Saturday 30th September

Architecture walk

Lunch at Maxim's central.

Walk up Pottinger street.

Friday 29th September

slept in

Kathy moon cake – bing pei refrigerated type with modern fillings eg.
tiramisu, mango, chestnut

Wanchai computer centre? Smoke? reaction from bun. Clothes shopping.

Dinner at Café de Coral, with Banana Split. P walked home wanted to show
Abi Victoria park displays but she fell asleep at causeway bay.

Chris night out at computer place 298 Hennessey

Thursday 28th September

Thursday 28^th September

PP doctor, chris & abi at library

Justco

lunch at Pho Saigon, gauntlet of spruikers

Mongkok shopping, ladies market

Kathy dinner (not). Dinner at Macau restaurant Fishermans walk

Symphony lights at TST

home via wrong exit

Wednesday 27th September

Yes Abi still eats Petit Miam yoghurt – Priscilla found out at midnight when her highness started crying for food. Seems like Abi doesn’t like food that is oversweetened – maybe that’s why she doesn’t like the bread from Maxim’s or Saint Honore (but is ok with the western style bread from the supermarket – “garden” brand)

Today is museum day. Wednesday is the day when museums are free, so naturally chris wants to visit the most expensive ones first – the science, then history, then space museums in Kowloon side. A late start (they don’t open till 1pm), so lunch is in Kowloon park where Abi goes hyper looking at the fountains. Chris lies down on a bench gazing at the bamboo fronds above when a wizened guard tells him in Cantonese to get up (“jo sarn”). Despite Chris’ protest that he wasn’t asleep the guard insists he sits up, so he does. That’s when he notices that all the other sleepyheads are nodding off sitting up.

Sadly they have drained the fish/turtle pond for some displays for the mid-autumn festival, so abi doesn’t get a chance to try catch fish. She’s a bit tired (that’s why she’s manic) so naps in the stroller till we reach the science museum. Since this place is interactive, we visit the history museum, and in particular, the “Story of Hong Kong” exhibit instead. We see the geologic history display (lots of granite) and the prehistoric (paleolithic) display when hordes of screaming noisy %(&^*&%&(Y students pour in. So much for the signs saying no eating, no smoking, no noise.

Abi wakes up (due to the noise and running students) in the geography section (display of trees and animals of HK), and admires the black bear, the snake, the tiger (!) etc. We then visit the “ethnic” display – the Hoklo, Tanka, Puntei and Hakka. They have a full size clan hall and a full size Hakka house inside. The Cheung Chau “Bun Festival” display is amazing, with 3 x 2 storied high towers covered in buns.

Finally we see the opium war/colonial period, Japanese occupation and then rush through the modern/handover period displays.

No time to see the Science museum, as we are tired and sore, so quick (!) trip home and Chris forages for dinner for his family via the local “Wellcome” supermarket.

Tuesday 26th September

Trip to one of the outlying islands today cos it’s a lovely sunny day. MTR to HK station – a long walk via travelators from Central MTR. Good thing Chris had Abi in the backpack cos it allowed us to walk quite quickly through the ends of the morning work crowds. No signs for the ferry pier (no.4) until the final escalator at the IFC Mall. Chris is good at navigation thank heavens. Rushed to make the 10am catamaran to Lamma Island. Lots of ferries docked but they didn’t stay to pick us up. Our ferry actually loaded lots of groceries as well as 3 dogs out for a walk with their owners. Abi was sauntering up and down the waiting area along the tactile indicators.

Quite a bouncy sea as we sailed around the NW tip of HK island past Kennedy Town. The haze was getting thicker as we ploughed through the shipping traffic. Islands are lovely and green, some rocky bits, some squatter huts. Abi jumped around the catamaran and gave her parents palpitations as her head approached metal bits. Sok Kwu Wan is a small village with lots of fish farms along the approach to the jetty, and a cement works on the opposite shore. Small dinghies and fishing boats are their main form of transport between towns (no cars, just tractor-trucks that share the narrow paths with pedestrians at breakneck speed). Main street was quite deserted as we walked through the line of open air seafood restaurants with their glass tanks and the supermarket shops. Slathered sunscreen on everyone cos it is really hot now. Abi didn’t mind being in the pack once Chris started walking. Soon she was asleep!! Started at a Tin Hau Temple that had a massive concrete plaza in front – yukky and hot. But then we came across lots of nice shady parts on the walk around the bay. It got steeper as we headed up the hillside: concrete paths hard on the feet. Arriving at a pavilion overlooking Sok Kwu Wan we had a lovely view to HK (tried to crop out the cement plant) and enjoyed the sea breeze with 6 women chatting away. The usual comments about cute Abi in the backpack. She woke and managed to enjoy the vista before we headed up and up the hillside. Biscuits – the start of a day of snacking. Good thing we bought some towels in anticipation of swimming, cos they covered Abi’s exposed legs nicely until she decided she needed some snuggling cloths. Had to use my trusty umbrella instead to shade her delicate skin. Chris keeps on ploughing ahead the baby backpack must be very hot to wear.

Took the next detour to a pavilion overlooking Hung Shing Yeh Beach – lovely except for the enormous power station across the bay. About a dozen container ships in the sea. Beach below is quite shallow due to the granite rock substrata, but appears clean. Haze is so thick that we can just make out Cheung Chau Island towards the horizon and the outline of Lantau Island beyond that barely registered. Vegetation is dense some acacia plants. The power company sponsored the pavilion that we stopped at! Great view hey. Abi seemed hungry so we stopped for her lunch but she only dabbled at the cheese spread and kept eating animal crackers only.

