Train, Kangaroo and Jesus

July 31, 2009 By 13 Comments

vbs21

Last week, Mr. Z and Miss J attended the VBS program at our local church. This year the theme was Boomerang Express which involved train and Australia outback. It was a perfect theme for Mr. Z. When I first dropped him off at his classroom, this was inside his class- a life-size train where he could be a conductor. What can be better than this for a boy whose obsession is all about the choo choo train.

I’m so thankful for the things that the church provided in VBS program. All teachers were volunteers and we didn’t have to pay a dime. Kids came back with a lot of materials. It was a perfect way to spend a great Summer week for them.

vbs

At the end of the day, we checked out this large globe in front of the church. When I took a picture, I didn’t notice it but now I could see that Mr. Z stood in front of the Thailand & Australia map. :)

Check out other travelers’ Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Filed Under: Activities

Bangkok with Kids: Tips to Beat Bangkok Heat

July 29, 2009 By 12 Comments

Thailand is a land of smiles but it’s HOT. Seriously, I came from Thailand so I knew. We were joking that there are 3 seasons in Thailand – HOT, HOTTER and HOTTEST. How did we survive such climate? It’s all about knowing what to do in such situation.

1. Arm yourself with umbrella or hat to give you shade

You will see a lot of people in Thailand walk around with umbrella or something to cover the Sun. Because we know that it’s hot and we don’t want to get burn.

bkktipssweet

2. Keep it cool from the inside out

There is nothing beat the heat better than a good ice-cold popsicle. Forget about sugar. You and your kids will need to cool down from the inside. One of the best thing Mr. Rojo loves is Watermelon Slushy. It’s refreshing!

bkktipsfan

3. Use that fan

You know.. that fan that you see they sell it all over the sidewalk. Pick one up. It won’t cost you an arm or a leg but it will save you from the heat exhaustion. It’s all about the circulation.

bkktipsgame

4. Seek out shelter throughout the day

No matter where you go in Bangkok, there will be plenty of shade or indoor place for you to escape from the heat. Being, it’s a coffee shop, a restaurant, a bookstore or even a Sala. Take a break and give yourself a rest before heading out again. Here was Mr. Z and Miss J during our quick break. A little handheld game came in handy.

Filed Under: Thailand, Travel Tips Tagged With: , , , , ,

Things to Pack for Family Backyard Camping with Kids

July 27, 2009 By 16 Comments

We did it! We had our first family backyard camping this past weekend. Well, before any of the outdoor enthusiasts said anything, you have to know that we (especially Mr. Rojo) are not outdoor type family. We don’t like hot and humid weather. We don’t like bugs. We love technology and gadget. We don’t like roughing it. So for us, to step outside our own comfort zone and sleep outside in a tent is really big deal. So I just want to post about what are things we bought in order to make this camping more enjoyable.

This will be more so for families who are looking to try something new, who don’t have any experience like us. Also this is not a complete list to allow you to go camping just yet. Just think of this as a dress rehearsal for your camping. We ate at home, shower and play inside (since it was hot in the evening) before we headed down to our tent. This list will get you started on enjoying family time outdoor in your backyard.

- Family Tent: We have a great advice from several of our friends to buy the biggest tent you can afford. For a family of 4, we opt for Coleman Concept 8-Person 14′ x 9′ Tent. Another tip is to buy the cheapest we can find. So Coleman tent seems to be a good choice for us.

- Air Mattresses: Another great tip from our friend. Get the most comfortable mattress you can find. We are car camping so we don’t have to worry about getting the lightest sleeping pad. We already have one air mattress but we will need another one for the kids. We chose Coleman Queen Sized Air Bed because it was on sale and it’s just a few dollars more expensive than Full-size. It’s always good to have enough space at night.

- Sleeping Bags: We can’t sleep without sleeping bag. We are not sure which one to get since there are so many types for different climate. But I know that we are just starting out and we won’t be doing any extreme camping. So we opt for the middle of the range temperature (40 degree). I figure if we will camp in a colder weather, we might just pack more sweaters and blankets.

