Hong Kong: Last But Not Least

Other than Ocean Park and Disneyland Park, roaming around to see more about colonization, revolution and emigration of Hong Kong (HK) is part of the itinerary. As HK is well known as a metropolis of concrete canyons and neon signs, we were in the bustling city streets most of the time and experience the rich culture of the city. To encounter the true HK living culture, you may want check this out.

Us, on our way to Star Ferry Terminal...stop by one of the handmade accessories stall

The Peak
On the day we went to The Peak, it was an intention to let the kids had the experience of riding the train (MTR), bus (double-decker), ferry and tram. I was totally melted! The weather was sunny hot and hazy. My dad, SC and the kids ended up with taxi ride back to hotel. (My mum and I went off for shopping!)

By the way, Hong Kong iconic cross-harbour Ferry is a must try! HKD$3 (if I remember correctly :p) per trip. The kids were thrilled when they were in the floating ferry deck. It was not too good to SS, Fong's wife. She was then dizzy for the rest of the day.

In the tram up the hill.

Nostalgia ferry ride.

Anyway, The Peak is another spot of commercial, packed with tourist and souvenirs shops. Indeed it was magnificent view of the green as well as the city through the tram ride. Like Penang Hill, there is another way of sightseeing through hiking. If given more time, I should have find Lugard Road to enjoy the greenery of the city.

Malls

True enough Hong Kong is a shopping paradise. I can't run away from the enticement of the shopping malls. But since SC offered to take good care of the girls, I popped to the mall after mall and into the shopping culture there my self (with my mum). I was a lunatic shopping queen without much fashion sense and budget control. It was eye-opening experience to the latest trend of fashion. Trendy merchandiser like i.t., H&M, Chocoolate and other local brands that really wow me to bring it home but had to drop the thought by just looking at the price tag. Somehow, I was still over spent.

Note: It was NOT the sales season during our visit. Best to go for Grand Sales in Hong Kong are during July-August or year end.

A S$39+ shoes for her! Told you I was lunatic.

Birkenstock

It is CHEAP in Hong Kong. Unbelievable! 

SC found one pair of Betula when we hopped into Silvercord for lunch. With some discount from HSBC credit card, it was only S$44.73!

Later part of the day, we hunted a pair of Birkis for Jiejie in Chickeeduck, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui. They happened to have sales, and we actually could not find Jiejie's current size but to grab a bigger pair:).

Just hope that she can wear it next Chinese New Year.

Log-on

Log-on is a lifestyle specialist store, which offers a modern range of latest trendy products, fashion accessories, gadgets, stationery, interior decorating products, kitchenware and personal care items. It was recommended by Fong, and obviously the section on kitchen tools and gadgets attracted when I walked into the store. I bought the 2 bread moulds and 1 message-on-a-cookie cutter for HKD195.00.

Why the cookies cutter? It is flexible with different words if we want to. Also because I saw it for the first time in Lisa's Blog. When I follow the link and look for the cutter, it was priced at SGD26 for just 1 unflexible cutter.

Speaking of the cutter, I have yet find a simple recipes to make cookies and use the cutter... Anyone can share?

Find Log-on stores locator here.

[I later understand from Fong that, this set of alphabet mould has its limitation. It can't have 2 lines at one time of making.]

Hang Heung

For authentic food to bring home from HK, I don't know what else beside Wife Biscuit. 

Out of all brands, the famous Hang Heung Wife Biscuit is highly recommended by my colleague. With her detail instruction, I got 4 packs from Sogo, Tsim Sha Tsui. However, I was stupid enough to put all the yummy biscuit in my luggage and check into the flight. PLEASE do not do that! Hang Heung's Wife Biscuit is more flaky and the crust fall off easily.

Address: Counter at Sogo Department Store, Basement 1, 12 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

MTR: East Tsim Sha Tsui Station, Exit J2 or J4

BTW, the filling taste is absolutely good. Sweetness is just nice and chewy. Highly recommend to heat up few seconds before served. 

Hang Heung Wife Biscuit is the only thing I miss about Hong Kong.

Wong Tai Sin Temple 

The altar of the temple.

