Mama

Life is never constant...always on the move. Some good ones, some bad. You complained the bad ones, and pray for more good ones to come. 

But as a Muslim, you submit. Through thick and thin...because of a simple fact. We are just the servant of Allah, a slave. After all, in prayer; five times a day we recite 

Say (O Muhammad p.b.u.h) "verily my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the 'Alamin (Universe, mankind, everything that exist)

Surah Al-An'aam, verse 162

Now, we are rushing home. Back to Malaysia...Mama is not well. I will be away in the mean time, insyaAllah (Allah willing) will write something soon. Right now, family comes first.

I wish to thank you all for the du'a and prayer and well wishers for my mother, I appreciate it all. Thank you or terima kasih.

Ben, Mama and Fay during Eid (Salah) 2010

BELGIUM: Brussels: Going Home (Day 6)

Everything comes to and end....the worse part is when you somehow got the hang of it..but need to leave for home. 

The name of our lodging during our stay was apartmensapart.com . They also advertise in Booking.com, the portal which we usually use for hotel reservation. 

other location of the apartments

the living hall

 they prefer the sofa...

BELGIUM: Brussels: Spring has sprung (DAY 5) - One last stroll....

The best day to walk around is usually on the last day of the visit. Trust me....Last year, my friends and I spent 2 weeks in Europe and the last 2 days were phenomenal. Same thing happened in Brussels...it was either raining or just gloomy weather. But on the last day, the sun was out in its full glory.

The last day is usually the day to buy some grocery and souvenirs. The weather was nice, cool air and my sinuses well behaved....I went to a bookshop, not actually book shop but a 'Japanimation' store (click here) at Rue Saint-Catherine....the area looked like a mini China-town in Brussels, IMHO.

visitors and mourners at Belgian Stock Exchange

Tin Tin cartoon at the side
of a building

BELGIUM: Brussels: Spring has sprung (DAY 4) - Pissing and chocolate sampling

Right after our hearty breakfast, courtesy of Madam...we strolled around the area navigating using the tourist map  (found around the area) showing all the attractions within our vicinity.

The first task we did was to look for an iconic statue of this city, but in a female form. The location on the map put her in a cul-de-sac (no exit, no through road, dead end) packed with cafe and restaurants at Rue de Bouchers.

the cut-de-sac or dead end, full
with cafes and pubs sign

Jeanneke Pis

BELGIUM: Brussels: Spring has sprung (DAY 3)

Day 3, we left the apartment earlier. Madam insist we leave early so we could cover more ground today.

The plan was to visit the Army and Military History Museum first, followed by the Natural History Museum. 

We took the Metro...again, stop at Merode station and walk to the Army and Military History Museum which is at the Cinquantenaire Park (Ben said its the 50th Anniversary Park), created in 1880. 

The Triumphal Arch

BELGIUM: Brussels: Spring has sprung (DAY 2)

Had breakfast and a few minutes stroll, we arrived at De Brouckere metro station. Like I mentioned in the previous posting, army presence were high. At every corner of the station, there would be a pair of them on duty and stopping checking our bags ..... you know just in case. I am totally cool, thanks for "Lagos School of Life".

I can tell you, I felt safe to see all these men in uniforms with machine guns patrolling the station and street....just like Lagos. Not to mock anyone...but you do feel safe. The children got to see other types of machine guns, other than AK-47 that they're so fond of using....again in Lagos. 

Took the metro number 6 to the end of line towards Roi Baudouin (Heysel station was closed)....to visit the Atomium and Mini-Euro.

NIGERIA , Lagos - NETHERLANDS, Amsterdam - BELGIUM, Brussels: Spring has sprung (DAY 1)

We left Lagos a few days after the school ends. We wish not to caught up with the rush to leave Lagos, but simply wait until Madam has had enough of her work and wants some RnR.

We choose Brussels simply because we have friends there. We, did not, in any way choose to put our children into harms way when the calamity happened. We've had booked hotel and flight ticket months earlier, and when the calamity happened, only cautionary statement given by most of the High Comms in Brussels. Not even one gave out restriction to travel to Belgium. So we proceed, with caution.

Schiphol Airport train station

We left Lagos and traveled to Amsterdam at around 10.30pm after a delay about an hour regarding fuel. Ohhh don't let me start on fuel ooo... Anyway, we arrived in Amsterdam without a hitch and immediately we went to Thalys counter to get our ticket to Brussels. 

Dear Boss, we're in holiday mode. Madam
is still with her laptop...

Sprinter train

NIGERIA: Lagos: Pidgin 101 - The many usage of Eh Hen / Aheh / Eheh / Eh eh

I kid you not, the short phrase consist of 5 or 4 alphabet is very much noticeable in Nigeria. You immediately feel intrigue about the unassuming phrase which is very much common in daily life.

So common that, I took it as part of the name of my blog. 

It's nothing unusual actually. My dad comes from the state of Johore in Malaysia, and yes, they have a short phrase which they add to almost every end of a sentence. The phrase 'ekk' (sounds like the -ack in black) is so synonymous that immediately Johore comes to mind, the origin of the speaker.

With aheh, eh-hen, eh eh, eheh...is very widely used here regardless where you come from. It transcends state, tribe hood and any label you have here....It solidly say 'Nigeria'. Out and loud. 

It was Madam, obviously forwarded this video from her friends in office... The comedian @JIDENSKY which you can follow in Fb clearly boils down to the multiple usage of the simple daily phrase.... enjoy!

Ahehhhhhh....

NIGERIA: Lagos: A Wedding (Igbo) - Victor Nnaemeka and Thelma Uzoamaka

A few weeks ago, I gave Madam one of my traditional Malay costume for her to do buba and sokoto (shirt and pants/trouser). Incidentally, Sokoto (with capital 'S') is also a state in North West of Nigeria. The way you pronounce it make all the difference. But of course they know which one you're referring to when talking to them.

The main reason Madam asked for my best Malay dress because we were invited to a wedding! The first one since we arrived in Lagos.

the invite...

NIGERIA: Lagos: Dinner and Birthday Cake (no washing!)

Just after a day our visit to Tarkwa Bay beach, Madam was busy preparing to receive another batch of visitor. Although we can't receive all at once, we will get there to the end (at least for Madam's dept.)

Madam's had been from one company to the other during her career path and I can tell you that, I can recall most of her friends. More so since we were in Nigeria. She invited them home, I've been to some of the functions around Lagos, company dinner etc etc. So you get to know who is the "mak cik" or Aunty in her dept. (knows everyone, can joke with most of them and does emcee duties dutifully....start the dancing and karaoke session). Who does this, that and which area they're responsible with. Thank Allah for the photographic memory. 

oppsss..two Fela Kuti's pix.. should
see his live performance in YouTube