First day of her third school...

Today is the first day of my daughter's new school. Here are some of the first she will experience today...

• It will snow all day.
• She will get to walk to school. 
• she will have kids from her school to walk to school with.
• She will have to wear snow boots, pants, heavy coat, hat gloves to walk 5 five minutes to school.
• Recess is outside unless it get -5 degrees.

Cultural Shock!!

Hong Kong, Dec 11th 2012..

Repulse bay beach

To

Minot, North Dakota, Feb. 1st 2013

Near our new home!

Traveling with a kid.

My traveling girl. Airports are like our second home.

My 10 yr old daughter and I are off to Minot,ND to our new home. We have a full day of travel.

My daughter has been traveling since she was 8 mo old. I have to say she is the best traveling partner to have. She does not stress, she gets upset, but she handles it well. She rolls with the flow and she kicks butt at Uno. 

What do I pack for her for air travel through the U.S. 

(Yes, packing for oversea flights is very different then packing state to state flights)

Truth be-told I don't pack for her any more. She knows what she needs. 

Our number one family rule for traveling:

  "Your bring it, pack it, or buy it; you carry it." 

We have held to that rule very strongly. We rarely made exceptions even when she was throwing a tantrum in the middle of the Airport (yes, she did that a few times). It is not as mean as it sounds. We always planned for her age and always had the right type of bags to help her carry what she needed. 

 There is no way I can go into every adventure we have taken since she was 8 mo old. I will tell you what she packed for this trip. We had four connecting flights and we are flying in winter time. We had to be prepared for possible delays and cancellations. I always go over the itinerary and I slip a copy in her bag in case we get separated. 

For this trip I had her dress in layers and to carry her winter coat

My daughter's packing list:

• She picked the bag for her carry-on
• Prepackaged snacks
• Empty water bottle: I have the flight attendants fill up the water bottle with a beverage.
• iPod
• Uno card
• 1 book
• 1 Pillow
• Her favorite stuffed animal (Froggy has travel with us since she was 8 mo old...we don't leave home without it)
• Journal blank paper
• Small pouch of color pencils
• Small amount cash
• Notebook computer

That is about it. 

Its cold up North!

We are flying up there on Thursday the 31st...when we land that evening it is suppose to be -15 degrees ...

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

LET THE FUN BEGAN!

**LATEST ON THE FRIGID TEMPS & DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS:

WIND CHILL ADVISORY:
In effect from Midnight through 4PM CST Wednesday. Through tomorrow afternoon, expect temperatures of 25 to 40 below zero.

WIND CHILL WARNING:
In effect from 4PM CST Wednesday through 9AM CST Friday. During this period, wind chill values will be between 40 and 50 below zero.

These are dangerously cold conditions. Precautions should be taken to ensure your personal safety, as well as that of children, pets and the elderly. Dress in layers and covered exposed skin. Avoid being outdoors for prolonged periods of time as hypothermia is a major risk and frostbite can occur in as little as FIVE minutes.

What's a kid to do??

My daughter was up early as could be and she wanted to shovel snow! Are you kidding me? She really does not have much experience with snow, but hey why not get some practice before we move up to Minot, freaking cold North Dakota. I thought sure she will stay out there for a little bit and quite because she would be too cold to finish.

 NOPE, again I was wrong, she finished the sidewalk and the driveway by herself!

Snow??

My daughter wished for snow. I told her if it snowed I would take her outside no matter what time it was. I made this promise after I heard the forecast state " no snow - it was going to go around San Angelo". I felt pretty confident...maybe do to sleep deprivation... Not sure what I was thinking when I made the promise. Anyway guess what happen at 11 pm tonight...That right, it started to snow!! AND we went outside to play!!

Small TX road trip

2 hour Road trip within TX. My daughter's face is plastered to the window with amazement from all the space, animals & landscape. The Upcoming year is going to be a year of firsts for her. This is going to be fun to see America through her eyes.

We are in San Anglo , TX

We are in San Angelo! Safe and sound...of course we are all wide awake :) 

This will be our home for the next few months. My husband will move up to Minot AFB in hopes to find or get a house on base soon. BUT it doesn't sound like it will be too soon...well that's the military for you...it is on their schedule not ours. 

Time to get some sleep!!

再見 Joigin- Goodbye

We arrived on Dec 12th on we are going to leave exactly three years later on Dec. 12th...and now It's time... it's been great! I am not one for goodbyes. The world is a small place and I am sure I will see you again either by chance or by plan. Until then take care of your liver and only drink good coffee,wine,whiskey and beer!

Goodbye 

Cantonese :  再見 Joigin. (In Hong Kong, "bye bye" is often used instead)

or

Chinese	:	再见
Pinyin	:	zàijiàn
Literal Meaning	:	Again See
Usage	:	Can be used as Good Bye, but its literal meaning is closer to See You

So long and thank you for all the fish...

We leave Hong Kong Dec. 12th 2012....where did all the time go? It feels like we just arrived here. We made good friend, we ate lot of wonderful food and we lived in a marvelous home. We did everything we wanted and more... there are no complaints about this magical playground.

It is time to move back to the U.S.- Where our daughter has never lived and we are missing our homeland immensely. Our next adventure will take place in Minot, ND! We have never been there, but we are ecstatic to be relocating there.

Hot Pot baby and Good Friends

Gold Coast Seafood Restaurant   

 金灣漁港火鍋  

Gypsy Girl 2012

Hong Kong has lots of Hot Pot Restaurants,  but if you want something more local and cheap beer this is the place you need to go.  We had nine people and we each paid HK$120.00  each, but we ate a lot food accompanied with many beers.

Check out openrice.com for the full details :
 http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=16632

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Drum Roll ... our new home is...