In the end, we made it to Wong Tai Sin Temple. To see the tradisional taoist parying culture and just 上香 to pray for family safe and health. The lighted joss sticks usually calm me. I didn't go for Kau Cim, I am not sure about seeking an answer from Immortal. I mean, if I get what I request, how to return a thank?

Burning incense

I don't see enough of true Hong Kong. I believe Jiejie sees HK only diversified shopping, busy traffic, packed crowds, theme parks, yummy wanton mee and consumptive walking. I didn't do much research prior to the trip, I thought I knew HK well with so much drama-watching over the years. But it wasn't the case. I was lost in finding my way few times, I didn't get to taste put chai ko (砵仔糕) and I spent too much time in shopping malls! 

Daddy had promise her a return visit for theme parks when meimei is big enough to be as enjoyable as she is now. By then, I would like to bring them to Hong Kong Park, Hong Kong Wetland Parks, hiking, and taste more on HK's rough culture, perhaps through Night Markets. 

Jun 2011: HK Disneyland

My parents used to bring us to Genting Highlands for fun ride and kart racing.
Best of all, we got a chance to chill in the cool and refreshing weather;
stay in the hotel for a night or two;
dine in the restaurant up there.
Family holiday, I recalled.

That was the only themed park during those days, I reckon.
Or, perhaps it was that much of spending that my parents could afford to on 3 of us.
Or, maybe my papa had a chance to sneak out to casino at anytime he could.
One stone kills 2 birds, so called.

Anyway, many roller coaster years later.
I brought them to Disneyland, for the first time. 
To experience the true fantasy of young children.
To wind back our memories of spinning and riding.
To laugh as much as possible under the hot sun, and so on..

They are more like a body guard and a babysitter though.
Watched the girls as alert as an eagle; 
While explored the Park as curious as little Bomber.
Trying to figure out, what so fun about Disneyland!? I think.

It was a tired day for all of us. 
Being watchful and being playful in the colourful amusement park.
They conquered the place, half, at least. 
They stretched their body part and burnt calories most in a day, perhaps.
They had adventurously fun, I hope.

Many years later, we will reminisce this trip, 
as much as we talk about our stories in Genting. 
Till the girls are older, we will find another way of family bonding. I promise:).

M i s s   t h e m,  I  a m.

Hong Kong: Disneyland

Disneyland Park is open at 10am daily. So we tried to checked-out from Royal Plaza Hotel in Mongkok right after our breakfast in Sea View Congee House. SC booked Disneyland Hotel for staying over 1 night.

One thing Disneyland Hotel pleased me very much is the flexibility they give to the guests, For example: 

1. Allowing us to check-in, store our luggage at the Bell Desk to upon our early arrival and enjoy the Disneyland Park right away.
2. We came back to hotel for 'check-in' into our room at about 4pm (after indulged into the Flights of Fantasy Parade), my parents also get to rest while Jiejie and SC went on the fun.
3. Some children programs to continue the Disney fun while they are away from the theme park, like bedtime story, modelling and photographic service (glad my girl didn't ask for this), Mickey Maze and 1 nice activity room mainly for kid to play, to doodle and to craft.
4. List of Revitalise and Refresh activities can be found here.
5. Not to mention they have many goodies and surprises for you to bring home, ie the room access card:).
6. A highlight of Enchanted Garden Restaurant in the Hotel is, there are visits from Disney Characters to delight your meal time. But we drop the idea to go there, since Jiejie get to snap picture with Mickey and Minnie in the Park already. My parents prefer Chinese food, so we ate at Crystal Lotus. 
7. Upon our check-out of the hotel, we also get to store our luggage, again, at the Bell Desk. We went on to have our lunch in Crystal Lotus, some souvenir shopping and let the kids played in the activity room till about 2/3pm. The Bell Desk helped us to call a taxi to airport. Hassle-free and fast arrival of the taxi too. Our flight was in the late afternoon.

