Recently the whole of China has been celebrating the start of the Year of the Dragon.  During this time of year, it is ordinarily not advisable to travel as the plane, train, bus, etc networks are over loaded with people returning to their hometowns for the festivities associated with the lunar new year celebrations.  As some estimated 250 million people are traveling over this period, the Lacy family traditionally takes some time out from traveling and enjoys the relative quiet of Shanghai.  However this year we thought that we should break up the 7 day holiday and take a short trip to visit Nanjing.  Primarily because we’ve always wanted to visit this former capital of China but also because we’ve heard that it is so accessible from Shanghai by China’s new high speed rail network.

Nanjing is now the capital of Jiangsu province and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture.  With an urban population of over five million, it has been the capital of China on several occasions and, in fact, its name means “Southern Capital”.  The city will host the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics and there are many posters around in preparation.

Getting to (and from) Nanjing was super easy and comfortable.  This is not a statement usually made with a 4yo and 2yo in tow (especially during Chinese New Year).  However I want to highlight the super High Speed Rail (HSR) network that China is building.  For your reference, HSR refers to any commercial train service with an average speed of 200kph or higher (we travelled on a new maglev line at ~350kph for most of the journey).  China has the world’s longest HSR network with about 13,000km of routes currently in service and about another 17,000km of lines under construction!  Nanjing is about 300kms away from Shanghai (by rail) and we got there in a little over an hour.

Getting into the Shanghai Train Station

Benjamin running thru the station

everyone wants dad although we've 4 seats!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day one saw us: travel from Shanghai to Nanjing; visit the mausoleum of Sun Yat Sen (father of modern China); and getting in to our very comfortable hotel (Intercontinental Nanjing).  For the first time we arranged for two adjoining rooms that were interconnected by a special door.  We did this to hopefully have some sleep.  However we still ended up having Michael in our bed (sleeping with Mum) and me having to settle Benjamin both nights.

breakfast at hotel

dad is feeding Benjamin watching TV!!!!

rare family photo...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day two saw us: go boating on the Lake Xuanwu (in a pathetically slow touristy electric motor boat); and have lunch with a work colleague (and her family) in the Confucius Temple area.  In the past, Nanjing’s nightlife was centered around the Confucius Temple area along the Qinhuai River, where night markets, restaurants and pubs thrived.

having lunch at a NJ restaurant

Michael in front of the temple

Benjamin woke up happy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day three saw us: visit the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall.  The Memorial Hall commemorates the Nanjing massacre which happened during WWII at the hands of the Japanese.  An estimated 300,000 civilians were brutally slaughtered and many other atrocities occurred.  The hall is wonderfully designed from an architecture perspective and is filled with enlightening displays – a must visit if you are near Nanjing.

the first shocking statue

then it gets more intense...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As previously mentioned, we had another relaxing train ride to conclude our trip.  Once home it was back into the routines, followed by a return to work.  Xin nian kuai le!

we took the subway to the train station!

time to go back to Shanghai

 

good bye Nanjing!!!

 

 

 

However, our highlight had to be spending a morning at our own house in Brisbane!  We had a change of tenants and we got to be there for the day!  The boys (Ian included) had a swim at our pool and we got to “day-dream” about what we’d do to our house when we move there!  It was a great day of dreaming!

The  boys had an uneventful flight back from Brisbane to Shanghai.  Michael literally watched 10 hours of TV and turned into a potato (he even admitted it himself) and Benjamin was half reasonable!  No pukes or pee or drama – we called it a great success!

After coming back to Shanghai, we prepared for the colder weather and 2012.  We had our first set of visitors (my great college friend Sam and her daughter Isabelle) and had a great time (definitely ate too much and stayed up too late yabbering!)

Then came today where our little Baby Benjamin went off to school for the first time.  It was about the same age (22 months young) when Michael also went to the same school (same class & teachers too)!  Michael was just ecstatic that he could say “hi” to his brother in the playground!  Ian and I expected the worst (Benjamin can get a little “unpredictable!”) and all we got was “Bye, Mom” while he was playing with new toys at the classroom.  I probably had more tears welling up than imagined!   When I came back in the afternoon to fetch (save) him, he was ever so composed, having his lunch and sitting with such discipline next to his teacher.  It was so cute to see!  We hope this is not some kind of “delayed reaction” and that our baby is truly ready for his next stage (sobbing mother!)…

Photos from our December holiday in Australia:

Our Boys’ Album – December 2011

Until next time, much love from Shanghai, about to get into Chinese New Year.

Click below:

Michael’s bike ride

benjamin wants to do everything michael does!!!

We were lucky to have Uncle Frank and KK to come and help us out while Nila ventures for her visa.  Always grateful for their support.  Christmas is around the corner and we can’t wait for the summer and beach down under soon!!!!
Much love from Shanghai,

Ian, Stacey, Michael (turned 4) and Benjamin (who is going into school in January!!!)

