#365dayson #ChibokGirls #NeverToBeForgotten

It has been a long time since I posted anything on the blog. Some I wrote and then delete, most of it still in draft form. 

I've been busy too (not really). Meeting with some people, making new friends. Spoke to some people from the other states in Nigeria and some from back home. I was online with a prominent photographer from Malaysia, Saiful Nang of Candidsyndrome (www.candidsyndrome.com). We met way back in 2004 and now a big man in the industry.  With some friends, they ran an orphanage back in Malaysia as a way of giving back to society that has given him so much. Other than that, I went to the National Stadium at Surulere and Lekki Market checking out some merchandise there. We took the motorboat out to Tarkwa Bay last week and had great time there, playing by the beach with the children...ahhh the children.

Tarkwa bay beach in Lagos

Children. How something so small can give you so much....trouble (in a nice way). Life changes when they came into my life. The first one was about 2.4 kilo and the second one was even smaller, at 2.2  . Ohhh...how they turn my life and of course all parents out there inside out, upside down and every other way around. Oh yes they did. Everyhting was about them. I mean everything....

So when the news about the plight of parents whom children were abducted by the Boko Haram (BH) in Chibok, Borno state..I could feel their anguish. 

All in all, it had been over a year. Most papers would report on daily basis on any news regarding the girls. From the commitment of the new President elect, the statements made by the National Security Advisor, past and present governors to the various group and agencies local and international included. All giving assurance, bringing hope and some very direct to the point condemning the authorities, but in a very proper way..Queen's English, no less!

The Guardian newspaper ran the numbers every day to remind others especially the government (incoming and outgoing) of the missing girls. 

The Guardian and This Day newspaper

A pageful just about the girls and related news

Keukenhof

Trip to Amsterdam during spring, would not be complete without the visit to Keukenhof!

Keukenhof, (keuken = kitchen,  hof = garden) is located near Lisse, South Holland is an area of about 80acres ~ 40soccer fields (I guess). The biggest garden in Europe and second largest in the world after Dubai Miracle Garden.

We did not use the I AMSTERDAM card for this visit because it expired (we bought the 48hrs validity pass). For this visit however, we bought an online ticket including transfer to and from Schipol Airport before our trip to Amsterdam.

off to Schipol, sleepy....

Amsterdam: I AMSTERDAM (Artis Royal Zoo and NEMO Science Centre)

Remember when we were young? In primary school and when singing the birthday song would change the lyric to "you were born in the zoo" or "you live near the zoo". I could say, at least on of the two version is true. I live near the zoo. Honest

I live near the National Zoo in Malaysia. How near? I would be able to hear the sound of my favourite primate, the gibbon. I could imitate them too. Our house is close to the second entrance of the zoo, and on Saturdays and Sundays, it would be busy with visitors. If we wanted to go to the zoo, a short walk less than 5 minutes and we will be at the main entrance. That close.

So, when the children wanted to visit the zoo in Amsterdam I was excited. Excited to see the type of animals they have and it is one of the oldest zoo in the world. Founded in 1838, Artis or Natura Artis Magistra (Latin for Nature is the teacher of Arts and Science) is one of the oldest in Europe!

From the Amsterdam Centraal, we took the no 9 tram and alight at the Artis tram stop. 

The Artis main gate

the entrance

Amsterdam: I AMSTERDAM (on my own)

Me and Madam, we go wayyyy back. So much so that we can second guessed each other. We have been in each other's company since the last century....hahahah..not as long as some, but long enough to be able to understand her mood, her reaction and everything in between. You can say I am a student of Madam's 'weather'. The look on her face when she is concentrating, the sound of her voice, what she thinks, the subtle change in her behaviour and worse, the sudden drop of temperature and suddenly the sun doesn't seem to shine bright enough...and a tempest is just over the horizon.  

I look at her, maybe I did something wrong or not to her liking. Can't help it, I was made to annoy her. It's an art that I perfected, and that's how I bump all the other suitors. Men, life is stress enough...inject some humour in your life. Make your partner laugh... that way you can have 2,3 or 4 in one go! Muahahahahahaha! My mantra to Madam, whatever it is you're still Number 1!!!

Now, Madam has very little trust in me. That made our relationship in a way 'spicier' and as a student of Madam's 'weather' I would just push the envelope little by little. To see how far I can go with something without EVER getting caught. And now this, letting me go astray in Amsterdam! Gosh! Even the flag has 3 X's (although it doesn't really mean that, actually..you know Sex). I don't think that's what the founding father's and mother's of Amsterdam had in mind. 

