bits and pieces from the life of a lazy blogger...who sometimes hoped to be abducted by alien before the go-live of a difficult project and safely return to Earth in time for the closing celebration
Today is the 10th day in childcare for Bay and he went for his 1st field trip. Since he started childcare, there were already 1 planned field trip but we didn't allow him to go for the earlier one to Botanic Garden (for a picnic) as we felt that he is not ready for field trip yet. He is always fooling around when he is out with us, what if his teachers could not control him and what if he run onto the roads?
His 1st field trip was to the Tampines Regional Library. It was his 1st time in any library. Err... I had never stepped into a library since I finished school and it is an unlikely place for our weekly outings. Poor Bay does not even have a library card, so I had to rush to the library last night to make the card for him.
They walked to the library from their school, which is usually a 10 mins walk for adults, but it seems like a long walk for toddlers. With their legs so short, our 1 step is like their 3 steps!
It took a lot of courage for me to finally signed on the consent form... to let him go out on his own... without his mother hen watching his every move... (well at least not openly). I know I had to let him take his baby steps towards independence. My little guy is preparing to leave the nest! (ok, I'm over-reacting)
Well, the sneaky and concerned mama made plans to spy on her baby and watch him from far. I roped Grandma in and she volunteered to be stationed under his childcare centre. I was waiting in my car near the library. The plan was that when Grandma spotted him moving towards the library, she will alert me and follow behind them. I will drive nearer to watch him. Perfect plan! But there was a small glitch though... Grandma spotted a group of LSH kids walking towards the library and she immediately called me while she secretly followed them. But when I finally saw the group near the library, Bay was not in that group! I supposed all the kids looked the same in their uniform. So poor Grandma got to run back to the school and wait for the 2nd group.
姨姨 was also very concerned about him and decided to take a cab down from her office to join in the "Operation Library". She was stationed at the Bus interchange.
Positions of the 3 agents along the 650m route
About 9:45 am
Bay's group started to walk towards the library.
About 10:00 am
Bay spotted at Tampines Bus Interchange. These are the pics taken from Agent 姨姨 cam. She was hiding behind a pillar but Agent 姨姨 claimed that Bay saw her handphone cover and recognised it! It appeared that he was looking at the cam in both the pics.
Can you see him? Holding onto teacher's hand like a good boy!
About 10:15 am
They were walking so slowly! Finally reached the road crossing where Agent Mama was stationed. Pics taken from Agent Mama's cam...
Agent Mama took videos too.
To the library...
About 11:15 am
From the Library...
Operation Library was a success with online updates to everyone in our Family Group chat on Whatsapp! (Even papa got all the live updates in Shanghai!) Thank you to all agents. It's a "创举" on my part too, in the library 2 days in a row!
How time flies... exactly 2 years ago, I was waiting in the delivery room, praying for a smooth delivery and a healthy baby and now that baby is a toddler... well into the terrible two stage.
Papa Lim had an important meeting in office today and had to rush back to Shanghai yesterday night. I wasn't feeling very well and didn't prepare anything for Bay's party in school. Actually I thought that I will keep him at home for today but when I asked him in the morning if he wants to go to school? He didn't refuse! So at the last minute, I had to rush to send him to school and then dashed to the stores to get all the party stuffs and a cake for his party!
Birthday boy... on the way to school
Fortunately I already got Mark to bring some stationary sets back in anticipation that we will need them sooner or later... so I only need to buy some snacks from NTUC and some gift bags and party hats from SKP. Then I packed the gift bags on the top of my car boot. That was how last minute the preparation was!
Stationary set from taobao: RMB 7, Milk Pocky from NTUC: $1, Gift bag from SKP: $0.10
A mother's love and dedication: Priceless!
Animals party hats for the class mates
Singing birthday song and cake cutting (bought a fruit top cake from trusty Bengawan solo)
Two of us with the cake
Happy birthday, my little boy!
P.S. I should have another MUCH nicer video of us singing the birthday song to post here BUT I thought the transfer from the SD card to my laptop was completed and deleted it from the card and then I cant retrieve it anymore! I was so devastated! That was probably the nicest video I had ever recorded.
We didnt plan for any major birthday party for Bay this year, just a quiet family dinner.
