NIGERIA: Lagos: Spring Break

Since February, I was tasked by Madam to look for a place to  go to during the school Spring break. There were requests by the children, visit toy store, dinosaur museum etc...all except "I want to play snow" requested by the little angel.

Travelling with children and Madam, I really have to lower my expectation bar. Not much adventure, just a straight forward travelling together in relative comfort and hassle free. 

I have this ritual where I would open the Google Map of the world and write down a list of potential places to go. Next go to www.visitacity.com to see if there's a ready made itinerary of the city you're visiting. People travelling with children share their itinerary and some places to visit clearly marked as "kids attraction" which makes your decision easier.  You can even adjust accordingly to your preference. Lastly...of course the accommodation which you can trawl over various site in the net.

All set and done, I was happy and just wait for the Spring break to arrive. A few days before travel, trouble struck! We had chosen Brussels as our destination and now....with the bombing...it seemed not possible due to safety reasons. The Malaysian government thru the Embassy in Brussels replied my email regarding travel ban to Belgium if any. So far, most of the country did not impose any, only reminded their citizen to remain vigilant while in Brussels. The best thing I could do was to give as much info (flight, train, accom., date of arrival and departure and phone number) to the Embassy.

Now thinking about it...oh no! I forgot to say thanks since we came back! Thanks also in order for the H.E Datuk Lim  Juay Jin (Malaysia High Commission to Federal Republic of Nigeria) with his diplomatic skill and reasoning put us at ease to continue our trip to Brussels, Belgium.

P/s: Datuk Lim had given an interview to the magazine, Leadership which you can view it here (click please)

NIGERIA: Lagos: Best things in Life are either FREE or CHEAP: Agege Bread

This is a sight in Lagos, Nigeria that you would not miss. A tray full with Agege bread and a few tubs of butter for sale by these ladies selling their wares by balancing the tray atop their head. 

agege bread seller

One of many of these ladies, Olajumuke had hit big when she walked into or photo bombed a singer, songwriter and  photographer TY Bello while in a photo shoot for Tinie Tempah in Lagos. You can view the picture here...(Click here)

Agege....I am not sure of the history of this bread. But the name Agege is a suburb and a Local Government Area (LGA) in Lagos state. 

Just an additional info: Vehicles registered within this LGA will carry the GGE abbreviation in its number plate e.g.: GGE 123 XY 

I think there's 2 sizes (medium and large) and priced at N150 and N250 (I think). Our previous domestic helper, Aminat lives in Agege...aheh...I asked her to buy for me. Cut big slices, heat it with a pan over slow fire and have it with cheese or nutella and peanut butter spread. I'm told they love to eat it with Akara, beans or with stew. 

We do have something like this in Malaysia called Roti Benggali. I think every nation would have their version  of 'Agege' bread. But right now I would love to have mine with 'kaya' or coconut jam which we had ran out a few months back, thanks to Benjamin. 

two distinct size in length (actually)

this one is near the Falomo roundabout 

Bread is an essential part of daily intake although my dietician last week told me to cut the intake...slowly. Since we moved to Lagos, I do shop a lot for the family. Madam is busy at office and so I went from one market or supermarket and sampled various bread (apart from agege), from the  cheapest I could get, N250 (about RM 5.00/US$ 1.25) all the way to the most expensive at the shelf at N500 (RM10.00/US$2.50). All different taste and some pretty bad than the rest and expensive, IMHO.

Anyway, that reminds me to call Madam and told her to get a loaf of bread on her way back today. Next week I will try to cut down my bread intake....I promise.

NIGERIA: Lagos: Small Gathering

I look forward to the day when Madam said that she invited her colleagues over for dinner. I've met most of them during company functions in and outside of Lagos. 

I will ask her, who's coming and she would describe them...their function within the organisation and when we last met. Camera helps too! I've participated some of the events and later would ask her..who is this? This? Why they like to wear very high heels? Anyway, this time around she invited Ngozi, Bimpe, Tolu with their respective husband and  lastly.....'the-still-looking-for-potential-bride' Dotun.