- Tarp: Why tarp? Well, I couldn’t even find a footprint for our tent and tarp is probably cheaper. We bought tarp that a bit bigger than our tent size which I think it’s a really good idea. It will allow you to get in and out of the tent without tracking the dirt inside.

- Air Pump: We picked up Coleman Rechargeable Air Pump for our air mattresses because it doesn’t come with it. We could have gotten the air mattress that has the built-in pump but it will cost more. Plus we can use this air pump with another air mattress that we already have.

- Lantern: Since we know that we will always camp where there is electrical outlet at the campsite, we chose Coleman Rugged Rechargeable Lantern so that we don’t have to worry about the fuel or battery. This lantern has pretty good lighting and also has nightlight feature.

- Kids’ flashlight: There must be some incentive for the kids to make camping fun. And I don’t think it can be any cheaper or easier toy than a flashlight. We picked Coleman Kid’s Companion Flashlight and Lantern from Walmart. It’s more than just a flashlight. They can pull it out to make it a lantern or use it as nightlight. Perfect for their midnight dance.

Stay tune for our post on tips we learn from our first sleeping in a tent experience!

Filed Under: Camping, Travel Tips Tagged With: , ,

East Meets West

July 24, 2009 By 13 Comments

chinese starbucks

This was the picture we took on our pre-kid visit to Beijing in 1999. It was such a trip for us. We went there on business trip. We spent a month in Tian-Jin working ourselves off and only got a chance to go to Beijing one of the weekend. It was a totally different experience between Tian-Jin which is a manufacturing town and Beijing – the capital city of China.

We took a train from Tian-Jin to Beijing. I would never forget the smell.. oh.. the smell at the restroom in the train station. Whatever my body wanted to do, it would have to wait. I came from Thailand so squat toilet wasn’t new to me. But half wall? Why half wall? How can one proceed to do their most private business with people walking by? I just don’t get it and I didn’t wait to find out.

Once we arrived to Beijing, it was better. :) We got to practice our bargaining skill at the silk street. Sometimes I thought to myself.. why did I bother with this 50 cents discount. But I think they enjoyed the process as much as we did. We came back with lot of stuffs. Mr. Rojo still has his jacket we got there.  The backpack we got didn’t make it home after the trip.

popeyes

We enjoyed the comfort food like Starbucks and Popeye’s Chicken. We had the best time partying at Hard Rock Cafe. Our idea of conservative Chinese was thrown out the window in this bustling city. Ah.. I can’t wait to go back. I wonder how much progress it will be after 10 years.

Check out other travelers’ Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Filed Under: China Tagged With: , , ,

Travel With Kids: Tips Before You Go to Paris

July 21, 2009 By 6 Comments

eiffelatnight

My good friend just recently came back from their Summer vacation in Europe. I’m so excited to talk to her about her experience during her trip. Her first stop was in Paris. She gave me great tips on things that went wrong during her trip.

Double and Triple check your hotel information

When they arrived in Paris to their hotel which they booked online, they were in for a surprise to found that their hotel has no A/C. Apparently, it is typical to a lot of hotels in Paris. This is one thing that I have never known about before but now I know that it will be one of the feature I will make sure to check.

Verify the museum hour for different days of the week

When you travel back and forth between time zone, the jet lag and the date change can get to you. Make sure to double check the date and time of the operating hour as it may be different each day. And check your calendar when you arrive to make sure that you know what day you are of the week. :) It happened to me a lot especially when I flew back to Thailand. I have to stop and think what day was it.

Don’t forget about the Metro System operating hour

When we travel, we could get carried away visiting all those fabulous tourist attractions that we forget about how we can get back to the hotel. The night time at the Eiffel Tower is one of the amazing sight to see. But make sure you have a way to get back to your hotel because the Metro System might not be operating after the light show.

Give yourself time to adjust

It will be best if you give yourself some time after arrival to adjust to the travel exhaustion and jet lag. So give yourself one extra day to relax instead of doing lot of sightseeing the first day.

Do you have any tips before anyone heads to Paris to share?

