By Paul Ukpabio
The rain poured freely. Roling down from the rocks on the hills, to the dark green leaves like crystal tiny stones that seemed to glitter. If I had never seen diamond before, I would have probably exclaimed that those were diamonds falling from the sky (laugh).
The rain started with windy whisper on the hill, not in drops, but in a breath so light. The leaves lifted up their faces from the trees all around, staring straight to the sky, as if to welcome the rain and embrace it's softness, as dusk descended on the hilltop of La Campagne Tropicana Forest Hills And Cave resort, in Ondo, my wife's best decision so far on a holiday spot.
The three room chalet where we lodged was a climbing distance to the hilltop but below us was the swimming pool, the first ever we heard, on a hilltop. We had swam early in the morning before our breakfast at 9am, in the first ever swimming pool on a hilltop. Thereafter we embarked on games from table tennis to a test run of basket ball right up there on the hills. It was great fun for us because she and I were no fan of the game. But it was fun to play and let the resort staff snap us photos for good memory sake.
This evening we watched the resort drinking bar below us on the hill, as the rain drops danced on the rooftop of our chalet. My wife had joked at lunch that the drinking bar like every other item at the hilltop resort, was the first ever on a hilltop. The bar was well stocked throughout our weekend stay.
The grey clouds persisted. The rain gathered more strength as birds flew around the forest trees, running home to roost in their various nest in the forest.
The ancient rocks began to sigh in sleep. And the forest waited to be alone. But my wife and I weren't sleepy, neither were we alone. We had each other and we could sight another couple we had bumped into at lunch, they were seating on the balcony of another holiday chalet called Ulota, still up in the hill.
And then the rain drummed freely on every roof top. And for a moment I wondered what it would have been like in the rain, being at the Eebio cave restaurant, where we had lunch earlier in the day. I shared my thought with my wife and she replied that it would definitely be cold there. Already she snuggled closer to me on the posh settee in the posh palour where we were looking out through the window.
The rain continued to drip faster now, down the rocks from on top of the hill like a thousand rivers running to be free. From tallest branches to the shortest trees, swaying under the power of the windy rain.
The rain tapped further on the roof of the chalet, steady, sweet, and slow,
A lullaby for hearts that need to rest. Teaching us love the way we needed to know it. That staying close is always being blessed.
Inside, a lamp on the dining table glowing amber, small and warm, two cups of tea steam quiet in the air. Outside, the forest dances in the storm,
And yet inside here, the world is only here. Here with us inside this luxury chalet on the hills of La Campagne, Ita'Nla, Ondo.
The chalet was warm. A small reading light. The oil lamp they had provided, just for romance, not because there was no electricity. But the lamp light changed everything. My wife's face glowed amber. The shadows of the raindrops moved on the walls.
That is when love returned, quietly.
No loud music. No club. No pressure to perform romance. Just rain that forces you to stay in. To stay close. To listen.
Suddenly, we were lovers wrap up under a duvet, side by side,
We watched the forest glisten in the distance from the bed through our window.
The drumming on the roof continued. It gushes off the ancient rocks behind our chalet, forming small silver waterfalls where in the afternoon there was only dry stone. It rained, though it didn't affect the Ola Rotimi Stage, known for the resort's artistic performances.
The rain continued, hitting the highest leaves, then the middle branches, then the ground, so the sound is layered, like orchestra. You hear rain above, beside and below you.
From the window view, fog swallowed everything now. One minute you could see distant villages, the next you could not see ten meters ahead. White everywhere. Cold everywhere. Beautiful everywhere.
My wife leaned on me. Her hand was cold. I held it inside mine.
The resort lights were on, small warm yellow bulbs along the stone pathway, glowing inside the fog like fireflies. From a chalet far below, someone laughed. The kitchen was preparing dinner and we could perceive grilled chicken and fish that managed to climb up the hill even through the rain.
Then the power of the place showed itself. Rain on the hill makes you talk.
So we talked about when we first met, about things we had not had time to talk about in years because Lagos never gives you time. We talked about old fears, about our children, about God. There was television but we left it off, so it didn't distract, no city noise to compete with our peace. Just rain, forest, fog, and two people under one duvet.
And when the rain ended, it was still early evening, the forest bright and new The rain drops still dripped diamond light from every leaf and trees.
The hill breathing clean, the sky returning to blue as if the rain hadwashed the soul of time.
You don’t understand rain until you experience it on the hill.
We had checked into La Campagne Tropicana Forest Hills and Cave Resort in Ondo the previous day afternoon, just the two of us, no phones ringing, no Lagos horn, no deadlines. Just a chalet perched on the hilltop with African themed balcony overlooking the sports area, bed draped in forest and cav
We came for romance. And what we got was a magical holiday with caring staff doting on us, spoiling us with good food, encouraging us to tour the hill and cave,
We may not have gone up to the hilltop, but we made sure that we enjoyed every aspect of fun available from sweet little cakes to cocktails at the bar, all sporting activities and the atmospheric beauty of the scenery. The endless views of the city during the day, The city lights from up the hilltop was enchanting.
The meal came in just when we needed it. We ate in quiet peace. By 10pm, the rain continued softer now, like a lullaby.
We slept with the balcony door slightly open so we could hear it all night. Indeed it was a cosy weekend well spent at La Campagne Tropicana Forest Hills and Cave Resort, Ita'Nla, Ondo.
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