Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden

During the Chinese New Year break, with Paul having a few days off we took the girls on another excursion.  This time to Diamond Hill to visit Chi Lin Nunnery and the Nan Lian Garden.  Many people have talked about it and I was keen to visit.

This place is about a 25 min train ride from our place on the mainland and a 5 min walk from the MTR.  The garden is trully a beautiful place and it actually felt like I was somewhere in Japan, as it had that feel about it.  We just walked around and enjoyed being there.  It was a beautiful sunny day, and unusually warm for this time of year.  I just love how there are places like this surrounded by the tall buildings - just such a mix of old and new.

You start in the gardens.  This is at the entrance to the Nan Lian Garden at the Black Lintel Gate just before you enter.

This is by the main sign

In front of the Perfection Pavillion and the Lotus Pond

Looking back at the Perfection Pavillion

Looking down at the garden from the steps on our way to the Chi Lin Nunnery

Entering the Nunnery complex.  This is a place of Budhist worship.

The girls copying the locals and offering pray

On our way home waiting for the train

Discovery Bay

Today we decided to take the girls to Discovery Bay.  We've never been there but it's a place that you hear about often.  It's an area where many of the expats live and I can understand why after visiting today.  You have everything you want or need with space not only outside but the properties seem to be on the larger scale too.  It's a 30 min ferry ride from the Central Pier and basically it's behind Sunny Bay or where Disneyland is.  You stand on the beach and you can see the top of Space Mountain. 

Paul has three days off before he's back into it for Chinese New Year which is when all the public holidays are...so we've been making the most of it.  Yesterday we took the girls to the movies to see "Megamind" which they (we) really enjoyed.  Wasn't sure how it would go down but it went down rather well.

Discovery Bay is best described as a bubble within the HK bubble.  It really is nothing like you would expect a part of HK to be.  Don't get me wrong from a family point of view it would be a fabUlous place to be with easy access to the beach, the park and everything else all within walking distance.  There are no cars - the best way to get around is mainly walking and/or golf buggies !  I can see how easy it would be to live there !!  There were certain attractions that for sure but I don't know about the 25 min one way ferry ride on a daily basis.

Waiting for the ferry at Central Pier 3

 The view from the Pier looking at Kowloon - TST

On the ferry - yes, it was a tad chilly today.

Discovery Bay

The mode of transportation

The view from the beach.  HK island is straight ahead to the right

 The Discovery Bay Pier and Plaza

Swings on the beach - fun was had by all !

It was a fun place to visit for a play and lunch.  We weren't able to stay all day as had to get back to take Victoria to dancing.  Hopefully tomorrow will get to visit another place that's been on the to do list for a while.

Chinese New Year

The biggest event in the Chinese Calender is upon us - the celebration of Chinese New Year.  It'll be time to say goodbye to the Year of the Tiger and welcome the Year of the Rabbit !  which happens to be me !! 

The girls are off school for a week and Paul is off for 3 days so we're planning what we'll do.  The public holidays for this celebration are the 3rd-5th Feb and unlike Christmas and Easter the shops actually close !! 

Both girls on Friday were able to wear to school their Chinese dresses.  I went to Wanchai Market on the Weds to see what I could find - admitedly I'd left it abit late so the selection of clothes wasn't that great but still managed to find something for each of them.

The girls are modelling the outfits on the day I got them.  I was slightly worried about the sizing but I think I got it right !

Waiting for the school bus in the morning at 7.30am.  The photos I took inside didn't turn out that great. 

Just before Victoria going to school.  Her outfit was a 2 piece - dress and jacket. 

They both had a great time and the dresses have been worn since.  You can imagine the looks and comments they got......

Victoria Woodlands Christmas Concert...

Victoria had her Christmas concert the same week has Hannah played her role.  We were asked to dress her up all in white which got me thinking but managed to find the appropriate outfit.  This same dress has been worn to 3 Christmas concerts at Woodlands and I'm sure a 4th will be managed next year too......

She was so excited as she had been praticing at home - at least every day and a few times at that !! 

The anticipating of waiting....

The angels - Ariel and Victoria

Show's over...

Heading home

















I managed to record something of the show.  This is the final show they sung - it's one of Victoria's favourites and due to it she knows how to spell Santa - was even able to tell Hannah how it's spelt !!