Filed Under: France, Travel Tips Tagged With: , , , ,

The Q Family at Ciao Bambino

July 20, 2009 By 1 Comment

apr8_atl-children-museum-11

I have an honor to be a guest post on one of my favorite family travel blog/site – Ciao Bambino.

Ciao Bambino is a great resource for family travel with children. Amie has done such a great job creating a site that full of resources and real experience information. Most of the hotels recommended by her site either have been vetted by herself or her friends. Ciao Bambino not only provided hotel recommendation but destination guides and tips for parents. So I’m so thrilled when she asked me to write a guest post for her site.

Please take a moment to check out my post about Top 5 Kid-Friendly Excursions in Atlanta.

Filed Under: Blogging, Georgia

Dreaming of: Camping with Kids

July 19, 2009 By 6 Comments

tent2

This past weekend we took the kids to pick out our new camping tent. It’s our family first tent – Coleman Concept 8-Person 14′ x 9′ Tent. See! Mr. Rojo and I aren’t an outdoor type couple. If there is no internet access, most likely you won’t see us there. But lately, I have started to do things out of my comfort zone and I guess in turn force Mr. Rojo to oblige.

Today I’m dreaming of camping with my kids. I dream about packing up our car with camping gears like family tent, sleeping bags, cooler and other necessities.

beachfront

I dream about settting up our tent at the tent site with the lake view like the one in Sawnee campground which is around the corner from our house.

I dream about playing all day long without any worries. I dream about sitting around the fire and making smores. I dream about sleeping under the stars.. Ah.. Hope that dream will come true soon. Next we have to go pick up a few more camping accessories.

Now that’s my dream. Check out other travelers’ dreams at Mother of All Trips.

Filed Under: Activities Tagged With:

Maybe I will be so Lucky

July 18, 2009 By 2 Comments

legoland_california_entrance

So I have been talking about how I love Twitter and how for the life of me never won any lotto or any raffle in real life. But online, my luck has been pretty good. I have won T-shirt and hat last year, tickets to Thomas & Friend Live a couple weeks ago and a subscription to National Geographic magazine last week.

I think I want my lucky star to help me with this giveaway at ThingsMomsLike. Why? Because it’s a freaky great giveaway and it will be perfect for our vacation plan.

See! We are planning our family vacation to San Diego specifically to visit Legoland, San Diego Zoo and Sea World. And what did I see today? ThingsMomsLike is giving away a 4-family hopper passes to Legoland AND 2 nights stay at Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort!!!

So what do you think? You think I might have a chance. :)

Filed Under: Blogging

Day Trip from Bangkok – Sri Racha Tiger Zoo

July 17, 2009 By 12 Comments

Sri Racha Tiger Zoo

For a quick day trip from Bangkok, Chon Buri is a great quick escape. Our last trip to Thailand, my sister chartered a van for our whole gang. It’s probably the best way to get around Thailand if you travel with a group of people. Our 3 families took a van on the early morning and headed to Ancient City. After lunch, we made our way East to Chon Buri for our next stop at Sri Racha Tiger Zoo.

It’s one of many attractions in Chon Buri area. We stopped by to have a quick lunch at the un-descriptive restaurant. They don’t even have a name. Just a roof with a couple tables. But as typical Thai restaurant, the food was great.

My sister went to get the tickets for all of us. We arrived late in the afternoon so the weather wasn’t that bad. The park was shaded all throughout with trees but don’t be fooled it could get hot quickly so don’t forget hats and fans.

Sri Racha Tiger Zoo - Crocodile

After a quick review on what on schedule, we headed to the Crocodile show. We sat behind the glass wall because we arrived late. If you go, get to the show a few minutes before show time for a great seat without smudge glass door to block your view. Even so, the kids enjoyed the live show and entertainment.

Next, we headed to the Tiger show. The show involved several tigers and fire ring. I didn’t know what to think about this. Since I knew, the living condition for these animals won’t be ideal. The kids were rather busy climbing up and down the stairs than paying much attention to the show. I guess it might be the low lighting that made it hard for them to see. But once they lit up the fire, it did hold their attention for a while.

