Bamenda is the capital of the Northwest Region of Cameroon and is quite a hilly town. The temperature throughout the year is generally low and the population is well known for its hard work, hospitality and humility.


This is my hometown, my home. And I am sharing with you images that bring lots of memories to my mind when I look at them.

So I took some time to go up for a walk on the Bamenda Up-Station hill. I was glad I took my camera along because the view was worth taking pictures of.

I was filled with memories and decided to take photos of the most remarkable places in Bamenda.

Here is a street called Sonac street. This road leads to the major commercial area of the town where we have the Main market and the Food market.

The next photo is the Old town neighbourhood in Bamenda. This neighbourhood is the major settlement of the Muslims in the town.

Below is a view of part of the commercial area of Bamenda. I must admit it was pretty hard to get better pictures because of my position and the distance but here you go.

A glimpse of the activities of this area in the next two images. The image below is a part of the popular Commercial Avenue and the second image is that of the famous City Chemist roundabout.



Commercial Avenue is a long street where a lot of commercial activities take place. It is situated in front of the Main Market and is very busy during working hours.

The name City Chemist round came from the famous City Chemist Pharmacy still situated right there at the roundabout.

The Churches

Bamenda is a very Christian town. That's why the church has a very important place in its past and present. These churches have been existing for a long while now and have grown with and become an integral part of the population with time.

The Baptist church

First of all, we have the oldest church building in Bamenda which is the old Baptist church.

As the church's population and needs grew, there was the need to build another church. This old church as we can see is built mostly of stones which I think has contributed to its existence till today. The church may not be used any longer but it stands as part of the identity of the town.

There used to be interesting events like gospel concerts in this church. I remember being taken to some of those events by my aunts and it felt so good because events as such were very rare back in the days. Things like that mostly took place in churches.

Below is the new Baptist church built next to the old one. A touch of colour and modernity was included as it stands next to the older church.

The Presbyterian church

These are images of the Presbyterian Church Ntamulung - usually called PC Ntamulung. It's also an old church in the town and has thousands of Christians every Sunday and church days.

You can see the church in front and there is a multipurpose hall behind it which is used for occasions such as weddings. The tower at the side hosts the church bell. I just realized that I miss hearing the sound of that bell. This church is actually where I was baptized.

The Catholic church

Other beautiful church buildings I could identify from the escarpment included these...

Above is the Bayelé Catholic church. It's a very popular Catholic church in Bamenda. It is characterized by its graveyard found in front of it. I remember the fear I grew up with as I heard the stories about the Bayelé graveyard. I don't know if they were true but just looking at the graveyard made me believe everything I heard.

Below is the St. John Catholic Church at the Foncha's Street neighbourhood.

Mosques

With the presence of the Muslims, there are mosques in the city like this one found in the Old town neighbourhood.

Schools

Below are images of remarkable schools in the town. These primary schools are remarkable because they are quite old and I attended one of them.

Yes, I actually attended one of these schools and couldn't help smiling as I took pictures of my former school.

PS Ntamulung 

The next image is that of my former school, Presbyterian School Ntamulung Station, a.k.a PS Ntamulung. I don't know how it is today but during my time there the Headmaster's office used to be under the staircase you see in the picture. The good old days...

Government School Old Town

Here is Government Primary School Old town.

Are you from Bamenda? What do you like the most about where you come from? What memories do you have of where you grew up?

I know there are girls out there who need to hear this so that they can start making the right choices concerning levelling up their appearance. So let's dive right into it.

When it comes to my handbags, I love to own original cute designer bags and I find it hard to compromise sometimes. It has to be an original bag or nothing. Even if it is the fifth hand. Lol, I don't mind. That's why I prefer to thrift the original designer bag than buying a brand new bag which is fake.

Here is the truth. Some of us love designer bags but can't afford the original brand new ones (yet). That's why we turn to the alternative of either buying fairly used bags from thrift stores or the fake imitation bag.

Also, the original bags are more expensive whether they are brand new or thrift. But I prefer to be patient, save up and purchase an original bag.

Fake bags are often way cheaper than the original fairly used bags from thrift stores. This is why more women still go for fake bags. They feel it's a win-win for them because the bag looks original, it is new and cheap too. On top of that the fake new ones are quite attractive and more good looking than the second-hand original designer bag, so why not?

But there are some important reasons why a lady like you who is levelling up, should rather go for the original bag even if it is from the thrift store. Here's why.

Why you should wear original designer bags instead of the cheap fake ones.

Because it is the original

As simple as that. Seriously, why buy a fake one when you are trying to be levelled up? Original things make you feel levelled up because it boosts your confidence. As girls, we love to ask each other about our purchases and the origins of the things we buy. Letting your entourage know that your bag is an original is definitely a confidence booster.

It is better to have just one original designer bag that matches everything rather than having so many fake bags fill your closet. When you go out you cringe each time someone looks at it because you just feel they are staring at your fake bag.

The original lasts longer

No doubt about that. The original is always the best quality. So go for it. It is also cheaper in the long run because the number of fake bags you will buy during the lifetime of one original designer bag will be countless.

