The Diary Game|| 21-10-2024|| Visiting a Riverine market in my State

It is a Monday morning, a work day and a very busy moment for everyone. My siblings were already preparing for school while I was preparing for a trip, I was prepared to travel to another local government in my state, Uruan local government. This area is blessed with aquatic life and activities, it was a must visit for me as it is located in the coastal region and its water body flows to the Atlantic ocean.

The sun was out already when the time at that moment was 7 Am, we quickly left to board a vehicle down there. To my amazement, most vehicles were filled we had to wait for about 20 mins to finally find a bus. Due to how straight and convenient the road is, we were able to get there under 30 mins.

The crowd was something else, the were just moving in a spontaneous manner, many people rushing to and from just to meet up with their goods. We reached the parking lot where we had to wait for the driver, I used that moment to take couple of pictures and selfie. I phone was in my hands as I couldn't trust my pockets anymore in the market.

I was able to capture fresh foods brought through the river there, I was very anxious to see the river and the fishermen. Many traders from different markets in the state always come here to get goods to sell. I saw lots of dried fishes, in bulk being carried from the shore. While on the path to the shore, the whole place was just tight as the off loaders weren't having it, they would just bash-in tight spaces trying to pass, you have no other option than to make a path for them.

They pick up heavy loads, like bags of periwinkle which is very heavy to pick up and they do that with ease because they've been doing it repeatedly. They run with these goods taking them to the parking lot, at this moment I couldn't imagine my self trying to pick up a bag, I'm sure it won't pass the waist region.

Smoked cat fish was very available as I was able to take a quick picture of it. Before you could take a clear picture of a good, it will take a lot of skills because many people won't allow you to take photos if they're conscious of it, so I just take without any of them knowing.

Okra, onions and pepper were very abundant as they sold cheaply for people. I now see where many traders get their goods to sell in their retail shops. If I went could just get food items here it will be more better because they're cheap and abundant. I saw an onion spree, such quantity won't even last the day as traders will purchase in bounty quantities.

I finally reached the shore of this Riverine area, I was so amazed to see such huge canoes used in brining in large amounts of goods. Young children were not absent from this hustle as they took full part of the business, I was even shocked when I saw them riding the boats.

There are many interesting facts about these river.

• This river is just 30+ kilometers to the Atlantic ocean
• it empties into the boarder sea between Akwa ibom and Calabar in cross river.

It houses a lot of aquatic creatures like fishes, crabs, prawns but to mention as few. I saw them crabs, prawns and fishes but wasn't able to get the picture o the crab and prawns due to pressure in that area.

Logs and woods are also collected from the mangrove forest there, and kept on the shoreline. I saw a place that seemed like a canoe making factory but I couldn't capture it. What I noticed was that the people there were very hardworking and industrious. They put in all the work for the hustle, the were also friendly and tough at the same time, it is so frustrating in the market.

I finally left to the parking lot after a stressful tour today, I already captured more than 50 pictures and I was very satisfied with them as I left to board a vehicle home. We were very lucky to see one as we reached home in no time.

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All images here are mine and were taken with Redmi12C

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