My Version Of Summer

It is right in the middle of summer already, so how is yours going along? 

I hope the earlier posts I shared on summer activities (taken from Smart Parenting) was useful.  It covered basically everything from culinary arts, to sports, to academic enrichment, and performing arts. Still, if you feel that you need more ideas, here is a compilation of the activities my kids have done in the summers past.

The idea of conducting my own summer camp for the kids initially stemmed out of a practical solution to avoid having to drive the kids all over town.  I have three kids and taking into consideration the multiple and varied interests each of my kids have, my mind cannot process and my body simply disagrees with the task of taking them everywhere all at the same time.  And the amount I spend paying for their summer activities alone could easily swell to an amount close to what I would pay for school tuition for one child.  And that is NOT an exaggeration. 

Here are some of the ways we have spent our summers, hopefully you can also enjoy the same with your kids!  You can click on the titles if you want to read more of that particular activity.

1.  ARTS and CRAFTS.  I enjoy drawing, painting, crafting, writing, baking, gardening.  Those areas are basically where I hold court, so summer mornings with my kids are, by and large, spent doing any of those cherished activities. 

Iron-On Shirts. 
Take your cue from your child and put out his/her favorite character into a shirt.  You can read the DIY instruction for IRON-ON SHIRTS here.

 Tie-Dye Shirts

Origami

Handmade Gift Tags

Sand Art

2.  CULINARY

Homemade Avocado Ice Cream

Click here to read more about making your own ice cream.

DIY Crepe Bar

DIY Pizza

Bake some CUPCAKES! Swirl or monogram your frosting.

Popsicle
Click here to read more about the different ways to enjoy summer fruits

3.  OUTDOORS

Ark Avilon Zoo

 

La Mesa Eco Park

Park

Camping:  Dad and Me Camp

 Read about their adventures on their first camping trip here; and the subsequent camp here.

 Gardening 

 

Picnic

 

Enjoy your Summer!

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Hong Kong: Tonkichi Tonkatsu

Arriving in Hong Kong from our 8AM flight, we got to Causeway Bay just in time for lunch. We immediately headed for Tonkichi Tonkatsu, a casual and reasonably priced restaurant that is just a stone’s throw away from our hotel. 

As the restaurant’s name hints at, Tonkatsu is the house specialty, and the menu comes with a short list of items on everything breaded and fried. 

Everyone is given sesame seeds arranged in a container with rigged sides, designed to crush the seeds.  Once they are pulverized, you can add the tonkatsu sauce. 

The kids and I are too hungry to be adventurous so we played safe and each one of us ordered the regular kind. The sidings of shredded cabbage can be refilled - with compliments.

Chris opted for the Curried version.

After tasting their version of tonkatsu, you will agree with me that from henceforth on there is tonkatsu - and then there is Tonkichi Tonkatsu:  crunchy batter on the outside, with thick (and I kid not when I say thick) and moist cutlets of tender pork on the inside. 

As if it is even possible to make this dining experience better than it already is, we found ourselves the lucky recipient of a $100 Tonkichi Tonkatsu gift certificate from a complete stranger who just happened to go into the restaurant looking for a table to give the expiring coupon to.  Lucky Us!

 

Tonkichi Tonkatsu Seafood 

Room 412, Podium 4

World Trade Centre

280 Gloucester Road

Causeway Bay

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Cars, Trains and Other Things That Go! {Getting Around Hong Kong}

My blog has moved.  Please read more post at the phenomenal mama.   I hope you follow me there to read NEW posts!

Traveling to any place always mean a LOT of walking.  If you are brave enough to bring your toddler and/or pre-schooler, may I suggest that you bring an extra BIG chunk of your humor, patience and forbearance as well.  

Before any trip, what I do is I impress upon my kids that traveling is for BIG kids who can walk on their own - because babies who need to be carried belong at home.  But I do remind myself to take small steps (keeping in mind that those little legs cannot keep up with mine) and I let them sit down for a break if we have been walking far too long.  So far, I have not succumbed to carrying any of my kids on any trip.  I warn you:  Once you give in, they won't stop asking.

Like the Philippines, Hong Kong is a collection of islands, an archipelago, divided into four main areas: Hong Kong Island; Kowloon and the New Territories (located on the peninsula attached to the China mainland); and the Outlying Islands.  Because of the geography, there is a plethora of transportation services available.

R, most especially, was fascinated by this.   For him it was like jumping into the pages of his favorite book on transportation…. ferries and junk boats that cross the harbor, escalators, moving sidewalks, cable cars that seem to hang on thin air, double-decker buses, trams and taxis.

excited na excited!

 1.  MTR

To take us to where we want to go, R always insists on taking Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway (MTR).  The underground network of trains is the fastest way to get around the territory.  Although taking the train is usually the fastest way to get there, it doesn’t allow you to view the busy streets and neon lights of HK. 

