Jos - Nigeria...Nigeria, a country of solicitors with a black market for gasoline; local airports without power or phone lines and amazingly patient people.
In Lagos the humidity and pollution easily creates a layer of black dirt on my face and clothing. The taxis have no meters. You must negotiate your fare based upon who you are.
Jos, a little village in the State of Plateau, situated at the foot of a volcano. Located in the north, it is a quiet place with dry weather, intermittent electrical power and no phone lines. Again it is the black market gasoline which powers the vehicles.
The five star hotel is falling to ruin. Tap water resembles liquid Rubellite Tourmaline. Fortunately, bottled water is inexpensive enough to bathe with as well as drink. Even in the nearly deserted hotel, the wake up call came an hour late. It would have been just enough to cause me to miss the flight back to Lagos, had that not been delayed for five hours.
This city however reveals a buried treasure of unexplored mines and minerals. From Sapphire and Ruby to Topaz, Amethyst, Tourmaline, |
Aquamarine, Garnet and Quartz. Although the large crystals and unexplored gem mines are encouraging, the difficulties of being a stranger caught between local miners and the local mining cartel makes buying no fun, not safe and not much sense.
You can buy anything if you have dollars. I was surprised that even though I arrived on last day of the month of Ramadan, in the Muslim city of Jos, business was still being transacted. As a non-local, be prepared to be ripped off in pricing negotiations to varying degrees however.
Despite the inconveniences of lack of communication facilities and a somewhat suspect business environment, hunting for gems in Jos is an adventure into the unknown. Jos, the poor city, rich with buried treasures.
Mr. G
17 January 1999 Jos, Nigeria |
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