Traveling with kids

Here is the thing, when parents travel with their kids... Parents know when, where too, AND parents know the mode of transportation they are traveling with their kids.

It truly annoys me when Parents don't plan properly for traveling with THEIR children. When parents don't plan properly they (parents), kids and everyone else suffers around them. There is a reason why people who don't have kids "MOAN" or act like they are exasperated when they are seated near a child on the plane.

Than I started to think...maybe some parents don't know how to travel with their children especially overseas traveling. I think I should post some tips about travel with kids.

What qualifies me to post travel tips w/ kids?

Great question!

1. We have been traveling with our daughter since she was 8 mo old.
2. My husband and I grew up traveling with our families.
3. Road trip with an 11 mo old through Texas to Nebraska
4. Several overseas flights from Asia to the U.S.
5. Road trip with a 6 yr old TX to LA to MS to MO to NEB then reverse it. Almost a 2 week road-trip
6. I have travel and vacationed with 5+ kids.

I am not an expert, but I have learn a lot ....her is the key plan and organize yourself. a kid will be a kid, but a parent has no excuse not to be prepared.

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RICKSHAW SIGHTSEEING BUS TOUR

I highly recommend taking a bus tour when you move to a new place. We did it in Japan so we could learn our way around and it is a great way to meet people. Bus tours are a quick way to learn the main streets and famous landmarks... comes in handy when you get lost   The Rickshaw tour is great becauseit give you lots of freedom  and it is not very expensive.

Here is the information :
" Specially decorated in a rickshaw livery, the "NWFB Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus" offers you a convenient hop-on, hop-off service. Like riding on a rickshaw in the old days, you can explore Hong Kong with a 540-degree panoramic view, this time on an air-conditioned double decker, and enjoy a spectacular sight of all the attractions along the way" http://www.rickshawbus.com/en/about/index.html

Your Touring Choice

1. One Day $50 Hop On Hop Off - to experience the fun of riding on Open-top Sightseeing bus
2. Two routes cover 18 declared monuments and 9 Grade-1 historic buildings
3. Passengers can enjoy the scene along the routes and take our bus service to travel between the hotspots
4. Commentary video available on-board.

Stanley at night

Stanley is not a party place. It is a place to relax, but to be honest I expected more energy. Here are some photos at night. I have only lived here a few month, so maybe it will liven up after it warms up more. The photos were taken at 7 pm.

What is around stanley?

I am new to Hong Kong  and  right now I spend much of  my time trying to figure out what is around me. What fun things can we do as a family close to home. What small little things can we do on a Sunday afternoon?

1. Stanley is on Stanley Market Rd
2. Stanley Prison is on 99 Tung Tau Wan Rd
3.  Stanley Military Cemetery is on Wong Ma Kok Rd
4. Stanley Market is on Stanley Market Rd and Stanley New St
5. Stanley Tin Hau Temple is on 119 Stanley Main St

Just copy these down and show the taxi driver the address

Beach life

Photos taken by the Rambling Gypsy 2010 Stephan beach.

I like to sit on the beach, look out and think about how my life has changed. I would have never guessed I would be here. I knew I wanted to travel, but I never really thought I would make it this far. Many of my friends keep telling me how lucky I am...in a way I could agree. But really luck had nothing to do with it. I didn't just land here I had to work to get here. My husband and I never knew this would workout like this. We knew that we needed to work hard. So am I lucky...Yes, because I found a wonderful man who wanted the same as I. Lucky that I have a great daughter who wants to travel and works just as hard for the things she wants. Is it luck, That I get to live in other countries...No, we worked hard to get to these places, it wasn't giving to us. I need to stop and go to bed.

Good night!

Flowers

Sometimes…we need to stop, smell and appreciate the flowers around us.


Flowers teach us that things don’t last forever. Beauty doesn’t last forever. Our favorite aromas don’t last forever. We want so badly sometimes things to last forever. But if we had appreciated them before they were gone…our heartache would be lessened for when they passed.

