My Journey To Enugu And My Hodophobia

You probably have never heard of hodophobia. If you don't mind giving me a few seconds of your time, I'll explain what it means to you.

You may not be aware of it or this may be your first introduction to the idea that some individuals are afraid to travel.

You think it sounds novel. like extraterrestrial things Perhaps it's because you enjoy traveling. You have a "trip- orgasm" as you gaze out the window and take in the breathtaking surroundings all around you. Yes, this is Nigeria, where you may get whatever you like and eat while traveling to make the experience more enjoyable for you.

Well, to some people, like myself, it doesn't seem to be the case. Some of us find travel to be terrifying.

I'm afraid to go somewhere.

I get shivers at the thought of being in a moving box, covering long miles quickly—in hours or minutes makes me queasy and occasionally wants to vomit. And these have prevented me from traveling for years now since I moved to Uyo, which was only possible by God's grace.

Even though some of my friends would classify me as having claustrophobia, I can tolerate a packed environment, maybe a stationary vehicle but not in one that is moving.

What exactly is homophobia?
The medical term for a strong aversion to traveling is homophobia. Sometimes people call it "trip-a-fear." It frequently shows up as an increased fear of a certain means of transportation, like airplanes. Additionally, fear can arise in the wake of disasters and highly anticipated events that cause worry throughout society. Although homophobia might be unsettling, there are ways to control and overcome it.

What might be the origins of homophobia?

There are two key aspects that can make traveling more uneasy.

1. The fear of moving is typically brought on by a previous unpleasant travel experience. The memory of the occurrence causes you to feel more pressure in your body and in your relationships. You might feel anxious and tense just thinking about perhaps using the same means of transportation as the unfortunate event.

2. A significant global event that garners widespread attention can also cause the dread of movement. Pandemic occurrences are one form of circumstance that makes individuals afraid to travel.

There are additional reasons why your anxiety about traveling could intensify, but these are the most typical ones.

Okay, now that you know why HODOPHOBIA exists, let me tell you about my most recent trip to Enugu.

My travels to Enugu
Now that I've expanded your knowledge on hodophobia, let me tell you about my journey to Enugu.

After years of rarely making such journeys. I once again took a risk by traveling to Enugu on Monday, August 15, for a crucial appointment. Normally, I would have found a way to say no, but given the importance of the appointment, I mustered the courage and agreed to go to Enugu.

So, I arrived at the park in Uyo to catch a bus at 7 a.m. on Monday, August 15th.

I made sure to get a window seat in case I wanted to puke up after purchasing my tickets and getting into the car. Of course, I also had my bitter kola, just like a soldier preparing for battle. You've probably heard the rumor that when you suck on its juices, it prevents you from throwing up.

Because there weren't many people traveling to Enugu, we didn't really depart on time.

Everything was ready by 8:15 am, and we were on our way to Enugu. Enugu is about 3 hours away from Uyo. When we reached the highway, where we needed to move quickly, our driver accelerated. Then the want to vomit and the queasy feeling arose.I quickly ate the juices off the kola as rapidly as I could. Of course, it gave me a little relief.

The increased number of police checkpoints along our route was one thing I noticed, which I attributed to the country's rising level of security. Oh, and I did see the coded handshakes between drivers and our armed officers (you know what I mean). I dozed off for the remainder of the trip. You better believe it scaled the moment.

At 11:25 am, we reached the lovely city of Enugu. Like in a normal Igbo Land, everyone was busy. I observed that Enugu has a lot of red soil, enormous mountains, and enormous people who are also nice.

Also, I went to places like the well-known Independence Layout, Abakpa, Holy Ghost Park, Ballroom, The National Orthopedic Hospital, Gariki, etc. I consumed the renowned "Okpa Enugu." So much has changed since my previous visit to Enugu 16 years ago.

Enugu is indeed a wonderful city.

Pictures were shot and edited by me