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

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. 

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..

NIGERIA: Throw back Thursday: I beg your pardon!

I'm frequently at school and I think spending extra time with the children; not just at home is a big plus. I'm lucky to be able to do that and happy to do so. BTW, Madam is just too busy. 

"Time spent with the children are priceless" my friend MJ said earlier today. (He's 2 years my junior and we went to the same boarding school in the 90's, same 'Mat Shah house' and now we meet again in Nigeria. Imagine the odds!) We just came back from volunteer work when we had this conversation. 

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? 

Back to the children and school etc... Since I spent quite a bit of time in school, I was asked this awkward question a few months back... and my...it was a very tongue in cheek enquiry.

"Where does your spouse work? Which company is he working for?"

Spot the mistake? hahahahahahahahahaha

I answered "My WIFE works in so and so and SHE works for so and so"

I'm pretty sure had made the capital letters loud and clear. The parent apologise for the mistake, it was a joke btw she said. But I was way ahead. I mentally pictured a bald 41yo man with a waistline to match and I was sure I didn't wear any of those tight t-shirt and still I am of the fairer sex? Stressssssss....

Jump into the Lake Atter (Attersee) in Austria. Traveling with Rarecation.

NIGERIA: Ogun: Performance Night

Ogun state IMHO is quite amazing. Steep in history and culture and I had the privilege to travel there a few times. First with train...yes, the train and a few times with car. I can see that they're doing their best with the highway between Lagos state and Ogun state. From road riddled with potholes and bumpy ride very so often to newly tarred and smooth surface. 

They're making progress, slow and steady pace. I'm happy to say that 'sitting quite still' is not these both states are doing. They complement each other. Spillover from Lagos (industry and population) goes to Ogun and in return Lagos is still the hub for selling goods and workplace for those in Ogun. The better connection between these two states ensure both hand in hand progress into the future.

NIGERIA: Lagos: Market Visit

I jumped to the invitation to visit a market along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. I've never been to one, well except in Lekki which is small in comparison to the one we're going. 

There are lots of markets in Lagos. Some sell okrika (second hand clothes), but for other things they call it tokunbo (from overseas) which is used item in nature (car, laptop, house items etc). Some market specialised in vegetables, like the one on the way to Ikorodu and many more. Each unique and some were colourful, buildings painted by companies like the ones in the picture.

colourful buildings..painted by the sponsors

fridge and freezer shop

Nigeria: Lagos: Entahkan Kasih Entahkan Tidak[Lanchang Kuning].flv

My late mother loves to sing. Mostly Malay oldies song and some of these songs were downright sad, to me. So sad that I used to cry when she sang the song. Oh my, she would be very happy just to accomplish that... I was a boy at that time, a pre-schooler. 

Fast forward to 1994 it wasn't a good year for me, I was 17. My world came down crumbling. I remembered my mother sang this particular song (Entahkan Kasih, Entahkan Tidak - a heartbroken song) one night whilst holding my youngest brother in her arms. It was night and the electric went out in our area. My youngest brother, Hazim is special. Born with CP and cortical blindness, all attention on him and so mom would hug him to sleep. Listening to her singing and holding my brother to sleep, brought me to tears. But I would never let my siblings see me. I was the man of the house.....

Last weekend, I was having my breakfast and Sunday is always Malay Oldies song day for me in our cosy apartment. I just selected these compilation songs on YouTube when this song came on air. The flood gates opened. I was in tears. A piece of memory which I thought I've forgotten suddenly it felt it had happened yesterday. 

I quickly ran for the laptop and put the next song on....too late! This one, apart from the other song which is Seri Mersing still make me teary eyed. Memory of my mom flooded. Forever will be his boy...

NIGERIA: Lagos: Licky-Licky (fruit)

Let me start the first April posting with something very short but quite interesting.

I was at school waiting for the children, when my friend offered me a plastic bag (nylon - in Nigerian pidgin). Take one, she said...

the fruit

I took a piece of the fruit, tasted it and finally asked the name. 

Licky-licky. That was it, honest. Also called Awin in Yoruba language, and I bet if I Googled; I would also find the name in Hausa and Igbo too.

licky-licky, note the velvety fruit skin

NIGERIA: Oyo State: Trip to Ibadan

A phone call by a fellow Malaysian, Haji Wan Zamri inviting me to a short trip to Ibadan. The purpose of the trip was to visit a school, a few mosque/masjid and some water well which were donated by the people back in Malaysia. I said 'Yes' and in turn invited Amaludin and Huda to follow us too.

The usual route to take would be the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. It seemed that a few areas of the expressway had received a new fresh coat of road pavement. There's a lot going on at the moment on the expressway. Some areas the road are busy with lorries making interstate travel laden with goods, then you have the danfos (passenger van) and all manner of vehicles (US and Japanese made SUVs and sedans). 

Some parts of the expressway we managed to speed up, and some was just a slow paced due to vehicles that broke down in the middle of the road. Broken axle, overheat, puncture etc...take your pick. There were also settlements which would slow down the traffic due to people selling and buying by the roadside. 

The journey took about 3hr plus and behold, the town of Ibadan in Oyo state. Welcome!!! Geographically (size) it is the biggest town in Nigeria and at one time, in the 60's it was 2nd most populous town after Cairo. In terms of size for my readers in Malaysia, you can put 2 states of Malacca in Ibadan town. That is just the town, not Oyo state mind you.

Ibadan town

FC WAMCO Luncheon and Long Service Award Ceremony - DEC'16

It was time for the company luncheon event! (December 2016)


White was the theme colour for the event and a month before it, we bought ourselves some white fabric at a nearby mall. Madam called our favourite tailor to have us measured and design a set of outfit for the function. We got ours just a week later.