The walk around this bay was hot, had no vegetation shelter at all and was on the west side of the mountain – only mad tourists walked here under the midday sun. An enterprising local had set up a cold drinks stall under 2 umbrellas at the end of this stretch. The path continued to wind around and down and up and down. Some rocks had been painted in tiger stripes – to warn that they were dangerous? The path had no real shelter until we approached a village before the destination town of Yung Shue Wan. The main road/path passed very close to the houses/villas, market garden land, and banana plantations. Every now and then there would be a cold drinks vending machine – going rate $HK6 for a can / tetra pack and with sheltered seats and tables nearby. Imagine the weekend crowds filling these areas. I’m so glad Chris is carrying Abi cos my hip muscles are aching from pushing myself up the hills.

Finally, the strings of shops joined up and we had reached Yung Shue Wan. Crazy tractor truck drivers and cyclists would just zoom past without bells or any notification as we walked along the narrow path. Some locals were covered up against the sun, tourists sometimes had umbrellas. Suddenly very hungry. Resisted the urge for an ice cream cos Chris is terrified of food poisoning. Stopped by a café with western style food as opposed to the obligatory seafood (less food poisoning risk?). Spruiker quickly switched to English for us and we decided the prices were reasonable). Sat out the back facing the bay and ferry jetty. Quite pretty with villas stretching up the hillside in a typical Mediterranean style. Lots of curved metal framed awning structures on top of the villa terraces. Then there would be a squatter shack amongst the thick banana trees and vines.

There was a 1 metre wide sandy beach in front of the sea wall under the café eating areas. Some guy was net fishing on the beachlet guided by his friend on the sea wall. We wondered about next door’s café which was crowded and ours which had just us. Never mind, at least the service was quick. Abi tried the rice vermicelli noodles from Priscilla’s beef satay soup and also the mediocre chips from Chris’ fish and chips. We all enjoyed the ice cold drinks as we watched little fishing boats and the locals dashing about with flags waving all along the distant jetty.

Walked to the ferry jetty with a stopover at a rest park so Abi could walk a bit after sitting all day. She wanted to climb on the timber seating, then was transfixed by the lapping water on the stony beach below. Managed to steer her past the line of seafood restaurants with huge covered outdoor eating areas. Scampi were huge prawn things, lots of large colourful fish and crabs and lobsters and stonefish. Saw pans of salted fish tied to the side of the balustrade drying in the sun. Lots of bicycles chained up along the jetty – commuters to Hong Kong probably. One baby stroller, one bike with rattan child seat at front!

The air-conditioned ferry to Aberdeen has quite a lot of people on it compared with the morning ferry from Central. Abi was temporarily calmed by the Spider book but otherwise wanted to be everywhere on the ferry at once. Picked up some westerners at the tip of Lamma Island (Pak Kok San Tsuen?) including a topless man with man-boobs bigger than some women’s. Luckily he put on a shirt once he was on board. Uggh! Tickets are sold on board instead of the octopus system for this remote stop. Abi managed to elicit a smile from the gruff ferry man, and then she beamed back at him as he sold ferry tickets.

On approach from the sea, Aberdeen has a line of high rise like the rest of HK. The harbour was crowded with old style timber fishing boats and manufacturing boats etc. Some crazy people were trying to fish in a dingy amongst the traffic. Couldn’t see the Jumbo Restaurants cos they were in the next harbour (the shuttle boats were in this harbour). Disembarked and walked to the bus terminal for the no.38 back to Fortress Hill. Quite a fast trip through the Aberdeen tunnel back to familiar HK and Causeway Bay. Abi wriggled throughout on the front top seat while eating biscuits in contravention of the no eating rule.

Bought some buns before staggering up to the apartment – my feet hurt! Abi doesn’t like sweetened bread. We hit the house and she immediately launched into play doh stamping and megabloks. Where does her energy come from? Only ate some ya pear and biscuits for afternoon tea. Tried dinner at Maxims – usual mess of rice etc. She didn’t like Priscilla’s very salty chicken wings but enjoyed the fungus soup as part of the meal set.

Walked home via the Seven Seas shopping arcade – finally seeing the inside after walking past the car park at the front for so many times! Interesting small boutiques – hmmm!

Chris isn’t too tired after carrying Abi all day plus the supplies backpack for part of the day. He is off to the library after dinner to get a copy of some map for more hikes. Oh boy. Also bought some Petit Miam baby yoghurt and fromage frais imported from Oz. $HK30 for 4 petit miam vs $HK10 for 2 local sugar sweetened plain yoghurts. Hope Abi eats these.