As most of you know, Michael has an imaginary set of family, which consists of 11 kids (one is baby and the others are all ‘stronger’ and ‘bigger’ than Ian / Stacey).  Their mom and dad allow them to do ANYTHING!  This set of imaginary family bring us a lot of good stories and joys throughout Michael’s childhood.  Yesterday morning, Ian asked Michael “how he can be more cool than his kids?”  Michael thought about it for about 3 seconds and said to Ian, “you need to have a I-Phone.  Then you’ll be cooler than my kids.”

Thanks to Auntie Karen, our lovely bubba who doesn’t even own any smart-device is able to ask us why our phones are not I-Phones and can’t swipe on our cameras…  Steve Jobs should be smiling from heaven – he has made a difference in so many unique ways.

In the meantime, Ian / I is still holding out to have a I-product and hope that Michael & Benjamin get  the maximum of real toys and grass / outdoor time.

Til next time, love from Shanghai,

Ian, Stacey, Michael & Benjamin.

The boys are having the best of times.  The beach is still so huge to them and so Ian made Benjamin little pools to dip in and Michael is learning to jump the waves.  And they are loving the swimming pools and Benjamin just couldn’t wait to get his swimming “lessons” from dada.  Michael is swimming like a fish – getting very confident (sometimes too much) around the water, diving board and slides (thanks to the Kellys!)  Benjamin is babbling a lot more clearly these days:

- Ben ben is his name

- Saw Saw is when he is saying sorry (he does it very quick whenever he knew he got into trouble!)

- Ai is his hi and Bye seems too easy to say now

- a blow kiss melts all of us away…

When it was raining outside (like now), Michael enjoyed learning from his activities book of English and Maths (of course very limited TV was allowed!) with either Ian or me.   We all had a somewhat very relaxing time (and managed a romantic dinner when the boys are down asleep!).

Until next time, enjoy our photos and much love from Phuket, 

Our Boys’ Album – October 2011

Ian, Stacey, Michael (almost at 4) and Benjamin (at 19 months soon).

Benjamin is now talking so much that we wish we could understand him.  His understandable few would be:

- Mine mine (is Bye Bye)

- Ai… (Hi)

- Bull (Ball)

- Mus (Bus)

- Mama / Dada (how could he not get that one right!?)

- Muck (Michael – this was how Michael used to call himself!)

- Last but not least, singing “Rain, Rain going away”

Benjamin’s Singing in the Rain (please click here for Benjamin’s video!)

On the other hand, Michael is still adapting to his new class (he becomes the youngest again in his new class).  They taught him the latest as below:

From Our Boys’ Album – Video in July 2011

Meanwhile, we’re all well and it seemed as though Summer had just come and gone.  About to welcome Autumn already!

Love from Shanghai and til next time,
Ian, Stacey, Michael (who is mesmerized w/Transformers and small legos!) and Benjamin (whose 7th teeth is finally coming out)!

We travelled to Lijiang with Ian’s parents (their first time to the west of China too!) and stayed at the Banyan Tree there.  It was definitely a treat and we loved every day of our holiday there.  However what we discovered was how we have taken Shanghai for granted!  The variety of choices in LJ was quite limited and while we take for granted that Shanghai has all these imported grocery and Chinese selection, we now become very grateful for these little small things.  LJ is a beautiful city with blue sky and nice people and we couldn’t have been luckier to visit such a gem in China.  Can’t wait to explore more of China again next year (hoping it to be Xian next!)

in the meantime, enjoy our boys and photos.

Our boys’ Album – July 2011

With tiny hands I waved goodbye,

And I saw the tear in the corner of your eye.

Bue you were brave and so was I.

We both tried hard not to cry.

My little feet carried me to school.

I remember you saying, “Now obey every rule.”

My little hands opened the heavy school door.

I went right to the “Panda” class on the ground floor.

There was teacher Jenny to invite me inside.

We made a big family, teacher Jenny the “Mother”.

With a family this big, we had to help each other.

So next year in school, I’ll have nothing to fear.

The muscles in my hands are now much stronger.

And even my feet look a little bit longer.

On the last day of school, as we all wave goodbye,

Do you think teacher Jenny will have a tear in her eye?

It really has been a happy year!

Making friends who will always be dear.

Kindergarten was busy with many things to do,

But it sure was fun the whole year through!

Thank you to all Michael’s teachers, friends, classmates (and their moms & dads) and the school staffs and administrators for a wonderful school year and we cannot wait for the upcoming one in August!

With love from Shanghai,

Ian, Stacey, Michael & Benjamin

Enjoy our photos at the last day of school!

1./  Benjamin doesn’t like “cold” food – things that come out from the fridge is a BIG no

2./  Benjamin loves chewing on bones (look at his genetic Chinese heritage!)

3./  Michael really missed his dad while we were in HK for two weeks

During this month, we are also thankful for my folks’ help (they tried hard not to mis-behave -thank goodness!) but had gotten a lot of grand-children’s time.  After their departure, the boys are still asking about them!

Luckily we have Nanna and Poppa arriving in less than a month and we’re excited to be traveling with them during that time!

Photos Uploading continues to be an issue and here we try to share with you Michael’s talent in art.  He enrolled in an art class early this year and these are his masterpieces!

Enjoy and until next time, love from Shanghai,
Ian, Stacey, Michael (at 3.5 and clingy!!!) and Benjamin (finally walking again!)