Holiday trippin' in 2012!!!

Yay, this year is gonna be a really exciting year! It's my greatest dream to travel & globe trot as much as I can before I grow too old to walk too far... Hurhurhur...

Besides the fact that we will be relocating to the Motherland (aka China),

we'll be going for a 5-day long holiday to Hongkong,

3 weeks long trip to Europe (Lorient - Paris - Rome - Prague).

 Lorient - a quaint little place in France

Paris - to stand in front of the Eiffel Tower & smack a silly pose like a mainlander

 Colosseum in Rome, Italy... Gonna do a gladiator!!!

 

 Prague - no clue what to do there but except that it's the top few European places to visit

And maybe a probable trip to Japan (if budget pemits).

YIPPEEE!!!! I'm excited to death.

Just read ladyironchef's blog on a must-try patisserie in France, Paris. This is gonna be my Europe must-do list (making a mental note so I don't forget!):

1) Have some recommended macaroons & pretty cakes from Pierre-herme (Paris)
2) Have alot of italian food - I love ITALIAN!!!
3) H&M shopping!
4) Take loads of pictures
5) Visit a european open market
6) Have a very tall Gelato ice-cream!

But I'm also stressed about the planning, the transport, what's baby gonna eat and how Ashley's gonna survive a long-haul flight. Life's (or fuss-free travel) is never the same with a baby!

To HongKong & Back (ALIVE!)

I had been deliberating abt blogging about the Hong Kong trip with Ashley, coz I just didn't where to start. Her nanny thought I was mad to attempt this death-defying stunt of bringing Ashley alone to Hong Kong (Daddy was flying in separately from elsewhere and was gonna rendezvous with us there). I think I was MAD. Otherwise I wouldn't have booked the tickets pretty last minute and head off for a trip like this. The concept sounded easy - just pick the baby up and bring along on a holiday! But in actual practice it's must crazier. 

All I can say is I think I can really do ANYTHING after going through this trip. Like SUPERHUMAN.

Ang pow given by nanny - "good luck" for baby's first time flying

 Woke up at 4am to prep everything - make sure lights and electricity supply off etc. Arrive at airport at 6am. Thankfully her godpa drove us to airport. Otherwise I couldn't have managed all the luggage on my own.

 Ashley's half awake face makes me wanna laugh!

I had a huge bagful of toys, snacks, iPad but halfway through, Ashley lost interest and was bored. Thank God I had a very kind Norwegian man sat beside me. He helped to carry and play with Ashley so I can have my plane-meal and go to the washroom. Ashley enjoyed playing with him and it helped "shorten" the flying time. I think he's a Godsent.

Here's how a bassinet on flight looks like.

We finally arrived, met Daddy at HK airport, checked into the hotel room and by then it was late and almost time for dinner. 

 Ashley's sweet smile (left pic)

Daddy brain-freezing baby with Xu Liu Shan! (right pic)

 Mostly we moved around with the baby in their carrier, mode of transport - MTR. The Hongkongers are so unlike Singaporeans. They would play with Ashley, touch her hands and "Ho tak yee" her. I've been taking the LRT quite frequently recently and Singaporeans usually mind their own business and seldom do I get people in the train playing with her. We observed that there are very few kids and infants in HK, maybe that explains why a baby in the train is "Ho tak yee" coz it's not commodity.

 Once I arrived, I hunted down Ashley's meal. It was really hard to find! Not that I die-die have to feed her organic (though I have a preference for so), but even the normal commercial babyfood versions are not so common. And by the way, they cost about 20-30% higher in HK.

Here's where the stroller comes in handy. For the next few days, I basically push her about the hotel room in the stroller - when I brush up, I park her stroller right outside the toilet... I feed her in the stroller...

 We stayed at the LANGHAM Hotel along the glitzy streets in Tsim Sha Tsui.

 Basically throughout the day, Ashley's mode of transport is a black parachute, strapped to my chest.. Hahahhaha...

 The hotel dropped nice chocolates and daily inspiration notes (pictured left)

The humorous housekeeper who arranged Ashley's sleep toy (Suzie bunny) neatly in the middle of the bed wearing Ashley's wool cap. 

There was a H&M right near our hotel. Bought Ashley this very cute white wool cap to keep warm.  

Periodically, I would snap her face on my iphone to see if she had dozed off (couldn't see from my angle with the cap covering her)... And once she has, YAY for me coz I can stop and check out stuff! (When she's awake she let's me know that I'm not allowed to linger too long looking at something - i think she must have been briefed by daddy to stop me from shopping!!!)

 

In the nights when daddy is free, we hang out together....

 and go for MEALS!

The craziest thing is all the restaurants (even the ex ones) did not have a baby chair! We had to carry Ashley in our arms throughout the meal. Super child unfriendly! BOO! 
One of the nights, we walked by this shop selling crabs. The following night we couldn't resist but went back there and order some. Don't ask us how we ate crabs and having to carry baby in hand (without baby chair). We just did and we enjoyed every bite... :P

This is what I mean. I have to carry Ashley in my right hand and use my left hand to eat. In every restaurant/cafe/eatery in HK.

Not to mention that the many of the toilets do not come with diaper changing stations. The nursing rooms are a rare find.