The MTR shown in the above photo is the one that goes all the way to Disneyland.

2.  Taxi

At the end of the busy day, with our worn-out feet and fatigued bodies, taking a cab is always a good option.  Since there are 5 of us, the maximum number of occupants allowed inside a cab, taking a taxi also proved to be the most economical choice.

3.  Open-Air Double Decker Bus

What better way to see all that Hong Kong has to offer than from the top of a big bus?

4.  Century-old Tram

This narrow double-decker city tram also known in Cantonese as "ding ding" travels at the speed of a snail so you can make sure to see all of the views that HK has to offer.  With a flat fare of only $2, it's the cheapest sightseeing tour around.  Best seats are on the  upper deck.

 

5.  Peak Tram

image credit

6.  Cable Car

image credit

The cable car at Ocean Park is always full of people queuing up, inspite of the newly introduced underground train at the park.  This is still the best way to travel between the lower level and the upper level. 

Although we did not find time to visit, Ngong Ping 360 also offers a scenic cable car ride, and if you pay a little more, you can ride one with a glass bottom.   

7.  Star Ferry

The Star Ferry is a Hong Kong institution, having been around since the 1800’s.  Back in the day, the star ferry was the major connection between Hong Kong island and the Kowloon Peninsula.  It is suggested to take a night time cruise to enjoy the sights during the Symphony of Lights laser show, but if you are squeezed for time, a day time trip is just as good.

Phenomenal Tip:

~ If you are anticipating to make several trips, you can purchase the octopus card which can be used on all of HK's public transport system.

~ Make sure to have a good number of coins in your wallet when you commute as buses and trams request for the exact amount - and change is not given.

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Hong Kong: Where to Stay

Since summer is officially here, I am sure a lot of you are planning on where to take your family.  This post is still about our Hong Kong Christmas vacation... yeah, I am posting it this late.  But fortuitously, it is still a relevant topic for those of you wanting to visit HK this summer.


Should you opt for a hotel location that is diligently full of activity even up to the deep hours of the night, then Causeway Bay is for you.  The streets are well-lighted from all the neon store signs that as you step out of your hotel door near midnight, it would appear as if it’s daytime if you don’t look up at the night sky.  The Filipinos’ most often choose to reside at the Excelsior Hotel or at the ParkLane Hotel.

Because of the size of my family, the rooms at Parklane are more appropriate for us.  Our room has a stunning view of the harbour and Victoria Park.  You can choose between a queen or twin sized bed.  They have complimentary coffee and tea making facilities and complimentary one distilled water daily.  I am a creature of habit, and I often clean up as I go along.  The housekeeper thanks me for it, and she says so by leaving 3-5 bottles of water each day. :)  haha!

 

I love it that the bathroom has a see-through wall, all the better to see what the kids are up to... you know, if they scrubbed their bodies thoroughly, or brushed their teeth enough.  No worries, the drapes can be drawn, should the need for privacy arise. :)

If you make a reservation at this hotel, make sure to request for a room with the park/harbor view so you are greeted each morning with a view of the lovely Victoria Park.

Parklane is conveniently located right in the middle of a busy shopping and commercial district.  There are a lot of eateries, cafes and bakeries around.  Wellcome (a local grocery) is right beside it.  

Breakfast is almost always in-room. I wake up half and hour early to prepare an assortment of bread. We have different preferences; I enjoy the slightly bitter taste and chewy rustic texture of multi-grain bread, while the kids enjoy their croissants with Bonne Maman jams; all brought the night before from La Rose Noir Boulangerie (they have an outlet inside Wellcome) or DONQ Boulangerie (with a shop at the basement of Sogo).  What can be better than eating breakfast in your pajamas! 

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Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner

Allow me to start this post with an apology for the posting tardiness...  hence, while everyone is brewing over the latest AFP corruption scandal and the aftermath of Reyes' suicide,  here I am recollecting my Christmas Eve dinner....

Similar to our past Christmases in Hong Kong, we again started the Christmas Eve merriment as we partake of the Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner.   Christmas hotel buffets are so popular in Hong Kong that they often sell out, we had to book and pay for our table in advance - one-month advanced! 

The set-up is similar to the open-plan food theaters that line-up our local hotel buffet outlets.  

alaskan king crabs... yum!

The atmosphere is festive, with Santa going around handing out gifts for all the children.  All the tables are bedecked with all sorts of merrymaking equipment needed to ensure that a good time is had by all.

While a buffet dinner is always GRAND, I do not appreciate that the hotel buffets in Hong Kong are grouped into two sets – the first set goes in from 6pm – 8pm, followed by the second set at 8pm-10pm.  Dinner is practically timed with military precision, with a waiter going around to graciously inform you “there is only 30 minutes left.” Having shared that, a Hong Kong style buffet dinner is not recommend if you are dining with three kids - who need assistance in the following areas: getting food, going to the toilet, breaking a fight.  

