Nike Lake Resort: Exploring Enugu’s Lakeside Attraction.

Scene. A lone orange boat on the Nike Lake, Enugu state. In motion, disturbing the surface of the brown lake. Five orange life jackets sit in the water vessel. Four pray it is seaworthy while the fifth mans the engines.

White egrets rest on the green foliage, the mangrove-covered islands. They no doubt hold secrets that would never be known. Lily pads float in the water. By the edge of the lake, we spot Komodo lizard on a tree. Nearby, some green water plants soak in the sun. It is silent with only the sound of the boat advancing on the water.

“You. Go to the front and sit at the edge.”

The finger of the middle-aged boat driver obviously points in my direction. But I refuse to believe that he is addressing me. My pounding heart can barely manage sitting on a chair separated from the water by plastic.

One shaky step after the other I advance it to the front of the boat. I lower my trembling body until I feel the edge and grip its sides. I prepare for all the possibilities. A sudden movement of the boat that might throw me into the water. Getting grabbed from below by a crocodile. In my head, I hear the familiar warning, don’t follow your friends to the river oh. I would be the child that drowns.

Three seconds in, I feel less uneasy. My face is still exhibiting a plethora of emotions. My friends laugh at me as the boat driver calls me, “Fear Fear”. I let go of the rope I was gripping and hold onto Esther’s leg. We shall perish together. I turn back to stare at the water as it protests the boat’s movement, foaming up angrily. The boat moves and a soft wind kisses my face as the boat picks up speed. The horizon is our backdrop. I feel the dizzying effect of staring danger in the eye and feeling no fear.

In the next few minutes, four of us all take turns at the front of the boat. Sitting at the edge of danger, laughing and posing for pictures. Surprisingly, the boat does not tip when the boat driver insists all four of us stay at the front for a picture.

At the end of the ride, we mount the earth with uneasy feet. I will not miss the water. I will just miss the excitement of being so close to danger it let me experience.

……………………………………

The boat ride with my friends started with the insistence and advocacy of Yetunde, the explorer. Every week, we pick a place and visit it, exploring and finding out new places about Enugu.

Nike Lake Resort lies tucked away in Nike Abakpa. It is mostly empty when we arrive. The road that leads in is lined by huge trees that had other plants growing on them. An unexpected burst of color on tree trunks. We head to the left to a cluster of huts. Past a two-faced masquerade holding a cutlass rusted orange. The lake lay ahead. Vast and quiet.

I and my friends debate on the merits of the planned boat ride. I am on the team for it to be forfeited. My argument gets thrown into the lake. We proceed towards danger. To pay for a ride that could leave us at the bottom of the water.

The Nike Lake Resort Hotel overlooks a swimming pool, an empty bar, and a recreation area. The blue of the swimming pool is striking, it hurts to look at it for too long. Our fingers continuously tap at our phones. I put mine away after a while. I feel like an invader. A pseudo tourist invading the serenity and sacredness of the resort with my camera. But all I want to do is to capture these moments.

The lobby of the hotel has a seasoned look to it. It is almost empty. A few workers drabbed in white and black pass through and fro. The sound of a sports channel blares from the bar. it makes me wonder if the resort gets any visitors at all.

We lounge around in the lobby. Hunger eats away at us. We brought no snacks and we are too tired to begin the journey home. While waiting in the lobby beside Jerry, I relive the boat ride. Wind in my hair. The sun caressing my face. The danger of the water beneath. The thrill of moving across water for the first time in my life.