelling solo. Martin will assign you a specific area based on your travel experience.

* Your work will feature in the new edition of ‘The Rough Guide to China’, placing your foot firmly in the door of the elusive travel writing industry!

Read an interview with Martin Zatko about life as a travel writer.
Through local eyes

For your second mentorship experience in Beijing, you will spend three days with Kit Gillet, learning what life is like as a freelance journalist and discovering Beijing through his local perspective.

First, you’ll spend a night camping near (or actually on!) the Great Wall of China, to experience this wonder of the world firsthand – and without the crowds.

You will also spend time among the hutong alleyways that formed the ancient heart of the Chinese capital. Wander around the courtyards that still dominate the northern part of central Beijing, talking to locals and seeing the modern developments – restaurants, bars, micro breweries – that are turning some of the areas into chic city destinations for foreign tourists.

Finally, you will visit the artist commune of Songzhuang and galleries of Caochangdi to see the burgeoning Chinese art scene to find out how Chinese artists work and what inspires them.
Food & Culture

Nowhere else on the Chinese mainland can compete with the culinary wealth of Beijing: every style of Chinese food is available, plus just about any Asian and most world cuisines. Among all this abundance it’s sometimes easy to forget that Beijing has its own culinary traditions; Beijing duck (Beijing kaoya) and Mongolian hotpot are definitely worth trying!

For the final leg of your trip, our friends at Hias Gourmet want to give you a window into this rich food culture by offering up three culinary experiences of your choice. Go on a tea tasting safari, a night market excursion, a breakfast tour of the Sihuan market or noodle and dumpling making classes.

You’ll also have some free time during this leg of the trip to explore Beijing and dig up some independent stories.
What you’ll need to produce

Along with your work on ‘The Rough Guide to China’, you will be required to keep a daily travel journal on WorldNomads.com (no less than 200 words per daily entry), as well as produce three pieces to be published on World Nomads sharing your adventures in Beijing.
Who can apply

* This opportunity is open to students, emerging and non-professional writers and lovers of travel looking for a career change.

* The scholarship is open to all nationalities, however, you must have an exceptionally high degree of proficiency in written English.

* The opportunity is designed to give you a taste of what it’s like to be a travel writer on the road, so you must be comfortable doing some travel on your own.

* Minimum age 18 by the date the scholarship application closes (April 19, 2013)

* You need a current passport with at least six months left before expiry.

* You must be available as per the dates set out. Please note these dates are not changeable in any way, you must be available for the entire assignment.

* You should be an exceptional writer with a lust for adventure travel, a desire to experience new cultures and above all, a burning desire to become a professional travel writer!

What constitutes a professional travel writer?

Essentially this is a ‘learning opportunity’ for someone who is looking for an introduction into the travel writing industry and more importantly, is keen to be mentored.

As a guide, for the purposes of the opportunity, we would consider you to be professional writer if you have been published regularly in newspapers, travel magazines or travel journals. We would also consider you to be a professional writer if you derive more than 25% of your income from writing.

If you have had a few stories published, or keep a regular travel blog then we would not consider this professional.

We would also like to further clarify that a professional writer of any sort (travel writer or otherwise) is not eligible to apply if they derive more than 25% of their income from writing.

Please consider the spirit of the program which is intended to help those with a burning desire to be a professional travel writer and need some help getting started.

Apply now

If you want it, you’ve got to show it. To apply you need to:

1. Write. Craft a 2500 characters or less (this includes spaces) travel focused essay based on a personal experience around one of the following themes;

a. ‘Catching a Moment’

b. ‘Understanding a Culture through Food’

c. ‘A Local Encounter that Changed my Perspective’

d. ‘Sharing Stories – A Glimpse into Another’s Life’

It’s up to you to convince our judging panel through your writing that you have the spirit of adventure and passion for travel writing to be chosen for this scholarship. We will be looking for:

- great descriptive ability
- strong eye for detail
- ability to uncover and tell a compelling story
- excellent spelling and grammar and a knack for avoiding clichés

2. Complete an entry form which includes contact details and a maximum 1200 character essay on why you should be chosen and what the opportunity will mean for you. Your answer will provide considerable weight in the judging process.

3. One entry per person.

4. The entry must be submitted in English.

Applications close April 19, 2013 at 2pm (AEST)

All photos courtesy of Tim Draper (c) Rough Guides
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY – Please read before applying!