Monday 25th September

Played with play doh for a long time. The lump that we brought from Sydney is getting dirty and dry. Abi started to press macaroni into the slabs yesterday, and today we tried out the new cutting tools bought yesterday

Had to line up at the Central library to wait for it to open, so we could play in the Toy Library. Some boys noticed Abi’s bruises and giggled at her but she didn’t mind – she was equally fascinated by their buzz cuts. Couldn’t believe that people lining up for the library actually ran to the elevators once the library opened. That’s why the guards/crowd control are there. As well, no one told me that once inside the Toy Library session you had to then request one of the hundreds of toys in their 6 catalogues so that your child could play with something other than the standard food and kitchen and playhouse stuff. Felt inadequate as all parents and maids around launched into their dolls houses or train sets, and they told Abi not to touch their borrowed items. Managed to get a Lego train set that Abi was mildly interested in. She liked the mailbox toy, and also tried to touch someone’s dolls house and Thomas train set. (Construction and Pretend Play categories)

Lunch at Delifrance – thought Abi could/would eat a cheese and hame baguette but instead she complained it was chilli (lat lat) then promptly broke out in allergy rash on her wrists and around her mouth. Poor thing was hungry and itchy, but was happy to chase the sparrows and to pick up tiny pebbles from under the tree grilles (then stuck them into the drainage grilles). Walked around the nicely landscaped library forecourt with its water features, then a sculpture area, then headed home. Abi fell asleep so we stopped off at the local Tin Hau temple for a squiz.

Took Abi into the apartment and left her sleeping in her stroller while Priscilla attempted to get a nap. Suddenly Abi wok up and protested strongly that she was being taken out of the stroller, and that she was back in the apartment!! Chris took Abi and the stroller for a walk to North Point while Priscilla got some desperately needed zzz,s. Around 3:30pm Priscilla got her act together and made her way to join her family at Island Place shopping centre. Was distracted by some clothes and shoe shops. Finally met Chris and Abi at Toonsland where Elmo/Pooh clothes and merchandise were on sale. Good thing Priscilla brought spare change of clothes cos Abi was wet from afternoon tea. Bought stuff and Abi wanted to rifle through all the lovely stuff dangling from hooks etc.

Went shoe shopping and Abi was happy to bop to the music and climb over the seats etc. A bit manic. Nearly bought some really cute Tevas for her (size 5) and she really enjoyed trying them on, but at the last minute Chris noticed a rash had formed on her feet under the straps so decided against spending $HK155. Abi was happy to leave the shoes behind.

Early dinner before 6pm (afternoon tea set special price) at a Japanese version of Café de Coral (Yokashimata). Abi was hungry but understood we were waiting for papa to buy our food. She gobbled down teriyaki flavoured rice, then a few bits of chicken and carrot. The shop girls thought Abi was cute and one gave her a pen with floaty bits inside. She loved it and played with it all the way home. So tired but waited until Chris returned from his unsuccessful search for Petit Miam baby yogurt. She wanted her papa to put her to bed. Aaaah.

Chris managed to get a map of all the HK walking trails from the Map Shop, and researched walks happily all evening on the internet.

Sunday 24th September

Good thing we declined Auntie Cecilia’s invitation to lunch at Repulse Bay today – it’s rainy and overcast.

Decided to make some soy sauce chicken wings and pumpkin soup for Abi since she doesn’t seem to eat much of what we offer.

Abi slept for 3 hours from 1-4pm and was refreshed. To Causeway Bay by tram for the sake of an outing – it’s packed cos its Sunday night and all the maids are having their day off. Some shopping (expensive stuff here) so snucked into the Justco (cheapy $10 shop) to buy some toys for Abi (nice clay cutting set).

Abi enjoys the neon signs and commotion of traffic along the Causeway Bay Streets – didn’t want to turn into any street or driveway without the excitement elements. Noticed external elevators and pointed them out saying “up”.

Ate dinner at a nice noodle eatery instead of Maxim/Café de Coral. Abi was hungry and had demolished some soft pizza bread and milk before we fed her rice noodle (from stir fried beef dish bit salty). She was impressed by the performance of the minor cooks. Charmed all with her smile and bruise which has transferred to between her eyes so she now looks somewhere between a Klingon and a heavy metal chick.

Walked home via Victoria Park – so many maids sitting on the pavement chatting, selling clothes, etc. Saw the mid-autumn festival display in Victoria Park being set up – steel framed fabric constructions – should look great this Friday.

Around 9pm there was a great commotion from flat 20A above us. We heard a man and a woman shouting, and the banging of something on their floor. The people in the flat in the adjacent building flat crowded around their balcony for a ringside view of the fight. Chris called Auntie Cecilia to ask if he should call the cops. Instead she gave us the phone no. of the security people and Priscilla called to ask them to investigate. It seemed that no-one else in the block had called despite the noise having gone on for about 15 minutes. Soon after we called the noise stopped when security arrived.

Saturday 23 September

Cool change overnight – had to close the windows about 3:30am and put another sheet on Abi. Beautiful clear day – decide to head to the Peak. Bus 23 takes forever to arrive, then to get to Peak Tram Station. Luckily we made it there by 9:10 am – a crowd quickly builds up behind us as we wait on the tram platform. The new tram cars are lovely with clear section of roof for better appreciation of the scenery. Group of German tourists floods the 2 car tram. Abi is tense going up the incline. Shiny new Peak building with annoying touts from souvenir shops lining the 5 levels of escalators leading to the observation deck. Windy and very glary. Abi loves the freedom, walks and goes up/down steps with mum in tow. Tries to duck under the barriers blocking the unfinished areas. Nice glass balustrades mean that she can enjoy the scenic view to HK but wonder if she took it in.

