Ocean Park - Caricature

To immortalise the occasion of Hannah's birthday, our family sat for a caricature portrait in the 'Old Hong Kong'  section of Ocean Park.  



The artist did me the honour of drawing me chinese, and also younger and better looking than I really am.   I suspect I was a tricky subject with strange features that didn't quite match the inventory of shapes from which she builds her caricatures.

I'm sure there is a an old English joke along the lines that being a caricature artist in China must be the easiest job in the world - 1 billion potential customers who all look the same.     Of course,  I've never thought all chinese look the same, although a colleague once accused me of this when I forgot her name.   But it is also a fact that the physical 'types' and distinguishing features are different from Europeans - hair color for example - in a way that takes a while for your eye to tune in to.

I remember when I first arrived in Japan it seemed strange that 19th century japanese artists would draw Americans as red faced oni (demons).   It doesn't now.   In fact, after almost 10 years living in Asia I often find myself thinking many europeans are rather fat and strange looking, myself included.  

Ocean Park - Summer Splash

During summer Ocean Park has lots of events around the theme of ''summer splash' where kids can play in water and cool off.

After we bought some spare clothes, Hannah made straight for the water slide.   There was almost no wait so Hannah could keep riding it for an hour or so.

The slide even had a photographer taking great shots of kids having a ball.

For lunch we went to the Panda Cafe which appropriately enough serves roasted panda from the great free-range panda ranches of sichuan (not really).   It has a conservation theme with the paper on the trays identifying 3 species of fish including bluefin tuna that are endangered by over-fishing and suggesting that we reduce our consumption of them.

After lunch we sent to see a bird show and then to the children's playground area where there was a bouncy castle and a ride called 'Frog Hopper' which Hannah really liked.

Again, there was essentially no que, so Hannah could ride it again and again....   more than 12 times by her count.

Ocean Park has 3 areas with the main amusement park area being a cable-car ride away over the hill.  We didn't get out of the first section which is aimed at younger kids.  So plenty more to see next visit.

Ocean Park - Pandas and Monkeys

Hannah's birthday treat was a visit to Chris Patten's favourite place in Hong Kong, Ocean Park.  Ocean Park is a zoo, aquarium and amusement park which opened in 1977 funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.  It is one of Hong Kongs most popular attractions and the 33rd most visited tourist attraction in the World.   As a non-profit gift to the people of Hong Kong it has a nice family atmosphere with an educational / conservationist theme.

Its also just down the bottom of the hill from Parkview at Deepwater Bay and you can see the roller-coasters from Deepwater Bay beach.   Season tickets are very reasonable so I bought some for Hannah and Rika when we moved to Parkview last year but they didn't use them much.   We were put off by stories of the park being very crowded in the weekends and holidays.   In retrospect this was a big mistake...

Hannah with Popo-chan at the entrance.   I tried to talk Hannah out of taking the doll since I knew I'd end up carrying it, but Hannah trumped that argument with "but its my birthday!".

If you could plan your perfect trip to Ocean Park you would make it warm but not too hot, and overcast so as not to get sunburnt, with a nice breeze.   If you were clever, you would have the HK Observatory forecast 'heavy squally rain' for the weekend to deter crowds, and then issue rain warnings throughout the day promising heaving rain which never quite arrives.   And you'd time your visit to coincide with the Elite Models annual bikini picnic.  Which is pretty much exactly what happened.  Except for the models.

So we arrived at 10am, got our tickets with almost no waiting and then walked straight into the Giant Panda house which is normally famous for its huge queues.

The Panda's were not doing much though.  As if they had heard the weather forecast and decided to have a quiet day indoors.

The Sichuan Golden Monkeys next door were much more fun.  They were very cute, active and alert, although they seemed a bit bored with nothing to do except play chess and watch the endless lines of visitors troop past. 

This one took one look at Hannah and decided to come down from its tree to wish her 'Happy Birthday'.

It was clearly fascinated by Hannah and Popo-chan, and the three of them had a long chat through the glass, much to the excitement of the 60 or so other visitors who crowded round to watch and take photos.

