Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Disneyland Hongkong


I was just back from a trip to Disneyland Hongkong with my 3 years old daughter, and here are some honest facts about the fun park.

The Good Part:
1. The journey from Hongkong city to the park was easy and organized. My daughter was ecstatic when she rides the Mickey-Mouse-hole-in-the-window train from Sunny bay station to Disneyland station.
2. Children under three comes in for Freee!!
3. Shopping is heavenly, be prepared to get tempted with various cutie stuff
4. You can rent Quinny-like stroller for your kids to get around the park without sore feet.
5. Snacking around the park is great, try my favourite corns-in-the-cob.
6. The firework finale, Disney on Stars, was the best! I almost cried with awe when the musical chorus sync so harmoniously with the fireworks. And the look from my daughter face when she saw the stars exploded, was priceless!

The Bad Part:
1. It was Hot Hot Hot! Even on 5pm in the afternoon. I recommend you to go there during early winter time.
2. It was small, yes as small as Dunia Fantasi.
3. It was soooo crowded. Full of tourist from mainland China who speaks loudly and cutting queue like nobody cares.
4. The queue was long and tiring. With small children, I don't think you have a chance of trying much ride in the park. Just enjoy the view.

Bottomline:
Despite all the bad parts, it was still a magical trip (esp for my daughter). We might come back again but this time I want to be more prepared and choose the right period of time (cooler temps and less crowded month)

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Celebrity and children day out



Other than earning gazillion of dollars from producing block buster movies or records, Hollywood's celebrities seem to have much time to spend with their children.
Seen here on the first pic is Brooke Shields with her daughter Rowan, 3, playing with barbie dolls in LA during Barbie Live! in Fairytopia. Next is a sweet picture of Chris Martin with his daughter Apple, 2, walking hand in hand around London Zoo.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Baby shopping at ITC Mangga Dua


ITC Mangga Dua has been a baby shopping haven for the past decade. Mommies from all corners of Jakarta would come there at least one time during their pregnancy or during early motherhood days. Despite all the nasty traffic outside and even nastier crowds inside, ITC Mangga Dua definitely still have that tempting shopping appeal.
Here are some of my favorite highlights:

1. Go there early before 10am, the later you arrive the more crowded it become. Make time to taste the famous Soto Mie at the fourth floor boutique corner (ask someone for direction, everybody should know where it is). And be amazed at the crowd that line up there for a bowl of hot Soto Mie.

2. Kasih Ibu, lt 2 blok A no.92-96. Ph: 6015342-43
This is my favourite shop, they have piles of all the baby necessities local and imported, be prepared to spend on trivial stuffs. If you are pregnant, you will be given a sheet of paper that list over a hundred items that they think you ought to have, from bottle sterilizer to nanny's uniform. All the famous brand are there, you name it, Avent, Mothercare, Pigeon, Aprica, Medela, Mustela, and the list goes on.
Kasih Ibu also have a shop branch at Darmawangsa Square 1st floor, no.36-37. Ph:72801816

3. Baby Mart Toys Mart, lt 1 Blok D no.8, or lt2 blok A. no 73. Ph: 6018016, 6015317
This shop really looks like a warehouse of toys. Boxes are piled up high to the ceilings and you have to squeeze between them to be able to see all the suff. They have complete stock of Little Tikes toys, from baby gym to little kitchen, various stuff from Tomy a japanese toy maker, and lots of made-in-china toys. Their best selling is battery operated mini cars, (from Rp850.000 to Rp 3.850.000) you literally see them flying off the rack everytime you are in that store.
But the lady who owns it is quite vicious, don't even think of bargaining here, she will pretend that she doesn't hear you.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Lets Draw!


