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