Worried about kids food while travelling? Check out options here!

Lot of my dear readers have been asking about food to carry for jain food options and toddler food we manage while travelling. So here is the exhaustive list of all. If you have any additions, do let me know in comments sections! Thanks

Apart from all these options, there are always lot of fresh fruits available which will keep kids lighter and happier while travelling. 

Thanks!

Have you booked this hidden gem in HK ? Thanks to Li Ka Shing!

There is lot to do in Hong Kong which will take you closer to nature but very few moments might feel divine, serene and absolutely blissful. Experience this bliss right in corner of Hong Kong in Taipo. We recently visited Tsz Shan Monastery (Chinese Buddhist Temple) and were in complete awe of this divine place. Lying in between lush green mountains and reservoir this place is absolute visual delight. It trumpets the serenity and the divinity together. Guan Yin statue (they call Lady Buddha) is magnificent and Centre of attraction. 

In this fast paced city life, if you wish to find some tranquility, find some peace or want to just stop the pendulum of mind which has tendency to go between past and future... this is the place for you. You will be in the present moment here. You will be in state of meditation throughout the time you will spend here. There is so much to do to help you to be in present moment. From water offering activity to zen calligraphy to walking meditations. It has all that you need right now to pause and just relax. 

The Buddha statues and prayers offered to Buddha during specific prayer time is soooo melodius. It transmits one to different zone. Its must attend during visit there.

How to make reservations: 

You have to book the visit 30 days in advance through their website -

 https://www.tszshan.org/home/new/en/visit.php

Pro tip: one person can book only 6 tickets and the window for booking opens at 8.00 am and it is completely booked out within couple of minutes. But one trick is if you select 3 or 4 people at a time then chances of getting some slots are higher. 

Do not forget to carry your HK ID card with which you might have registered the slot. 

How to reach Tsz Shan monastery:  

Easiest way to reach there is to reach Tai Po MTR and take a cab from there. It costs around 70HKD by cab. Do not reach too early or late - they are quite strict about booking timings

Where to eat?

The inhouse restaurant serves most amazing coffee and cheese cake absolutely free. So do not miss it. It is situated in remote location so you wont find many options around the monastery. Better carry you food. Couple of kms away there is beach and neighboring food joints so best to my understanding they are closest restaurants. 

What to wear?

Since its a monastery, respect their culture and tradition and dress appropriately.  

How much time is needed to visit the monastery?

So. you will get booking in slot and once you enter the monastery as per your slot given, you can spend as much time as you like there. There is so much to do and i bet you wont feel like leaving that place anyway :) 

Is it kid friendly?

It certainly is kid friendly but since we visited with our toddlers I can say that there is not much to do for them and they may not let you spend quiet moment anyway :p However you must not miss this visit for sure!

Lastly, if its raining too much during your slot time, you can borrow these cane hats :) :) :)

Hidden gem ~ Butterfly Valley Park in Hong Kong

Well, don't go by the name literally! There are not many butterflies in butterfly valley park. But what it actually has is much more creative, engaging, beautiful and fun filled activities for someone to spend whole day out there with family. The fact that the location is so serene and full of fresh air makes you fall in love with this place. THE BIGGEST ATTRACTION BEING AROUND BEAUTIFUL ALPACAS FOR LONG TIME.

There are many activities for kids to do in the park starting from feeding farm animals like goats, rabbits and Alpacas, tortoise and peacocks to view, sand pit with sand toys, rainbow slides, kids play area, key chain making activity, some activities are available upon request like Bee extraction lesson, organic farming, DIY butterflies painting and craft and many other things for group tour. Apart from all this there is lake for boating and lots of creative swings to lay down and just relax. 

Apart from everything else, there are ample of Instagrammable photo spots -   

Photos will do more justice then me describing much :) and more details to follow after photo tour :)

Pro Tip : They offer this professional photography for 100HKD but on insisting they give 1 picture for free!  

Tortoises!

Loved feeding carrots to Alpacas.
THIS IS BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT AND FUN PART OF THE PARK

They are so gentle and loving

Lovely Alpacas

Feeding Rabbits

Many more beautiful photo taking spots to follow...

Leather Keychain embossing activity

Kids play area

Flower land

Windmill and farms! Netherlands like feel!

So many swings to enjoy on lap of nature!

Kids play are includes bungee and bouncy castle

Rainbow slide

Garland full of entry!

Honey Bee education!

Time for some adventure!

Sky Mirror! Beautiful concept

Peacock! Bit in sorry state of keep! :(

Photo Stop!

Alpaca printed Coffee! Creative!

Beautiful sit out in front of lake in restaurant

That's a real one!

We love this pic!

Swan shaped boats in lake for boating

Its a beautiful ride!

Mandatory family pic in boat!

Different types of swings to enjoy!

Time to feed fishes!

Blessing island

At the end, bubble time to wind up our day!

