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 

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. 

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. 

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 

The Day After Rarecation: Munich

We exited from one of many escalators at the station. The station serves both the S-Bahn and U-Bahn train system, hence the U and S at the exit of the station and it's one of the most important in Munich.

Marienplatz...

From the map I purchased very much earlier and gauging time we had, we could only cover just a few area. The area tourist most likely to visit and it's a pedestrian zone too! I had tried earlier using visitacity.com to see what would it suggest for a day tour and true enough, a visit to Marienplatz. 

Marienplatz....
Mary's Square (refers to St. Mary), then called Schrannenplatz when the city was founded in 1158 by Heinrich the Lion.

Rathaus

The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)

According to the guide "the square is the lively heart of the city and, because of the Glockenspiel, the most popular meeting place for tourists from all over the world"

The Day After RARECATION 13

Now what? With everybody, jet set halfway around the world back to Malaysia, or somewhere in Eastern Europe...things were pretty slow. 

The next group due to arrive tomorrow (October, 21st) and I still have another 2 days to amuse myself since I've been given a long leash by Madam. For the crew, it was time to catch up with news back home. Dinie just became dad few days ago and will be back in a few weeks time. Syibli?..Syibli was away in Frankfurt. Saiful and Harun? They were busy messaging home. 

NIGERIA: FC WAMCO @RadissonBlu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island (09022016)

Once awhile, I got invited to some function organised by Madam's dept. I look forward to these sort of events...be it with or without food. In terms of food, I can handle the heat to certain level with unlimited supply of Chapman (a specialty drink famous in Nigeria, non-alcoholic). I love Nkwobi (cow legs in thick, bloody spicy sauce....it's an appetiser), jolly rice with efo riro ... Soya? Bring it on....Kilishi (dried meat cut thin with spices, chilies and laxative...hahahaha...no laxative, just kidding) from Abuja is great too! I am amazed at the amount of heat these Naijas can digest. A friend of mine, Maurice said.."diabetes? No...but stomach ulcer?...just waiting to happen.."

Enough food...but the main reason I enjoy because at least I can take pictures of friends and practise at the same time. For a newbie like me (I am)...taking pictures of my friends here is a challenge. You just don't snap on a speed light (flash light) and start to take pictures. I remembered an advice from a friend back in Malaysia..he said "once speed light comes to play, setting is VERY much different"... Anyway, with the guess arriving....and after I said Hi to the official photographer for the event, I began taking pictures of the event.

J.P (2nd from right) and Franklin (left)
with friends

Ugo on the right...

RARECATION 13: AUSTRIA: Lake Atter - GERMANY: Munich

Good morning!

Today is the day (October 20th, 2015)....and we finally reached the end of our journey and go our separate ways.

Apis, Didit (with towel), Radzi and Saiful -
a very slow morning...

geronimo! 

the camping ground...

Lake Atter, note the edge where the water
immediately turns dark...a favourite spot
for scuba divers in the region

RARECATION 13: AUSTRIA : Salzburg

I did not have the slightest idea that it was Salzburg and not Vienna the movie 'Sound of Music' took place in the 60's. All thanks to TV1 or TV2 in those days. Yes, two channels only and cartoon from 4.30pm to 5.30pm on weekdays and we were already ecstatic! Children nowadays needs dedicated cartoon channels and still they complained not enough...

It was my mum and dad that got us interest in it (I mean the movie). The songs and I believe Capt. Von Trapp is just plain stern....not psychotic enough like my dad and now .....me. Anyway, how can we forget the 'Do Re Mi' song...and the eldest girl singing  'Sixteen going on Seventeen' with her boyfriend...and Julie Andrews after 'Mary Poppins' go on the become Maria in 'Sound of Music'. So this is quite a big deal for me....finally got to see the place, Salzburg.

We parked our vehicles at Lindhofstraße (sounds: Lindhofstrasse) and walked towards the Old Salzburg Town. 

Salzach River

RARECATION 13: AUSTRIA (Part 2) - Hallstatt

Morning!

A camper van locked for the night, heater on highest setting, old socks, smelly shoes...you get the idea. So opening a window first thing in the morning is welcoming. Ahh the fresh and cold autumn air in the morning is refreshing. 

It was still early...and when everyone was ready...some of us opt to take some photos by the lake. The usual suspects were already there when I arrived. But since it was a wet morning, only a handful of us by the lake and the rest were inside. The lake..was well, like a lake. But it's huge, just like Lake Como. 

Radzi, Mun and Harun (l-r)