Taxi back to the flat, quick morning tea then Uncle Kwong, Auntie Cecilia, Mr Yip and Driver Mr Au waiting for us on the parking podium. Abi sits on booster seat from North Point to Mei Foo where Kyson swaps this for a proper baby car seat like in Australia. She was asleep protested a bit then once Chris picked her up she resumed sleeping on his shoulder.

Drive to Sheung Shui via tunnels and highways lined with Country Parks and hills. Very scenic. Stop over at Fanling to see the wishing trees – what a letdown. Boards sorted by astrological sign replace the traditional way wishes were left at the trees – by tying them to 2 oranges and throwing them into the branches. Large tree was nearly killed by the extra weight and locals surprisingly stopped this practice while their golden goose could be rehabilitated. Pretty humid now unlike the morning coolness. Glad to get back into the air conditioned van where Abi just woke up.

At last we are at Sheung Shui – now the driver has to follow Auntie Cecilia’s instructions (!) to reach the Jockey Club – he just seems to miss the signs each time that they appear and has to brake and reverse. The grounds are near a golf club, quite elegant and nicely maintained vegetation around the driveway. We know we’re in the right place when we reach the car park filled with luxury cars.

Abi is woken in the middle of her sleep cycle to enter the clubhouse. She is well behaved and cries only a little bit. Fascinated by the surroundings – and more people to charm. Strange how in a lovely arcadian setting Uncle Kwong and Auntie Cecilia chose to have a table in the back of the restaurant the furthest away from the windows. Banquet seats with some chairs and Abi’s upholstered high chair. She is amused by the surroundings and explores prior to our meal. Too much choice on the a la carte menu (no buffet for lunch). Decide on a set menu 3 courses for $HK175 (single main of US steak / Aussie wagyu $148)

Return via the scenic route, via Sai Kung resort town, scenery on the trip quite nice as we pass Tolo harbour and the nature reserve. We walk to the end of the pier to admire the islands and watch the fishermen prepare their fish. On the trip back pass the HK university of science and technology (Priscilla’s dad worked there when it was the HK Institute of science and technology - she remembers some of the buildings). We end up going back via the “Western harbour crossing” so we can truly say that we have been in all the cross harbour tunnels now!!!

Friday 22 September

Visit Australian International School HK in Kowloon Tong. A long trip on the MTR but Abi is amused by other travellers and vice versa. Flirts with one man who relents and smiles at her. Then an older lady sitting between Chris and Priscilla suddenly reaches into her shopping bag and gives Abi a foil wrapped cream bun cake! 2 changes of MTR later and we are at Festival Walk, the big shopping centre around the corner from AISHK. Abi falls asleep in the air conditioning and Chris decides that Priscilla needs his help getting kid and stroller to the school (she doesn’t read maps well).

Easiest method was to look for ozzie accented Caucasian parents to follow. Bunch of locals loitering under a tree near the entry steps to AISHK – no disability access here. Security guard doesn’t even know where the auditorium is – maybe Chris’ Aussie accent is hard to understand? [but this IS an AUSSIE school!] Phone Kathy and she comes to get us visitor passes. Chris feels obliged to go inside. Nice breezeway connecting the 5 stories of classrooms and external corridors.
Timothy is singing with the Year 4s and Alicia is in the audience for their assembly. Same type of skits as per Chinese School ie. only interesting to parents and boring/embarrassing for others. Presentation includes a Year 3 boy who used his lifesaving training to rescue a baby straying into the hydrotherapy part of the pool. Cringy school song. Abi woke up halfway through the assembly and cried. Chris and then Priscilla walked with her outside until she calmed down (biscuit). End of assembly and kids go to their classrooms where lunch (junk food mainly) was tabled and shared. Abi didn’t want the cheese or boring old biscuits, she was interested in the French fries and cupcakes with shiny sugar balls. Later tried a frankfurt and banana. Left a mess for the poor cleaner. Teacher comments to us that he will have to cope with sugar overloaded manic kids that afternoon.
Watched the senior primary kids play touch footy (girls and boys separately) in the steamy lunchtime. Watch Alicia’s team while Mark bellows at her (she doesn’t hear him, the noise level is incredible). Abi wanted to join in the ball games and walked down 1.5 flights of stairs before demanding mum carry her. Left the rough playground under protest – why won’t you let me join in the ball games?

Since AISHK works on the Australian/NSW schedule, they finish at 3/3:30pm so we decide to go to the shopping centre for coffee. Apparently unlike other expats, aussies love their cars and cause a local traffic jam when school finishes, so many of the parents just go shopping between now and pick up time.

Walked to shopping centre with Kathy and Mark to chat and enjoy coffee/snacks in the “Pacific coffee company” lounge (it has with internet access, expensive coffees, a reading room and padded lounges). Tried a cheese bacon croissant and green tea red bean muffin (not as nice!). Abi loved it there, flirting with people and bouncing all over the sofas. Decided to sort out the big chess pieces by colour, then touched the merchandise ceramic mugs etc giving her mother a heart attack. On the way back from the nappy change room Abi was fascinated by the beads and shiny baubles in a boutique. Left Kathy and Mark and walked through a sports store before going to the MTR. This shopping centre is massive, with really nice atria varying in shape and skewy escalators and lots of natural light. There’s even an ice rink with 3 levels of shops/food hall adjacent. Abi fell asleep as soon as we started for the MTR – poor thing must be exhausted.

