Aheh or Eheh or Eh Eh or Eh are often heard when talking to the Naija....

A sign of confirm or mere saying "I hear you and understand".

Come to think of it, everyone does it... No? Different sound, same meaning...I use "ek" or "uhuh" or even "mmmhmmmm" a lot!

Thursday, 10 March 2016

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. 


Tuesday, 8 March 2016

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. 

Saturday, 5 March 2016

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