Disneyland Park is truly a huge playground for the kids. Jiejie and Ian were so joyful and energetic for the entire visit to the Park until the end of the fireworks which led to closure of the Park. I would think that it is the great success influence of the Disney cartoon in the television to the children. A visit to the Disneyland Park to me was, hmmm... got to see the cartoon characters 'alive', and the hard work (including the investment) and the creativity proudly smiled, walked, spun or swung in front of me.

Well, clearly I'm not a person with childish heart. All I could remember was carrying little Bomber and danced during the Fantasy Parade in Main Street, USA, under the heat ;P. But SC did enjoy the fun with Jiejie. They particularly like "it's a small world". Fantasyland has most attraction and entertainment that are suitable our kids. We had to skip Adventureland as timid Jiejie really got frighten with the "adventurous sound" projected from the jungle even we were just passing by the main entrance. Also, a compliment from my parents about the spectacular musical extravaganza in The Golden Mickeys in the Fantasyland had relieved me as I was afraid the Park would bored them whole day. They are old and really conservative about kids' fun. They probably enjoy the girls' laugh and simple play more than perspiring and watchful to the girls in theme park. A "very nice show" feedback means really NICE and stole their aged heart in the theater. The kids missed the chance to watch the show as there were too many attractions for them and they seemed impatience to queue for the Golden Mickeys. 

By the way, there is Disney's FASTPASS service for us to queue for a specific and long waiting queue attraction the Park so that we can leave and enjoy other attraction while waiting. However, it was a weekday and off-peak season, we didn't use any of the FASTPASS at all. 

After enjoyed our selves in the Fantasy Parade, we return to Hotel for our check-in. It was a good rest for my parents. We went back to the Park at about 7pm for the firework. We were allowed for re-entry to the Park for our 1-day ticket. We had our dinner and watched the "Disney in the Stars" Fireworks at 8pm. Oh, be prepare to walk, walk and walk for the whole day. It seemed like forever walk for me to return from the park to the bus terminal for taking free shuttle bus service back to the hotels. I was totally drained!

It was our intention to keep Disneyland Park as last destination for our trip to Hong Kong, due to the following reasons:

1. Distance to airport is close, both are situated in Lantau Island. approximately 15 mins taxi ride for us to reach HK airport.
2. Keep the very last attraction for the kid(s) till the end so that they will 'cooperative' throughout the 1 week urban trip.

"Have fun and do keep an eye on meimei, dear."

"meimei, want to try this?"

"Oh yay! Blue man is a giant sprinkle!!"

"Stupid blue man making me wet, later mama will scold!"

"Where is jiejie? Wasn't it fun?"

By the way, be alert and watchful to your child(ren) while you are in Disneyland. I have heard enough of cases of missing kid(s).


The Park Map is here.

Hong Kong: Ocean Park

After hearing from us mentioning how fun can Ocean Park Hong Kong be, Jiejie was ecstatic to step down form the bus and see Whiskers, the mascot, in front of her.

Kids at Ocean Square.

Games
It was a hot summer day. But it didn't melt the excitement of Ian and Jiejie. Kids are kids, just can't resist the fun that created by any amusement park. They immersed themselves in various kind of Merry-go-round, a trip of Balloon Up-up-and-away, Bouncer House, Frog-hopper, and some skill games. They giggled from ear to ear, wiggled from one end to another.

Whiskers Harbour seems having most games that suitable our kids.

First hop ever for her [photo courtesy of Fong]

Animals
Comparatively, Amazing Asian Animals became less interested to them. Visiting Gait Panda Habitat was eye-opening for the girls. Little Bomber first ever meeting with huge panda bear and beautiful goldfishes. She was extremely happy to roam around the Goldfish Treasures. I bet those goldfishes love to see her too.

[sorry, forgot this is An An or Jia Jia]

"Don't you be naughty and make your mama angry!"

I personally marvel into The Grand Aquarium in the Aqua City, meeting all kinds of sea creatures eye-to-eye by walking through a 13m wide acrylic tunnel. It was awesome, and honestly, it is spacious and much comfortable strolling and watching the sea creatures than in UnderWater World in Sentosa :p.

Ray fish came and said hello:).