A second-hand designer bag will last you almost a lifetime but a fake bag will lose its shine and wear out so fast, no matter how well you preserve it.

I'm talking from my experience. I used to buy lots of fake bags during my first years at the university and discovered the difference later on when I started investing in original second-hand bags. It helps me save money in the long run.

Buying an original bag is investing

I say this for two reasons:

- You can always resell an original designer bag for some good money.

- And like I mentioned earlier, one designer bag may cost more but will last longer than a fake bag which is cheaper but will require to be replaced every other month. So, in the long run, the original bag is cheaper.

Fake designer bags make you feel uncomfortable

Probably mentioned this already too. If you know this purse is not an original Louis Vuitton and you still use it, it doesn't make you feel any different or look any different because most times those who know what a real Louis Vuitton looks like would notice that it is not the original. This will make you feel uncomfortable while using it.

And trust me, when people are staring at your bag (especially women) they are looking to see if your bag is fake or original.

Please disappoint them by carrying an original because fake designer bags make you look cheap.

Ladies note this from today: 

If there is one accessory that upgrades your look it is your bag. Your clothing could be made of cheap fabric but once your bag is good and authentic you get an instant upgrade.

So go for an original bag girl.

This post is not meant to glorify designer or luxury bags. Any bag originally made by a designer is a designer bag. Whether luxury or not. No matter the designer you buy from, it's always better to buy the original bag. Some brands like Channel, Louis Vuitton and Dior have lots and lots of imitations being sold out there in almost every country. And these are the brands that most women want to have. Getting the original is always more advantageous than the fake.

Level up wisely girls. And don't go broke because you want to buy a bag either. Remember we have other goals to accomplish. When you are ready to buy a handbag, save up and go for a good one. You can have just one original bag and use it every day without fear of it wearing out too soon. Even if people notice that you have just one bag, they will also know that it's the original and they will be wishing they had the same bag as you because your bag will look good and new every time.

Related:

Every now and then, we need to level up our wardrobe to have better outfits and combinations to wear.  

Your wardrobe could be full but you still struggle daily to find something to wear. So today I'm sharing tips to help you avoid that.

Here are the points that you should take into consideration when improving your wardrobe.

Except you are trying to make a switch, it's important to stick to your style when improving your wardrobe. If you buy things which are not your style you may end up never wearing them no matter how much you admire the clothes.

Some people know their style while others don't and if you don't know your style yet, it's not a problem. You can take a test to find out or read a blog post about finding your fashion style. If you still can't figure it out (which is ok), then focus on using the tips that follow to improve your wardrobe.

Essential Handbags You Should Invest In

Essential Designer Bags For Daytime Looks

1. The Simple Daytime Bag

The simple bag is great for occasions like visiting a friend, a picnic or a stroll which you would want to look good but not look too dressed up for.

This is the bag that matches one hundred per cent or at least 99% of your daytime outfits. LOL. Here, I recommend black designer bags because black is the most universal colour on earth. Also, a white bag will do but it may look too chic for a simple bag so it all depends.

If you want some colour for the daytime outings then go for a colour that you can match most of your outfits. I have a blue channel bag that I use during my daytime outings and it matches my outfits because I have mostly neutral colours in my wardrobe like beige, navy blue, black and white.

I also made sure to have big and small daytime bags and the first colour I buy is black so that I can use it more often.

2. The Classy Daytime Bag

This is a bag that you can use during the day but which is for your much more classy looks or outfits. Occasions such as weddings and other celebrations fit into this category. The classy bag is more of a lady's bag and here you can go for something more colourful or vibrant. If you still want to keep it simple but nice, you can go for a multicolour bag.

I have a three coloured Gucci bag which I use for such occasions. It's the perfect size because it isn't very small nor very big and the colours are not very bright - red, pink and most of it is grey. There is a long strap and short ones so I can switch how I hold the bag according to my look. See how I styled this bag here.

3. The Travel Bags

Travel bags are very important in a lady's life. Unexpected travel is bound to happen so you better be ready for it.

Travel handbags are very essential. If they are big enough to contain your basics and an outfit then they are good for short trips like spending a night, weekend or week over with your parents, your sister or with boo.

There are also the usual traveller's bags which are bigger and these are good for longer trips.

4. The Work/School Bag

If you are a student or worker and want a designer bag for work or school then go for bags that can contain all your work or daily school stuff.

Essential Designer Bags For Evening Looks

5. Dinners/Date night/Girls night out/Party bag

This can be a very glamourous bag because it's evening or nighttime, it's dark and the outfits are often more levelled up too. 

Colours like gold and silver are good. Glittering materials are also recommended. But if you want to keep it simple at night then a cute gold bag that can serve as a purse will do. 

This gold Yves St Laurent bag is my go-to evening bag. The gold strap is quite long and I can make it shorter or completely put it inside the bag and just carry it as a strapless purse.

Related: 

Timeless Tips To Follow While Leveling Up Your Wardrobe

Secondhand Designer Bags Or Fake Brand New Ones

The things I like about the soap: