Macau Day 4

One of the cool things on Taipa, is that you can walk everywhere in a maximum of 15 minutes and also the mixing of the Portugese colonial style with the modern casino look. Day 4 and we went to check out "Fun City" ( kids playland, which included arcade games, much to the boys delight), somewhere in the Crown complex and went Hard Rock for lunch for a great touristy experience.

There are so many entertaining things to see in the casinos. With all this walking, I became quite fond of our 3pm cappacinos to get through the afternoon. A welcome stop and good to half a few minutes sitting down. Especially as usually accompanied by cake.

You can't really see, but this casino below had the most spectacular sculpture that rose out of the floor with impressive music playing. All very fun for young and old.

Macau Day 3

Not to be outdone by our first day of adventures (which happened on the second day in Macau, since we were so jetlagged, we stayed local the first day), we bussed down to the far end of the island and went on the COOLEST battery operated bikes round a racing car circuit. All for about $1 for 20 minutes. Followed by a play on the strange dark coloured sand - the place to go on weekends for the expats (well, that and the Westin resort for breaky) and lunch at Fernandos which was one of the best meals ever. It was so good, i didn't take any photos of it, you just get the empty checkered table cloth. It's a bit of a local tradition to go there for lunch. No booking accepted and you queue for opening at 12. worth the wait.

But a full morning wasn't enough, we had to jump off the bus on the way home and check out the Pandas and other animals in the little zoo. Free entry. $2 to see the Pandas. $15 to buy a panda handbag for Bianca............Yes we saw real pandas and ones made of plastic flowers too, maybe they're around in case the real ones are sleeping? The last pic on the top row below is of all the cranes at the back of Panda park, construction of new casinos and hotels and appartments is going nuts.

Then back through the Turtle park on our way home. Too many animals is never enough.

Macau Day 2 - what a day

It's amazing how far a 5 year old can walk if they want to. We had the biggest day ever on our second day in Macau, I was exhausted after all the walking and seeing that we did but Jake the champion didn't complain at all. It was an amazing day. We started at the Venetian, which was humungous and totally fun. Jake desperately wanted to do a gondola ride and in the spirit of why not, we're on holidays, I agreed. I knew I had really relaxed quickly when I agreed to buy the singing bear afterwards.

After knocking off the Venetian without even getting lost and finding the Portugese Tart bakery, we went on a Casino transfer bus (complete with Loui's pram), just 3 kids, 2 mums and lots of serious gamblers to the other island to check out some more fun casinos complete with amazing Alice in Wonderland style courtyard and big birdcage in one, amazing Chinese buffets for just $15 per adult, kids free, luxury shops, dancing fountains and a lot of flashing lights.

As you can see, Jake was pretty excited to see Dilan again. 
After our lovely tour of the Casino's, Jake and I headed off to see the Portugese part of town and the fort on the top of the hill. Macau is such a cool place, the mixture of all the Chinese sights and smells and the Portugese buildings and some Portugese food. Two for the price of one!

When we returned home, everyone else was as stuffed as us and no one was that hungry after our huge lunch so we had a very delicious meal, rice and soy sauce. Yum! It's surprisingly good. And simple. It also works well with veges and a splash of soy on rice. The possibilities are endless. The main thing to remember is, just add the soy, no fancy other business. So good. Especially when you're stuffed.

Crisis management

Another rainy day in Sydney, husband sick in bed and I agree to the kids suggestion of painting. Two waters knocked over, full of dirty paint water, 3 meltdowns and paint everywhere, you could imagine it. Paint kept turning up for hours, even after I thought it was all gone, on the odd bit of floor, 2 rooms from where the painting had taken place, in the bathroom, in the kitchen....paint travels well. Maybe I could hire them out to people training in crisis management.
Still at the end of it, Jake declared that he was going to be an Artist when he grows up, so that should be fun. Last night Toby decided to become a vet when reading a book about the jobs that people do.

Jake n Julie's trip to Macau day 1

It has been a daunting task to try to capture Jake and my recent holiday adventure. So I'll break it up into smaller pieces.

We went to Macau to visit our good friends Lucy and Neil who had just moved up there in January to work for the Sheraton which is opening the biggest Sheraton in the world up there shortly. Also handily, home of Dilan, Jake's very best friend.

Booking the trip was all very exciting and I just had one moment as Connah drove us to the airport where I rather wondered what I had been thinking. jake had been super excited for weeks of course and people kept asking me if he was actually going to Hong Kong, including his teacher on his last day of school, as she was surprised that he had told her he was going to Hong kong "today". He was right.

School finished at 3pm and the fight wasn't till 10pm that night. Of course there was super excitement at the airport and upon boarding the plane. And finding the entertainment unit...but eventually Jake did sleep for about 5 hours. He was absolutely angelic the next day too considering how little sleep he'd had, especially as I'd made him schlepp through hong kong via train and underground to get to the ferry to Macau. There was GREAT excitement upon meeting up at the ferry terminal.

Lucie n co live on the Taipa island, where most of the new casinos are, on the 31st floor overlooking a very cool park, currently under construction and nothing is more than a 15 min walk with most stuff only 5 mins away. One of the coolest things though is the humungous gardens that they share with 15 other blocks of units that includes an indoor play zone for the kids, gym and swimming pool. Nice.

Style file

Little Miss Bianca has very definate opinions about what she wears lately. It's delightful to watch. A little frustrating at times too, when there are screaming meltdowns if the right clothes can't be located, but overall lots of fun. Isn't she gorgeous?

Economies of scale

The other day when Toby and Connah were in Melbourne, while I was putting the washing on the line, Jake decided to put Bianca to sleep for her lunchtime rest to the relaxing sounds of his harmonica playing. Win win.

Jake's first course on legs

Last weekend or so, Jake did his first orienteering course of his own free will. I'm pretty sure Sarah and I took Jake n Alex around a course when they were less than a year old but this one Jake asked to do.
We were at a new map in oatley, Sydney. Actually, also my first course for the year. After I'd been out, Nana and Poppy were out and we'd played with sticks for a while, Jake asked to do a course.

He loved it. He wanted to go again next weekend. Though my commitment levels don't quite run to travelling to Armidale where this weekend is, we'll Definately be back for the next Metro League in Centennial Park.

When Toby arrived back from Melbourne with Connah that night, Jake was telling Toby he had to come too. This passion must run in the family. Go Jake.