But... Jiejie was horrified by the blow hole upon our arrival. It is the power of ocean, so called, welcoming the visitors. Needless to say, timid her hesitated to walk through the darkest depth of the ocean floor. We kept giving her cuddles and pats and at last, she stood and watched fishes swam in front of her. Little Bomber, on the other hand, was "ohhh" and "ahhh" all the way and wanted to "poke" the glass so much. I think she wanted interaction with the fishes beyond the glass.

As usual, she took some time to overcome her fear.

We didn't cover all the attractions in the Park. It is a huge park, obviously. Too much activities for a big group like us. Ian wanted to take a ride on to the helium balloon badly, but time didn't permit us to do so. We didn't step into the Adventure Land and Headland Rides, as our kids are too young for a try.

Beautiful air balloon that we missed to take a ride up.

Shuttles
87 hectares of lands separated by a mountain into two areas: The Summit and The Waterfront. It took us almost 5 hours to enjoy the fun in (half of) The Waterfront before we headed to The Summit for Ocean Theatre (3.30pm show) via the Ocean Express. It was like a submersible train, offering a vivid experience that simulates a journey through the ocean's depths. It was a quick ride compare to cable car.

Probably due to the scorching heat, none of us mentioned about trying the world's second longest outdoor escalator. 

The panoramic view of The Waterfront.

Live Show
This is the highlight of our visit: "Sea Dream!" in the Ocean Theatre. It is a aquatic adventure with touching narration (in English, Cantonese and Mandarin), featuring dolphins and sea lions in an inspirational story about the importance of marine conservation. 

Unbelievable packed with audiences when we arrived at 3pm

It shocked me when I saw such a huge spectator gallery. It shocked me more when I saw it was fully occupied upon our arrival. 

Little Bomber was tucked and napped in the carrier.

The stunning performance by the dolphins, sea lions and the trainers not only conveyed the conversation between a grandpa and his grandchild, sending the message on peaceful co-existence of humans and animals. It is also showcased the effort and passion behind the marine conservation. I was truly moved.

I wasn't realise the whole intention of Ocean Park until I saw this show. It was like a bang to my head that the whole park is not just a amusement park but carrying a very serious mission to operate as observatories, education department and wildlife funds for projects.

You mustn't miss the live show in the Ocean Theatre if you are in Ocean Park. 

After "Sea Dream!" ended, we headed to the cable car station. The wait for the cable car was insane! Thank goodness we had some tidbits for the kids to munch. 

Hazy aerial view from cable car.

Yet, we enjoyed the breeze from South China Sea via ten minutes cable car ride from The Summit back to The Waterfront. It was almost 5pm by the time we returned to Ocean Square and took a bus back to Admiralty MTR station, which caused us stuck in traffic jam badly.

Question always asked, why bother to bring kid for travel.
Well, the smile on her face tells why.

Little Bomber who had enough nap and was finally allowed to roam at the Ocean Square, while daddy went on to find bus to the nearest MRT Station. 

It can tell that we had uncountable joy, unforgettable fun and unavoidable tanned skin. 

Hong Kong: f.o.o.d

We didn't include breakfast package during our stay in Royal Plaza Hotel. SC thought it would not be too tough to find food around Mong Kok. So, we had been navigating our selves in the array of shops even before breakfast. Some based on Chua Lam's recommendations, some are not.
Sea View Congee House is one of our new discovery that has satisfied Hong Kong style breakfast: Congee, rice noodle roll (cheong fun, 香港猪肠粉), toast bread, spaghetti with minestrone soup, combination of hot dog, egg and bread, HK style fried noodle, soya milk, HK style coffee and tea. Simple yet very good dose and bite to kick start a day that is full of activities. We went there twice as the kids liked it. Best of all, it was between the hotel to Mong Kok MTR Station.

More about 海景 Sea View Congee House.

