Ocean Park (Halloween)

22-October-2006

As usual, we visit OP in the Halloween season. It's been a regular visit for years. There is nothing too special to talk about anymore. Anyway, I want to post some pictures here as a rememberance.

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Vincent likes to take photo with this kind of cartoon characters lately. In his age, I guess these are their idols.

Everytime they go to OP, they will attend to this talking tree. It's not that they like to listen to what it said, but they just love to watch the owl popping up from the window there every 30 sec or so.

And everytime the owl pops up, they would find it so amusing...???

A maze. I think it's a simple one, but apparently, it's not that simple for Vincent.

I can tell it from his facial expression when he didn't know which way to go at the center of the maze. I have to stand at the exit there so that he can use me as a direction to go.

What William regard as a hot air balloon is actually the Ferris Wheel. This is how he looks like when he was anticipating a rise from the ground.

When the Ferris Wheel started to descend...

When he find himself landed safely...

and he wanted so much to play it again and again.

This water-spraying game cost HKD6. It will last for about 2-3 min only. Quite pricely, but they kept nagging us hard, so we have to pay each of them at least 1 game.

For William, he played it twice that day..#$%&^*@#$&

Vincent has attended a short wizard class at the Witches Wizard Academy. Thought they would teach the children some sort of simple magic trick?

Apparently, all they need to learn was to make a wizard hat...

and then, stepped up the stage and spelt the curse 'ba-la-ba-la-bi'...

that's enough to qualify him to be a new graduate of the Witches Wizards Academy.

While Vincent and I was attending the wizard class, William and KS was out there filling colorful sand into the selected bottle...

and this was what they made together.

As usual, the beatiful underwater world is the must-go-place everytime we visit OP.

With our newly bought SLR digital camera, what we couldn't shot last time (due to dim light environment) can be shot now. Here are some of the pictures taken inside the aquaria.

Just like what we've seen in the movie - Finding Nemo. How I wish we could move this aquariam back home.

This is not sea weed, but a sea horse. Incredible evolution.

This tiny little fish lives in freezinly cold water. Although not very photogenic, they actually look very elegant and graceful in a way. I like to stare at her for a long period of time.

Angel fish

puffer fish. cute

the boy's favourite - shark

thousands of fishes swimming here and there, just like busy metropolitan folks

stingrays

Hello sea turtle

That fish in the middle, is the biggest amongst of all

This giant fish is about 4.5 ft long, I would guess its weight is over 50kg.

Met Enoch in the park. We took a quick lunch in the newly open Bayview Restaurant. The view is great, but we have to wait for 30 min before it's our turn to be seated. Luckily the boys have each other's company so they didn't complain about the long waiting time.

The next time we will visit OP is this year December - Christmas time.

Ngong Ping 360

1-October-2006 (National Day)

Years ago, we've heard of this cable car project that would transport people to the Po Lin Monastery directly. Personally, I think it's a great idea because the only road-way to see the Big Buddha is far too many turns and twists and bumps and time consuming. Without hearing many news during the construction period, then suddenly poeple were talking about the Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail was about to open to the public somewhere around Jun-2006. Unfortunately, due to many technical problems, the opening was delayed until end of Sep-2006.

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Ngong Ping 360, it's a cute name. What does 360 mean? 360 degree?

I remember the last time we paid a visit to the Big Buddha was 6 0r 7 years ago. Finally, there we go again, by taking this brand new cable car transportation. I felt a bit excited about the trip, like we were going for a vacation in the overseas again.

Ticketing counters

This is the return ticket that cost HKD88 (adult), HKD45 (child).

Getting ready to go...

Ngong Ping Skyrail is a visually spectacular 5.7 km cable car journey, travelling between Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island that would take 20-25 min per journey.

Guests will travel in comfortable 17-person cabins, enjoying panoramic views of the Hong Kong International Airport, South China Sea, the flora and fauna of North Lantau Country Park and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue.

Some physically very fit people choose to hike instead of taking the cable car...

and they can reach the top of this mountain. Cool..

