KENYA: Mombasa - Safari 2018 (Spring Break)

Safari! 

The main reason tourist come flocking to East Africa region. Kenya alone has about 40 parks managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service. For this trip, we choose Tsavo East which is the biggest and oldest of the parks.

We began our journey at about 5am from Mombasa and it was a 4hour trip to the entrance of the park. The weather was pleasant as it rained a few days ago, but this had unfavourable effect as the top prey would run to higher ground or even away from the route we are taking.

As soon as you enter the park, you will notice the soil is bright red even brighter after it rained! The park is also renowned for its "red elephants" and the huge number of elephant herds within the enormous park. 

NIGERIA: Wedding and another wedding. Thank you! (part 1)

Thanks to Madam, I've attended a fair share of weddings here in Nigeria. Mostly in Lagos so far.

Once, we arrived early and managed to witness the traditional part of the ceremony. The elders of both families would meet and sat in front of each other, especially both bride's and groom's parents were present. During Fadamewa's and Richard's wedding, there were two ladies as the MCs (emcees or Master of ceremony) and every few minutes they will break into sing song about the ceremony.

Also with sing song and jest, they invited the groom to meet his future in-law. The groom and his entourage would enter the hall dancing...all happy and smiling before the MCs dropped the heavy end on them.... Ah! Some Naira (money) is needed to proceed... Both MCs would bully/pester him to deposit some money into the waiting container. Of course the groom and his entourage would comply... Eyes on the  asking for some money...of course he complied. Eyes on the prize broda (brother).

NIGERIA: Lagos : Batik print table cloth....

His visit would normally means that a travel back home to Malaysia is just around the corner. Enter...Johnson, our friendly batik table cloth artist.

Craftsman like him do make house call if there's demand for their crafts. Sometimes, the ladies within the compound organised visits by these sort of craftsmen. We've had some sculptors (metal, clay and from recycled items) last year and October 2018. The ones came are quite good and their products pricey but  of course you bargain before purchase.

Johnson normally designs  for 4 seater all the way to 8 seater table; suitable for round, square and rectangle shape. 

I do have a certain type of design in mind, but colour is also what I'm looking for. There are lots of it on sale at Lekki market, but they aren't lively enough. I try my best to avoid drawings of animals and human figure but instead opt for trees and flowers. We do purchase those design, a few for our friends..we know which one. 

Republic of Ireland: Driving and thoughts about Ireland

Driving outside Dublin is easy. Everything is clearly marked. The route, road and the attraction, historical or geographical will be marked clearly and we didn't get lost not even once. Of course at the airport I bought a book of map of the Irish Island (North Ireland included), with some info on places of attraction and the car's GPS somewhat helped.

While on the ferry

But from our trip, main attraction was clearly marked and here and there, you must've seen the wave shape among the attraction with a light blue background along the route we took. There's one in the picture below and this one was on scenic route R559 also known as the Slea Head Drive or Slí Cheann Sléibhe which Google translate as Mountain Head Drive. 

Thus, we introduce you to the amazing Wild Atlantic Way!

Republic of Ireland: The Secret Trip (7minute flight to Inishmore Island)

The family that we rented the Air BnB gave us a hearty breakfast that morning. We left early from the house because our destination is to an airstrip not far from the house owned by Aer Arann at Connemara Airport. We are going to visit Inishmore the biggest of the Arann Islands.

flight from Connemara to Inishmore

Aran Islands are a trio of island on the Galway Bay. We are visiting the Inishmore Island, the biggest. There is also Inishmaan and the smallest, Inisheer which we will not be visiting.  On Inishmore we will be doing some hiking to an Iron Age fort on top of a cliff on the other side of the island. There will also be seal spotting along the way. BTW, you can also get to the island by ferry and there are a few operators which you can browse online. 