蓮香樓 Lin Heung Tea House

Obviously, Jiejie didn't like the place when we first stepped into the restaurant and got our table. It was traditional setting, kind of messy, chaotic, old yet full of characters of HK [shown in pic 1 in the scrapbook below]. Everyone there seems just mind their own business: waiters/waitress just push their wheeled cart to sell the dim sum or clean the tables if necessary; the patrons occupied the space not just for their meal, but newspapers, chit-chatting or simply yum-cha (饮茶). They may just had a peek on our arrival and back to their papers or tea-drinking. Technically, it is full ALL the time; and interestingly, these are the culture behind the traditional dim sum. We were lucky that we didn't need to hover around for table and the old waiter willingly to clean the table for us before we sat down. In the end, with some persuade talk and lots of hug, Jiejie opened her mouth and tasted the carrot cake (萝卜糕) and she loved it! The only regret was really we did not try all kind of dimsum, especially siu-mao (烧卖)and ha-kau(虾饺). Having said that, having dimsum in Lin Heung is a steal! It was less that HKD200 for 5 adults and 2 kids.

I tapao (take away) 2 wife biscuits from the counter for a try, HKD5 for each. It was good, very good! Too bad I was told it could only kept for 4 days the most! Otherwise, I would brought back for friends in Sg and KL.

Must say SC made a good choice among so many of Chua Lam's recommendation for dimsum.

Chee Kee (池记)
Contrary, Jiejie preferred the ambience of Chee Kee. Modernly comfortable, I reckon. Though it was as packed as Lin Heung.

It was convenience to us too. After a long day of roaming around, we took MTR back to Mong Kok, alighted and walked out to Langham Place, traveled to level 4 to look for Chee Kee. We went there twice.

Their are famous with wonton noodle and crab congee (金皇蟹粥) [shown in pic 7 in the scrapbook below]! Their barley water is unique tasty with a some ginger spice! Understand from them that this is only served warm. Fong, our friend, loves the pork rib rice(蘿蔔豬軟骨菜飯), repeatedly order for his 3 visits.

We ordered petite wonton noodle from the menu for Jiejie. [6 in the scrapbook]. SC could not run away from the crab congee... It was simply crabby yummy!

Honeymoon Dessert (满记甜品)
I am a dessert person, so is either Hui Lau Shan (許留山) or Honeymoon Dessert or both. Apparently, I could only tasted the latter. 

We went there to indulge the sweetness of their famous Mango Pomelo and Sago Sweet Soup with Ice Cream and Stewed Bird's Nest with Coconut Juice. [shown in 8 in the scrapbook] for the 1st time; then i brought my mum there to try Almond Tea with Sweet Potato and (thick) Sesame Walnut Soup. I'm bias! I was beaming while I had it^^.

I feel like going back there now!

何洪记 (Ho Hung Kee)  
This is another recommendation by Chua Lam. Another Shop famous with wanton noodle and Congee. Why? Simply because it would attract Jiejie to eat and eat more without us pushing too hard.

Ho Hung Kee is in Causeway Bay, Sharp Street East, close to Time Square(Exit A at Casuseway Bay MTR). It is easy to find. Like most traditional wonton noodle shops in HK, this shop is small and packed, probably just 10 tables of serving 4. We were lucky again to get a table soon upon our arrival. SC ordered their signature wonton noodle soup and slides fish congee. Congee was well balanced and tasted good.

Understand from the Ding Ding that, "Ho Hung Kee takes seven parts shrimp to three parts pork and a little pepper, grinds the mixture to a paste and spreads it onto a thin wrap. Their dumplings are filled with traditional ingredients including crispy 'wood ear fungus." Basically, the noodle was the sisters' favourite! Oh yes, Bomber had her share too. after I souped in clear water to reduce the taste for her. But somehow we felt that the soup was not fabulous. Or maybe because we are more for dried wonton noodle. 


Fuk Kee Restaurant (富记粥品)
This place [shown in pic 5 in the scrapbook], steal my heart for congee! Cheap (breakfast @ HKD100 for 4+2) and simply yummy! I was literally moved by their Pork Kidney and Liver Congee, which my mum belief that they controlled the cooking fire well by not over cook the pig intestines, it was tender and splendor! On top of the congee, we also added you-tiao (油炸鬼), since Jiejie spotted it when we steped into the small and old shop.

