NIGERIA: Lagos: Eid al-Kabir/Eid ul-Adha 2016 (Part2)

What a difference a year makes, we met Malaysian that had been here for the past 8years, Nigerian house wives (Malaysian ladies married to local men) and new families in Lagos. One family arrived less than a month ago!

As usual, pot luck style. On the list we have:

1. Nasi Beriani and acar timun by Madam
2. Ayam masak merah (chicken in red curry sauce) and dhal by Puspa
3. Chicken curry and dhal by Capt. Gordip
4. Laksa Johor (a coconut-fish base noodle soup) by Huda
5. Nasi Impit (rice cake/rice cube) with kuah kacang (peanut sauce) and Red Velvet cupcakes by Nadia
6. An assortment of cakes brought by Khairy
7. Fruits, tea and air sirap by Ghana

Let's makan!

the food....yummy!!! njammm njammmm

NIGERIA: Lagos: Eid al-Kabir / Eid ul-Adha 2016 (Part 1)

This would be our second time celebrating Eid al-Kabir/Eid ul-Adha (click here) in Lagos, Nigeria. Alhamdulillah, thank Allah this year we were able to participate in the Qurban (sacrifice of livestock during Eid ul-Adha). 

In the morning of Eid, I went to my usual masjeed near Awolowo Road. The jama'ah (congregation) this year is much bigger and even the imam took his time before we began to perform the solar (pray). It was not until 9.30am and still, throngs of people entered the area we performed the solah so special, only twice a year according to the Islamic calendar. 

NIGERIA: Lagos: Friends

A batch of young guys are coming to our place for makan-makan (eat). Madam (Allah bless her) had slaved from morning preparing dishes for our guests. But before they arrived, we had a very  surprise visitor, MJ and his family. They came to our apartment, with red velvet cup cakes and in ...... wait for it......FULL Malay attire! Well done! Only it's a day early. The Malaysian community in Lagos will celebrate Eid ul-Adha tomorrow, together. That was the arrangement. Anyway, we had fun having lunch with all 3 rambunctious boys, Noah, Jack and Ali.

Tuoyo, Boye and Lanray

Deyo with Tuoyo's daughter

NIGERIA: Lagos: Tarkwa Bay with the Saifuddeens (June 2016)

Another long overdue post. Just before the school summer break. Another trip to Tarkwa Bay, Lagos in order before fasting month and our trip back home to Malaysia. We love the beach here and Tarkwa Bay reminds us of our own Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan. Long beach and shallow water until you're quite a distance. This time we took Saifuddeen's family and Saisha (Fay's bestie)

ready for some sand and sun

 

NIGERIA: Lagos: Hello Khairy, Goodbye Saifuddin (MATRADE TC)

At long last, the family and also the replacement officer for the Malaysia Trade Office in Lagos has arrived. Yes, Saifuddin Khalid...the indefatigable Trade Commissioner for MATRADE, his assignment had come to an end. He was here for a while during the Ebola crisis and  later had been instrumental in setting up the the MATRADE office in Lagos. All in all, 3 very colorful years with challenges which are very unique IMHO.

Khairy (l) and Saifuddin (r)

The officer replacing him, Khairy Maidin arrived with his family a few days earlier than the above photograph was taken. We had breakfast at Cactus Cafe, along the Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue. I was happy to meet him after our initial meeting in Malaysia sometime in June.

We invited Khairy and family over to our place and as it happens our High Commissioner was around in Lagos for an official visit. It was great to see Datuk Lim Juay Jin after my last visit in December last year to Abuja with Saifuddin.

H.E Datuk Lim Juay Jin
High Commissioner of Malaysia to Federal Republic of Nigeria

MALAYSIA: Kuala Lumpur: Petronas Twin Towers and Skybridge

When the Petronas Twin Towers were completed in 1996, Malaysia had announced to the world that it had arrived. It was designed by Cesar Pelli, a renowned architect from Cesar Pelli and Associates of USA. The 452metres tall, 88 stories high building with Islamic geometric pattern as its base floor design and a skybridge connects both towers at levels 41 and 42. It was the tallest building when it was build, surpassed by Taiwan 101 but still, it holds the tallest Twin Tower record till today. 

Petronas Twin Towers

The skybridge (41st level) and 86th floor is open to public. It opens from 9am to 9pm (closes every Friday from 1pm to 2pm, and also during Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Kabir) and only 40 people are permitted each session. One session lasts 30 minutes and it covers both the skybridge and 86th floor. You can buy the ticket at Concourse level or buy it online (here)

Since my brother and his wife, Azmeir and Dina are Petronas  hard working employee (wink wink)... we followed him to office (well he went to office) ....went straight to the counter only to find this...

queue at the entrance!

NIGERIA: Ogun: Trip to Abeokuta with LEGACY Group (Part 2)

We drove towards the famous Olumo Rock in Abeokuta and  passed by a textile market in the town. Abeokuta is also famous for its adire textile which is 'tie and dye' technique, in Yoruba language. According to the guide, behind the market which the artisans still live is where the textile is made. 

textile market

We passed along old houses and narrow road, quite hilly actually. There were some houses built on top of boulder or boulders as we approach the rock complex. The whole of Abeokuta seems to be on boulder....granite rock actually.

NIGERIA: Ogun: Trip to Abeokuta with LEGACY Group (Part 1)

Another trip by the LEGACY group (click here), this time to Abeokuta which is also the capital state of Ogun. Ogun is just north of Lagos and by train, you could get to Abeokuta in about three hours...less by car (we've tried it using the Lagos-Ibadan expressway).

Back to Ebute Metta junction like the last time, and this time it was a different locomotive and carriage too! BTW, it was a chartered train...From Ebuta Metta to Abeokuta and back only, and not stopping to pick up any other passengers along the way, if you're wondering.

I took the last carriage, the old yellow one in the rear for more 'action' and also it was suggested by Seun...again. I did not hesitate in fact it does bring back memories of childhood when I used to travel by train with my late grandparents to Penang. Ok..it wasn't a bench seat, but still the ambiance was quite the same.