Dinner at MX again – spaghetti Bolognese not a good idea – confirmed Abi has intolerance to tomato or whatever additive in the meat sauce. Severe rash around mouth, chin and lower arms (eating with her hands of course). She didn’t think much of the 3 kinds of rice in Chris’ healthy chicken meal (red, brown and white). Walked through North Point Electric Road then Kings Road looking for silicone ear plugs and calamine lotion. Abi decides she does then doesn’t want to walk along the street holding parents’ hands. Getting bolder as she touches more and more in successive shops. Decide that she is over tired and head home. Too many bright lights indeed.

Thursday 21st September

Today we planned to go to Yuen Long to try the Ping Shan heritage trail. Instead, Abi has a fall which results in a large egg bruise on her forehead.

Big drama puts detour to plans for hike with backpack Abi. Taxi to St Paul’s hospital outpatient’s dept (every guard we met on the way out suggested we rub her bruise with egg). Chris is paranoid about checking out the travel insurance and hospitals, turns out the consultation plus Hirudoid ointment only cost HK$160. They were pretty quick to get a paediatrician to see Abi – no vomiting or lethargy is good: probably no concussion. Abi gets excited looking at the pathetic koi fishpond on the way out of St Pauls – she must be okay. Walk to Causeway Bay to change booking at HKTA, discover MTR exit A is not connected to the other exits B-F except via the platform! Walk through a lane behind Times Square what a contrast with the construction companies and scungy cafes to Times Square shiny and new. Finally lunch at Café de Coral (again) in Times Square. Abi is hungry and hyper from tiredness. Walk around CitySuper with its curved escalators. Walk back home via lanes with women’s clothes and trinkets. Very interesting and Abi walks every now and then when she sees something worth fiddling with. Pass the Central Library and decide to book Abi in to the Toy Library Room. She sees all the school kids ~5yrs old playing there and wants to go in too. Can’t understand she hasn’t been booked in (this is HK after all)

Went through the library shop – was happy to let Abi explore the goods but realised that the shop keepers may not have the same approach as a parent towards little child fingering the goods on sale. Leave after a terse comment from the sales assistant.

Kids book area is great, full of colourful books and kiddy size tables/chairs, some reading carrels. The 5yr old kids there are so well behaved they group and leave without fuss when their teacher signals and says something softly to them. One second we see yellow shirted kids studiously reading their books, some mysterious coordination happens and suddenly green shirts replace them in a blink of an eye. Abi goes mad going through the CD collection, then tries to listen to a few CDs on the headphones. Decide she is very tired and have to leave via the glass fronted elevator. Stop by the Delifrance Bistro for morale boosting afternoon tea. Nice terrace. Abi charms all and leaves a trail of croissant crumbs for them to clean. Falls asleep during the 15min walk home.

Eat dinner at home – Abi not happy and wants to go out! Distract her by setting the table on the balcony so she can see the sky and eagles.

Wednesday 20th September

Abi is shitty today (probably really tired) and Chris wants to strangle her. Chris is incredibly bored so he went to the Museum of Coastal Defense once Abi went down for her nap. Priscilla tried to type up some of the DA report for lilyfield. Guys in the next building are still renovating – now that they have jack hammered out all the tiles they are installing new windows (white instead of the existing mission brown) and air con. The traffic sound from Kings Road drives up in bursts through the concrete canyon, sometimes very loud, others a reassuring background bell from the tram. Lovely breeze wafting in through Abi’s window as she sleeps. She is a ball of sweat waking or sleeping. Small insects are finding her quite delectable.

Chris arrived back from the museum at 5pm after getting the laundry – he is feeling a bit ill from an icecream he bought from the 7-11 in Shau kei Wan. Abi is really happy and playing with the foam fish. We go to early dinner at the Maxim’s, where Abi eats half of dad’s dinner (rice + char shui) – amazing & we took photos. Afterwards a walk thru north point where we confirm that abi has a food sensitivity to coconut (from eating some buns).

Tuesday 19th September

Went shopping & laundry bag wash instead of doing anything useful. Bus (2A) to Wanchai Star ferry terminus to TST, lunch at Japanese place (near Café de Coral) @ star house), thence Ocean terminal. Toy’s R Us (returned megabloks bus, exchanged for stroller umbrella (HK59) & megablocks girls set – pink and orange). Bought clothes and toys for abi/Marcus/etc. ItsIMagical store attendant played with Abi (man was creepy, but lady nice and kept pushing lolly pop onto Abi). All stores Expensive. Chris desperate for coffee. Got 4 mini croissants from bakery and Abi demolished them in the stroller on the way to the MTR.

Dinner with Gu Ma, Gu Jerng, Benjamin, Alice & Dad. Strange pseudo-western food which is really Cantonese food served with cutlery at the Tai Ping Koon restaurant in Causeway Bay. Had pigeon and their “famous” Swiss chicken wings (just really sweet soy chicken wings). Pretty weird stuff. Abi mucked about a lot and entertained despite being overtired. She ate one chicken wing tip and chewed the ligaments until she didn’t know how to spit it out so that she could attack the main wing skin only. Dessert was an incredibly eggy soufflé that Chris valiantly ate. Benjamin drove us home in his new Honda Odyssey. Gave Dad some Abi photos for her fans in Sydney.

