28 April 2010

Singapore

Paul had a few days off work so we decided to go visiting somewhere. We were originally booked to go to Bangkok but that week before we were to fly was when the trouble started. It had the potential to get worse and we didn't want to get stuck there with the girls so we changed our plans and went to Singapore instead.
Just before heading to the airport
The view from our hotel room

I love going to Singapore. Maybe it's the shops, the greenery, the space, friends to catch up with, the food - I don't know but I do enjoy going. We had a great few days. Universal Studios has now opened up so we spent a day there and had a blast !! It was FANTASTIC !! The girls were even tall enough and BOTH of them experienced their first EVER roller-coaster ride. The first one we took them on looked alot tamer than what it actually was. Victoria just had a stunned look on her face for the entire ride - she was sitting beside me !! Afterwards, both of them were so excited and had really enjoyed it. So in the Jurassic Park area - Hannah was about 3cm too short for the water rapid ride probably a good thing as am sure Victoria would have wanted to go too !! - we took them on a hanging roller-coaster ride! Victoria was going WOOHOO the entire time - as was Hannah. I think that they take after me with enjoying the thrill rides !!
At the front of Universal Studios
The main Street
On the right is the double roller coaster. It wasn't working when we went - shame I would have gone on that !!
Meeting Puss in Boots from Shrek


The hanging roller coaster to the left of the Jurassic Park sign is what we took the girls on. They loved it.


Cooling down in the water park


Went to the Bird Park. It was a year ago since we were last year and what a difference a year makes. Both the girls were right into it and really enjoyed it. Hannah remembered and commented that she wouldn't be grumpy at the bird park like she was last time !



The Night Safari was the pick this time. And it was so much fun. There are 2 options to get around - catch the tram or walk. We caught the tram at the start and the girls were so excited to see the animals but weren't that keen to get off to go wandering. Towards the end of the ride we must have said something that got them excited so we went on a walk. It was so cool !! Walking through the zoo at night listening to the cicadas and the animals. We thought we'd go for a short one rather than go around the whole trails BUT they were loving it (and we took a few wrong turns) so we ended up walking around the entire safari. It really is somthing to see and do - hearing the hyenas calling, the tigers were right by the glass windows (asleep), the giraffes and zebras were not that far away. We were there longer than what I thought we would be - think we left after 10pm it opens at 7.30pm !! The girls were asleep within minutes of being in the taxi.

We also went on the Singapore Flyer - it's just like the London Eye ! Very impressive views !

Playing in Orchard Road

We thought that going to Singapore would help acclimtise as I was expecting it to be warmer when we got back. But no - it was down to 14 degrees - which is unusually cold for this time of year in HK. It's starting to get warmer now.

20 April 2010

Easter

We had a fun Easter ! I do miss the Cadbury's marshmellow easter eggs - can't get anything like that here... oh well there's always next year.

The girls were quite excited about Easter - well Hannah more and Victoria just copied but there was great excitement. I'm guessing they talked abit about it at school - which added to the excitement. The Easter bunny paid a visit and left them clues for an easter egg hunt around the apartment - not quite the same as in a garden but it was a hunt all the same !! Victoria wasn't that sure of it to begin with but once she "found" an egg there was no holding her back !! There was no stopping Hannah either....
The clues from the Easter Bunny. Hannah made her easter bonnet at school
Finding the eggs.....

The end result...

03 April 2010

It's a new month

April has begun and it's Easter break. Hannah has no school for 2 weeks - we have already survived one week !! I'm writing out clues for the easter egg hunt tomorrow and have just about got them done. Hannah's talking more about the Easter bunny (Victoria just copies her) so should be a fun day. Here are some snapshots of the week :

We went to Hong Kong Botannical Garden and Zoo. We had an adventure on the way as we hopped on the wrong mini-bus. We got there in the end.. Hannah hasn't let me forget that we got on the wrong bus though....


Dog Fashion in HK. Yes, the majority of dogs wear something like this. I've even seen a few with shoes on and hair clips in !! Honest.


Scooter racing on the Podium of our apartment block
Disneyland. What a difference a year makes. The first time we went Victoria didn't want to go anywhere NEAR the characters - now there's no stopping her !!!