The Venue
The initial plan was to book a hotel room where we can see the National Day Rehearsal aircraft flypass and fireworks so that the boys can have fun while we have dinner in the room, "picnic" style. But after some serious consideration, it would be so awkward to ask my in-laws to go for a picnic in a hotel room with us. Thus the next better plan was to go for dinner somewhere in the area where we can still see the flypass. After some research, I found that from the rooftop of Marina Barrage we should be able to see the flypass and fireworks and yet away from the messy traffic. There is only 1 decent dinner place there, The 7th Story Live Seafood Restaurant.
We went to Marina Barrage earlier to run around a bit and to catch the flypass before dinner.
Playing with his new present while enjoying the flypass
The Food
Our dinner for the night... Can't believe that I forgot to the take a pic of the chilly crab!
Mark ordered the food while I was watching the flypass with Bay. He need
to polish up his dishes ordering skills as there were some "similiar"
type of dishes. Why order crayfish and prawns? No veg? At least he
remembered the "no shark's fin" rule.
The Cake
Emicakes Pure Addiction with Thomas the Train Mega Bloks as a topper.
Bought the cream from The Icing Room so that I can draw some tracks.
The Theme
Can you tell? The theme of the day is Thomas the Train
We were all in Thomas colours
The Presents
Playing with the new y-bike in the restaurant
All his presents from aunties, uncles and grandparents
08 July 2011 - 11 July 2011
Bay is 23.5 months old
We spent our weekend in Macau last week. The plan was to meet Mark halfway so that we dont have to travel so far and since it was our 7th wedding anniversary on 11th July, we could have our little celebration. We had been to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and we were not so keen in going to Thailand, so that leave us with not too many choices.
Well, I thought we could also save some travelling cost also since Tigerairways flys to Macau directly. WRONG! The tickets for Bay and me was about SGD400, half of the cost if we would fly to Shanghai instead. This is probably the last time Bay is enjoying his privilege as an infant travaller. Mark checked and told me that his ticket from Shanghai was only 800. Usually I would ask him if it was SGD or RMB but because his usual answer was "of couse RMB lah, I'm working in China!", so I didnt ask this time and who would use ONLY if it is in SGD??? (roll eyes...) YES! He quoted in SGD instead. Man... why are they so inconsistent? Haiz... that's why I said this was an "extravagant" trip, I only found out the real cost during the trip itself. I thought we could cut cost and end up spending 3 times more!
Day 1: Singapore - Macau
As usual we were the last few to board... this time even more 夸张, 8 minutes before take-off!
One reason why I dont mind taking Tigerairways is that we get to go really close to the plane from the outside. Bay totally enjoyed the brief moment but it was really shiong for me to carry him + his luggage bag + my baby bag and climb up the stairs. Thankfully it was not raining.
No photo taking on the tarmac (what a spoilsport!)... so we beat the rule by taking a pic just before crossing the "line"
Bay fall asleep the moment when the aircraft took off. As it was a really full flight, we didnt manage to get an empty seat for Bay and we were sitting at the row just before the emergency exit, thus the back rest cannot be lowered! It was so cram. (note to self: never to sit on the row before emergency exit again) Fortunately, an old chinese lady with a free seat next to her was so kind to switch her seat with us. I was really grateful as I dont have to carry Bay throughout the 3.5 hours. Truefully, I dont think I would have done the same if I were her and I dont think many Singaporean youngsters would too. This is something I have to reflect upon.
Bay is so much more vocal and mobile compared to the previous few trips and I'm beginning to pity the other passengers... haha! He had my genes of having a loud voice and he can't really control it yet. Thus one can hear him "shouting" all the time and he was just trying to catch my attention. What's more, he insisted of putting his feet on the seat in front! (I tried to stop him, ok) and I got stared at by the passenger in front.
Naughty boy trying to "talk" the people behind
We had to wait in Macau airport for Mark to arrive from Shanghai and had our dinner while waiting. There's only 1 canteen / foodcourt in Macau airport and was like our 菜饭 stall, food was so-so only and it cost MOP38 (SGD5.90) per dish. (sorry, no pics)
As it was a last-minute trip, we didnt do any research at all. Mark just booked the hotel the day before. We stayed at Rio Hotel in Macau, the room was big and clean but I wouldnt stay there again as there are nothing much to do around the hotel.