Monday 18th September

Abi woke without crying this morning, and not starving hungry as one would have expected after not eating much last night and having had so much excitement in the ball room. It being a very comfortable sunny / hazy morning we decided to make an excursion to HK Park to see the walk through aviary. It’s taking us less time to leave the house now, but Abi is so patient as she hears “let’s go out” then an hour later we actually leave with our bags of supplies.

Caught the No.23 bus from under the overpass. Managed to get a window seat so that Abi could watch the passing traffic and buildings, which she did for a while then decided that the video monitor in front of our seat was much more interesting cos it showed muppet type characters. She kept on saying “elmo” and held on to the grabrail until it was time to disembark.

The Bird Park is behind the main financial / law area of HK. It’s at the side of the expressway and offers an interesting view of nature contrasted with shiny skyscrapers. There were cascading water feature which first caught our attention, and Abi wanted to walk up the steps to touch the water. Then at the top she was distracted by the koi and terrapin pond, calling out “yu yu” (fish) excitedly as she toddled between rocks for a better view. There were lotus flowers in the pond with perfectly circular leaves turned up at the edges. Then she saw the waterfall in the distance and walked quickly there. it was steamy and sunny, good thing we applied sunscreen to her cos she wouldn’t wear a hat (too hot). We distracted Abi from the waterfall and made our way to the outside of the conservatory. There were triangular spots of light from the rooflights above which Abi seemed to find fascinating – she ran between them calling “triangle”. People smiled as they walked past.

We made our way to the open aviary, walking through 3 sets of vertical chain mozzie doors before entering the netted enclosure via an elevated timber walkway. Abi was more interested in the chains than the birdies. Eventually she saw a bird and called out “birdie”. After a while the well camouflaged feathers became too difficult to see and she wanted to look down at the tropical leaves and stuff. There were signs warning against touching any birds or bird poo, and we seemed to find interesting viewpoints just where the birds had made a deposit on the handrail. Some of the birds were all white, some bright green like Australian parrots. Most were brown, ochre or blue. Occasionally some would fly past close to our heads that you could hear their wings. The guard warned us to put our umbrella away (very sunny and hot) cos birds might fly into it. Abi protested cos she wanted to hold the umbrella and was bored, but as soon as the guard spoke to her she stopped whining.

We soon make our way out of the aviary enclosure cos Abi was getting hungry. Unfortunately the next stop on the path was the kiddie play area. Guess what Abi wanted to do? That’s right she played on the slides and stuff and even made friends with an expat child with his mother there. After about 20 minutes we distracted her with a drink from the water fountain nearby, then a sandwich box was pulled out and we said “sik sik” (eat eat). She rushed on over. We sat in the shade as Abi inspected the sandwich, pulled it apart and discarded the cheese contents and proceeded to eat
the plain white bread triangle, offering one each to papa and mummy.

Lunch was finished off with an apple which Abi held and nibbled with gusto and persistence. Quite possibly she was still hungry. Anyway she didn’t protest getting into the stroller as the adults contemplated the long walk to Pacific Place for lunch. It was the nearest shopping centre there and we followed the stream of office workers from nearby buildings as they snaked across the HK Park and its water features to yet another set of escalators leading down to Pacific Place. We kept on seeing people holding bags of lunch purchases and it made us determined to get there. Felt so touristy but who cares.

Down 3 escalators to get into Pacific Place – suddenly realised that Abi had fallen asleep holding her half eaten apple! Regretted the stroller not being able to recline cos her head kept on rolling around, so finally tilted her back for a better sleeping position (not so good for the pusher’s back though). Didn’t like the look of Pacific Place Eating Hall – like DJ’s food hall with the trendy packaging for pre-packaged food plus there were eateries and a woman pushing mooncake sales. Lots of baguettes etc for the expat heavy crowd.

Decided to follow the stream of workers walking across to Queensway Plaza – surely there must be food places amongst the glam fashion shops here? Sorry the only place remotely food like is the Park n Shop (supermarket). Nothing else here except fashion, cosmetics, jewellery, and lifts to commercial offices. OK, lets check out the park n shop. Hey, it’s got grilled sandwiches and freshly made chinese pancakes! So that’s why so may people are pouring through the joint! Cost of teriyaki chicken panini HK$29 was okay. At last we sat on one of the few public benches available and ate while balancing Abi still sleeping and tilted back. Saw some other parents with kids in strollers - we seemed so incongruous amongst the black suits walking through this 1980s shiny glam sterile surroundings.

Made our way to the Admiralty MTR via old ladies trying to sell raffle tickets at the bottom of the escalators and entrance to MTR. During our train trip Abi woke up and seemed not too fussed to be where she was. Decided to get off at North Point instead of our usual Fortress Hill so that we could pick up some shirts and sandals for Chris which he had scouted out yesterday. Gee the lift locations in the MTRs are really tucked away, you’d never find them except for the line of tactile ground surface indicator tiles leading they way. 2 lift rides later we were at the surface – quite unusual cos normally there is a flight of steps leading to the street level.

Bought 4 shirts for Chris at Crocodile, Abi charmed the sales lady while she showed Chris the different colours etc. When it came time to pay, Abi insisted on holding one of the shirts, and wouldn’t let them remove the anti-theft thing until we showed her how all the shirts had to have that procedure done. Reluctantly she let go, then promptly forgot about it once the shirts were put into the plastic bag. She refused the sales lady’s offer of a smaller but empty shopping bag.