Left alone, I started to walk to a museum that caught my interest. 

The choice was obvious right? 

Amsterdam: I AMSTERDAM card (Canal boat ride and Rijkmuseum)

The moment we confirmed the Amsterdam trip, the next task was to look for places to visit. 

Since it will be a family trip, it has to be a wholesome trip. Honest to goodness. Any other 'diversion' will have to wait until the next trip. 

Flags of Amsterdam and the Netherlands

Zaanse Schans: The windmill centre of the Netherlands

Zaanse Schans!!

What a place! What an effort to protect the national heritage of the Dutch people. All I can see, it was done thru love and responsibility  towards educating the next generation about the 'Golden Era' and to showcase the whole world why they are the best in harnessing the power of nature to spur the economy of a nation which is three times SMALLER than Malaysia.

Ptolemy wrote about the The Gold Peninsula (Semenanjung Emas) which is now the West Malaysia and with the creation of VOC (Dutch East Indies) they came to trade and later 'acquire' the land   in not so nicely way (they got rid of the Portuguese in Malacca). Their ruthlessness in conducting business earned them a special place in Malay proverb which is:

"Ibarat Belanda meminta tanah"

Like a Dutch, asking for land

A greedy person is given little, demands for a lot more, and when was given more, would ask for the whole thing

The Dutch must've done something really not nice back then to earn them a place in the Malay proverb. Not to ridicule my Dutch friends in Lagos...Marijke, Jelle, Joyce, Koen, Tamme, Marc and Ramon to name few, but merely stating from a linguistic point of view. 

Medical Mktg Manager in front, followed by National Manager, then Area Manager.. picture taken by sales rep.. hahahahahah 

Zaandam, the walkabout

Province        : North Holland
Municipality : Zaanstad (stad means city)
Main City  : Zaandam (along with several others like Zaandijk, Wormeveer etc)

A river name Zaan, traversing thru the region which emptied into the lake Ij (sound like 'eye'). This region is also famous for its windmills in Zaan Schanse.

A tourist attraction map of Zaanstad, opposite the Stadhuis.
Note the location of Zaandam

Map of the Zaandam area.
Our hotel is at the left most of the map.

Amsterdam: Holland? The Netherlands? Why we go there?

Holland!

The country of tulips, windmills, dijk (dike), City of Amsterdam, museums, trams, bicycles, canals, weed, "coffee shop", space cake, bong, the Red Light District, the VOC (Dutch East Indies Company)..the..ahem.. fabled "Flying Dutchman" ship, Rembrandt and van Gogh...and somehow despite all of these..we totally forgot to mention anything about Netherlands.

The Netherlands

Time to get the facts right... ohhh.. and this is awesome as it was Madam herself in her defence said that it was her who showed me a youtube video on this  Holland vs the Netherlands. I cant remember if she did (thank you for the gift of forgetfulness) until last night she showed me the video...which I've never seen it before (honest)..

Anyway, the gist of the video was this...

1. The Netherlands over has many names over its colourful history.. even one United States of Belgium and Kingdom of Holland etc etc..

2. Holland is not a country..but a province and there are two of them. North Holland and South Holland

3. Those in Holland (North and South) called themselves Hollanders while the rest are Dutch

North Holland

South Holland

North and South Holland in The Netherlands

Aheh!?

This will be a short one...

Aheh? What is it?

It is something we noticed when we arrived here in Nigeria or rather Lagos.

Talking to the locals, we will be greeted with 'Aheh', 'Eheh' or one long 'Ehhh' (The 'e' sounds like 'air') at every end of the sentence we speak to them.

e.g: "At the supermarket, we need to buy some eggs" said Madam

and Aminat replies "Aheh.."

Like that, ok....aaaaand, you say.. Aheh

It seems like a confirmation, statement of understanding or it simply means.. OK or I hear you.

Not sure, it is just here in Lagos or in other states like Osun, Ondo, Oyo etc... or is it something only the Yorubas' said. Need to ask some friends about it.

 Anyway, I've decided to name the blog thus...Aheh. That's how we roll bebeh..

So now you know...

The Result

Welcome April!

Another month passes by and a few days..I mean about two  weeks passed without any new topic posted in the blog. What else can we talk about, the election of course!

But the timing couldn't just be more perfect for a holiday since it will be the children's spring break and Easter holidays. We are heading to Amsterdam this time. The capital city of weed and Red Light District!... I mean the Netherlands. Madam has been there a few times as her office's HQ is in Amersfoort.

Heading towards the airport

Danfo (to Ogun state, maybe)