Hong Kong Beyond the City Lights: Geoparks Dream

Hong Kong is on our bucket list. No, it's not because Dudu saw it on Transformers. It's because my only visit to Hong Kong was almost two decades ago. Needless to say I only can vaguely remember the city. I remember there's a region called Tsim Sha Tsui, there's this train going uphill with a Madame Tussaud on top. I'm pretty sure the happiest place in earth hadn't opened its doors in Hong Kong then.

But that's about it.

So, despite having been to Hong Kong i couldn't write about the places I go. This post is written as a participant to #WegoDiscoverHK blog contest and I'll be taking the outsider point of view, talking as if I've never been to the city.

Back then, it was a standard tourist visit, as I went with an arranged tour group from Indonesia with my aunt and cousin. We probably went where everyone went. Now that I've visited few other countries out there, I realize there's always something more to a destination that what's offered on your local travel agents offered. 

The other day, I was surprised to see this picture on my instagram feeds. I captured the scene before it went away. For me, who always thought that Hong Kong is identical with scrumptious dishes and city lights, something as naturally scenic as this is a pleasant surprise. Especially when my current travelmate, Dudu, is an adventurous outdoor boy. I figured if there's something this pretty, there should be more to Hong Kong than the skyscrapers have to offer. Of course something like Disneyland or Ocean Park is tempting and we do want to spend a day or two there, but we decided to look around. We found this interesting site.

Jakarta Toys and Comics Fair 2017

In the midst of Lego Batman craze, let’s just say the Power Rangers stole the Jakarta Toys and Comics Fair weekend. Or at least that’s what we thought. The event at Balai Kartini Jakarta has been a regular date destination. We’d make time for a few hours, checking out toys, and if we’re lucky we’d go home with a few new friends for Dudu’s action figure collection.

The 13th Annual Jakarta Toys and Comics Fair (2017)
When: 11-12 February 2017
Where: Kartika Expo, Balai Kartini, Jakarta
Admission: Rp.50,000 (Presale Rp.45,000)

This year, the event arrived a little early, just few days shy of The Lego Batman Movie premiere on local movie theatre in mid-February. But when I propose the schedule to Dudu, he read on and decided for day two. “I want to see Power Rangers,” he reasoned. A valid one because, well, he’s been into Power Rangers for a while. Plus, the movie is coming out and he’s been watching the trailer dilligently on Youtube. So, when a Power Ranger cosplay/live action is scheduled for day two at 1 PM, there we are.

Best Date of 2016

Where have we gone on a date last year? As I tried to write this post, I was struggling through the post I’ve written on the other blog as well as pictures for posts we’ve yet to write about. It’s hard to pick the best of because each adventure is unique. There’s always a new story, a new thing to learn even if we’re visiting the same place. So in the middle of my writer’s block, I asked Dudu about last year.

Mama: Best Travel of 2016?
Dudu: Hm…
Mama: Train to Malang?
Dudu: It was last year?
Mama: Yeah.
Dudu: That was memorable.
Mama: Singapore and Legoland Playdate?
Dudu: That was so much fun too.
Mama: Universal Studios Halloween?
Dudu: That’s scary, but I love it!
Mama: So which one?
Dudu: Do I have to pick? Can we just write about all three?
Mama: Okay, now can you write about why each one is the best of 2016?
Dudu: WHAT?

Here are the winners!

Visiting the Future World at ArtScience Museum Singapore

It’s another day at Singapore immigration. A Sunday afternoon, when we line up with a bunch of other people, catching a flight out. My cousins, one of them is Andrew’s favorite uncle, dropped us off a few minutes earlier. We haven’t passed the border when Andrew asked: “when are we going back to Singapore?”

“Soon,” I replied. “When ArtScience Museum changes it exhibition.” Which by the time I wrote this entry, Big Bang Data had wrapped up and supposedly continues its journey somewhere else. So, it’s time for us to plan another Singapore trip.

The hand-shaped museum at one corner of Marina Bay Sands is the newest addition to our favorite dating place in Singapore. Its changing exhibitions, touch-and-feel as well as interactive sections always keep the children busy. It’s a museum alright, but a family friendly one. Something we’re always longing for on our weekend dates. Anyway, we arrived at theArtScience Museum on Friday noon, me and two tweens (Andrew and my cousin Audrey).

First we have to line up and it took us about 15 minutes to reach purchase the tickets. Ticket counter is now located at the basement (which is where Big Bang Data and The Future World also located) and the lobby has transformed into an exciting-looking café we would try next time. I paid my tickets and the kids got in for free. It’s Family Friday at the museum, where up to 4 children younger than 12 can enter for free with a paying adult. So it’s a real bargain when you pay SGD 30 for 3 people (kids ticket alone costs about SGD 19 each) to explore all three exhibitions in the museum.

