We Moved!

Check us out at our new home:

http://southside852.wordpress.com/

Bath time - it's hard work!

Bath time was never meant to be easy especially with a now 13 month year old so I am always in search of things to make it EASIER . . . I'll buy almost anything for a safer experience and more play time.

We bought the Aqua Pod once MJ could sit up which was around 7 months old. It was my new favorite purchase that I had Mothercare HK order for me. MJ would sit and just look at me while washed his upper body (lower half is always washed on the edge of the tub before sitting him down.) BUT then once MJ learned how to use t-bar to stand up, it was all over. He would stand up and turn towards me and then lean on the side.....This is now 8 months. So in all, the aqua pod lasted us really 1 month. Such a shame, since I really loved it!

The Aqua Pod can be bought at Mothercare in the Prince's Building. (Can someone explain to me why there are no prices on their HK website?!)

Lantern Exhibition at Cyberport

We thought it would be fun to take MJ to see the exhibit of lanterns at Cyberport. I expected a huge display where MJ would just be entraced but their exquiteness.....but this was not the case. We arrived early Sunday morning as to avoid the crowds and give MJ maximum area to walk about without bumping into others. I knew there were no workshops and we could just look at our own pace. I didn't know that would just take 15 minutes. Now don't get me wrong - the lanterns were beautiful and so delicate, but MJ could really care less. Instead, he wanted to pull the flowers off the branches and look at the light bulps in the floor....The overall exhibite was quite small with about 20 lanterns in all hanging from a central structure in the middle. So while not quite how we envisioned a Sunday morning, we took him to the podium near The Meredian to run around some more, did shopping at Park N' Shop then called it a day.

Frameless Lanterns Exhibit at Cyberport runs from 15.1.09 - 9.2.09

The Arcade, 100 Cyberport Road

http://www.arcade.cyberport.hk/

Where art tho restaurants?

One downside about living on the southside are the lack of restaurants. Sure, there's Stanley, but the food is mediocre except for Lucy's and Pizza Express which we love. We've tried the places in the Murry House and were not that impressed. Has anyone tried Angelotti's? Do I even have the spelling right? It's right behind Wellcome on that little back street where Curry Tiffin is. If you, do post a comment and let me know how it is! But I digress - - - - So there's Stanley, there's Repulse Bay (The Verandah, Y and Spice's) which have not very recession friendly. I just read in Time Out about South Bay Bistro (any one tried that one??) and that's basically it.....Am I missing any restaurants??? Of those, there are only a handful that are both good and child-friendly - Pizza Express, Wildfire, Spice's are the ones that immediately come to mind.

Any place else?

A Saturday Just for Two

We are here in HK for Chinese's New Year since my husband has to work. It's not sooo bad.....It really just means that our helper, Judy gets Monday - Wednesday off. As a result, J and I decided to have a special Saturday morning of just us two in Central. We began it with an amazing breakfast L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in The Landmark. We both had mixed omlettes which were perfectly cooked and not an ounce of oil or butter dripping from it. The croissants are deliciously buttery and flaky. The coffee is strong and the service is top notch. Only drawback was that it was quite dark inside. Next we walked up to Wellington Street for 50 minutes of pure bliss at Happy Foot. #35 and #36 gave amazing massagges which then ended with a ten minute back rub. It's one of the best $25USD we've spent! After our massages we cabbed it over to Times Square for a quick dim sum lunch at Heinchinrou which is my new favorite spot. The restaurant clean and family friendly. I loved the spring rolls and dumplings. Another bonus is that you can actually do some shopping below afterwards! Yes, we were stuffed afterwards and cabbed it back just in time for MJ's afternoon nap. After we put MJ down for the night, we quietly snuck back into Central to Lung King Heen in the Four Season's where we ordered the best Peking duck which comes to you in two courses - the first being in pancakes and then second being minced up in lettuce wraps. Yes, we knew we were just two people. My husband ate 12 pancakes out of 18 pancakes. We each then had two lettuce wraps and had to take home the rest. It was such a fun Saturday then I think I might stay in HK any day!

• L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, The Landmark, 4/F, Central
• Happy Foot, 98-102 Wellington, Jade Centre, 11/F, Central
• Heinchinrou, Times Square, 10/F, Causeway Bay
• Lung King Heen, The Four Seasons, 8 Finance Street, Central

The Year of the Ox

Gung Hei Fat Choy! May this year be filled with good health, happiness and prosperity!

Do I miss Central? YES

We live on the southside. Yes, we live 20-25 minutes away from life. Ok, I am exaggerating a tade, but come on - we are that far from the city center. We decided to sacrafice convenience for healthier living for MJ. We had heard tons of stories of babies developing asthma and ezyma as result of the pollution. And when I sometimes cannot see across the bay because of the thick layer of disgusting smog and pollution, I know the our purchase of the IQ Air Filter was worth it for him. When we first moved out here I think I was in Central twice a week. Now that our helper Judy has arrived, I go less and less and I think I've actually gotten a bit used to our life out here and kind of dread that long windy ride into Central.

So what if we are far from the best restaurants and the closest major market is in Stanley. That's ok, right?

GeoBaby.com

I admit it . I won't deny it. I log on about 5 times a day. I am actually not sure why because I've never been a big forum type of gal. I rarely post on other community websites, but there's something about sharing knowledge with other moms that's sastisfying. Maybe I take comfort in knowing that I am raising MJ the "right way" which seems ironic as there is no real right way. Maybe it feels satisfying when I post something with confidence or comforting to know others are experiencing the same feelings / situations / problems that I am. It took me about a month after we moved to HK to post, but once I did, I couldn't stop. There are definitely the regular moms who are always answering questions for people, but I really like the many perspectives GeoBaby brings together for people from all walks of life come together to educate themselves on the same things: 1) Living in Hong Kong 2) Raising a child in Hong Kong.

Think of it as your online post-natal group and boy, do we miss that from London!

Baby Legs

I saw them on a flight from Honolulu to Narita. Two little Japanese boys, the cutest little things, in onsies and what looked like thermal underwear. Upon closer inspection, I realized that they were leg warmers! Now, I am huge fan of how Japanese dress their little ones - always so stylish and comfortable. Once I got over my jetlag, I immediately began sourcing these baby leg warmers and finally found them - Baby Legs. They are from the US (go figure!), but I found them super cheap here as this website stocks over-stock from Japan and has them going for $38 HKD/pair and if you buy 4, the 5th one is free!

So, stock up or buy a few as gifts. MJ loves them and wears them as long sleeves too. They are perfect for the any flight!

We Did It!

A new president, a new start for us. Congrats Obama!

Panda Junction

Happy New Year everyone and like the Southside in December, we did take a small break. Our son celebrated his first birthday over December and I still cannot believe he's one and that this time last year I was figuring out how to be a mom - how to nurse, how soothe him and how to get his sleeping patterns under control. We were sleep deprieved and in London. Now we are in Hong Kong and he is walking and eating real food.

Not only is January a start of a New Year, but it's meant the start of new classes for MJ. Last term we made the trek into Central to Panda Junction as every class on the southside seemed book for 6-12 month year olds including Tutor Time.

We've started a bunch of new classes, but I must say that I miss Michelle's Panda Junction - free play in the gym, all the songs they sing and parachute time. Thes staff is so nice and the teachers are high energy. I wish there was a southside one!

Panda Junction, Active Learning Centre
44 Wyndham Street
Central
Tel: 2855 0906
http://www.pandajunction.com/