Happy boy pulling his luggage bag just like papa! He insisted on bringing his bag wherever, even to breakfast...
Day 2: Taipa
Do you know that there are two main islands in Macau? I don't. So it was quite confusing in the beginning trying to figure out where were we. The international airport is located at the Taipa side and we were staying at the Macau side. Fortunately, the two islands are well connected.
Taxis in Macau are like those in Singapore... not one in sight when you need them. But thanks to all the gamblers' investment, the casinos and hotels provide free shuttle bus services to almost all major locations and it's FREE.
We took our hotel shuttle bus to the Macau Ferry Terminal and from there, we can have shuttle connections to all the other attractions. Initially, Mr Pampered Mark was a bit unwilling to go thru the trouble of bus hopping but when he saw Bay's euphoric look when we told him we are taking a bus, he gave in. We are afterall on a holiday, no need to rush around mah... just relax and do whatever we like... even if it means taking buses. We are going to check out The Venetian in Taipa today.
He's my little boy... totally unimpressed with a brand new sports car but is ecstatic over an old mini bus!
He kept looking at the door of the bus and said "open and shut"
Detailed map of Taipa area
Stop 1: The Venetian Macau and Four Seasons Shoppe
You have to see this place at least once if you visit Macau. There are many free shuttle bus services to/fro there, including the airport, so make full use of it.
It's blue sky and good weather everday in Venetian!
We had lunch at the huge food court there. They have quite a wide selection of cuisine but it was very crowded when we were there. In fact, it was very crowded everywhere in Macau, probably due the the school holidays in Hong Kong. (Sorry, no pics again for our lunch... I've not been doing my phototaking duties those 2 days!)
After lunch, we did some shopping and walking around Venetian. The place is so huge and any brand that you can ever think of, there's a store there. Luckily I'm not in the mood to buy anything.
There are the famous wannabe canels and the gondolas. Bay happens to wear a similar t-shirt as the gondoliers, it's a sign that we should go on the gondola... and we did. Well, Bay and me did. Mark refused to do such tourist act, so he ended up as a paparazzi and ran along our gondola to take photos.
MOP118 (per ride) for adults
MOP88 (per ride) for kids above 1 year old
Connected to the Venetian is the Four Season's shopping mall which houses all the luxury branded goods stores. 99% of the shoppers there are PRC and they gave luxury goods shopping a new definition... "抢". No, no, no, I dont mean snatching the item and running out of the store, that is a crime. What I meant is that the mall is packed like pasar malam and they are snapping up those items as if there is a lelong! I can't help but wonder if it is really that easy to win $ in the casino? Almost every man I see in Macau carries at last a LV sling bag or clutch (yes, PRC man loves clutches) and wears prada or LV shoes!
It's only here that you'll get to see people squatting outside Chanel to smoke.
and yah, they just bought loads of Dior, LV and Hermes...
Stop 2: The Macau Porkchop Bun (澳门猪扒包)
I must admit that eating the porkchop bun was one of my top agenda. I'm not refering to any porkchop bun... it has to be the porkchop bun from the famous stall. Just google "macau porkchop bun" and you'll be able to find easily which is that famous stall (大利来记咖啡室). A follow blogger reported that "eventhough the eatery is open throughout the day, the famous buns are only served from 3pm onwards until they’re sold out (which is often within the first two hours). Usually by 2:40 onwards, a line will start forming and within 10 minutes, it will wrap itself around the restaurant and spilling onto the square."
When I ask Mark if we should go and queue for the famous porkchop bun, his anwer was "try not to, I'm sure they sell porkchop bun in the Venetian food court lor!" Then I told him that I had always dreamt of eating the famous porkchop bun in Macau! (Talk about emotional blackmail... hahaha!) So he agreed if that is the case, then we have to go.
Bay was late in taking his nap and we could not reach the place before 3pm, in fact when we reached the eatery it was already about 4:30 pm. The place was fully packed (mostly tourists) and it was very very hot (I think it was like 36 degrees). I was looking for the long line to join and cant find one. I was so worried that the buns had sold out! To my surprise, there was no line at all. Mark went to the counter and bought 2 buns (no sharing, ok) in less than 5 mins!