Sri Racha Tiger Zoo - Elephant

Our next stop was the Elephant show. The highlight of the whole show had to be the chance to feed bananas to the elephant. They really enjoyed the interactive up close and personal.

Sri Racha Tiger Zoo - Pig&Tiger

We skipped on the Pig race and slowly made our way through the park. Our last stop in the park was the nursery area where my brother-in-law and my sister took the picture holding the cub and fed them milk in the bottle. They also show how the pigs were raised together with the tiger cub.

It’s definitely one of the different experience you will get here. It’s not the same as western zoo and I will leave it up to your own decision whether you want to visit this place. For me, one time is enough. For Mr. Rojo, his memory was ‘It was really stinky like a giant kitty litter box that has never been cleaned’. For my kids, they just remembered feeding the elephants and they truly enjoyed them. So that’s our views.

I would like to put it here that my goal of this blog is to give honest opinion on my travel GOOD and BAD so that other parents will have information to make their own decision.

Check out other travelers’ Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Filed Under: Thailand Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

5 Fun Kid-Friendly Scenic Train Trips

July 15, 2009 By 4 Comments

Fun kid-friendly train excursion

I’m sure I’m not the only mom of a boy who loves train. Any kinds of train rides bound to make Mr. Z happy. Even a subway ride is one of the highlight of his trip anywhere no matter where we go. So I have been looking at different scenic train rides around the country for some cool, affordable and fun train ride. Here are my 5 fun and family-friendly scenic train trips in America.

1. Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, North Carolina – With 53 miles of track, 2 tunnels and 25 bridges, the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad will provide fun, exciting and breathtaking landscape of Western North Carolina. The railroad provides many excursion including special events throughout the year.

Departure City: Bryson City, NC
Fee: Starting from $34 Adult, $19 Children
Contact: Great Smoky Mountain Railroad 800-872-4681

2. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, Georgia – Take a 23 miles round trip scenic Blue Ridge Railway along the beautiful Toccoa River and into the rush Chattahoochee National Forest. Then take a 2 hour layover to visit Copperhill/McCaysville – a town with 2 names lie between the state line of GA/TN.

Departure City: Blue Ridge, GA
Fee: Starting from $26 Adult, $13 Children
Contact: Blue Ridge Scenic Railway 877-413-train (8724)

3. Grand Canyon Railway, Arizona – This is not just another train ride but the ride back in time. The Grand Canyon Railway trip might fall into our typical affordable budget but it’s well worth a ride. Kids will enjoy the 1950s era passenger cars with musicians roaming the car to serenade them or the passenger service attendant answering and providing history and fun knowledge about Grand Canyon.

Departure City: Williams, AZ
Fee: Starting from $70 Adult, $40 Children
Contact: Grand Canyon Railway 800-THE-TRAIN

4. Alaska Railroad, Alaska – When you talk about Alaska, there is no doubt you will think about amazing, breathtaking landscape. There is no better way to enjoy the beauty of Alaska with children than a train ride. This is probably not one of the affordable train ride but it’s one of special experience that will last a lifetime.

Departure City: Multiple Cities, AK
Fee: Starting from $59 Adult, $30 Children
Contact: Alaska Railroad 800-544-0552

5. Skunk Train, California – Ok. You have to admit the name already made you wanna ride this train. The Skunk line runs 40 miles from Fort Bragg on the coast to Willits on US Highway 101. Along the way, the tracks cross some 30 bridges and trestles and pass through two deep mountain tunnels. The half-way point of Northspur is popular lunch spot, giving passengers a chance to snack before continuing to Willits or heading back to Fort Bragg.

Departure City: Fort Bragg and Willits, CA
Fee: Starting from $35 Adult, $20 Children
Contact: Skunk Train 866-457-5865

Filed Under: Family, Travel in North America Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

13 Things to Do in Asheville with Kids

July 13, 2009 By 12 Comments

downtownasheville

We’re planning our weekend trip to Asheville, NC in September. I have heard about Asheville before because it’s home to the Biltmore Estate – one of the largest home in the US. What I didn’t know was there are so many things to do in or around Asheville with kids. Who would have thought this little gem in the Blue Ridge Mountain can be a fun destination for a whole family. Check out my list of family-friendly things you can do with your kids in Asheville.