Next stop the sports shoe shop (only men’s sporting gear on sale). Between nibbles of animal crackers (“biscuit”) Abi walked and checked out the shoes on display. As Chris took of his shoe to try on some sports sandals, Abi indicated that she wanted to take one shoe off also and promptly put her foot into one of the sandals left on the floor. She acknowledged that it was funny as we laughed. Even the sales staff smiled. Pretty good price for Nikko sports thongs.

Then a bad precedence: gave in to Abi’s whining in a bookshop by buying her a Pooh bear toy so that we could leave. We had spent a good half hour browsing through the kids section and she was very good staying in the stroller all that time while we showed her some books. But none were suitable or that I could read in Chinese. So the toy was my guilt being expressed.

We finally made our way back to the apartment. Abi immediately started to play with the Megabloks bus. But she was whiny so carrot was peeled and cut alongside her playing. Must have been really hungry cos she tried to eat the raw carrot stick. Made 2 minute noodles plus carrots and last night’s corn and peas and chicken drumstick. Not interested in anything except the noodles and carrots and cheese slice and some peas. Had to wash her straight afterwards cos there was noodle everywhere. And it was only 5pm. Let Abi play with the new bath toy – fishing for bath foam stickers. Couldn’t get used to the fishing bit (too much co-ordination) but the sticker part was a hit. Then Abi got progressively frustrated as she tried to stick the bits of foam on curved parts of the bath and they kept falling off. Put the stickers onto ceramic wall tile to show her how they stuck, then she imitated straightaway. After we dressed Abi gathered up the foam stickers and took them into the living room where she got VERY frustrated trying to stick them to the painted wall! had to explain to her that the foam stickers were only for playing in the bathroom, just like the toy fish and bucket. Amazingly she accepted this.


Decided to get photo prints then some dinner at MX (Maxim’s), and to take Abi along!! She was yawning as we surveyed the dusk view over the balcony, but quickly moved to the front door once we said let’s go out. She was fascinated by the sheer brightness of the shops and tall buildings in night mode. Wouldn’t let me take her into the restaurant until she had taken a good long look up at the lights. Ordered a steam fish dinner set which had a 200mm long mandarin fish with bowl of rice, medicinal tasting soup, blanched lettuce and tea. All for $HK38 which is about AUD$6. Abi was keen to try the rice, but recoiled once she found it was “hot hot”. After cooling some rice in a separate bowl we were pleasantly surprised that she ate spoonfuls of it. She pointed to each of our rice in turn and said “papa, abi, mama”. We felt so pleased that this could be a turning point in her rice appreciation. The distraction of the growing throng of diners and the view of traffic out the window could have played a part.

After unsuccessfully trying some yogurt back at home, it was bedtime for Abi. She quietly let us change her nappy and clothes, then only got halfway through the bedtime story before closing the book and heading for the bed. A short while later Chris emerged from the silent room. He rewarded himself with a night time jaunt around North Point (took a tram ride to the terminus how exciting – not).

How will we cope with Abi once we return to our sleepy lifestyle in Lilyfield? Will we have to contend with 8-9pm bedtimes and a 1 hour daytime nap? Will we be able to provide enough stimulation for Abi to come close to the HK excitement (not that she will be able to take so much excitement everyday, but still,,,) Does this mean that we can eat out for dinners more often and bring Abi with us? Time will tell.

Sunday 17th September

Walked through the fish market
Abi ate McDonalds French fries for the first time and loved them
Lunch (buffet) at Metropole Hotel with Gwoo Ma Gwoo Jeung – Abi was due for a sleep but played the star rather hyperactively on the banquette seats to the amusement of the oldies. Got a severe food intolerance rash around her mouth and jaw and right hand, quite itchy. Tried to cool it by dabbing with damp serviette, Chris took her for a full on wash. Could have been the coconut agar that Kung Kung gave to abi among the jelly. Makes me remember that Abi’s food needs to be supervised and carefully selected, and that her reluctance to eat may be a self protection measure?

Poor Abi fell asleep as soon as we walked out the door of the hotel. Regardless of the bumpiness or the heat she stayed asleep during the MTR ride including changing at Admiralty. Woke for a bit just as we got to the top of the Fortress Hill stair but dozed off again until the apartment when I tried to take off her sandals. Distressed cryuing was soothed by a long drink of Ribena, then she settled in for more napping which was a great relief considering the night ahead. Chris shopped for a thinner presentable shirt for tonight’s dinner engagement.

Woke Abi 5 mins before we had to go downstairs for the car ride to our dinner date with Uncle Kwong and Auntie Cecilia. They drove us to the Jockey Club in their lovely Lexus with Abi grooving away to Auntie Cecilia’s signature Abba driving music. Again it was fascinating to watch Abi’s transfixed look at the passing lights and traffic and buildings. Then she walked through the wood panelled stone clad lift to the marbled foyer to the eating area overlooking the indoor swimming pool. Boy she was excited to see the people swimming. We brought some cheese and crackers as emergency dinner but by the time we had our selected our food from the various stalls Abi had lost interest in eating. Took Abi in my arms to see the food stalls and she was very interested in the wok chefs. Tried to take her back to the table but she protested strongly. Uncle Kwong had finished the first half of his meal (shared dish with Auntie Cecilia) and volunteered to take Abi for a walk – surprisingly she agreed instead of insisting on mum. They were gone a long time, then upon returning Abi immediately took mum’s hand and tried to lead her unsuccessfully away (spaghetti carbonara was too yummy). Tried Dad next – yes he was willing and had finished eating his beef brisket noodles.

