Rock climbing...

I'm not sure what happened to this week...it has been a week where New Zealand hasn't been far from our thoughts.  The earthquake that happened in Christchurch on Tuesday 22nd has been on our minds all week.  The first I heard of it was when a friend (we were meeting for breakfast after school drop off) arrived at our local cafe and asked if my friends/family were ok with the earthquake......My friends probably thought that I was rather rude as for most of that time I was on my phone (smartphones are GREAT) checking stuff.co.nz and finding out what I could.  Got home as soon as I could and turned the Australian channel on and basically watched the NZ news (either One News or TV3 - very strange watching it in Hong Kong!) for 36 hours  !!  Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic disaster.

Going back a few days earlier Hannah had a birthday party to go to.  One of her school friends had invited her to her party.  It was abit different as it was rock climbing !!!  I wasn't sure how this would go down.  Don't get me wrong she was really excited about going and trying it out but I wondered how she would take to it.  It was one of those activities that could go either way....

They did a trial first - meaning that they got onto the wall and moved across.  They didn't climb up but were encouraged to move along on the same level.  The next time they moved across the wall and then climbed up a little way to sign a card for the birthday girl.  Then they were allowed to go up....and up they went.  For many of the children (and even some of the parents) this was the first time even to try something like this.  Hannah on the beginning attempts was abit dubious so I was thinking could be a loong 3 hours....but no...she really surprised me.  And I think herself. 

It was a sheer wall with an edge coming out.  I thought it was pretty optimistic thinking on the instructors part that kids would get to the top but I was mistaken.....The first time Hannah went up she only got to the part that jutted out.....and came back down again.  Once on the ground she saw how her friend Roisin had done - she'd gone to the top on her first go - and wanted another go.  This time (and she took her time) she got to the top.  She did it 6 times (all I kept thinking was that she'd sleep well tonight plus she might be abit sore tomorrow...) and on her very last go got up to the top in 5 mins.  A new activity has been discovered.  It's probably a good age to try these things out as they seem to be more willing to try them out.

Getting told the instructions at the beginning

First go at the wall

Then it was all on....yes they are harnassed in

She was so proud of herself after this go as it was the first time (but her second attempt) at getting to the top.

Here are some 'action' shots !



Chocolate World Heritage

In Hong Kong for the past month there has been a chocolate exhibition over at Harbour City in TST (the other side).  I found out about it a couple of weeks ago and thought that it would be fun to visit - it is chocolate after all !!  I mentioned it to a friend and we decided to take our girls there - after lunch of course. 

The exhibition showcases many of the world's best-known monuments which have been handcrafted out of chocolate.  There were notices on each sculpture to please refrain from touching AND eating !!  But it was obvious in places that it was just too hard to resist !!

It was a rather wet day hence the wet looking girls.  If you want to see a larger picture just click on the photo. 

Hannah and Victoria with Cirrus and the Taj Mahal as the back drop.

I think this is part of Red Square in Moscow.  I didn't pay attention to the names but it's Russian !!

 Stonehenge in the UK

The girls with the Great Wall of China !!  LOVE this shot !!  Even more impressive it was taken on my iphone....

Statue of Liberty and the Collisium

Abu Simbal in Egypt

I think it took us longer to get there than the amount of time we actually spent in the room.  But it was warm AND dry !!

The Mad Professors....

We were having abit of fun with the girls one evening last week.  We'd been to see the movie "Megamind" that day so had the 3D glasses out.  They weren't put away as would need them to see the movie "Tangled" the Disney one about Repunzal.  The girls decided that they'd rather model the glasses than eat their dinner.....

Yes, I can see some scrapbooking pages being done to capture these precious moments !

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 !!