1. Western North Carolina Nature Center - Is it a Zoo? Is it a garden? It’s a living museum for plants and animals natives to the Appalachian region. This nature center has a lot of events planned throughout the year. Kids will get to learn and understand more about the nature environments through hand-on and sensory programs. The price is very affordable for the whole family (Adult -$8 , Kid (3-15) -$4 and discount for Asheville resident and senior).

2. The Health Adventure – A unique health and science museum for children. This museum explores the wonder of our human body and encourage curiosity in kids to learn and raise awareness about our health and science. There are different programs and also traveling program throughout the year. And the benefit of small town museum, the price is relatively affordable (Adult -$8.50 , Student (12&up) -$7.50 , Kid (2-11) -$6).

3. Chimney Rock Park – Enjoy NC’s newest State park at Chimney Rock Park. Go up to the top of the rock to enjoy the amazing, panoramic view. Family with small children don’t be afraid there is an elevator to take you up to the top within 30 seconds. For family with bigger kids and love the adventure, the Outcropping trail will take you there in about 20 minutes. There are several hiking trails for different preference. Great Woodland Adventure Trail and Hickory Nut Falls Trail are highly recommended for family hiking. A tip for family with small children, bring backpack carrier or rent it at the park for $8 as the trails are not suitable for stroller use.

4. Biltmore Estate – One of the most popular attraction in Asheville, at 175,000 square feet and 250 rooms, it’s the largest house in America. The Biltmore Estate consists of the Biltmore House, the winery and the manicure garden. It will be a great day trip for a family. Kids will enjoy roaming around the property with over 8,000 acres. There are plenty of activities provided throughout the year. The price tag might be steep but I think it’s well worth the visit. Check out their website for events and special discount.

5. The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad – Having a train lover son, we always look out for fun activity wtih train. The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad is a perfect excursion for a visit to Asheville. Kids will enjoy scenic train journey through the Great Smoky Mountain. There are special train event throughout the year being the Thomas Train Ride, the Snoopy Easter ride or the Polar Express on Christmas. Check out their website for more details.

6. Asheville’s Fun Depot – A place for the arcade lover family. This family entertainment center has various indoor and outdoor fun attractions ranging from indoor/outdoor go-carts, laser tag, bounce house or bumper car. It might not be for everyone but if you are looking for something indoor and out of the heat, this might be a place. The pricing has different options based on your preference. Check out the website for more details.

7. Apple Picking – Apple picking is a fun and affordable activity to do with kids. Kids love to do thing by themselves and what a better way than picking your own apples. There are several apple orchards in the area. J.H. Stepp Farm Hillcrest Orchard has been in business for quite sometimes. From their website, it looks like a fun place to take the kids to enjoy a day out in the Fall.

8. Grove Arcade – Shopping and people watching at the historically renovated Grove Arcade. Enjoy boutique shopping, exceptional dinning and regional art and crafts. Then sit back and relax and let the kids run wild.

9. Asheville Outdoor Center – Enjoy a calm water float along the scenic French Board River through the Biltmore Estate property. This is a perfect outdoor activity for family with small children who can’t participate in the popular whitewater rafting yet. There are various types of activities offering from kayaking, rafting, tubing, or canoeing. The best part is AOC is located in Asheville so you don’t have to drive too far.

10. Biltmore Village – Visit the original Biltmore village originally built for housing the Vanderbilt’s employees. Stroll along the brick sidewalks with tree-lined street, check out unique shops and have lunch or dinner at one of many locally owned restaurant. This charming village will give you the victorian-era ambiance that you might think you have been transported back in time.

11. Blue Ridge Parkway - Drive along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway and stop along the lookout to witness the marvelous beauty of mother nature at best. You can start from Asheville and drive all the way to the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain Park.