Click to read the terms and conditions of this scholarship

Apply Now

Wash Day

My cousin came over to visit this weekend and she was amazed when she saw my hair. At the commencement of my hair journey, I was clueless on finger combing, achieving smooth hair locks after air-drying. It’s been 9months since I stepped into a salon to get my hair done (apart from relaxing new growth) and my hair has never been better. So back  to my cousin who I had informed last year about my plans to start my hair journey. She had snorted back then with an unbelieving attitude.

This weekend saw her changing her tunes to ‘OMG!! see your hair, your hair has got so much texture, all your edges are even, tell me what are you using for these edges?’. Suffice to say, she’s commenced her hair journey and after showing her my hair routine and explaining the rationale behind the products I currently used, she went ahead to order products worth N25,000. I never saw that coming.

These were the products I used on my last wash day:

• Grapeseed Oil
• Vitale Olive Oil Hair Mayonnaise
• Roux Porosity Control Corrector and Conditioner

Mixed the products above in an empty container and applied it to my unwashed hair. Voila!! off to bed. Once I woke up in the morning, I washed my hair with Ion Smoothing Shampoo (free from sulfate and sodium chloride). Rinsed my hair with a combo of black and green tea, let it sit for 30minutes before rinsing out. Wrapped my hair using my cotton T-shit and applied a mix of Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner and JBCO (Jamaican Black Castor Oil). Covered my hair with 2 shower caps and left it for 2hours while attending to other household chores. Once the time was up, I rinsed out and wrapped my hair with my T-shirt and left it for 30minutes. I recently purchased some self-grip rollers cos I wanted to roller set my hair since its’ been long I wore my hair in curls (girls been missing her curly hair lately).

I sectioned my hair and doused it with ORS iTea Elastic Leave-in Conditioner and proceeded to roll. Oh, it was exhausting and I had to drop the idea mid-way through as the velcro on the roller kept getting attached to sections of my hair that was dry(still think I need to download more Youtube videos to perfect this). I was scared of ripping my hair out so I doused with more leave-in conditioner and was able to remove the rollers without losing a single strand. The experience left me tired and I simply dozed off to rest my aching arms. By the time I woke up, my hair was stringy and stiff and I was scared to comb it out. I decided to add the ‘new intensive Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango moisturizing butter’  and immediately my hair became soft and fluffy once more which made combing a breeze.

 

 

To top it off I added Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum and Chi Silk Infusion. I ended up with straightened hair and immense volume and thickness. Rolled my hair up in a bun. Will post pictures soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Hair Stash

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When I commenced my hair journey, I had to conduct a lot of research online to educate myself on better technique of taking good care of African hair. Let me start with my hair texture, I’ve got fine hair strands and I was quick to easily recognize the damage I could do by retouching my hair every 4weeks. Over the past 10years, I only retouch 3times annually. By the time I searched online for hair bloggers with enough information, I knew I was ready to begin my journey.

Some of you might be wondering why I’ve included tea in my hair regime. Next week, I’ll be informing you about the various uses of each product to aid you in retaining hair length. Remember ladies, keep the comb far away from you & only use your fingers to comb your hair. Be gentle with your strands and don’t treat it like an enemy.

Healthy Hair Regime Incorporated

Ladies, I’m on a roll this year. 2012 was the year I bid farewell to hair salons within the country & incorporated a D-I-Y (do it yourself) attitude to my hair. My hair journey was borne out of frustration at the way & manner my hair was treated at salons by individuals who claimed to be more knowledgeable but were not. Furthermore, I was in Texas on vacation last year & saw black ladies with beautiful long healthy hair and so I decided to take my fate into my own hands.

Since then I’ve incorporated a healthy hair regime & my hair is a lot healthier than it ever was. My goal for 2013 is to reach BSL (bra strap length). I’m currently grazing APL (arm-pit length). While in the States, I was fortunate to treat my hair at a salon where I was given a tutorial on taking better care of my hair. Ladies, black hair requires moisture, moisture & more moisture to grow. Secondly, relaxing or re-touching your hair every month weakens the hair structure & inevitably, you end up losing your hair. Over the coming days, I’ll be taking you through my hair journey & educating you on retaining hair length. I’ll also be giving you reviews on the products I currently use for my hair.

This is what my hair looks like now.

MHQ Store – Lagos Foremost Online Food Store

Today I will be reviewing MHQ Store which offers Lagosians the ease of shopping without the associated stress of traffic. A colleague at the office referred me to the site based on the excellent customer service she received while ordering for foodstuffs and so I decided to give them a try.

So what did I order?