Connemara Airport

one of the three Britten-Norman Islander aircraft

Republic of Ireland: SPRING 2017 - Places we visit

Spring break 2017 and we went for a short excursion to the Republic of Ireland (or Ireland). It was a self driving trip from Dublin to Killarney, Ring of Kerry and Skellig Ring, Galway and back to Dublin. 

Rock of Cashel

Between Dublin and Killarney, we made a detour to Rock of Cashel in Cashel, County Tipperary. It's a collective ruin of medieval structure consist of a castle, a cathedral, a chapel and the oldest structure which is a Round Tower built sometime in 1100AD. On the lawn outside the northern side were graves and the whole structure which sits on a plateau are enclosed in a wall. From Rock of Cashel, you will get a commanding view of the area around it. 

Rock of Cashel

NIGERIA: NIGERIAN 101 - Wash and Dash

These are the two words that most foreigner (oyinbo) would caught off guard when in Nigeria. 

The first one is wash, it does not reflect the actual act of cleaning for wanting a hygienic environment and the other one is dash, has anything to do with running or sprinkling small quantity  seasoning into cooking. 

Washing

Let us take a closer look at wash or washing. 

Scenario 1: Ademola just got his first wheel after saving enough money to buy one by saving his .... Later that day, he brought his mom and dad (btw he is still single) to an eatery where they ate and celebrate his success and pray for more success in the future.

Scenario 2: Madam just turned 40! A big milestone in her life and since she is 'Madam', powerful and influential in its own right; decided to pull the stops and celebrate with her colleagues at office. On her birthday, she bought packed foods, cakes and drink for everyone in the department and selected few outside the group. 

GHANA: Accra - Hot is an understatement...

Last week, Madam and I went to Accra, Ghana for a short business cum visit. Two weeks before depart, I managed to send an email and set contact with the Malaysian's in Accra. Khairy of Matrade office in Lagos (MATRADE - Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) also provided me with a few numbers of Malaysian residing in Accra. Short trip, 3D/2N only.

Day 1

We departed from Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos (LOS) to Accra's (ACC) Kotoka International Airport (KIA). It was a 40minutes flight on an Embraer ERJ 145LR and may I add, it was a little bit claustrophobic for me.

Aircraft safety card

Landing time! (P.Ramlee fans will get this)

NIGERIA: Be safe

I am currently living in a country where there's only a handful of Malaysian here. There are 5 families in Lagos plus some blokes who are on various assignments with some of the multi-national companies based in Lagos. In the mix, we have Shiela Madu who married a local man many many years ago. 

In Abuja, there's about the same number of us, but from time to time; Khairy from Matrade office in Lagos would announce there are Malaysian currently in Nigeria on attachment as consultants to some other international or reputable local companies in other locale (e.g Port Harcourt, Calabar etc). 

Since there's only several of us here, we know each other quite well and always within contact; just to be on the safe side. 3 years in Nigeria had thought us a lot on being constant contact within the group. Like I mentioned to prospective business group back in Malaysia, it's generally safe but like everywhere else; things can go wrong. So, it's best in to be in contact with the rest of Malaysian here, staff of the High Comm included. 

NIGERIA: Depression...Househusband

Let me quote a paragraph from the last posting:-

Ahhh..the life of an expat's spouse. Hah! Nothing rosy about it. Basically an emigrant, for want a better word. The life of an expat also comes with depression, especially to the not-working-previously-working spouse, moi. Ohh....How I wrestle with my ego...put it under wraps. But once a while, it reared its ugly head out and well....there were exchange of words. OK....why not put a stop here and talk about it at length in another posting, yes? 

New place, new environment and adjusting expectation versus reality. I had to put a few notches down, hmmm maybe a few more. 

view of VI from Five Cowrie Creek

Prior to our arrival, the company sent in advance the 1) Invitation letter to the country for each of the family members and 2)  A brochure of the country including the Do's and Don't and first time arrival at the airport. The keyword was 'discreet'. Not to attract any attention. Oh my..