Family trip 2015 - TW: CJ and TP

Going to do a 5 parts-postings about our Taiwan trip in November. The trip took place during the first week of school holidays, which was the 3rd week of Nov. Lynn commented last year (in P2) that we did not take any overseas trip during her P1 and P2. We kind of agreed to take her to somewhere snowing, but when we planned for it, we decided to do Taiwan. Hopefully, skiing at Korea will materialize in this Dec (2016).

As WK and myself had been to Taiwan multiple times, and we were lazy planners, we went to 2 places only. The spent 3 days/nights in Cingjing and Taipei each. It was a super relaxing trip.

WK made a boo-boo at planning our transport to Cingjing on day 1. We took a flight into Taipei Taoyuan airport, and was suppose to have a cab pick us up at the airport to take us up to our stay at Cingjing directly.  We reached the airport at 1+, and the cab was arranged for 4+, so we had plenty of time.  Luckily he decided to try our luck to see if the cab can come earlier, and thus called the driver.  The driver called us when he reached the airport, but we just can't find each other.  After talking on the phone while going around the airport for sometime, suddenly we realised that the cab was at Taichung airport! By the time we took the train to Taichung, we finally boarded the cab slightly over 7.  We finally reached our stay at slightly before 9.  We must have wasted close to 3 hours.

On this day, I have these few photos to show super relaxing our schedule was, ha!

Our pride, our Changi airport, at 6+am.

Selfies and wefies!!!

Taipei airport

2+ pm, while waiting for our cab.  Trying out the free photo booth

5+pm, waiting for the train to Taichung

P3 Journey

(Written: 2nd Jan.  A long overdue post, but not even sure what to write.  Start from the back then.)

  Not surprising, we did not attend the prize giving for this year as she is not the top 3 of her class, nor did she get the top Maths price award.  She's now in one of the 2 best classes of the cohort, thus not unexpected that she's not the top 3.  Based on her marks, and some of the programs and tests she took, she is probably the top 10 in her class.

The highlight of P3 for kids who are academically incline, and their parents, is probably GEP.  She got through to the 2nd round, which is supposed to mean that she is in the top (10 -20%, I'm not sure) of the country's cohort.  There were 12 in her class who made it to the 2nd round.  Assuming another 12 from the other top class, her school has exactly 10% (24 out of 240 P3) going into the 2nd round selection.  And eventually it is exactly top 1%, ie 2 students from her school, getting into the GEP program.    Lili asked if Lynn was disappointed.  Both Lynn and myself were not, because I always knew that she is not the top 1%.  GEP is for gifted kids; she is academically inclined, but not gifted.  I set Lynn's expectation too, telling her that it is unlikely for her to get selected. 

This year's year-end exam, I was disappointed that she fell ill and did not take her composition exams.  I can only console my myself that it is the learning journey that is important, and not the exam itself. 

What do I think Lynn got out of this year's experience.  My guess are that, she's finally starting to get a little taste of what competition means.  Definitely, what it means by 一山还有一山高。The teachers will give them some pressure, but not excessive.  And she like science, which is a good start.  I'm glad that she went through another happy year at school.   Next year, it is still the languages that she has to work hard on.

Finally, I want to document this conversation that I had with her.  At 9, she's already starting to have thoughts about life and purpose (for me, it only started in secondary school).   Not that she asked about what's life and it's purpose, but she said that sometimes she feels "empty".  Especially after play.  I said something to her, but I can't recall what.

Just 2 days ago, during my dinner with Aunt Cindy, I asked why she doesn't consider taking up a hobby so that she can retire.  The context of this statement is that, she can't retire because she is not the kind that can enjoy doing nothing.  She explained that it is because her hobby is making money, that's why she is not retiring.  She enjoys her frequent travels, have been to many exotic places experiencing different cultures and natures.  She has the money to retire and go for more traveling.  But she said that when she comes back from these purposeful travels, she still feels "empty".

I think, the conclusion is that, money and play can buy one happiness when one's playing, but they don't buy fulfillment.  What we need in life is fulfillment.  Now, I'm more ready for my gal, when she brings up the topic again.

As I type this (230pm), the renovation is still ongoing.  So excited for her, her new room and study table to accompany her in her journey and challenges in 2016! 

9th BD present

This was Lynn's 9th BD present from her daddy, a trip to Sentosa Adventure Cove, Dolphin encounter, with her cousins.

WK and I were engaged with the electrician (for our house reno) that morning, so we left home only at 12noon.  Had chicken rice for lunch downstairs, and reached  Adventure Cove at slightly before 2.  It started to rain when we were approaching the entrance.  After we changed, the rain became a drizzle, which came on and off that afternoon.  The rain was not that disturbing, but it was rather cold.  Luckily, most of us were strong enough, except for Lynn who came down with a low grade fever for the following 2 days.   

The kids were anxious to meet the dolphin, so they kept asking if it's time yet.  For the first 2 hours we did a few attractions, such as the lazy river, the tree house, and the wave pool.  The kids were quite well behaved that afternoon, only getting out of sight a few times, and will wait for us when we fell behind.  And Chloe was able to catch up with them, now that she is coming to 7.  Other than bonding with her cousins, the other bonding was with me, since we took a bath together!  And there's a photo of us at the wave pool together, as her older cousins charged for the deep end.

Although I disapprove of spending so much for a kid's birthday, I must admit that I enjoyed the dolphin experience.  And Lynn's cousins enjoyed tremendously too.  They were keen to try all the contacts with the dolphin, whereas Lynn didn't want to do a few.  I think she's intimidated by the size of the dolphin.  And so there's not many individual photo of the BD girl and the star.

So what's my own experience?  I was surprised by the smoothness of it's skin, and how nice it felt to touch it.  It's teeth looks golden from far, because it is yellow.  So I concluded that only human have white teeth, cos we brush, ha!

Here are the very pricy, but quite priceless photos of our very happy trip!

It was drizzling, and surprisingly, Matt is the "drama king" here!

At the wave pool:

Regrouping at lazy river

Highlight of the day!

First of all, some group photos:

 

It looks like from this series of photos that WK and I had the most fun!!

The kiddos interacting with the dolphin

The graceful big guy

Hellos, hugs, and kisses!

Purple!!

Too excited to sleep; going to be 2am .. The contractors left at 615, and we went for dinner and came home close to 8pm. Had been cleaning till now, cos too excited with the new furnitures! Will do a proper blog on it. Right now, just 2 teasers..

Woof!

New beginning

Happy new year folks! Long weekend this new year as 1st jan falls on Friday. I am starting the new year busily and with happy anticipation, and yet with time to eat dessert and blog. What a great beginning!

On New Year's Eve, me and WS made arrangement to carry out our "waffling" tradition.  Eventually, it was dining, with aunt Cindy too.  The food was great, dessert so-so. I like the place, and hope to go back there real soon..

Yesterday I spent the whole day cleaning, moving and covering furniture as there is renovation work to be done today (it is happening right now as I type this at 11am in my living room). Shall post photos only when I blog about my reno.

This evening and tonight will be lots of cleaning. I am kind of excited because the colors I choose looks great! 

Tomorrow, I need to work. Year end closing.. Life of an accountant. 

2016!! Wishing myself, happy days ahead!!