• Fresh Snails
• Cow Leg
• Crayfish (1 milk cup)
• Scent Leaves – Efinrin
• Ugwu Leaves – 2 Bunches
• Pack of Maggi Chicken
• Achi seed – 1 milk cup

Was it worth it? Oh yeah it was simply wonderful to sit at my desk and order for foodstuffs without going to the market. Immediately I placed my order, I received an email notification from MHQ and also got a call from customer service. For items I could not locate, I posted them in the comment box and also told them to deliver by 4p.m. They delivered by 5.30p.m which is understandable due to the recent traffic meltdown in Lagos.

I must commend the efforts of the owner (Bukola), the vegetables I ordered for N300 was a lot and the cow leg as well. I really got value for money on my foodstuffs. Oh by the way, there’s a delivery charge of N1,000 on your total purchase.

If you want to place an order, please click on the following link: Mhqstore

Have a fun filled weekend. Peeps I’m out.

Books, Books and more Books

My favorite pastime is reading books. Nothing too serious though, only historical, chic lit and contemporary romance. When I was living in Ibadan, you could always find me at Booksellers in Jericho, buying stacks of novels. I also made an habit of buying books during vacations overseas. I believe it improves your diction and it’s like taking a holiday as well when you can immerse yourself in a different world.

Overtime I lent friends and family these books and never got them back. It usually gets lost and that’s money down the drain. Anyway once I moved back to Lagos, it was a bit hard getting the kind of books I loved. So I resorted to searching for novels to download online via 4shared and other sites that allowed anyone to download free books. Fast forward 2 years later and these options are limited now due to copyright issues involved.

So I was happy when a friend introduced me (Lagos, brace yourself for this) to Nigeria‘s foremost digital bookstores known as ‘BOOKATI‘ . The owners of this bookstore offer a wide range of contemporary and historical romance for lovers of this genre. The beauty of the service offered is the ease at which you can purchase a book as a digital download instead of the physical thing. So what did I order for? I placed an order for the following novels displayed below. I paid N500 ($3.13) for each book and my purchase was sent to my email box as a PDF file which I downloaded immediately and commenced reading. Were the books worth it? Oh definitely.

Would I recommend their services to a friend? Yes and yes I would. On their facebook page, old novels are sold at the rate of N500 ($3.13) while current release go for N1,000 ($6.25). For lovers of audio books, there’s a flat rate of N2,000 ($12.50) charged.

Readers can provide a review of their favorite books and authors. Well what are you waiting for. Visit BOOKATI today to renew your love for books. The innovative thing about this is they are not restricted to a location or place. So whether you’re in Ghana, South Africa, Angola, Kenya or any part of Africa, you can place your orders at once. I’m stacking up on my Christmas reading list already.

Merry Christmas peeps!!!

Keeping & Maintaining your Real hair during harmattan

Yeah I know…I’ve never been one to write about hair or beauty matters but in the mood of the festive season, I decided to share my thoughts on hair maintenance cum product review. So this is what my hair length looks like now. I’ve not been the type to indulge in braiding, twists or weaves because I have a scalp that is quite sensitive to any nature of hair that’s not mine. So I end up with an hairstyle which only lasts for 2weeks before removing it.

Over the course of 10years, I’ve cut my hair thrice in the style below:

A lot of people have told me that it must be my genes that’s given me such fabulous hair. However I differ on that note cos I’m of the opinion that it’s due to the constant and consistent maintenance procedures I have adopted over the years that has been responsible for my hair growth consisting of the following but not limited:

• Constant scalp massages
• Steaming twice a month which has become a weekly routine now
• Avoiding hair styles that pulls at my hairlines
• Moisture, moisture and more moisture
• Opting for sulfur & sulphate free shampoo & conditioner
• Avoiding flat irons, blow dryers
• Opting for protein treatment
• Opting for wide tooth combs against tail combs
• Learning to speak up at Naija salons on any perceived mis treatment of my hair (I don’t really care if the salon is Bobby’s or not as I’ve come to know that a lot of the stylists who work within these so called salons don’t know a fig about hair maintenance)
• Dusting or trimming my hair myself instead of leaving it at the mercy of these ignorant stylists
• Relaxing new growth 3 times in a year

One major change to my hair routine has also been the use of ‘Jamaican Black Castor Oil’.

I bought 2bottles for $13.09 each on Amazon and have used it consistently. Does it work? Sure it does. My hair has become denser and thicker since I commenced use. I have since ditched all my hair pomades. However please note that castor oil is thick and should be used sparingly on your scalp and to coat your hair ends which are exposed on a daily basis. If you’ve got receding hairlines, then it’s time to start using castor oil. It’s imperative that you use castor oil as an hot oil treatment during the harmattan season to avoid breakage and weak ends.