Ngozi and hubby arrived first...it was also their 8th wedding anniversary that night. 

Ngozi (right) with hubby

NIGERIA: Lagos: Indonesia Trade Fair (April 2016)

At the grounds of Federal Palace hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos; the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia through its Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre (IPTC Lagos - Nigeria) put up the "Indonesia Solo Exhibition" from 6-8th April 2016.

In the pamphlet given to visitors, it read:

"...Nigeria's GDP income of US $1.05 trillion (2014)... and imports in 2013 amounting to US $ 61.5 billion and is the largest import in West Africa"

"In addition, the huge market size is also become a strength of the Nigerian market. Nigeria's total population of 181,562,056 people of 58.8% of the total population in West Africa amounted to 310,587,669 people makes Nigeria the largest market in West Africa, especially for consumer goods"

The Chinese are here building railway and airports...Indian population are also high and there are shops and restaurants they own, so does the countless Syrians and Lebanese entrepreneurs. In Abuja, I heard that the Turkish are also venturing into Nigeria and West African market. I met an Egyptian man selling premium furnitures in Lagos and I bet looking at the numbers of population and purchasing power (OK, we can debate this later)....Indonesia had been here quite long to make sure Nigerians had acquired the taste of their instant noodle...clever!

booths at the exhibition

NIGERIA: Lagos: Lagos Ethnic Heritage Centre

It has been a year and a half since we made Nigeria our home and we realised that not all is what it seems. They phrase about "do not judge a book by its cover" has been again and again proven correct here, especially in Lagos state.

on the bridge towards Victoria Island, Lagos state, Nigeria

Here, looks can be deceiving. Behind a hotel, you'll find a windowless structure is actually a nice Indian restaurant (Sheraton Indian Restaurant). Somewhere between another restaurant (Yellow Chillies in Victoria Island) and a private hospital, is the best Italian restaurant in Nigeria (my new friend, an Indian gentleman now in his 35th year in Nigeria said). 

What looked like a bungalow, is actually a restaurant. Come to think about it...that's how the setup of a some of the restaurants here in Lagos. Huge gate with a gate man (honk to enter, please). Some, you don't actually see the restaurants inside...it's almost like...secret! The Hard Rock Cafe, Lagos fits the description....beyond the gate, is the hippest place to be..but from the main road...just another grey building with big car park.

Entrance to the Hard Rock Cafe, Lagos... who would imagine. This is on a 4x4, imagine on a car...you would miss the sign on top of the building.

Anyway it reminds me of the area Bangsar, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where old bungalows around the area are converted to exclusive restaurants. 

Lagos Ethnic Heritage Centre (click here) 

But today (Tuesday, 12th April 2016) was a little different. We were looking for something else, but instead we found another. 

the resident model of this blog...Saifuddin of MATRADE

NIGERIA: Ogun State: The visit to the Family Vocational Institute for Disable by Bringing Netball Back Club (BNB)

Bringing Netball Back Club is a club that provides... 

"both veteran and new to the sport, the opportunity to play netball on a regular basis."

Apart form the usual practise, matches and promoting the game; they do visit the orphanage in Ogun state. It's the state next door to Lagos (state). Newcomers would be a little bit confused about Lagos. The fact it is a state and also an area within the state itself (in the next post, will explain).

The trip on Saturday 19th, March 2106 was memorable. We left Lagos Island around 7plus in the morning, a convoy of three 4wd with members of the club including me, Madam and my daughter. 

on-going renovation for the dedicated bus lane

 

Busses of Lagos 

NIGERIA: Lagos: Hard Rock Cafe Lagos!!!

I remembered when I left Malaysia for Nigeria two years ago, my former boss Nasrul Sapri reminded me the biggest size t-shirt. Not just any t-shirt...but

"Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt"...

So, like a nice guy which I am...I Googled for the said outlet the very next day we arrived in Lagos. It was in Eko Hotel...and since the wifi coverage was not good, I had to Google in the bathroom. The bathroom! 