12. Botanial Garden of Asheville – Kids love to roam and where is a better place than in the botanical garden with all the beautiful flowers and plants. Best of all, there is no admission fee.

13. Pisgah National Forest – This national forest is home to Sliding Rock, the Natural Water Slide. It couldn’t have been better than sliding down the naturally worn slab of rock to the pool

As for the accommodation, here are a list of 5 family friendly hotels in Asheville downtown area.

Asheville Things To Do

Filed Under: Day/Weekend Trips, North Carolina Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Fabulous Fox Theatre Atlanta

July 9, 2009 By 15 Comments

Fox Theatre Box Office

The Fabulous Fox Theatre in Midtown is one of Atlanta historic landmark and one of the most amazing building. From the front box office that set the tone for you as soon as you step in the theatre to the ceiling and door with all the intricated details, you can see that this is not a typical theatre. Converted from the Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque, the Fox had been beautifully designed and restored to transport you to the Arabian courtyard.

Fox Theatre Fountain

Details are everywhere at the Fox theatre. From the front entrance with beautiful water fountain to greet you to the ornate vase. There is no place escape the details.

Fox Theatre

Walking down to the gentlemen and ladies lounge and you will feel like you have just step out to the indoor courtyard of an arabian home. The ceiling is as blue as the night sky. The lanterns are uniquely design to compliment the faux window. I could get lost for hours just to admire all the details that they have created and I haven’t even set foot inside the theatre yet!

Fox Theatre Main

Once you walk into the main theatre, you will think you have walked into an amphitheatre back in time. The sky with twinkle stars, the canopy above the balcony, the tent on the second floor or the beam across the room.

Even if you are not broadway type person, you should check the Fox theatre out at least once. Right now, they have the Coca-Cola Film Festival so you can watch your favorite fick instyle. Check out their schedule here. The best part, the ticket price for each movie is actually cheaper than most theatre in town.

Check out other travelers’ Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Filed Under: Georgia Tagged With:

Thomas & Friends Live on Stage

July 7, 2009 By 3 Comments

Thomas & Friend Live

A couple weeks ago, we took Miss J and Mr. Z to see Thomas and Friends Live on Stage: A Circus Comes to Town show at the Fox Theatre. Ah.. I LOVE the Fox Theatre. It’s such an amazing venue. It’s just the history and character of the interior that just makes me feel like I have been transported back in time. Even with the kids show like Thomas and Friends, I still feel that extra special sitting in the seat.

I knew that the show came to town a while back but didn’t plan to go even though I knew that Mr. Z will really enjoy it. You see.. we are under the strict budget and it can cost quite a lot for a family of 4. But I think God is watching out for me because a few days before the show started, I won the tickets from Twitter promo by Cookie Magazine. How about that!

So we headed down to Midtown early and picked up our tickets from Will Call booth. It was HOT in Atlanta but as soon as we got inside the theatre the kids could feel the excitement built up.

Our first experience with the show at the Fox was the Nutcracker. So this time it was a completely different experience. As soon as the show started and the casts started to sing, Mr. Z turned to me and said ‘They talked!’. hehe.. Of course, then he followed by ‘I liked this one better than the Nutcracker’. Ha.. Well, at least I tried!

Thomas and Friend Live

The show was very entertaining and engaging with kids. The performers were amazing! I have to say it’s exceed my expectation. I expected to see some cheesy Thomas and trains but the Thomas on stage looks exactly like the Thomas you can buy from Target except it’s bigger and it can talk!

With 15 minutes intermission, Mr. Rojo took Mr. Z to buy some drinks. Ah. It’s actually the marketing plan to allow parents more time to shop for their products. Well, we did so well. We didn’t buy anything but now we might regret it later since Mr. Z had been asking for his special T-shirt from the show. Mr. Rojo thought we could find them online.. Well, so far no luck. I hope Mr. Z will forget about the T-shirt soon!

The show lasted 90 minutes which might seem like a long time for little kids but with all the music and performance most kids were did very well. Now, if they do have any show for Star Wars, Mr. Z will be happy!

Filed Under: Activities Tagged With: , ,
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