The monkey then retreated to a tree for a while before coming down to Hannah again for another chat with Popo-chan.

So our top tip for Ocean Park - 'bring a doll'.

Rika bought a monkey nuigerumi.

Presents - Lego Friends

For Hannah's birthday we gave her the "Lego Friends - Hong Kong expat wives" set.

The packaging helpfully suggests scenes to build.  

Water-slide at the club-house pool

Drinking cocktails in the spa pool.

Chatting about 'marital aids' while the husbands are at work in their banks.

The set was a big hit with Hannah and she quickly assembled the sports-car and the pool-party.

Tipping the valet.

Pilipino maid serving drinks to a visiting Baribe.

6 Years Old!

On Saturday dawned a much-anticipated event.   Hannah 6th birthday!   

Hannah had left me firm written instructions the night before.    

So at 7am sharp we got up to open her presents.

video:  presents

Granny and Grandad sent Hannah the next 2 books in the 'Little house on the Prairie' series, and a cat game and a birthday card that makes bellbird sounds when you open it which was a big hit.

video:  bellbird card

Hannah's 'Shimajiro' course sent her a book about being 6 with some photos of Hannah.

A nice banner from the art teacher at Hannah's school.

Rika and I gave Hannah some lego which we then played with together.   Clever Hannah tried asking "where is your present Dad?" and then tried to negotiate a shopping trip to Windsor House to buy Minimi's present.

But rather than buying lavish gifts, we had planned to mark the occasion by taking Hannah to Ocean Park (see next posts), showering her with attention and generally spoiling her rotten by letting her do whatever she wanted or buy whatever small stuff she wanted because 'its my birthday'.

She was so excited at Ocean Park that she was literally jumping for joy.   I expected her to get tired and flag in the afternoon but she kept going happily on full power long after Rika and I were exhausted.

At Ocean Park she wanted this Minimi balloon....

...which Minimi found somewhat alarming when we brought it home.   Contrary to our expectations, Minimi didn't assassinate the intruder,  and instead showed his displeasure by pooing in Mums bed.

video: balloon Minimi

Hannah's choice for her birthday dinner was 'The Teahouse' at Parkview.  Hannah loves the all-you-can-eat buffet, or at least the deserts section.

It was rather sad to think that this is probably the last time we will eat at The Teahouse since our membership of the Parkview club expires at the end of this month, shortly before we move.

Hannah's choice of cake was Chocolate moose cake from the Fusion supermarket which we ate at home.

We did the Happy Birthday song with Baba, Ya-chan and Makoji-chan live on Skype video conference.

Then we looked at old posts on the blog from when Hannah was born and her previous birthdays.  It was nice to taklk about these together, and also be reminded of some details I'd forgotten, like the fact that that Hannah had been born at the hour of 'minimi'.

Hannah was allowed to stay up as late as she wanted, and went to sleep shortly before midnight after being read a chapter from 'Little House on the Prairie'.  

Writing and Drawing

Hannahs's school has been encouraging her to draw and write illustrated stories.  She also enjoys expressing herself at home by drawing and painting.

Occasionally in the weekends we practice writing kanji with brush and ink.

I also enjoy doing calligraphy and trying to get the strokes right.  Its quite addictive in a fiddly kind of way.

Hannah drew this picture of Doraimon and Nobita

I really liked this drawing.   We all find it funny how Minimi always runs around the flat after having a poo in his litter tray.  So one day Hannah wanted to draw it on the white board.

Hannah also likes to make nice presents and cards for people.  When her classmate Maddy was sick Hannah wrote a card saying that she had missed her.

She drew this family portrait for me which I've put on my wall at work.  It shows me in my suit with Rika and Hannah holding balloons.  I am drawn holding the hand of Ally,  Hannah's imaginary little sister.

I recently got home from work to find this delightful letter and drawing.   She has drawn Minimi curling up on my right side which he does every night,  and putting his paw in my chest as he sometimes does.

The letter also came with this reminder...

I love Hannah's 'Elizabethan' spelling.


Video:  drawing picture