Compliments of the season peeps!

Travel to Oman with NatGeo

Ever wondered what it would be like on assignment as a National Geographic photographer?

This is your chance to go to Oman and be mentored by Nat Geo veteran and host of National Geographic Channel’s Pure Photography series, Jason Edwards!

Applications close January 14th 2013, at 2pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (GMT +11)

We know that you have been patiently waiting all year for this one…

WorldNomads.com and National Geographic Channel are giving one aspiring photographer the opportunity to accompany renowned wildlife and natural history photographer, Jason Edwards, on assignment in Oman. Find out firsthand what life is like in the field for a travel photographer and learn the tricks of the trade during this 8-day mentorship experience.

About the Assignment

This is the Arabia of Aladdin’s dreams.

Allow Peregrine Adventures and Oman Tourism to help you explore the historic city of Muscat and drive along the coast to the bubbling fishing village of Seeb. By 4WD, travel to the rugged interior and the splendid forts of Nakhal and Al Hazm, framed by the spectacular Jebel Akhdar Mountains. Continue on to explore the beautiful oasis at Wadi Bani Khaled, before entering the vast Wahiba Sands – where you’ll sleep at a rustic desert camp under a blanket of brilliant stars.

The charming oasis of Lisq and the village of Mudaibi, further reveal the local life of Oman, as does a browse of the fabulous souk of ancient Nizwa. Meet the people, learn of their delicate silverware, woodwork and embroidery, and unwind in the cool heights of the Mountain of the Sun, all before a further wander of the wonderful maze of Muscat.

And what better way to capture the entire experience than from behind the lens of a new Canon EOS 6D?!

Here’s the deal:

*You must be available to be in Oman between March 7-16, 2013.

*On the trip you will work alongside Jason Edwards photographing the people, culture and landscapes of Oman at various times of the day and night.

*You will gain invaluable mentoring and hands-on experience in everything from shot set up, technique and composition through to insights into his many years of diverse experience as an award-winning photographer.

*Your assignment will involve observing and assisting Jason as well as undertaking your own photographic work. This will involve long days, early mornings and late nights working!

*Most of all, you’ll be experiencing what it’s like to be a photographer on-assignment with National Geographic!

Your Brief

*You will work through a specific shot list of 30 photos that will be commissioned by the scholarship partners as part of your assignment.

*You will keep a daily diary about your time on the trip and upload this to a WorldNomads.com travel journal (minimum 200 words per day), including pictures you’ve taken.

*On your return you will work with Jason Edwards through the editorial process to shortlist your top photographs and colour balance to achieve professional looking shots for submission to National Geographic Channel for publication.

A selection of your best photos will be published on National Geographic Channel where they will be viewed by thousands of travellers worldwide, offering you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get your foot in the door of one of the most revered exploration organisations in the world!

The Prizes

The Winner will receive:

*An 8-day bespoke trip to Oman with Peregrine Adventures and Oman Tourism.

*Round-trip airfare from your country of residence to Muscat courtesy of Etihad Airways where you will meet your mentor and small film crew.

*An advanced photography kit from Canon, including:

• Canon EOS 6D: the world’s most lightweight DSLR with full frame sensor

• Canon Speedlight Flash 430EX

• Canon Lenses: 50mm f/1.4; 17-40mm f/4; 70-200 f/4

• a Canon Academy course

• Canon PIXMA PRO100 printer

*Travel insurance for the duration of the trip from World Nomads.

The 3 Runner’s Up will receive:

*A Canon prize pack including:

• a Canon Academy course

• 3 application photographs printed by PIXMA PRO printers

Who can apply

* This opportunity is open to any non-professional trying to start a career in Travel Photography – photography students or keen amateurs/pro-amateurs looking for a foot in the door.

* Minimum age 18 by the application deadline with a good level of physical fitness.

* This is a global opportunity – you may be a resident of any country.

* You should be an exceptional photographer with a lust for adventure, have a strong desire to be mentored and grow your photographic knowledge and skills, an ambition to forge a career in Travel Photography, and of course a desire to travel to Oman.

* Remember this is a scholarship, a learning experience, and therefore will not be suitable for professional or semi-professional photographers.

Am I eligible? What makes a non-professional?

We appreciate that the photography industry is difficult to break into and there are a lucky few who can count themselves as professional full time photographers.

This scholarship is very much about the mentorship opportunity, and the judging panel will be selecting the person or team who they feel will most benefit from the learning opportunity. So, if you currently make more than 25% of your income from photography activities, you are not eligible.

You will be asked to outline your experience to date in the submission process, and it will be the judging panel who decides who is most suitable based on their photos and written component.