After the show I needed (yes, needed) to do some shopping so we went to the WTC (World Trace Centre) mall as there is a fabUlous shop there, actually there's one of many but there was one in particular I wanted to visit ....this was the Christmas display outside.  The fluro bands on her arm are known as 'silly bandz' - which ALL kids are into over here of ALL ages.  They're bascially rubber bands shaped into differrent shapes and which retain the shape ie fruit, musical instruments, princess, hello kitty you name it you can find it !!

QBS School Assmbly

On the 7th December Hannah's class had their school assembly.  They did 2 performances - one in the morning for half the school and the other in the afternoon for the rest AND the parents.  I knew that she had a part and that she was Goldilocks - but that was all I knew !!  She wasn't forthcoming with much information and her standard answer was "wait and see".  She was very excited about it.

All the children did a fantastic job - considering that this was the first time many of them had performed on stage in front of a large crowd.  And that this are mainly 5 years old, some of them could even be 4 !!  It wasn't a Christmas show or anything - they just put together a little show !

Unfortunately I couldn't get the camera to work properly with the lighting so some photos haven't really turned out too well.  These are the best so should give you an idea of what it was about.

Waiting for the performers to arrive......

Half of the performers....yes that is Hannah wearing a blonde wig !!

Waiting to begin her part...

Show's over !

For Hannah's part I did record it.

She did a great job !  She was asked if she wanted to wear a wig - so of course she said yes !  The only difference between her hair and the wig was that the wig had curls !!!

The Year 1's normally do their assembly towards the end of the year so for these classes to perform after being at school for only 4 months is a pretty big achievement.

Southern Girls Challenge - anything goes !

A new challenge, a new year !!  This time round anything goes.  I used My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow "Grow' line.  I thought it was quite apt to go with the photos of Hannah using the laptop and only after a couple of goes was starting to work her way around it.  It's amazing what they pick up and how quickly they do !!  I used chalk on the paper bracket, pleated some paper, glimmer misted the chipboard butterflies (from Collections) and found some ribbon that matched everything perfectly so made them into flowers.  It was the first time that I'd done that so was quite pleased with how they turned out. 

Catch up

Happy New Year ! Hard to believe that another year has been and gone....this year already seems to be off to a flying start too !!  After having 2 weeks off school both the girls were back into routine this week.  It's a quieter term as there's no swimming on a Thursday - it's good timing as it's a tad chilly to be doing that.  But the girls started gymnastics today and they both LOVED it !!  Unlike dancing I get to sit and watch and I do have to say that they were pretty good.  I was most impressed with Hannah - not only with what she could do but how encouraging she was to Victoria.  It was really delightful to see and you could see how chuffed Victoria was with the praise that her big sister was giving her !!  They can't wait to go back next week.

One of the highlights this week - is that the girls got their hair cut.  It doesn't happen very often - I think the last time they had it cut was when were in NZ a year ago - hasn't that gone quick !!  Victoria was on Monday and she was so excited - I haven't been able to tie her hair up as she's worried that her 'hair cut' will be ruined !!  Hannah got hers done Friday and loves it.  It's amazing what a tidy up can do....

Victoria's before shot....

.....and the after shot.  This was taken on the same day as Hannah's as she wouldn't look at me for the photos.  I'll show you why soon....

Hannah's before shot.  The coat is a must at the moment as it is rather chilly...

And just cos I like this one...  

And the after...

I was rather lucky and got a new phone - an iphone.  I don't know how I survived without one !!  And neither did the girls as you can tell from the photo of Hannah.  They just LOVE it and especially this cat game that is on it.  The reason why Victoria wouldn't look at me after getting her hair cut was that she was playing this game and I have to say that both of them know how to work my phone rather efficiently - it's scary watching them !!

One of the highlights of recent times is that Victoria got a new bed.  She has been rather excited to say the least....  Her room needs to be reorganised I'm just not quite sure the best approach - think need to sort through toys...!!!

She loves her new bed linen.   

One of the things to do here in December is to see the Christmas lights.  We took Hannah the first year we were here (she was 3) and this year we all went as Victoria is 3 !!  The lights have been toned down to what they use to be like but it's still impressive to see and is a fun excursion.  We were over Kowloon side for 6pm (as it's dark) and home again by 7.15.  We caught the Star Ferry over and then the underground back.  I think the big thing for the girls was not so much seeing the lights but being out at night in the dark !!

One excited little girl waiting for the lift

On the bridge at Wanchai heading for the Star Ferry.  Background is Tsim Sha Tsui (TST for short)

Looking at Hong Kong Island

Entertaining the crowd....

A few things caught up on - a few more to go