Drawing is a great activity for kids to entertain themselves (and let their mummies enjoy a brief moment of personal time). Since, I am also a drawing enthusiast, I had been observing all kind of drawing equipments available for children and these are a few of my favourite:
1. Faber Castell,
The most common brand for color pencils and crayons, available in Gramedia and most of the bookstores. It’s relatively cheap, it wont hurt if your child loses a few colors, and also it’s toxic free.
2. Alex,
Moms and I is the official distributor for this brand , they have lots of art and craft stuff like poster paints and unique-shaped sponges for hand painting (a messy affair). I recently bought a set of big bright colored chalks for some side-street fun.
3. Crayola,
They claim that their crayon is washable and erasable, I haven't tried them out yet, but definitely they are on my next shopping list. Their website is fun, with coloring activities and art and craft project for your kids. I saw some crayola products at Office 2000 in Plaza Ind but I have no idea where else I can get them.
4. Derwent
This is my personal favorite (for me not for my kids), they are expensive as they are made for fine art artists. But apparently they have some products for children, it looks pretty impressive on their website, might be perfect for your great little artist-to-be.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Cooking at Pizza Marzano


I tried to dine at this uber cool restaurant with my kids last week at Senayan City. Pizza Marzano is one of the phenomenal success story that started in London, and trust me it's really good. For those who are familiar with Izzi pizzas, Marzano's pizza are a bit like that, except better. Price wise, not that much difference with Izzi. And if you order a kids' meal pizza, they even allow your kids to put on a chef's paper hat and make the pizza themselves at their kitchen, a sure excitement for them. The only things that bothers me is that there are too many fine things around, like wine glass and stuff, imagine dining with two kids under four with that kind of surrounding.
www.pizzamarzano.com

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Vintage blanket


This will make a great gift. It's a vintage-inspired receiving blanket that you can personalize with your child's name. Available at Cotonnier, a great store for nursery and kids' room, at Plaza Indonesia 3rd floor. Rp 495.000 - Rp 725.000

Yoga for kids

Join the latest craze in the health conscious society. Yoga is believed to benefit children the same way it does with adults. I was lucky enough to have a sister in law who teaches yoga, and my kids somehow has taken a liking in imitating us during our work out. Apparently there are not many yoga houses in Jakarta that has classes for kids, but after a long search I found this two yoga house that offer Kids yoga class and also Prenatal yoga class.

Rumah Yoga
ph: 7393267
www.rumahyoga.com

Yoga @ 42 degree
ph: 7197379
www.bikramyogajakarta.com

Monday, August 07, 2006

Out of the world Stokke


Actress Rachel Weisz is seen pushing this ultra cool stroller Stokke Xplory in Soho with her son.
'Higher is better' is the campaign slogan for this stroller. Stokke created a concept that you should let your child sit higher in his stroller to enjoy better view and to interact better with you.
Available here at The Children's Store (Senayan City 4th fl) Rp. 11.599.000

Indonesian parenting magazine

I've been writing too much about imported products. Here are two links to two local edition of parenting magz.
www.ayahbunda-online.com
www.parentsguide.co.id
I realize that more and more child related magazine are coming up on the stand, but most of them are featuring the same thing one after another. I just wish there are more baby lifestyle magazine available. Hmmm...or perhaps I should start one?

Friday, August 04, 2006

Junior Magazine


This is by far is the best lifestyle children magazine i've ever seen. Junior magazine is from UK and they have the coolest lay out pages, fab fashion spread and informative articles. It's so different from other American baby and children magazine which cramps so many pictures and articles on one page. While Junior is targeted for mothers with toddlers, Junior pregnancy and baby is targeted for expecting mothers.
I bought my copies from Newstands, a used-magazine bookstores. They have branches at Pasar Festival kuningan, Galeri Matahari Taman Anggrek and Carrefour Puri Indah.
I really don't understand why I couldn't get it at most of the bookstores in the malls.
Check out their site at www.juniormagazine.co.uk

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Radio Flyer classic


This is my son's dream toy. Available at Mom's and I (They are the official distributor but please check their availability) and Ace Hardware (Puri Indah, for other Ace please call them up).
Rp 1.149.000,-
For more info about this classic toy maker check out their site www.radioflyer.com