How do the Hongkongers with children survive around town?!?!?!? I am really curious!

How I prepared for a holiday with an infant

I'm typically well-prepared whenever I go overseas - research best spot (according to my budget to stay in), places to visit, where to shop, what to eat etc. But travelling with a baby makes me very nervous! I make sure and double make sure I had everything covered! (Especially since I was going to travel up with Ashley alone! I cannot leave any stone unturned!)

About 1+ week before the trip, I started to plan extensively. 

1) How to bring the baby to walk ard on my own (since Hong Kong is super child unfriendly)

Checked with mummy Limiin... She shared tt the last time they went there, they brought just a baby carrier and her hubby carried bb in it most part. But I was gonna be alone most part. I would break my back carrying her for 4 whole days!

Bring my own stroller? I'm flying up on my own and gotta carry baby, bring luggage, baby's food + milk + diaper bag... I dun have a spare hand to lug an additional stroller there! 

Solution: I checked with the hotel and they are able to loan me one during my stay. Problem solved!

2) what to do with the baby during her playtime... I toyed with the idea of bringing her swimming in the hotel's pool... 

Went to check out swimming diapers...

At the same time, I checked out infant swim float too...

Eventually abandoned this idea coz it was gonna require additional packing & I decided to stick to the "expose baby to the swimming pool after 12 mths" resolve. So i guess the only thing we can do is do walk around and go shopping... Which has become one of Ashley's fav past time by now. :P

2) How to bathe baby

I read mummy Sharon's blog about how she used this bathing float for bb Aaron while traveling in Paris. I would have almost missed this out! She was kind to loan her float to me... :)

3) Bags & carrier - comfort issues
Bought a Hellolulu bag with many wonderful compartments hidden within! It is the PERFECT bag for the diaper, wet wipes, food containers, ur wallet, separate compartment for iPad!

Tested out BACK-carrying the baby with our trusty Infantio carrier... Honestly, I feel more comfortable FRONT-carrying (think the same goes for baby... since the back-carry position only allows her to see my back)...

Bought a pair of flats for the endless walking + 7kg weight on my shoulders.

It was the start of the winter in Hong Kong and that means more bulky clothes to pack into the luggage.

Half my luggage was packed with Ashley's diapers. The other half was packed with my breast pump (abt 3 kg), baby food preparation items, thermal flask etc.

Hmmmm... Where should I find space for my clothes and toiletries?!!!!

Sabai Dee BANGKOK!

 Just made my yearly pilgrimage to Bangkok again! This time with new travel kakis!

We took a super early flight and as it was still too early for check-in, we headed for a massage to kick start our trip. From the recommendation of a thai friend, decided to try a new SPA place...

Asian Herb Association at Sukhumvit Soi 24  

  Very nice decor... Just like my old fav, Healthland SPA

 What's new though was Asian Herb Association has a guest card that we have to fill up to state our preference for hard/standard/soft and where we would like the massage to be focused on... :)

Here's the massage room... Much nicer than Healthland's...

We tried the herb ball massage... I would say it feels "healthy"! And after all that cracking and backbreaking, I feel revitalised... Though at some point the massage was a lil' too hard (I selected "standard", pls remind me to tick "SOFT" next time!!!)

One of the key agenda of the trip was to make a green suit for our groom-to-be, PPK. So we found a tailor at MBK Center. Check out the text of their standee outside the shop:

GOD MADE U A MAN, WE MAKE U A GENTLEMAN!

We headed back to the hotel to check in. I decided to forsake Baiyoke Boutique this round for a newer hotel that's closer to Platinum.

 BUDACCO The Living Place

 Oriental Room (abt S$60/night)

 

I would say it's a nice & comfortable stay for that budget!

We headed to Patpong - the "Ping Pong" area (where the transvestite shows and stripclubs congregate)

These were the food we tried from some recommendations I read on Bryan Wong's blog entry 

 Eating noodles right beside a bustling road completes the entire Bangkok jam experience!

 Kway Chap - Thai style! Very peppery, my fav kind of soup!

 Didn't know if this was the chicken rice that Bryan Wong blogged about, but it was the only one we found. Not very yummy... :(

 Sunday is Chatuchat Day!!!

 Mad human traffic at the super popular weekend market

 Of cos, another agenda for this trip was to celebrate Ping Pong King's birthday (without him knowing!) Here we are, all dressed up for his surprise dinner!

 Toc toc toc - everyone has to make a Ping Pong face for the birthday boy

Highly recommended by my thai friend (and also Dining & Entertainment magazine for 10 consecutive years), we dined at the very royal Baan Khanitha (South Sathorn branch)

 Upon reaching there, I realised that me and Diddy have been there before! During our trip 2 years ago in 2008.

 

 The happy burst day cake make up of crepe cake, cheesecake, tiramisu and toffee cake! So special!

 The birthday boy

Success!!! To the wonderful surprise planned by his fiancee!!! Part two, we strolled to Vertigo (which was just a stone throw away)

 The very nice view from the 61st floor... I felt a little light headed at such high altitude that I thought the building was moving even though I only had a mocktail... Hahaha

As usual, I now have an entire wardrobe of a year's supply of clothings!  

Hip hip hurray to shopping in BKK!!!!