Hk2018 - Part 2

25 Oct 

- Took the tram to near Central with plans to head up to The Peak. But by the time we got there, the queue was SO LONG that we decided to detour to the HK botanical and zoological gardens. 

- Lots of steps to climb which made me realise that we probably weren't fit enough to go hiking as originally planned. 

- Saw lots of monkeys which fascinated the little one who has been talking about monkeys eating bananas and climbing trees. 

- Walked to Admiralty MTR, and took the train back and had lunch at Sister Wah. Beef brisket = love. 

- Napped and met cousin.ling for dinner. Had thai food at a nearby eatery and then dessert after. Always good fun to catch up with cousin.ling 

26 Oct 

- Went to the park and playground after brekkie and had lunch at Sister Wah (again). It's really good! 

- Napped and then made our way to Times Square. Wanted to get a pair of birks but they weren't much cheaper than back home so we skipped it. Spent a bit of time playing in the lego store and having coffee and cake at Tom n Tom.

- Took a tram back and stopped at the playground again. Headed to the mall and had dinner at the Japanese curry place again. This time, they actually gave us a kids menu and the little one almost finished the entire portion of rice!

27 Oct 

- Don't know how time passes so quickly. Met cousin.ling who came by with another cousin-in-law who dropped us off at the peak. Luckily we took a cab up cos the queue to take the Peak Tram was loooooooong. 

- Took in the sights of the skyline in HK, and headed back down by tram. Then took a bus to Central where we took a star ferry to Tsim Tsa Tsui. Walked around the waterfront and had lunch at one of the eateries there. Then took the Star Ferry back to Wan Chai and headed back to the hotel to nap.

- Headed back to the Indonesia Restaurant for dinner and met with Ncuk and Shally, and their high school friends. Dinner was yum as usual, and then headed back.

.. 

Typing this while lying in bed in the hotel room. We are checking out tomorrow abd heading to Disney for 3D2N and then back home!

HK2018 - Part 1

And just like that, we've been in HK for 6 days now and will be heading back in a couple more days. How fast time flies when you're on holiday!

22 Oct 

- Arrived in HK at about lunch time. Had lunch at Tsui Wah in the airport, got ourselves data sim cards, took the Airport Express train to Hong Kong Central station and cabbed it to the hotel. 

- Checked in, napped, headed out to cousin.Ming's restaurant for a quick dinner and then back to the hotel for an early lunch.

23 Oct 

- Brekkie in the hotel and back to the room to rest for a bit. We head out to explore a little but go back soon so that the little one can rest. The little one is feeling sniffly so we stay in the hotel room while +3 continues to explore the surrounding areas. He comes back and shares that Victoria Park is nearby and there are a few playgrounds there.

- Have lunch at Windsor House near Victoria Park and eat at some Japanese curry place. Nothing you can't find in SG. 

- Little one plays in the playground for an hour or so and we head back to cool down.

- Meet Andi for dinner and discover that Sister Wah, which is just across the street from the hotel, has amazing beef brisket. 

- End the evening with coffee and cake at the hotel while chatting with Andi.

24 Oct 

- Head out to meet Da Ma after brekkie at the hotel. We have dim sum. The little one impresses everyone with his hearty appetite when cousin.Ming feeds him. Think he finished 2 baos, one (big) matball, and a chee cheong fun roll with prawn.

- Go to Da Ma's new home. It's slightly bigger than her old place and the boy takes a nap while +3 catch up with family.

- I'm getting used to afternoon naps too!

- Head out for dinner and meet with another cousin. The little one eats a lot! 1/2 bowl of rice, 2 bowls of lobster noodles, and a fair bit of beef. He also ate the chives dish. 

- He ate so much that he had a poo-explosion at the restaurant. Cleaned him up and headed back to bathe. 

The Sweetest Words

"I love you, mama" 

... And after that he said "I eat booger now, Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom. Finished already!" thankfully he was just pretend eating. I hope. 

More Fartiness

The boy was getting ready to pee the other day and I was standing behind him, holding on to him so he wouldn't fall into the toilet bowl (he's still too short so was standing on the toilet seat). 

Instead of peeing, though, the little one said "AC fart on mama" then proceeded to stick his skinny little butt out and FARTED. And of course he proceeded to giggle non stop at his cheekiness. 

Be Kind

Today, two things happened that reminded me that I need to be more kind and less bitchy. 

1. There was a work event all the way in the west side and none of my colleagues who drove were going back to the office after. The bus/mrt journey would have likely taken 1-1.5 hours. I asked another colleague who worked nearby if he was driving back, and if yes, could we hitch a ride in his car? 

Said colleague is someone who is loud (not in the booming voice way but more in the always have some things to say way)  and quite frankly, a little bit odd. I'm not a big fan and usually stay away. 

Honestly, I felt quite hypocritical being all nice and friendly this morning cos I wanted to hitch a ride and he said yes. And to make me feel worse, he dropped me off at my office as I had a work meeting before heading out to have lunch. 

Eeks.

2. Another colleague that I didn't really like cos she never smiles at you (even if you smile at her) and at a work event, interrupted a conversation I was having with someone to promote her school. I'm not particularly close to her, but at that same event today I saw her in a wheelchair. 

Long story short, she's been through some shit and it looks like she'll be permanently in a wheelchair. 

... 

I don't think I've been particularly nasty or bitchy to these colleagues, but it was a really good reminder today to treat people with loving kindness. You never know what they are going through and it doesn't hurt to be nice.  

Morning Merrytime

I had to be at work early today but it was the last day of our event and all the major parts were already over.  I woke up and got ready, and then lay back in bed watching the little one sleep. I should have left at 7am, 730am latest to be on time for work but it was already 745am and he was still sleeping and looked like he was about to stir. 

After a few moments of turning and stretching, his eyes open and he flashes me the widest grin. He says "mama" and closes his eyes again. I stroke his hair and say good morning,  and he stretches his arms out as he opens his eyes again. 

"mama carry? "

I pick him up and get out of bed. He lays his head on my left shoulder, and closes his eyes again, twirling my hair between his fingers.  "Let's go say good morning to daddy and Nanny. " 

We go outside and +3 greets him with the chirpiest "Good morning! " Nanny does the same. He starts to chatter about his police car and I pass him to Nanny to I can get ready to leave the house.  

While putting on my shoes, Nanny shows him how to turn on the iPod and some music starts to play. It's Queen's "I want to break free" and the boy is jumping around happily dancing and squealing in delight. 

My shoes are on, I'm carrying my bag and all ready to step out of the house. But this is a moment I can't resist. I go to the dancing little one and grab his hands and we bob around laughing and dancing (note: this is a very BROAD interpretation of the word "dance"). 

I get him to stand on my feet and I walk around with him for a bit, much to his delight. And everyone has such huge smiles on their faces. 

Eventually we leave the house and blow a few kisses and take the lift down. We wave again at the both of them who are now standing at the balcony. While walking out, we see a little girl at her balcony, we wave and she waves back. 

What a beautiful morning.