Our little trips to Toys R Us

The gals love to choose their bday toys from grandparents n uncles at Toys R Us annually. On other days they also like to go there. But we never buy toys for them on these trips. I prefer them playing with whatever they have at home or creating with household stuff.
So here, they walk around fiddling, browsing n putting on masks!

Exercise n exercise n more

The 2 小姐s have been taking judo lessons since last Mar/Apr. So far they have been enjoying it n we do see some results in XC. She holds yellow belt now and won a bronze medal in a recent children's judo competition. YE has just passed her 1st grading test. For us, we didnt expect them to win trophies or medals but more for self defence n to have more exercise.
However, we do see some positive traits from these judo training. We are able to inculcate some values like perseverance, endurance n being able to think when met with an obstacle. The gals also learnt that to be better, you have to put in effort to practice.

Good old games

I do not really like my gals to watch tv but sometimes really it's a good kid-sitter :)
I try to get them craft wk, story books or inexpensive games to occupy them. We have Uno, Monopoly (kids version) n some cheap games at home. I much prefer my gals to interact with each other. I chanced upon Happy Family card game at SKP and bought it.
They are very happy to have something new n XC is quick to see that there is a technique to win easily.
Thru these games we played at home, I hope to bring out some values like respect and integrity. Not to forget, it is a good time for family bonding.

Roller blading lessons

CL got himself a pair of roller blades, so to have regular exercise. The gals showed interest and he arranged for a 4 sessions roller blading course for all of us! At my age trying to roller blade seems scary. I have the feeling that I will end up breaking my bones >_<.
We just have our first lesson today and it wasn't scary as I have imagined. The coach is patient and he knows how to talk to the kids. That's a great start!
We started off with the importance of safety gears. Then coach taught us how to fall without hurting ourselves, that is to fall forward not backwards. Followed by being able to stand up, march and turn 1 round on the spot. Next he then got us to walk out from the mat we were standing on.
The 4 of us have varied starting point. CL is able to balance and move off but need certain tips here and there. Xc is old enough to listen to instructions and no problem following them. She kept practicing and determined to do it well For Ye, she's of a younger age, thus needing more time and a different approach in teaching her. She was too eager, wanting to be able to blade. So she took too big steps but it was actually not good. Coach guided her and explained that she needs to take small steps instead. For myself, I need lots of time to get started. Mainly to overcome my fear and making my first steps. I kept telling myself I should try and not give up. Thru these sessions not only I hope my gals can have fun and exercise, I also want to teach them some values and life skills.
We can't teach them not to give up or keep trying just thru talking about it but thru real life experiences.

Some lessons/ values we learnt today.
1. Take small steps for a start.
2. Try and not give up.

HK Day 6 and time to say good bye...

We checked in our luggage at the in-town check in centre. Here, you can choose to check in ahead of the usual 2 hr check in time and still have time to do last minute shopping. One condition is that you have to take the airport express when you make your way to the airport.

After checking in, we went Yau Ma Tei, hoping to try the 1 Michelin star dim sum restaurant. Sadly we didn't manage to. I tell myself, I must have it next time!

Check out the crowd.

Then we settled our meals quickly and walked along Tung Choi Street, the famous Ladies' Market. A quick stroll and we left, only bought a toy pizza set for YE. Our last final stop was Tai Cheong Bakery for egg tart and wife's biscuit. It was near the mid level escalator but we have no time to go for it. That's always next year. *wink* *wink*

Some one is happy

Only 3 stops to airport from HK island

Very sad to see this.

More cheery than the 1st flight

Finally her kid's meal has arrived.

The flight back was more manageable as YE already knew what to expect. She was given the kid's headphone set and her kid's meal. She was served first and she commented that the pasta was nice. A small Haagen Das ice cream was also served later.

HK Day 5

Initially we planned for a 5D4N stay in HK. After much thought, we decided to extend 1 more day and to visit Ocean Park on a Monday instead; to avoid the crowd. It had been 18 years since I visited Ocean Park, read online that there are more things to see and they have pandas too! We took the MTR to Admiralty station and bought the Ocean Park tickets at the MTR station itself. MTR has a special price for it and we managed to save some $. Then we took a public bus which sends us directly to the park itself with no stops in between.

Entrance of Ocean Park

Cheery mood

Weather was also fine and it wasn't very cold that day. We were 'hijacked' after we just got it and bought some memorabilia with our photo in it.

Glass globe and photo

We moved into the Grand Aquarium where you will see many different marine life, like sharks, starfishes, corals and fishes and fishes and more fishes. It was designed in a way which brings you down the ocean, there are varied ways to see at different times like ...

Squatting or kneeling

Standing, gigantic cylindrical tank

Viewing at the 13m wide viewing panel

There are also holes to look into the tank which I didn't manage to take photos cos my digi cam ran out of batt.

Look! Nemo

After saying goodbye to the fishes, we went onto see pandas. At the first stop, panda were sleeping in their dens so nothing to look at. We moved on to Giant Panda Adventure where the red pandas and another pair of pandas met us.

Feeding time

Red pandas.

As we walked out, we also viewed the goldfish exhibits.

What a special tank

Lunch was next and we settled at the panda's cafe, like the Ah Meng's cafe here in Singapore.

Nice custard bao

YE didn't have a chance to take carousel ride in Disneyland as it was too crowded. So we make it up for this.

 While they were on the carousel, I walked around and saw these.

 The sky opened up but it was not really like raining but more of sprinklers type of feeling. I guess being the winter season in HK, it is normal. The last time I came, I went up the cable car cos I have no choice. My mum forced me onto it. This time round, they have a 'submarine' called the Ocean Express, bringing you over to the summit of the park. I should say just like a monorail rather than a submarine.

At the summit, we went for the show, Sea Dreams, where you see dolphins and sea lion performing. To YE, it was boring. But I think XC enjoyed it.

Yummy BBQ in a cold weather

After the show ended we back tracked and went to Polar Adventure. Thou named Polar Adventure but there were no polar bears, just penguins and freezing temperature. We only managed to stay in there for a few minutes and left quickly. By this time YE was tired and needed us to carry her. XC wanted have a go in a ride and we made our way there. I am never a fan of such rides due to my motion sickness problem. I think she was rather brave in going for these rides. As it was rather far off from the usual activity at the summit, it was quiet and there was no Q at all for these few rides.

Polar Adventure.

Only the 2 of them

Start to spin round and round and round.

YE wanted to go for it too, but she was way below the permitted height. So she made do with ferries wheel ride which she said was boring.

Romantic ferries wheel feeling

After that I bought a small packet of fries for the gals to share and we went back towards the entrance/ departure gates. At the Ocean Summit Express station, Q was long as it was near closing time. The gals were being pushed and bags slammed into them. Poor gals. One advice, never wait till the park's closing time to leave.

As it was our last night in HK, we decide to return to our hotel earlier and do some packing. We ordered take away from a nearby restaurant. CL and I remembered tasting a prawn dish at a 'da pai dang' (know as zi char stall in sin), it was yummy. We can't find it in sin and it was impossible to cook the same dish. The restaurant has it but taste slight different from what we had tried before. However, it was still delicious.

Prawn, roast goose and stir fry green with garlic