How to reach ArtScience Museum? Took the MRT to Bayfront Station, exit Marina Bay Sands and follow signs to the museum. There are buses too, just find one that stops at Marina Bay Sands.

The Future World is recommended by many, but the lady at the ticket counter said that the exhibition is timed and the next admission would be at 1PM. We’re roughly 50 minutes away, so we decided to turn left from the elevator and entered Big Bang Data.

The Best (Gyu)don Search: A Tale of Two Cities

“Gyudon is rice, with meat and half-cooked egg on top. It’s salty, well, it’s delicious.” ~Andrew

This past year, the” Gyudon” has become an important part of our life. The obsession with meat and raw/half-boiled egg yolk on top of a bowl of rice started with a family brunch at Sumire Yakitori House in Singapore. Located in Bugis, the Japanese restaurant was first discovered by Andrew’s uncle and aunt who reside in our favorite city-country. They stopped by there after church on Sundays and found the small restaurant delicious as well as homey. So there we were, trying out their menu.

Their most delicious dish is called Stamina Don, stir fry pork belly rice with homemade ginger sauce and raw egg yolk. On our second visit to the restaurant, Andrew ordered two bowls and finished them out in no time. Andrew, needless to say, fell in love with their don and upon returning to Indonesia looked for a similar flavor with no match so far. Maybe because it’s pork? But I’m the kind of person who doesn’t believe that a single ingredient can make that big of a difference. It has to be the whole combination.

Stamina Don of Sumire

Pushing Start Button

I remember playing video games with my siblings when I was young. It always started with pushing the start button. You pushed it when you're ready to start playing.

My game doesn't have a start button. It just played and I had to "survive" the levels. Ready or not, the game is on. Although for those who knew me and Dudu, the word "survive" is an extreme exaggeration. And as you read this blog, you probably realize that too. The only thing we have to survive is a school subject called mathematics haha. 

Our adventure game has only two players: Mama and Dudu. Just like Mario and Luigi, Sonic and Tails, Donkey Kong and Diddy, Zombie and ... Kpop? Oh well. We went through hills and mountain, through jungle and collecting coins as we stroll along. That's why it was a date, and has always been a date until today. I blogged for the sake of keeping track and updating people about our life, especially those who happen to be far away. Entering the 10th year, I realize that our dates need a blog of its own. 

I love going places and my parents are probably aware that their only daughter prefers to be on the road than home. I would jump on the first plane that took me anywhere. Planes, unfortunately it's not trains or buses or cars. My son, on the other hand, is a real homeboy. Despite being so kind-hearted to follow his Mama around, he would prefer staying home, watching DVD or playing video games. We found peace somewhere in the middle and this blog is the witness.

Dudu was born in the United States of America, in a small town called Columbia. He moved to Indonesia when he was a toddler and settled down in suburban South Jakarta. When he started school, we moved north of the city center and started a new life in a high-rise building. Since then Dudu had his own 5-star-rating for hotels we stayed in, which include the panoramic view from the window. 

The requirements are:

1. Wi-fi, preferable in the room as well.
2. Swimming pool. 
3. Staying above the first floor.
4. Great view from the window (to town, city, beach, mountain, etc). 
5. Bath tub in the bathroom.

Bonus star if the room has connecting door, if we're travelling with other family members or friends.

Oh, we have a 'third wheel' tagging along sometimes. The 30-year old teddy bear, mistakenly being called "Panda" who loves to play tennis and staying away from sunshine so he's not tan. See, we don't mind company. Panda just started his own instagram account. so please check it out.

Unlike my own adventure, this blog has a start button. I bought the domain when I'm ready and pretty much determined to consistently post on my blog. We already passed 10 levels without losing much of life, I hope we can pass the rest. So you'll find the old post written (or translated from my other blog) before this so-called "first post of the dotcom." I like to think of it as reminiscing journey back in time, a record of how we passed the previous levels. 

So, welcome on board. Don't forget to fasten your seat belt. The flotation devices are under your seat. Hope you enjoy the flight.

Battle of The Toys 2016

There’s a motorcycle parked up front the Battle of Toys gate, right before the ticket checking line. A motorcycle that looks familiar. Dudu took a pose with it, he asked. Then I told him it’s Belalang Tempur (literally means Combat Grasshopper), Kamen Rider Black’s motorcycle. He had no idea who they were, as clueless as I am about the event.

Dudu and Belalang Tempur

We’ve been to toys fair regularly, be it a paid event or the smaller free-of-charge ones at shopping malls. But we never know what to expect from these events. Over the years, we’ve been regular visitors of Jakarta Toys and Comic Fair, which was held in March, but recently there are plenty of similar events held around town. One of them is this Battle of Toys, which was held at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta in August 2016.