Find out more about eligibility on our FAQ page.

Important Dates

**You need to be available between March 7th-16th, 2013 to participate on the assignment.**

Applications Accepted: November 12 – January 14

Judging Period: January 14 – February 3

Winner Announced: February 4

Assignment: March 7-16, 2013

Apply now!

Please look carefully at the 4 steps required to complete your application.

If your photos (with captions and essay) are not ready, we suggest you come back later to complete this entry.

1. Shoot a series of photos (maximum of 5)

They must tell a story about a place you have visited. ‘Place’ may be anywhere; somewhere in your own community or much further away. The judges will be looking for:

* originality

* ability to convey a story through photos

* excellent technique

Each of the 5 shots must have accompanying caption text to help contextualize the shot.

Please see our FAQ page about the theme, making digital adjustments and Jason’s judging criteria before you submit your application..

2. Add your photos to WorldNomads.com.

Firstly create a journal, which is where your photos will be hosted, and fill in the entry form. Upload your photos either as a Flickr set (they need to be the only 5 photos in the particular Flickr set) or directly in the journal. This year we have a new functionality in Journals that allows you to view your photos in a much larger format, similar to Flickr. (If you are already a member or have a journal, please sign-in.)

*Please don’t remove the tags and title of the gallery we have set up for you – this is how we find you*

3. Tell us in 1200 characters or less about yourself and why you should be chosen.

Your written response will have significant weighting in the judging process, so think carefully about why you should be chosen. Tell us about yourself, your passions, why you love photography, what drives you to take a better shot, where you would like to go with your photography etc. Help us form a picture in our mind of you as a person with your text.

Remember this is a once in a lifetime learning opportunity, not a junket for professional photographers.

4. Finally the legal bit.

You know the Terms and Conditions of entry.

One entry per person

Applications close: 2pm January 14, 2013 (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

Please Note: Last year we almost had a server meltdown because applicants left it to the last minute to submit. Don’t miss out! Apply well before the closing date to ensure your application is successful!

The recipient of the Scholarship, along with the best entries, will be published on WorldNomads.com on February 4, 2013.

Check out our finalists and shortlist from 2011 along with judge’s comments.

See past travel photography scholarship winner Walid Rashid’s photos (2011) and Dat Vu’s photos (2010) on the Nat Geo Channel website, and Anna Zhu’s (2009) exhibition with Jason Edwards in Sydney.

Investing in Treasury Bills

The stock market is a bum right now and rather than keep money in the bank, I have gone ahead to learn about the benefits of investing in treasury bills. First what do I mean by treasury bills?

A treasury bill is a short-term obligation backed by the Nigerian government with a maturity of 30, 60, 90, 182 and 365 days respectively. Minimum investment required starts from N100,000 and can be purchased through most financial institutions within the country. However, I will also recommend GT Asset Management as well. I’ve been using them for all my treasury bill investment till date. Treasury bills are issued through a competitive bidding process at a discount from par, which means that rather than paying fixed interest payments like conventional bonds, the appreciation of the bond provides the return to the holder.

So how do you calculate the returns on your investment? Kindly see the table below for different scenarios based on individual budget;

Principal Sum to invest	No. of days	Interest Rate	Expected payout
200,000	30	0.13%	2,131
500,000	60	13%	10,656
1,000,000	90	13%	31,967
2,000,000	182	13%	129,290

As depicted in the table above, the longer your investment period, the higher the expected payout on your investment. How did I calculate this? Simple…supposing you have N1.5million naira lying idle in your savings account earning a measly 4% interest per annum and are interested in treasury bills, this is how to calculate your expected payout. The first thing to note about 2012 is its’ a leap year i.e. 366 days and not 365 days. Secondly if you’re not in dire need of this fund, I usually advise you go the long haul by investing for 182 days or 366 days instead. Thirdly divide your preferred investment period by the total number of days in the year x the interest rate (as advertised by the Central Bank of Nigeria) i.e. 182/366 x 0.13 or 366/366 x 0.13. Fourthly, multiply the value you get by the principal amount you want to invest i.e. 182/366 x 0.13 x 1,500,000 to obtain your payout. It’s as simple as that.

I also recommend you keep re-investing initial principal and interest to generate higher returns over a longer period of time if you don’t need the money right away. That’s my wise investment tip for the smart woman or man out there for the week.

You can also reach GT Asset Management via;

GTB Asset Management,
37, Karimu Kotun Street,
Victoria Island,
Lagos
+234 1 448 8888

Enjoy your weekend!!!