I love taking photos of flowers. I can take many photos of the same type of flower and no two will ever look like…similar to a snowflake. Today I was walking without my camera and I came across the most beauty flower. I had no camera to preserve this moment. I inhaled the flower’s engaging aroma, touched it flimsy petals and watched it sway in the wind. I won’t forget this flower all because I didn’t take a photo of it. Today I was forced to take time to appreciate what was put in front of me. Maybe I need to spread this design to the rest of my life. I am trying.

If you haven’t had a chance to see some flowers today, here are a few of my own photos from over the years….

“The picture of a flower in a botanical book is information; its mission ends with our knowledge. But in pure art it is a personal communication. And therefore until it finds its harmony in the depth of our personality it misses the mark. We can treat”~Rabindranath Tagore

Japan - Tokyo > Ueno area

" Cherry, cherry cherry trees begin to bloom, and bloom is over -- in the park where nothing (it seems) ever happened."  (Resitated at Poetry Forum Japan : Machi Tawara at japan Society Thursday, June 1, 2000) http://www.gtpweb.net/twr/ny3.html

If I miss anything right now, I am missing Japan's cherry blossom season. If you are visiting Japan for a short time during March and April you really need to go to the Ueno area. Walk around the area, hit the zoo then finish off with the Science Museum. There is a Ueno train station; which makes it easier to fine the place.


Ueno Area has the Tokyo zoo and AWESOME science Museum. Ueno is the cultural area of Tokyo; well that's what I was told. When I lived in Japan, Ueno was one of my favorite places to visit. Once I went and watched a punk out, all girl Japanese band play polka music. Another time I watched a man strip down to his underwear and stand on a box-For the love of Art. He disappeared very quickly.


One of things Ueno is famous for is the Cherry blossoms. The whole area is covered in these glorious trees. When the wind blows the blossoms look like pink snowflakes flutter down around you. The only problem is every tourist and half of Japan’s population will be there with you. But it is something you need to do once and take lots of photos.


Address: 5-20 Ueno Koen Taito-ku, Tokyo Information: 03-3828-5644  Access: Ueno Station
Cherry Blossom Season: Late March - Early April
Cherry Blossom Festival: March 20 - April 4, 2010 (*Light-up Time: 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m.)



Websites I recommend:
http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=357&pID=996  
http://www.wa-pedia.com/japan-guide/ueno.shtml
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3019.html

Hong Kong Vs Japan

I have only lived in Hong Kong a few months, but coming from Japan, this place is extremely easy. I can't get over how easy it is to get to point "A" to point "B" in no time. Everyone speaks English and it is wonderful and sad at the same time. Knowing the language helps me understand the culture better, on the other hand people speaking English helps me get what I want lot faster.

I am currently taking a Cantonese class; which I should be at right now, but time got away from me. Anyway I am not stressing, I am picking it up pretty well and I am able to use it.


The craziest thing happen to me today...I found myself missing Japan. Why is that? I was so happy to leave! Oh, I will visit Japan again, but I don't ever plan on living there again...It was way to stressful for me. You see, I like the word "no". I like telling someone "no, I can't do that." or "No, I won't be able to make it to the party."- That was the big difference between Hong Kong and Japan from the start.


The first time I heard someone say "no" to me directly in Hong Kong was in a taxi. It was strange to hear it, I was a little shocked to say the least. I couldn't help but smile; I said "thank you, keep the change." The taxi driver probably thought I was drunk. You never know how much you appreciate the verbalization of the word “No” until you go without it for awhile.
This post didn't really hold any importance, but that is why I am the Rambling Gypsy.

Photos

I am still wondering if this is a good idea? I haven't told friends or family members about my blog...I think... I will keep this my little secret for awhile. How fun is that!? My own little secret :) Ok- our little secret.
Anyway... the photo in my header was taken in Hong Kong, 2010.  It is near Repulse Bay beach.

I end on this note:

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” ~Martin Buber

MY Blog

These are my thoughts, my adventures, my experiences and it is my life. I am not a professional writer and I don't pretend to be one. I have tried blogging before ...I stopped because I found life was far more fun living out and about then sitting at a desk. But, I am going to try it again... "WHY", because I have learned many things during my travels and I hope to share them. I hope people can learn from my mistakes or at least be better prepared for their travels. I won't be writing everyday and sometimes weeks and monthes might go by, but I will return.
I will end with this note:
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."



— Mark Twain (The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It)