MOP 20 per bun
Verdict: Not bad! a little too salty for my tastebuds though and the bone on the porkchop was quite troublesome to eat. Mark complaint that his porkchop was way too big for the bun! (roll eye again...) Somehow, I still prefer the free porkchop bun at Taipan massage in Beijing. kekeke!
Finally got our hands on the bun!
Cafe Tai Lei Loi Kei (大利来记咖啡室)
Address: No. 18, Largo Governador Tamagnini Barbosa (氹仔巴波沙前地18号)
Taipa, Macau
Opening Hours: Daily 06:00 - 18:00
It is about 15 minutes walk from the West Entrance (Bus bay) of The Venetian. Just follow the crowd.
Stop 3: Rua do Cunha (官也街)
This is the old city district and definitely worth exploring (about 5-10 mins walk from 大利来记咖啡室). There are many bakery and traditional pastries stalls along the streets.
Can see the Venetian from here...
Its almost dinner time, so we try not to have too many snacks as we planned to have 2 dinners! First is to try some portuguese food and followed by the famous crab porridge at 官也街. Nevertheless, I still insisted on trying another famous snack of Macau, Serradura (aka Macau Sawdust Pudding, 木糠布丁) and the durian ice cream from Gelatina Mok Yi Kei, a corner shop in 官也街. Taste good on a hot day like this.
While I'm busy taking photos of Bay enjoying his durian ice cream, Mark finished half of the serradura!
Our presents for the day: a toy bus + a lucky chip for Bay and an anniversary ring for me. Thank you darling!
The hotel receptionist recommended that we should try some portuguese food (i.e. bake chicken, fried clams and seafood rice). We were too lazy to find the recommended portuguese restaurant and there are so many along 官也街, so chose one that looks big, clean and decent instead. This place is mainly patronized by tourist. We ordered portuguese bake chicken and portuguese fried rice... the fried clams is not available and we cannot find seafoood rice on the menu. Boo!
The taste of the bake chicken is quite special, it's not spicy but I can taste some thing like curry power inside. It is cooked by potatoes, green pepper. The sauce will go well with some plain buns or rice.
Bay is happy playing with the "tok tok" (eerrr.. that means knife)
The plan was to go for our 2nd dinner at Seng Cheong (crab porridge) but we were quite full after the portuguese dinner, what's more it was super crowded at Seng Cheong. Mark said it would be impossible for Bay to sit through another dinner, so we had to abort the plan. sob! sob!
Stop 4: Galaxy Resort Hotel
So we went to walk around more at Taipa and found ourselves in the new Galaxy Resort hotel. There's nothing much, some shops, foodcourt and a casino of course.
This is the nearest we got to any casino. I dont gamble and I dont encourage gambling (ok, dont ask me why am I doing in Macau...), hopefully Bay will be like me. :)
Later in the night, when we were back in the hotel, I told Mark that I'll never be full again as my stomach is forever keeping a space for the crab porridge! He agreed that tomorrow we will make our way back to Taipa again for dinner. kekeke!
Day 3: Macau and Taipa
We started our day by bus hopping in Macau and then head to Taipa for dinner.
Detailed map of Macau area
Stop 1: Grand MGM and Mandarin Oriental Macau
Our first stop today is to check out more hotels and shoppes.
Nice courtyard @ Grand MGM
Connected to MGM is the Mandarin Oriental shoppe, another place where all the lux brands are located (they are really cashing in on the chinese $$), but less crowded compared to the Four Seasons.
Stop 2: Grand Lisboa
Mark had to go pay tribute to 赌王, Stanley Ho @ his Grand Lisboa.
Spot the big "ong lai"
There are a few Michelin-rated restaurants and the Asia's longest buffet spread in Grand Lisboa but we didnt try those (hopefully next time). We had lunch at Noodle and Congee Corner (粥面庄) on the upper 1st floor. Nice place with beautiful deco and delicious food.
Stop 3: Ruins of St. Paul (大三巴牌坊)
I wanted to walk there but Mark insisted on taking a cab. Actually I was glad we took the cab afterwards as I realised it would have been a fairly long walk uphill under the mid-afternoon heat.
Look at Mark's crumpled black face... his standard expression if we have to go under the sun!
I wonder why he love to play golf?