Whilst my dad ordered the shrimp cheong fun. The skin was smooth but thick, which we have yet to acquire the taster and enjoy the thick cheong fun.
If you are at 花园街， Mong Kok, don't miss this shop! Highly recommended, if you don't mind the ambience of the old shop. Well, apparently Lady Luck was with us most of the time, we probably went early that day, it was not packed hence Jiejie had no problem with the unhygienic and messy corner of the shop. Perhaps her focus was on her favourite yao-tiao:).

Hong Kong: togetherness

Two days right before the June School Holiday started, we went to Hong Kong for a family trip. Well, not just 2+2, but 2+2+2 and another 2+1 ^^. We invited my parents and we tagged with SC's friend and his family. 


So why HK at the first place?

I was as little as HY when I stood with to them.

Hong Kong as one of the Chinese-dominated city didn't really attracted me much. Urbanized, high density, uniquely mix of culture and architecture, fast pace living, disorganized but dynamic in a scarce land, are what I know of about HK. The colonial history of HK does create some sense of familiarity to us. I mean, learning so much about HK since young through the TVB drama series, I like vibrant HK. However, I was hesitate to bring kids to the packed and hazed city. On the other hand, SC finds HK is an easy roaming place for family like us, convenient MTR, no language nor food barrier for us (as well as the kids); best of all, there are marvelous Ocean Park and Disneyland there welcoming us! SC kept telling me the yummy-licious of dim-sum, milk tea, roasted goose and what not. Well, he is a big fan of 蔡瀾 (Chua Lam), who is a food critic and very good in making food recommendations. He also tempted me that I can be shopping queen there and kids will be under his care. I reckon nothing can be too tough for a daddy who wanted to fulfill his daughter's request. Coincidentally, Fong, our good friends from Sg Petani, and his family was also eyeing a holiday trip to HK. [With Fong and family, we visited theme parks and a few rounds of shopping together, other times were on our own program of the day.]



So SC went ahead with flight and hotel booking. Then we invited my parents tagged along. We thought, within our capacity, it would be nice as I have not been traveling with them since graduated and financially independent from them. Well, at least it would be a good idea to have more cares on the kids while exploring the city. 

Mom's help to relieve the burden of long hour carrying Bomber from me.

Marry-Go-Round with popo in Ocean Park. 

The true is, the holiday had passed us by in a blink! We had few agenda for the trip: theme parks for the kids, food hunting for SC, Macau for my parents (special request) and perhaps, shopping for my self. We became part of the dynamic city for that few days, by experiencing extremely lots of walking, from the pram-unfriendly MTR stations to the dizzying array of malls to riding on the humble star ferry and tram to The Peak. Walking is the best travel mode, but walking in the crowds and street after street of places for few days were somehow stressful, not forgetting slung baby Bomber when she took a nap or two in Ocean Park and Disneyland under the scorching hot weather. As my papa was a bit weak in terms of walking (he relies on car very much back home in KL), there was usually 1 highlight of each day following by city discovery. So that he could returned to hotel for resting, if we continued our journey to shopping (Don't you think shopping is the best way to explore HK;p). Mum was tired too, but curious enough to join our exploratory till late night. We had some mother-daughter's chit-chatting along the way, she gave me a sense that, as their age is catching up, she sees it as a rare opportunity for them to join us traveling. [She was referring to my grandma who is now 90 years old and too weak to travel even she is desired coming to S'pore to visit me.]

It is a pity that we forgot to take picture with them.
We were overwhelmed with the activities.

It was heartening to know that they cherish the moments of holding hands of little Bomber, Marry-go-round with Jiejie and having 3 generations to sit down together and enjoy a nice Hong Kong style breakfast. I believe that they will miss the cheeky smiles of the little ones and the little ones will remember that, once upon a time, they went to Disneyland with gong gong and popo... I think even if consumptive walking, theme parks or shopping malls or food hunting were not their cups of tea, we created a chance of bonding for all.

All were tired, included me. Bomber slept tight in the carrier. 

There isn't much pictures to show the lovely moment of ours. SC was also occupied with navigation to search for food for direction, photography (anything but us) and Jiejie. Me? I was keeping the little Bomber and my mum and my dad full accompany! Ha~! I had been nice:). [No complaint heard thus far^^.] 

It was a exhausted but hearty trip.