Spectacular View of Hong Kong - From the Victoria's Peak

Tired and almost collapsed from an entire day of walking, or perhaps I should say, window- shopping (since I did not manage to purchase anything).

Started the day trying to locate some shops selling baby clothes at the industrial park. Shucks! No luck! The shop and factory outlets were closed down, almost 2 years ago! Count on the list given by friends and other sources...

Then pop by Ladies' Street which was supposed to be a popular shopping district - Well, more like the pasar malam stalls that you can find back in Singapore.

SOHO - Sounds like an interesting and classy place. Ooooohhh...lots of up slope and I could feel the strain on my knee while I was walking. Anyway, wide variety of restaurants but nothing fanciful.

Hong Kong streets are definitely crowded and cramp. Buildings are also dilapidated, was wondering why unlike Singapore, they do not have SERS programme or even en-bloc sales so that new buildings can be built...

Anyway, after a tiring day, Hubby brought us to Victoria's Peak. Took a tram up and it was definitely worth it!! Decided to hang around at Pacific Coffee before we finally said our good bye to HK!

Sit cable car, See Buddha, Eat McDonalds

Yup, that was what we did on our 2nd day in HK!

Took cable car to 360 Ngong Ping where you can see the gigantic Buddha statue. Decided to stop at beneath while Hubby climbed up thousand and one steps to reach the Buddha! Thank goodness I made the right decision as the way up was definitely too steep for me, having to carry Gine up as well!!!

Gine in the cable car, on our way up to 'see' the Buddha

And Gine has been ranting 'Sit cable car, see Buddha, Eat McDonalds' ever since we paid Buddha a visit that day!!

Hey, but don't remember eating McDonalds after we came down from the hill top!!???? Hmmm...probably Gine was looking forward to that, afterall.

Hong Kong Disneyland (Day)

Woke up earlier than usual. Though it was only 530am, it was already quite bright in HK.

View from our hotel room

Breakfast at Chef Mickey, Disney Hollywood Hotel (Wide variety and reasonable price - SGD$20)

Went back to Disneyland again (since we got a buy- 1(day)-get-1 day-free package). This time round, we concentrated on taking the rides and were glad we had taken photos with most of the Disney characters last night, as there was a queue for almost each and every character.

Gine in her Minnie Mouse cap (well, she still thinks she is Minnie Mouse)

Unfortunately, Gine did not enjoy most of the rides. She loved the Autopia most, where she could get behind the wheel (steering) and drive the car, as if she was in real control of it...

Gine simply refused to get out of the car, even after the photo shoot

Mummy Barney had a good time, shopping around for gifts. Though the things were not cheap, Mummy Barney simply could not resist the temptation and got a "weird" look from Hubby (who had to look after Gine while i shopped frantically)...

When it was time for the spectacular parade, as usual, Gine fell asleep (always missing out on all spectacular sights and performances). Grouchy from Snow White and Seven Dwarfs pointed angrily at her and Mickey even spotted Gine sleeping soundly in my arms, from the top of his castle...

Gine after her nap and refreshing bath at the hotel...

Hong Kong Disneyland Fireworks Display

Absolutely impressive!!!

Though crowded, we managed to watch the Fireworks disply, comfortably throughout! Rather emotional as it started off with the song "A Whole New World"! Well, hopefully so for me in my career...

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Gine was already so exhausted at that time that she fell asleep just seconds before the fireworks started!

Also brought back some memories for Hubby and myself as the fireworks synchronized to other Disney songs from "Beauty & the Beast" (used one of the theme songs for our wedding dinner), "Little Mermaid" etc...

Hong Kong Disneyland (Night)

Finally, managed to take numerous family photos at HK Disneyland. Well, it was definitely easy catching hold of the Disney characters and snapping away, unlike in Tokyo Disneyland where you need to queue for hours or there would be big crowds around them.

Gine was definitely taken aback when she met with Mickey and Minnie. A bit shy at first but was able to show her affection for them, almost immediately!! Even before her trip, she has been reciting "Mei Mei (her good old self) Minnie Mouse, Mummy Mickey Mouse, Daddy Donald Duck." Even our maid became 'Pluto' when we probed her for identification of other characters.

Mickey Mouse Fountain at entrance

Family photo with Donald Duck

Gine with Pooh bear

Another family photo with Mickey Mouse

In front of Minnie's house (She definitely has a nicer-looking house in Tokyo)

Last but not least, a photo with Goofy.

Regine's 1st Plane Ride - Hong Kong

Decided to bring Regine for another overseas trip before both Hubby and myself embarked on our new career. Her first overseas trip was on sea (cruise), so this time round, we decided to travel by plane to the shopping paradise - Hong Kong.

Needless to say, Mummy Barney was a good planner - We flew off for our trip, on the day our maid was supposed to depart for home. Even booked her air ticket such that we could check in together (so that we need not make another extra trip to Changi airport!!)

Reached HK and we tried to adjust to the lifestyle almost immediately (as usual!!). Decided to find our way to Disney Hollywood Hotel by taking their public transport. Just as we were looking for the shortest route, Hubby commented on how we used to go backpacking and even now, with the inclusion of Gine, both of us still refused to travel on full package tours :p

Fortunately, it was rather straightforward travelling in HK by their public transport. Gine was definitely excited and looking forward to the rest of her stay in HK even though she did not sleep for long on the plane...