Turns out Uncle Kwong showed Abi the kiddy playroom and she was fixated on returning. Chris took her there but he had to have a Jockey Club member sign her in – uncle Kwong again. Now Abi had a great old time swimming in the ball room. Surrounded by padded surfaces the kiddy room is a fantastic place that every eating establishment should consider installing. Let the parents supervise their child’s safety and have an overall staff supervisor, but let the kids burn off excess energy! It was great seeing Abi so animated and happy and being able to have physical play after so many days of quiet or controlled play. Can understand why Carol took her 2 kids there everyday that they were in HK – free for members and kids love it.

Abi fell asleep soon after drinking lots of milk. Hopefully she won’t awaken during the night for more food – she hardly ate anything. I’m pooped.

Saturday 16th September

Still full from last night’s dinner

Caught the tram to Windsor House Causeway Bay. It’s being renovated, no more Delifrance from last year. Bad luck cos Priscilla figured on giving Abi some croissant for lunch. Oh well the old standby cheese and biscuits.

Went through Mothercare – abi played with some toys then had to be coaxed into leaving for Toys’r’us. Wow, what a sensory overload. Play doh is really cheap here. Bought heaps, plus a Mega Blok bus toy.
Tired and hungry we looked for food. First at Ikea but they just had hotdogs – the meatballs were frozen for you to enjoy at home. Ended up at Café de Coral again. Arctic aircond with luck helping us get a booth in the corner near the mall window. Abi ate her basic meal then got really sleepy before settling in for 45mins in mum’s arms.

Dinner at Maxims MX More upmarket than Café de Coral.

Friday 15th September

Last night there was an earthquake in HK centred on the south China Sea 3.5 on the Richter scale. Typhoon warnings have been cancelled!
Chris didn’t vomit.

Abi played with play doh and drew and read her books. She is still getting used to the new environment so wasn’t too bored/whingy.

Dinner with Uncle Kwong at Times Square L10. Glass elevators, fibreglass dolphins on the walls, dolphin printed glass walls to private rooms with plasma tvs, resin tubes with encased bubbles to tempt Abi.
Mooncakes being sold just like everywhere else.
Tacky décor. Abi used chopstick rest as a spoon. Tried the salted whitebait appetisers, ate rice drank soup.

Thursday 14th September

Walk around North Point along Kings Road – had soft serve icecream from McDonalds while Abi savoured her first taste and watched double decker buses roar past.
Walked to Victoria Park found a kiddy play area with swings, see saw and music chart!
Yum Cha with Dad and Gwoo Ma at Viking Seafood Restaurant opposite Tin Hau MTR – they have never been there before but it was okay foodwise. Poor fish half drowned in tank as usual.
Left for home during a downpour. Chris felt sick – apparent after he ate the egg-white only darn tart (he never eats those things anyway so why?)
Frighteningly he vomited soon after we arrived back at the apartment. Then again. Luckily Abi was asleep so she didn’t see it.

When Abi awoke Chris wasn’t feeling much better. Mum called up and urged us strongly to seek a doctor. Decided to go for some drugs from Watsons. Luckily the pharmacist gave us some anti-vomit pills that also helped Chris to relax and sleep (once he kept it down). Also got some oral rehydration sachets.

All together Chris vomited 5 times. The 2 times when Priscilla was out shopping, Abi patted papa leaning over the toilet bowl to help him feel better. What a little champion. The pills helped Chris sleep first in the armchair then into bed.

Had to cancel going to Kathy’s place at Hung Hom due to illness.
When putting Abi to bed around 8pm, felt a vibration go through the building. Couldn’t be thunder cos this is a 34 storey concrete building – maybe an earthquake?

Wednesday 13thSeptember

Pouring rain due to the typhoon no.3 (upgraded from no.1)
Walked through ankle deep rain/stormwater to buy supplies – felt like a pioneer woman
Abi learnt the phrase “lok yu” (raining)
Took Abi in a lull to Café de Coral so that we adults could have dinner

HK diary

Tuesday 12th September
Finally made it out of the house before 6am, Mum drove us (sometimes a bit scarily) to International Airport with Anthony
Abi played at airport entrance, chris embarrassed himself by stopping in the middle of the path sorting out old pamplets.
Nice bulkhead seats on plane (31J/K), plane pretty empty, abi was happy to play on seat or on parents lap. Abi slept in priscilla’s arms (and pris nodded off too). Very friendly flight attendants, gave her a toy (spongebob) to play with. She also slept on landing!!
Singapore airport was fun to play with, abi excited about play gym, koi fishpond and garden! Priscilla very tired.
Flight to hong kong quite full. Same plane, different seats (31 D/E), and Abi got another present (starfish friend from spongebob). Flight landing to HK a bit rough, strong winds due to tropical depression (T1 signal). Aunty Pauline met us there and arranged our transport to north point.
Crashed out at the flat.

Blog this & email blogs not working?

Hey, something that's not been working for a while - blog this! and email blogging don't seem to work anymore.
I wonder why? Could it be because of the word verification? or worse??