The luncheon was to recognise the long service employees and to bid farewell to Mr. Rahul Colaco, the MD who'll be serving the company elsewhere. We are happy for him, but also sad as we arrived on the same day to Lagos, Nigeria in 2015. My eldest and his are of the same age and went to the same school, same band and played the same sports game.


The luncheon went well. The emcee was quick on jokes and kept the guests entertained. Then the long service award ceremony for staffs that had served 10,15,20 and even 25 years with the company. Mrs. Ore Famurewa, Head of the Corporate Communication had served 20years with the company!


After each long service recognition, they would dance! Yes, dance to the local tune. Oh my...they really love to dance. Any single space available, they would just stand up and dance. One or two I saw "danced" while seated. The WAMCO band performance was admirable and music comes natural to them, I guess.


This was our last function for 2016 and may 2017 brings prosperity to the company and country.

FC WAMCO Games 2016 (Football Part 2 - Final)

Last week we made another trip to Agege Stadium. But before that, Madam broke the news about the MD's move. My family and his arrived in Lagos on the same day, 1st January 2015. Our children went to the same school, and  many times I seek  assistance from his Madam. To see them leave, it's sad but happy for them since the move is to a more important and definitely bigger role.

So, the finals were...finally here and I was happy as I can be. I get to practise using the DSLR and somehow the crowds are quite relax to see an 'oyinbo' (white man, foreigner) walking here and there taking pictures. I'm still learning. Trust me. Taking landscape photos are much different that taking portraiture or sports photos and I don't belong to any of those group. Worse, I do not edit most of my photos. 

Anyway, we arrived during the 3rd and 4th placing match which ended in penalty shoot out. Peak Team won! Next was a novelty match and our neighbour, Manwel scored the only goal of the match. Rahul, the outgoing MD arrived with his family by then (arrived from their look see trip to China). 

While waiting for the final match between Peak 456 and Three Crowns, there was a cheerleading routine followed by a free style football show and a singing performance. The MD gave his speech and were presented with a medal, mini trophy, a custom made shirt with all the brand from the company and....... a mock Green card (PR card) as souvenir.

The final game between Peak 456 and Three Crowns were ruthless. It was no time for half measure and went all out tackling and a few injured. At one time, I counted not 2 but 3 players injured at the same time!

But, we did not watch the game till finish. Madam wanted to bring the children back home. But I knew Peak 456 would win and they win eventually for a simple reason......before they start the match, all of the team member would gather at their goalpost and pray. Oh yes they prayed. Ask and thou shall receive. Congrats Peak 456! 

p/s: newspaper man, can use my picture..but please give credit oooo...... 

FC WAMCO Games 2016 (Football Part 1)

The company recently held their sports day over a period  of a few months. There were indoor games like Table Tennis, Scrabble, Play Station (Football) and Chess. Outdoor game was Football. 

The football games were held at Agege Stadium not far from the office/factory. Four teams vied for the coveted Champion Trophy and each teams were named after the company's product, Peak, Peak Choco, Three Crowns and Peak 456. 

Football is considered the national sport. No, it's more than that. It's an obsession. "Super Eagles" they're known world wide. They had been to the World Cup, won gold medal in Olympics  in 1996 Atlanta games and 2nd runner up during the 2016 edition in Brazil. 5th in FIFA ranking was their highest so far (now 50th tie with Burkina Faso). 

Legends like Nwakwo Kanu made way for the likes of John Obi Mikel, Umar Sadiq and Peter Etebo. The country stood still when they play and went berserk if the result were....tie or worse, a defeat. 

Back to the event at Agege Stadium, it started with the march pass by all the teams and opening speech by the HR Director. Dance troupe and a freestyle football show was next. I think there was a singer performed right before the match started. FIFA sanctioned referee and lines man/woman were the games officials. 

Frankly, I enjoyed the games...and taking pictures as well. I just want to see if I can upload 100++ pics in a post. Enjoy! 

NIGERIA: Lagos: Conversation on Conservation in Lekki?

If you ask me about Africa, top of my list would be Safari. 

And speaking of Safari, I bet some of us must've watched a TV series about a vet clinic in Africa. It was Daktari! Remember that? Babies of the 70's and early 80's? Need to jog you memory? Just click here for the opening theme. Ahhhhh the 'good ole days'. 

I did browsed for safari in Nigeria but to no avail. It was when my friend, Yunus and family came to visit us last month, he mentioned a name which I've totally forgot about it. It was Lekki Conservation Centre. So off we went with Khairy from MATRADE on a balmy Saturday morning.

toll gate at Lekki bridge

signboard to the conservation

NIGERIA: Lagos: Harmattan is back

I love the lagoon. On a clear weather, you could see the 3rd Mainland Bridge and as far as Ikorodu at the other end of the lagoon.  

Lagos Lagoon in sunny September

In late October, I witnessed a huge number of water hyacinth on the lagoon. It impeded the movement of boats and the local fishermen of the lagoon. The hyacinth come and go but at the moment, the number had decreased tremendously. 

Little I realised that, there were sign of Harmattan on the pictures taken below...

lagoon with water hyacinth in October

Harmattan. Harmattan who?

In these part of the Western Africa, dusty wind blown from the Sahara region into the Gulf of Guinea. It causes the sky to have some reddish tint. It will be like this till early March next year.  

Temperature wise? I would say it's between 28-32 deg Celsius in Lagos state. But in Jos, Plateu state...at night it would go down to a bone chilling 14 deg Celsius! It's dusty and could irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Asthmatic patients, just beware.

picture taken this morning (24th Nov. 2016)

Anyway, it's here....maybe in a different format (black and white?) the picture above would be better looking. Maybe...