Gine on the 'Mickey Mouse' train to HK Disneyland

Mummy Barney too, was excited about the Mickey Mouse train

Photo session with Chip & Dale the moment we stepped into the hotel - More excitement!!!

Finally, settling in our hotel room - Shower screen had pics of mickey mouse, shampoo and shower gel in 'mickey mouse' shaped bottles.

Most impressed was, there were 3 sets of bathrobes and slippers, even Gine had hers tailored to her size. :)

Adieu! The Game of Cluedo

Ever played the board game 'Cluedo'?

It was one of my favourite board games when I was young.

Suspense, Thrill, Mystery and you really need luck and some brain power to solve all clues and ascertain the Murderer, the Victim, the Weapon used and last but not least the place where the Murderer took place.

Just felt that I had completed a game of Cluedo in my real life...

And it was by chance (or perhaps by fate) that I managed to solve the mystery and indeed, was in a state of shock and even denial that I was indeed the victim in this game...

Remembered how Dad always taught us to look at all things and people from different perspectives...He has always shared his true life stories with us but guess we were either too young to understand or perhaps were fortunate that we did not have to go through such encounters yet, then...

Mixed feelings...

Tired...tired of such games...

Sad...that Dad was no longer around and I could no longer go to him for advice and seek comfort...

Still, I count my blessings...at least I see the entire picture now and have decided to close that chapter of my life and move on without regrets...

Well, of course, perhaps I should start playing a game of "Street Fighter", preserving my energy for a final "K.O."!!!!

***GAME OVER***

From Singlish to Poor English?

Made a rush to PS during lunch hour to purchase some groceries and get a quick lunch. Just could not resist the temptation of the shoe shop as I walked past...

Hmm...perhaps my woman's intuition was telling me that there are some New Arrivals at the shop. True enough, I tried on a pair of low-heeled court shoes and decided to purchase it in less than 5 minutes!!!

Well, call this impulse shopping but it was definitely not the good service which concluded the sale. On the contrary, I was rather affected by the salesgirl's (or rather woman's) poor command of spoken English:

Me: Can I try Size 38?

Sales: 38 ah? If cannot, can try bigger size. I got 39 also.

*Roll eyes*

Me: Size 38 is a bit loose for me. Does this shoe expand after some time?

Sales: No la, this one not so easy expand.

I started to wonder whether the sales lady was from overseas as she did not sound local. Sigh, not that I do not welcome foreign immigrants but this is really worrying...What will happen in the next 10 years when there is an influx of overseas immigrants working in Singapore? I can forsee a drop in our standard of conversational English...

When I finally decided to grab a burger from Mos, had a similar encounter.

Counter: Miss ah, you want upgrade your flies (fries)?

Me: No thanks.

After 5 minutes, the lady came to me:

Counter: Sorry for waiting...Enjoy your meal...

Me:????

(**Why should I be sorry for waiting?)

OMG, are we facing a shortage in service staff or the expectations of service staff has dropped??? Aren't they supposed to be trained (to speak in proper English) before they provide front-line service? Is Singapore's standard of English going downhill?

I started to get worried about the next younger generation, born and breed in Singapore...

Life is like a Ticking Clock...

Woke up in the middle of the night with a bad sore throat and terrible cough. Unable to go back to sleep again...

Was reminiscing about my own life all these 30 odd years - my childhood, my parents, my education, my friends, my previous jobs, my career path, my love life, my wedding, my partner etc etc...

Looked at my "achievement" in life - Regine, who was sleeping soundly beside me...

Well, life is like a ticking clock - seconds, minutes, and hours just slip off without you realising it. A life-long lesson I have learnt - Cherish whatever you have in life, before you lose it and realise it is too late...

Does everything only come to a stand-still when our life end? Or perhaps there is an after life?

Then remembered a kiddy song which Greg's mum and I used to sing during our childhood, at the top of our voices, in our shared bedroom. Guess we did not even know the true meaning of this song at that time...

My Grandfather's Clock

My grandfather's clock

Was too large for the shelf,

So it stood ninety years on the floor;

It was taller by half

Than the old man himself,

Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.

It was bought on the morn

Of the day that he was born,

It was always his treasure and pride;

But it stopped short

Never to go again,

When the old man died.

Ninety years without slumbering,

Tick, tock, tick, tock,

His life seconds numbering,

Tick, tock, tick, tock,

It stopped short

Never to go again,

When the old man died.

Living with a MASK

Went to Popular bookstore after dinner. Saw these BARNEY paper masks and regretted that I should have bought it for Gine's birthday celebrations!!

We bought the masks for her, anyway. And guess what, she has been changing her MASKS everyday (wearing them to school)! First day was Baby Bop, then it was BJ and recently, she prefers Barney...

Hubby commented that we should stop this bad habit of Gine wearing masks to school every day and Mummy Barney retorted: "Everyone is wearing a mask, everyday, isn't it?"

SILENCE...

And nowadays, Gine wants both hubby and myself to join in the FUN as well, and got us to start wearing masks too...