Ngong Ping Village and Big Buddha from a distance.

Ngong Ping Village, which is adjacent to Ngong Ping Skyrail's Ngong Ping Terminal and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue, occupies a 1.5 hectare site on Lantau Island. Architecturally designed and landscaped to reflect the cultural and spiritual integrity of the Ngong Ping area.

the Village incorporates several major attractions, including Walking with Buddha, Monkey's Tale Theatre and the Ngong Ping Tea House, as well as a diverse array of dining, retail and entertainment experiences.

They kept talking about the stone that Vincent held in his hand. Totally ignored me or the camera

Kids can be very simple at times. For instance, playing with a small stone is good enough to make them happy for a long time. And my source of happiness is simple too...they happy, I happy

It's really amazed to see how they've turned this place in to. Before that, this place is a quiet and peaceful religious land. But now, it's definitely more commercialized

Acrobatics demonstration, one of the ever-changing array of street theatre and performances. This si-fu was standing on the razor-sharp blades. What he used is 'chi-kung'. Amazing.

KS's masterpiece (I )

KS's masterpiece (II)

KS's masterpiece (III)

KS's masterpiece (IV)

Vincent has proven himself a big boy now. He is no longer fear of movable cartoon-look characters, like he used to be. William, on the contrary, is still very anxious to see this 'animal'. He didn't even dare to look at 'him' at a closer distance, not to mention to take a photo with him. 3 years of age difference between them does matter here.

I wish you would hug me like this forever. Then I would be the happiest mom in this world.

Big Buddha as a backdrop.

Tian Tan Buddha Status, the world's largest, seated, outdoor bronze Big Buddha statue. Weighing over 250 tonnes, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue is 26 metres high and opened in 1993. Tian Tan Buddha Statue is the major centre for Buddhism in Hong Kong and is located next to the Po Lin Monastery.

Wanted to climb up the stairs to reach the podium there. But when I imagined William might want me to carry him at the middle of the way, I surrendered. Maybe next time.

When I was small, my mom used to teach us that when we go into people's house, we should greet that people; and when we go into a temple, we should greet the Gods. She is not a superstitious people. I guess she just want us to show some respect to whoever tenant stay in the premises. And I will teach my boys the same value too.

Like most of the people did, I made my wishes to these Gods too. I think they must be very busy to deal with all so-many wishes pouring in from all walks of life. So, though general, I've made mine as specific and precise as possible. Hope they get it clear and loud.

1. All of my family members and friends live happily and stay healthy

2. My kids will become a filial son to their parents, and my husband will remain loyalty to me

3. A steady financial growth. Of course, I don't mind a fast growth at all. And I definitely welcome a full strike in 'Mark 6'

4. World peace

The backyard of the temple. Quiet and peaceful.

I was busy shooting photos. Sunddenly I heard William's voice from behind : Ko-ko, pull me up. I turned my head, and saw this dreadful scene. Vincent, who has climbed up there, reached out his hand and gathered all his strenght to pull his little brother up...Spontaneously, we rushed over to stop them. It's dangerous if Vincent couldn't grab him tight. But I stopped when I was almost there, and stopped KS who was by then, near enough to catch William. Ok, I wanted to know if they would succeed or not?

Yes, they made it. I think I saw a victory grin on their face.

This remind me of a recent popular TV serial "Prison Break", broadcasted every Tue night at 10.30 pm. The big brother was set up and was about to put on the electric chair in a month time, for killing the Vice President's brother. The small brother, who believe he is innocent but run short of time for a legal appeal, plan to rescue him from the prisoner ward. He study the blueprint of the prison in every detail, get it tattoo on his whole body, and then get himself imprisoned by commiting a minor crime. There start his almost impossible rescue plan....

For better for worse, I hope you 2 would support and help each other along the journey of life. That's one of the reasons we want to have at least 2 children, for providing sibling companionship to each of them

We went home around 3pm, before the long queue started to form at the cable car station. And it's very comfortable on the way home, with just another couple inside the same cable car with us.