As you can imagine, it was a choice of either taking heed to the instructions of the waiter who was breathing down on me to "finish in 30 minutes" or attending to the kids.  Clearly, the decision to finish the legs of those  Alaskan King crabs is the top priority! :)

The buffet is priced at HK$325 for the adults and HK$125 for the kids. 

Cafe One

1/F Parklane Hotel

310 Gloucester Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong

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Hong Kong: Disneyland

My blog has moved.  Please read more post at the phenomenal mama.   I hope you follow me there to read NEW posts!

Yet another late but still relevant post for all of you out there still planning your trips this summer vacation.

Disneyland is indeed the “happiest place on earth” for my kids.  The park has plenty to keep my young kids occupied as most of the rides and attractions are seemingly designed for this age group.  For my children’s ages, a 2-day park visit is ideal at this time to ensure that the outing goes along at an enjoyable, leisurely pace.

For little girls, going inside any castle is always a dream....

The glittering Disney Holiday Parade always brings cheers.

Aren't the green little men just so delightfully creepy
For all the toy story fans out there, you will be happy to know that the park will open a Toy Story Land in 2011.  Among the additional rides include a Green Army Men-themed parachute drop, a Slinky Dog-themed caterpillar ride, and an RC Racer-themed shuttle coaster.  It is too bad that it is not ready yet during the time of our visit.  I am sure R would have loved that.

Sapce Mountain is top on the list for C and the 2 girls.  J, who can't seem to get enough of it, rode it twice and would have wanted to line-up for a third time if I didn't stop her.

I am not very adventurous, and I usually choose the "safe" (otherwise also known as "boring") rides.  
The Mad-Hatter Tea Cup looks like a safe and gentle ride...

... that is until you turn the wheel in the middle and it gets faster and wilder... "it turns into the wackiest tea party this side of the rabbit hole."

Dumbo (at Fantasyland) and  the Orbitron (at Tomorrowland) are rides that make the kids feel as if they are flying in the sky- without the face-pulling speed of Space Mountain are also perfect for me.

It's a Small World is a slow sail in an imaginative journey through the different cultures around the world.  Needless to say, I found it very comforting. 

For older kids, Ocean Park might offer more alternatives, as aside from Space Mountain, there are no other rides that can possibly gratify a teenagers’ need for thrill.  But the one area in which HK Disney beats Ocean Park is in dining.  The dining options at Disney is more varied and the dining accomodation are more comfortable.  Our personal favorite is the gothic-styled Royal Banquet Hall located at Fantasyland.  This fast-food style outlet has four food stations: The Kettle kitchen offers curries, satays and stews; the Steam kitchen serves dim sum and other Chinese dishes; the Grill kitchen that serves the typical American food such as steaks and sausage; and the Tempura kitchen serves sushi, tempura, and other Japanese fare.  The food that is consistently good and comes with an affordable bill. 

Insert pics

Aside from the Disney Parade, be sure to catch the 8PM Fireworks Display by Cinderella’s castle. It’s amazing to watch colorful fireworks light up the sky accompanied by Disney’s well-loved songs. 

Staying at one of the Disney hotels is highly recommended.  When I first brought my kids to HK Disneland, we were billeted at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.  The  Victorian styled hotel is the premier hotel in the resort.  My kids enjoyed the breakfast with the full cast of Disney characters on call.  This time around, we chose to stay at the Disney Hollywood Hotel.  Although the rooms seem to run a bit smaller, the amenities are pretty much still the same Disney standard. 

As you can see from the photos that follow, there is nothing to complain about...

Phenomenal Tip:
~ There are three attractions where you can use FASTPASS:   Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters,  The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,  Space Mountain. The queues for these attractions are generally longer, so what you can do to use your time wisely is to can insert your admission ticket into Disney’s FASTPASS stations to get your FASTPASS ticket, go ride another attraction, return during your given time and join the much shorter FASTPASS queue.
~ You are only allowed to bring a personal-size bottle of water inside the park.  Do not even bother to sneak in snacks, they check. 
~ If you want to get a good view of the fireworks,plant yourself at the benches in front of the castle at least 30 minutes before the scheduled firework activity.

There are new things coming up for this blog. And in preparation for the exciting times ahead, the blog will be moving to a new home!  While I will still be writing about our phenomenal life, it will now have a new name. 

From now on, I will be doing all of my posting at The Phenomenal Mama

I hope you could all bookmark the new site and follow me there!

I will still be keeping this blog open so you can read all of my old posts.  But you won't miss a thing with the new blog as it will have all of the old posts, as well. 

* * * * *

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