Here I am....had never been to any Hard Rock cafe in my life (honest!) before because it doesn't appeal to me (hey...one man's meat is another man's poison)...patiently looking at HRC's website annnnnddddd....there's none in the whole continent of Africa. None available in this "cradle of human civilisation" continent.

The closest would be, Dubai. Great...

location of the Hard Rock Cafe Lagos

But what chance....a year down the road, it was in my friend's FB announcing the newly opened Hard Rock Cafe Lagos inVictoria Island. I was like...OK. It wasn't until Azfeezal and Praveen both flew in Abuja for a short work visit in Lagos insisted that we should go...and so we went.

the cafe...

Azfeezal

We went there as soon as they finished work for the day. We decided the earlier we go, the better. The affluent young Lagosian loves to hang out at bars drinking with friends and talk about business and politics. Oh yes, the ladies too...very well versed with the current events and fashion. 

So we entered the cafe....a first for me and in Africa no less! You entered through the souvenir shop and the place is huge. I mean...the three storey high is actually one cafe...

The day we went, there was no Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt with the Nigerian flag in it. Only the generic HRC t-shirt and some other t-shirt design for Lagos. I checked online with the current exchange rate...it is a little bit costly from the most HRC outlet world wide. 

The whole building is dedicated to the cafe. High ceilinged with memorabilia hung on every available surface of the cafe's wall. We took a table and ordered drinks. Price varies but...hey! It's Lagos and HRC combined....

memorabilia...

big TV screen

the bar

There's a few seating outside the cafe overlooking the Atlantic Ocean...and it's the more favourite among the locals. A place to be seen....rather than to enjoy the scenery and the huge Eko Atlantic project not far from Kuramo waters.

So, that's it. Hard Rock Cafe finally in Africa, more importantly it's in Nigeria. Not that I will frequent the place, but the last visit certainly was a "been there, done that" kind of thing. Weird though, there's Hard Rock Cafe in Malaysia...but it's the one in Lagos that I finally went. 

Throwback: ABUJA: Excursion with MATRADE TC of West Africa

About three dozen of us here, scattered all over Nigeria. Three locations where you can find us, Lagos..Abuja and Port Harcourt.  We do receive guests from Malaysia from time to time. Had the privilege to receive Dato' Hazimah Zainuddin and entourage of Hyrax Oil came to Lagos and visited other Africa countries few weeks back.  

Dato' Hazimah Zainuddin

I've met most of the Malaysians here and I enjoy their company vice versa, I hope. We organised lunches, tea time and the occasional breakfast. In Lagos, my 'sparring partner' would be the MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) officer in charge of West African region. MATRADE is the National Trade Promotion Agency of Malaysia.

The Old City Gate

Saifuddin Khalid (Dean) is the Trade Commissioner based in Lagos, Nigeria and covers 24 countries in West Africa. From Mauritania all the way to Chad....and from there, turn south all the way to Democratic Republic of Congo, that longitude. He is very busy and usually I see him during breakfast. Meeting business owners, Chiefs and Oga (big man, boss) on almost daily basis. 

NIGERIA: Lagos: Small World 2016 (13022016)

It's another year and another edition of the Small World festival. Last year (2015), we arrived just in time to witness the celebration. (you can read here) 

Again, the grounds at Federal Palace Hotel Victoria Island, Lagos was used for the event.

the ticket

the entrance

stage for picture taking, along with
the DJ for the event 

The Day After Rarecation: Munich

We exited from one of many escalators at the station. The station serves both the S-Bahn and U-Bahn train system, hence the U and S at the exit of the station and it's one of the most important in Munich.

Marienplatz...

From the map I purchased very much earlier and gauging time we had, we could only cover just a few area. The area tourist most likely to visit and it's a pedestrian zone too! I had tried earlier using visitacity.com to see what would it suggest for a day tour and true enough, a visit to Marienplatz. 

Marienplatz....
Mary's Square (refers to St. Mary), then called Schrannenplatz when the city was founded in 1158 by Heinrich the Lion.

Rathaus

The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)

According to the guide "the square is the lively heart of the city and, because of the Glockenspiel, the most popular meeting place for tourists from all over the world"