Sand Pit for kids

How do we rate it : 

Its undoubtedly very huge farm / park with lot of things to see and do but unfortunately the maintenance is not very up to mark and some equipment's are too dusty and old. Few things are done only when group visits but despite of bit of downside its a must visit place at least once to enjoy being surrounded by lovely Alpacas and spending time seeing kids have fun while boating and playing. Overall we rate it 7/10. Since its quite pricey and they should have kept the equipment's more maintained. 

It costs 200 HKD per person (Adult) and 150 HKD (3 to 11 years)

Tip: Its quite pricey but the costs include a welcome hamper (Puzzle, keychain, stamp redemption voucher, 3D model puzzle of alpaca), Pedal boat ride for 30 mins and everything else inside except feeding animals which costs extra 60 HKD. So overall it can be bit costly for family to visit but its definitely worth one time visit.

Under same management, the Cinderella farm and the Go green organic farm is created and ne can buy season ticket for all three farms for 598 HKD. 

Where to eat:

Well there are lot of tables and chairs everywhere so its advisable to carry your own food. There is nothing much in the restaurant and its good enough just for drinks.

How to travel: 

Address: Butterfly Valley, No. 8 Fung Yuen Road, Tai Po, New Territories

You can take cab from Tai Po MTR (8 mins ride) or take 20P or 20M bus from Tai Po.

Timings: 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM Daily. Its good enough to spend whole day there. we were there for almost 6 hours.

Contact Details:

Phone: 65835111 / 65893111

Email: info@butterfly-valley.com

Website: www.butterfly-valley.com

Celebration of Life in Spring - Flower Show 2023

Hong Kong LCSD department does many wonderful things for people of Hong Kong and one of the most beautiful thing of all is their arrangements for Flower Shows conducted every year since 11 years. This year flower show returned to Hong Kong after 3 years and what a comeback!!! 

"Bliss in Bloom" is this years theme with more 400,000 flowers on display in all and Hydrangea being its theme flower with more than 40,000 blooms. 

The Flower show is running from 10th March and will end on 19th March! So those who havent planned yet, plan soon!!! It just cant be missed!

Where is it held: Victoria Park, Causeway Bay from 9.00 AM to 9.00 PM. 

Pro tip: Avoid weekend with kids. It surely is super crowded and there is no hack to avoid that crowd.

How is it? Review time? Well imagine yourself being surrounded by the huge flower displays in the background which are colorful, mesmerizing, full of life and which brings out best smile in you. This is one big, huge Happy place and one must not avoid for anything

How much is the cost: Just pay 14hkd via octopus for adults and 7hkd concessionary fair for students and old age

How much time is needed to see this show: It really depends on you interest on flowers. If you wish to shop and see and understand about flowers in details then you need at least 6 hours for sure. If you just want to head to best displays and click pictures 2 hours is also enough. If you wish to attend the classes, videos shows then you must plan as per the schedule of events held in Centre stage.

Is it good to go with toddlers? Kiaan is fan of flowers and colorfulness that flowers give so he thoroughly enjoyed and was in total awe looking at huge displays... like he saw floral peacock and yellow huge ducks and he started dancing! So imagine!

Hydrangea Flower!

Mind it! This show is not just about taking pictures with floral displays. Its impossible that you wouldn't be lured by it though to keep clicking but there is also so much learn here. Like i never knew, Hydrangea is native to China and Japan. Its also called Happy flower as its like cluster of bright anf beautiful flowers packed in spherical mass, resembling wedding bouquets in hands of bride. These flower clusters are in shades of purple, blue, pink, purple-red, white or green and sometimes combination of shades. 

TIP: If yo have limited time, just enter and start from left and then keep taking turns from right to left so you will get glimpse of almost everything. Stay hydrated and carry lot of food :p

Here is the schedule for shows which you can attend if you like:  Activities and Events Link

Photo dump from our visit:

Green Tips for Flower Show

Travel to and from the venue by public transport. Bring your own water bottle to reduce beverage packaging waste. Use your own environmentally friendly bags instead of plastic bags from operators of the venue. Support e-brochures and e-catalogues to reduce paper waste. Share photos by electronic means or via social platforms to minimise printing. Make good use of on-site recycling facilities. Practise clean recycling by rinsing recyclable containers briskly before putting them in recycling bins. Avoid taking or making excessive purchases of souvenirs.

Green Tips for Flower Show (For Operators of Commercial Stalls)  Minimise the use of disposables. Make good use of recycling facilities. Minimise the use of packaging materials or reuse them after the event. Avoid using foamboards as display materials and use recyclable, reusable or upcyclable green materials instead. Refrain from distributing printed promotional materials and support promotion by electronic means. Avoid handing out plastic bags. Plan use of resources. Make good use of recyclable/reusable materials. Sort recyclables properly and keep them clean. Comply with “A Concise Guide to the Nosie Control Ordinance”. Minimise the adverse impact of external lighting on the environment. Avoid light overspill to minimise nuisance. Share photos by electronic means or via social platforms to minimise printing. Avoid handing out souvenirs.  (Published by LCSD) Major Attractions of the show can be viewed her : Click on the link