Steep narrow street in front of 大三巴牌坊
You can find 鉅記 bakery everywhere, the famous being the almond cookies. I sampled this and I must say though it is nice, it is unsuitable for a hot day. It absorbed whatever last bit of saliva I had in my mouth! But sitting in my air-con room now and typing this, I regretted not buying any back as it would go well with my Gong Cha.
Stop 4: St. Domingo's church and Senado Square (议事亭前地)
Follow the steep narrow street in front of 大三巴牌坊 and you will find yourself at St. Domingo's church and Senado Square. There are a lot of shops there but it was so hot and I'm so tired that we only wanted to hide in an air-con cafe and eat some ice-cream.
Sleepy boy finally ko-ed @ Senado Square and we had ice-cream while he napped (evil parents... hahaha!)
Stop 5: New Yaohan Shopping mall and Grand Emperor Hotel
I bought an Airbus A380 model for Bay in Budget Terminal, though he loved it, we try not to let him play with it as it is a hazard to us. The sharp and hard edge of the wings had poke into my eyes and it had "attacked" Mark too. When we walked past Yaohan, Mark said that we should buy him a new plane with more rounded edges for our own sake.
Old VS New
It started to rain and we were stucked at Grand Emperor Hotel, Bay enjoyed though as there was an uncle playing guitor (live music) in the lobby.bar.
Stop 6: Wynn Hotel
We waited a long time for a taxi, and when one finally appeared, he was changing shift and was unable to send us to Taipa! However, agreed to drop us at the nearby Wynn Hotel, yet another hotel, lined with lux shops. It is amazing how in the vicinity of 500m, there can be 2 LV shops!
Stop 7: Seng Cheong @ 官也街
The much anticipated 7th anniversay crab porridge dinner!
We reached there slightly before 6pm and already had to wait for a table. It it worth every minute of wait! We ordered the crab porridge (MOP 130), fried clams (lala), broccoli with clams and golden salted egg prawns (MOP 68 each). All the four dishes are yummy! Finally, my stomach is full again! 真是让我们这次澳门之旅画下完美的句点!
Total price: MOP 550 (a bit ex hor)
Day 4: Ah-Ma Temple
We had the afternoon to roam around before going to the airport and we went to see the Ah-Ma Temple (妈阁庙). It is one of the oldest and most famous Taoist temples in Macau (built in 1488). The name Macau is thought to be derived from the name of the temple. It is said that when the Portuguese sailors landed at the coast just outside the temple and asked the name of the place, the natives replied "妈阁". The Portuguese then named the peninsula "Macao".
Next to 妈阁庙 is the Maritime Museum, we went to take a look as we still have some spare time.
Admission: MOP 10 per adult. Free for children below 10 years old.
Learning a bit of the history in the museum
If there is still one thing we have not done in Macau, it has to be eating the portuguese egg tarts... and so we bought some. I'm not an egg tart person and only eat one every few years, so it's not fair to give any reviews. All I can say is that I dont feel like puking when I ate this. (ok, this is the best compliment I can give to any egg tart)
ok... portuguese egg tart - checked!
Home-Sweet-Home
It's time to go home... we had a relaxing and fun trip and spent some quality family time together with our little boy. We should try to do this more often. Bay is very playful nowadays and had invented a new game... he will count to 3 and then drill his head into papa. :)
Fortunately this time the airport staff had agreed to lock the empty seat next to me and Bay got a place to sit for free. Dinner is only served at 7:30 pm on board, so I had to buy an instant noodle for Bay instead but he is happy eating it. Jap curry rice is for me, Bay ate some too.
Money-face boy took a few dollar notes from me and he counted them and stuffed into his "pupet" repeatly.
Kept him entertained throughout the 3.5 hours.
We celebrated Grandma's 64th birthday at Sushi Teh.
Birthday girl with 公公 and Bay (who is busy perfecting his chopstick skills)
3 boys are more than a handful... now where are Bay's fingers?
Have you guessed yet?
Need any more clues?
The D24 Premium Durian Emicake was just too hard to resist
Rare pic! Everyone is looking at the cam. (Too bad bini can't join us)
Singing birthday song for Grandma. (and unintentionally caught on video... the blur husband who didnt realised that it was his wife's birthday! hahaha!)
Happy birthday Mum! Thank you for being such a dedicated care-giver for Bay.