Minot Air Force base, Minot North Dakota! 

This was sent to me.

Home brewed beer!

My hubby cracked open one of his bottles of beer and OMG it is tasty! I am impressed with his brew!



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Java Road Cooked Food:Tung Po Seafood Restaurant

I went and it was delicious! I arrived there half hour before everyone else. I wanted to photos before the place filled up with people…

Then I realized today my daughter was in every photo. So I am not able to post any photos. I guess I will have to go back again.

I highly recommend this website: the person has taken great photos and info:

Directions thanks to Hong Kong Hustle:
http://www.hongkonghustle.com/food/397/java-road-market-north-point-restaurant/

Take Exit A1 from the North Point MTR station and you’ll be just across the street from the building where the market is.
Remember it’s up an escalator on the second floor.

Fresh market dining in North Point

The place I was telling you about:

Tung Po Seafood Restaurant
(located in the middle of the 2nd floor)
For reservations: 2880-9399

Java Road Cooked Food Centre address:
2/F, 99 Java Road, North Point
Hong Kong

No, I have not going yet. I am going tonight.

Here are some great websites to you can visit...

Hong Kong Hustle: http://www.hongkonghustle.com/food/397/java-road-market-north-point-restaurant/ :  Pretty good write up and great direction. The website overall is pretty a good guide for what is going on Currently in Hong Kong  happenings.

Hong Kong's cooked food centers: Dai pai dong without the rats: http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/none/cooked-food-centers-hong-kong-best-atmosphere-even-money-cant-buy-400539

 TUNG PO SEAFOOD
RESTAURANT:
 http://www.hiphongkong.com/eat/restaurants/seafood/tung_po_seafood_restaurant_north_point

NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY

 

http://nationalmargaritaday.com/

Check out the facebook page!

New food place

I am heading out with family and friends to a new food place. New for me, but not new to Hong Kong.

Why am I going here? This place has been featured on the T.V., in many, many Blogs and  in travel articles. I have been trying to get here for a while now, but something always gets in my way…usually my life. 

Tung Po Seafood Restaurant
(located in the middle of the 2nd floor)
For reservations: 2880-9399

Java Road Cooked Food Centre address:
2/F, 99 Java Road, North Point
Hong Kong

I will upload photos and tell you a little more when I get back.

My daughter started a blog: Froggy's Tattered Notebook:

My daughter has started a blog. We are using this as way to teach her about technology, the internet and for her to share her photos and knowledge about life at her young age.

Froggy's Tattered Notebook: http://froggystatterednotebook.blogspot.com/

"I am Froggy Girl. I am 9yrs old and I live in Asia. This blog is about my travels around the world with my Gypsy parents. I will share my favorite places, photos, books and my love for nature and Frogs!"

That my My Froggy girl

HIre someone to take you on a hike...

WALK HONG KONG

 

http://www.walkhongkong.com/homepage.html

Walk Hong Kong offers guided urban walks and day hikes catering to all tastes and suitable for all fitness levels. Our aim is to provide you with local knowledge and give you experiences that enhance your understanding of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has some superb hiking trails. The best-known hike is the 100km MacLehose trail, which intertwines with the 78km Wilson trail. Hong Kong Island itself has a 50km hiking trail. For our walking tours, we select the most interesting stages of these trails, often with variations based on local knowledge.

Walk Hong Kong Guided Tours: http://www.walkhongkong.com/alltours.html

We can take you hiking in some of Hong Kong's most unpopulated and pristine areas. Or join one of our guided walking tours that include Kowloon markets, Hong Kong history, photography workshops or bird-watching tours. Take advantage of Walk Hong Kong's extensive knowledge and share in our passion for this region

 

Sum Ngai Brass Ware Manufacturing Company

I took a group of people today to Sum Ngai Brass Ware Manufacturing Company. It was a great day. Anyone can go and I highly recommend the trip! Here is how you get there.

Website: http://www.sumngaibrass.com/s/home.asp

MTR Directions

1.      Admiralty station (red line: Tsuen Wan Line 1) get off at Mei Foo Station.

2.      Mei Foo Station get on the West rail line (Pink line) get off at Kam Sheung Road station.

3.      Exit the station at Exit B- (Travel time is about 1 hour)

Walking Directions

1.                  When you exit out B, continue to walk straight and walk over the footbridge.

2.                  Continue straight, cross at the crosswalk and Turn right (at the crosswalk you will see St Jude’s). 

3.                  You will pass a sign on your left “Red Brick house market” and public toilets.

4.                   Continue on until you see the sign on your left for the Sum Ngai Brass Ware. 

______________________________________________________________________

Don’t forget to bring…

•       Bags to carry your goodies

•       Money, Money

•       Octopus card

•       Umbrellas

•       Snacks

•       Don’t forget cameras

•       A sense of adventure J

FAQ:

Does the Brass Ware Manufacturing Company accept Credit Cards and Cash? They accept both

What can I buy there? Brass ware / Cloisonne Ware / Porcelain Ware / Lamp Shades

What else is in the area besides the Brass Company to visit?  On the weekends there are two open markets to visit. One market is right out Kam Sheung Road station- Exit B and the second market place is the Red Brick house. We will pass both on our way to the brass company.

Where can we eat? There are restaurants farther down the road pass the Brass ware company. The MTR station has a bakery, a 7/11 and a Tea & Soup shop. According to the Market websites the open markets might also have food.  CLO recommends bringing snacks.

Photos:

This photo was taken from http://www.sumngaibrass.com/s/p2.asp

Photo from Rambling Gypsy 2012

Photo from Rambling Gypsy 2012

Photo was taken from http://www.sumngaibrass.com/s/p2.asp