a reminder for parents

"Teaching Your Child Through Play"

I tried to teach my child with books.
He gave me only puzzled looks.
I tried to teach my child with words.
They passed him by often unheard.
Despairingly, I turned aside.
"How shall I teach this child?" I cried.
Into my hand he put the key
"Come," he said, "play with me."

--author unknown

A ride in the Ghost tram

Imagine travelling on a ghost tram with eerie music playing in the background, and watching out for ghosts sneaking up to you? We parents paid for such trips so the kids can have fun (or rather, to sadistically punish the kids for mentally torturing the parents *snigger*) nah, Rey is too mature to be scared of men in ghostly costumes. But you can hear the begging cries of help from other kids admist the evil laughter of adults, while their camera-loving mothers busily snap up photos of the moment.

fishing trip

Enjoying the last few days of summer vacation.
Watch the video on our 'fishing' trip.

Tokyo and Chiba trip

Made a trip down to Chiba especially to support the young Singapore synchronized swimming team where Nana was competiting with other Asian team. We visited the dinosaur exhibition in Makuhari Messe and Ultraman festival too.



Our hotel on the 35th floor at Sunshine City!

Singapore team with bronze medal!

The youngest supporter.

Day trip to Kibune

Acting cute just for this shoot when he actually behaved like a hooligan in the train.

The family took a day trip to Kibune, which is a mountain just north of Kyoto where it is famous for hot springs. In summer, we can enjoy a meal on terraces built along the river. The river was really icy cold when we dipped our feet into the water.

Camp again!

It was forecasted to be very rainy this day but I'm going to pray hard for the clouds to go away. The kids really look forward to playing in the river, campfire and fireworks. This is an optional camp for children who are in the soccer and gymnatics club. Rey will be back at 4pm tomorrow.

hanabi party

Invited friends for a pizza and fireworks party, an excuse for mothers to chit-chat and stay sane during the long summer holidays.

fallen chick

It has been raining rather heavily the past few days. We arrived at the pool entrance and just when I was parking my bicycle, I heard loud chirping from near my feet. It came from a chick which has apparently fallen out of its nest. I saw its mother feeding it and guarding it nearby. The mama bird must be feeling quite helpless. We wanted to help but couldn't spot any nest from the tree above. Sounds cruel but think it's best left to nature to decide the chick's fate.

geometry

Used some straws and playdough and we made a cube, triangular prismsand hexagonal prism.

memoirs of a geisha

I was a late reader of this book but I manage to finish 'Memoirs of a Geisha' in 1 day (read till 3am into the night). It drew me so much into the geisha world that I rented its movie 'Sayuri' to watch the next day, just to enjoy a quick playback of the story. I wouldn't say the movie is that great though with some details twisted, but nevertheless, good acting from its cast. I would have loved a Japanese version of this movie instead.

Rey's 1st Camp

Rey is going for a 2D1N camp with his kindy. I'm gonna going to miss him so much! (sob)

R: Are you going to miss me, mama?

I: yes, dear...(pretend to sob)

R: I know what you're going to do. You will watch your drama all day long, right?

I: yes, dear (peace sign)

A Gion chimaki charm for warding off evil. Chimaki means 粽子therefore I bought it basically to eat and ward off evil. As Rey and I began to unwrap the chimaki, to our disappointment and shock, it was only a decorative chimaki, not for eating....(cry)

play the roulette game to see if you can get 1, 2 or 3 candies.

Rey: I want grapes, strawberry and melon.
I: aiyah, just decide on 1. I don't think our gambling luck is that good. (don't quite like him eating sweet stuff anyway)

and true, we got just 1 green candy.

a model in the making?

Despite the adverse impact on tourism due to H1N1, now Kyoto is energized once again with the start of Gion Festival. Same as previous years, yama and hoko floats are built along the street near our house.

Yesterday, at the Hoko Hikihajime & Yama Kakizome (trial pulling) event, Rey got his chance of pulling the hoko down the street. The hoko are impressively built to 2-storey high, and each of them include a music hall filled with musicians who make music using bells, whistles and drums. This trial pulling was open to public and thus we got a chance to haul the hokos. This hauling is to make sure the constructed floats are ready for the main parade on Friday.

If you watch the video, you can see the the hoko have long poles that has a decorative ornament. Usually, people are more interested in admiring the elaborate ceiling paintings and textiles are are said to be transported from Europe along the Silk Road.

school visit

Inari shrine

Visited Inari Shrine in Fushimi (Kyoto). Here, foxes are believed to be Inari god's messengers so you see several fox statues and you also write down wishes on a fox-shaped piece of wood. Inari shrine here is also famous for the thousands of torii gates that wind up all the way to the hill top. It is also a location shoot for the movie "Memoires of a Geisha".

He wrote his wish on the other side, "I wish to see the world's most beautiful chameleon."

green beans plants

love triangle

This happened when I was catching my drama on viikii while Rey is (still) eating his dinner.
I must have looked too excited when watching the scene of girl A (good) sharing a ride with boy B (bad turning good boy) on the same bicycle, all this being witnessed by the evil 'girlfriend' of the boy.
I: This is so sweet....oh no, the girl sees it!
Rey: what's so interesting? (walking towards my laptop)
I: They're riding on a bicycle but the girlfriend sees it!
Rey: This girl is angry?
I: yah, never mind, she's bad. She's evil. It's a love triange.
Rey & I: whahahahahaha...
seriously I don't know why he's laughing that ticklish kind of laughter for like 3 minutes. He's too small to understand love dramas, right?

authocratic mama?

I: Can you wash your hands before you eat that snack? Anyway, please take a shower before your snacks! And I want you to throw that dirty socks into the washing machine, clothes too...blablabla..
Rey: mama, you are controlling me!
Yah, and sometimes he says I'm noisy too. Doesn't this happen in teens? He's too early for that. Time to adopt a new approach.

Transformers 2

I love sci-fic movies. Transformers 2 hit the screen in Japan today. It's quite weird when I had zero interest in Transformers cartoons 20 years back. But after watching Transformers 1 with Rey, I'm hooked! I wanna go so badly ... but have to wait till next Wed b'cuz Wed is ladies day with tickets at 1000yen = S$15. Yah, usual price is exorbitant at 1500yen, more than twice the price in Singapore. I don't mind waiting a few more days; at least there is something for me to look forward too.

Rey is pestering me to bring him after school. Still considering. He's definitely going to bombard me with all those questions like "I thought Megatron died already? Why's he back?" till I can't concentrate. poor Rey, his mama is selfish (evil smile).

macha day

Need a cold desert on a hot day.