A Journey of Love | Traveling to Benin 🇧🇯 to Meet My Daughter First Time
It has been a while since my last post on Hive, the longest break I ever took off from Hive as I have never gone a month without posting since I joined Hive in 2017.
I took a special holiday travel from New Zealand 🇳🇿 to Benin 🇧🇯 to meet my daughter for the first time, she was conceived before I left for New Zealander in 2023 so it was a special journey to Benin 🇧🇯 for me, a journey of love ❤️.
I was met by my cousin, wife and daughter at the airport. As I expected, my daughter didn’t know me, the video calls didn't help and that was heartbreaking for me to be honest but I had to be patient with her. I knew she would come around because I had a luggage 🧳 full of toys for her and chocolates 🍫 😋
Day 2 was good she started coming to me and we gradually bonded.
From day 3 we had become buddies, and taking selfies 🤳 😊 😄
I pointedmy camera 📷 at her, at every opportunity that I got to photograph the moment. She is an absolute joy, very playful and a handful!
I took her to the pool, and she dashed straight for the pool with clothes and sandals on while I was still busy with payments at the reception. She was quickly stopped from entering the pool as people laughed at her. She spent over an hour in the pool and didn’t want to leave.
I managed to get her attention for a shot 📷
She likes her cartoon!
I took them to the beach ⛱️ in Grand Popo and my daughter dashed for the ocean, I had to run after her and hold onto her all the time. My little darling doesn't know her father can't swim 😄
A moment with her at home
Sadly, it was time to leave as my 24 days to Benin 🇧🇯 was up, unknown to her at the airport she just wanted to run around and play not realizing daddy was leaving 😢.
My journey back to New Zealand 🇳🇿 was long, with a bit of a sad one leaving my daughter and wife behind. It was a approximately two days flight ✈️ with stops at Ethiopia 🇪🇹, Singapore 🇸🇬, Malaysia, Auckland and finally to my base in Christchurch.
I was completely exhausted when I arrived yesterday 😴.
Thank you @bhattg79 for checking on me
@goga22, @littlebee4, @heroldius, @joanstewart meet my daughter ♥️ 😊
She is so cute, you are so brave, I can't live without my cuties for too long
But everyone have different situation for living.
Hope your video calls will be more attractive as you met her in real
Thank you 😇, the bravery is not easy to be honest, I have to earn a living for us. I never thought having my own family will start this way but that's life's unpredictable nature.
Hopefully the video calls helps.
!PIZZA
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Real life is more important, and it looks like you had a nice time with your daughter. It's too bad that you have to go back, but I hope you will be back with them soon. Now that she knows who you are in person, hopefully she will connect with you more over the video calls.
You are right, real life is most important, I wouldn't have traveled home if not for her as it is too expensive and too far but going home to meet her is worth more than any money.
She is now a year and seven months, hopefully the connections grows as she grows as well through the video calls and future travels to be with her.
Thank you bro 🙏
!PIZZA
Good to read from you again! I could recall you mentioning going to Benin during the holidays, spending time IRL with loved ones does put things into perspective on what really matters, your daughter looks cute and very energetic lol.
Hi brother, thanks 😊.
It was a priceless moment with her. You mentioned energetic like you have seen her in person or videos, she is truly energetic and climbs whatever she feels like climbing. The other day she climbed a ladder 🪜 in the yard which an electrician was working on. I immediately grabbed her off it knowing the danger of that. Her mother says she takes climbing stuff after me because I work at heights.
!PIZZA
Oh yes, that's definitely true, she wouldn't be afraid of heights when she grows up :)
You're most welcome!
Dear friend, I have nothing to write here except to put a lot of love for you and your family ❤️❤️❤️❤️. I wish you a lot of strength until your next meeting. Big Hug!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for the lots of love ❤️ and the wish of strength because I need it 😊 🙏
!PIZZA
It must have been a very emotional trip to meet your daughter for the first time. I hope you were able to enjoy your family and spend quality time with your daughter.
Beautiful photos... Have a great day.
It was emotional especially returning to NZ but the time spent with them were special. I am very happy to have made the long travel to and back.
Thanks and you too.
!PIZZA
That's awesome bro. I was kinda wondering too, saw you didn't make a post for a while. I didn't even know you had a wife hahahaha 😅. Keep rockin, lets take care of business, then chill more soon.
Hahaha yes I took the time off Hive to spend quality time with my wife and daughter. Now its back to business lol.
Best of wishes for the year bro ✨️
!PIZZA
Cute as a button, wonderful to meet her, see she is happy settling to get to know you. Very long journey to make to meet the family once again.
Now back to work and cooler conditions for awhile again.
Thank you, she is such a cutie 💓
Africa 🌍 is so far from New Zealand it is not an easy journey.
Back to the reality of hustling and of course the cold weather.
!PIZZA
Yup even mid-summer one feels the cooler breeze there, must be amazing to enjoy through the seasons. Little one looks really a pretty little girl, now you have met her will tug at the heart.
I've been back to wearing 3-4 layers and its summer for goodness sake. Eventually got over the jet lag and now battling with fever.
Quite a cute pretty little cutie, I am missing her.
You had a very beautiful time
She did not want you to leave.
Happy to welcome you in Benin Republic on the vacation next time.
Peace
Thank you bro, it was nice to be back home but it was very short, you and I couldn't even spend more time together, sorry I couldn't see you before I left. Thanks for your help 🙏
!PIZZA
You welcome brother
🙂😀