Wednesday, March 25, 2015

{Updated}The Ultimate Check List for Family Trip with Little Ones


Traveling with little ones and wondering what to pack? Here is our ultimate family travel checklist which I used whenever traveling with our kiddos. Having this checklist had kept me at ease knowing I left nothing important behind.

* Updated *
After our recent trip, I have enhanced this list to make it more comprehensive.
I have recently translated the list into Chinese. Yippee! :)



Or in case you prefer a printer friendly version, here you go.. I have no idea why but I can't upload a document. This seem to be the best I can do for now.

Chinese version 中文本版



Do Read On...

• The above list is based on a 2 weeks traveling with 2 little ones between 2 to 5 years old, a coffee addict mommy and a techie dad (and laundry facility available at our accommodation).  So feel free to modify according to your own needs. 

• You may exclude the GPS and iPad car holder if you won't be renting a vehicle, or you intend to rent the gadgets locally. 

• I included some product names as those were my trusted brands. Feel free to pick according to your own brand choice.

• I would recommend to declare the medicine and milk powder at the migration to avoid unnecessary problem. So far we have traveled to Asian and Western countries with the above list and no problem encountered. Besides, if you are traveling in spring time or blossom season, do consider bringing the spacer / inhaler for your little one if he or she have history of breathing difficulty cause by allergen.

• A travel guide book comes really handy if you loves travel free & easy style like us! While I did most of my travel destination research using online resources, having a printed travel guide gives some comfort especially when you do not have data connection in foreign land. My personal favorite is Lonely Planet, their books always come in full color prints, good organization and I love the short itinerary suggestions they often include for specific cities.

• Only bring minimal snack and cereal, you can always replenish the supplies the local supermarket - snack, fresh fruits, cereals, etc... Have a taste of the local.

ALWAYS, I mean ALWAYS check the weather before travelling. We were lucky that we brought along kid-size raincoats for the little ones and foldable umbrellas for us. That saved us from the non-stop summer drizzle that just would not leave us alone... Daisy offers kid and adult size rain coat at only RM$5 each and the quality was ok (not superior but acceptable for multiple wears) 

• NEVER go travel without the kid's pouch. My duo had a Mickey & a Minnie pouch each filled with daily snacks and our name cards whenever we go overseas. Gifts from a good buddy and they are extremely handy. 


water proof foldable bag is extremely useful. I usually keep 2 in my bags at all time and can use for shopping, dirty clothings (somehow our little girl is quite a messy eater), the wet raincoats... Basically just anything ad-hoc.

stroller - if you are bringing one with you, would recommend not to check-in your stroller to avoid missing stroller (like us, which is a long story as we intended to check in!) you can bring the stroller to board the plane and the airsteward can help to put them aside and return to you upon landing. Much hassle free that way.


IMPORTANT to note.. on traveling to United States.
From my personal traveling experience, US is one of the countries with most stringent and unfriendly immigration officers who practically checked everything and most officers I've encountered were rather, unfriendly (for the better term of rude). As I only travelled there when I was single, I can't confirm that the above listed items will be deemed accepted by he US immigration department or custom, so appreciate feedback from parents who had brought their little ones there.


Missed out from the Checklist...
Few items that were considered but excluded from the above list as not required for us, but you may want to consider:

• Travel Visa (country specified)
• Baby carrier 
• Baby Stroller
• Baby instant cereal packs (for infant or toddler under 18mo) 
• Pacifier (useful for ear discomfort during airplane take on/off)
• Diaper changing pad 


More Packing Tips...

• Use travel size shower gel / shampoo and seal them in a ziplock plastic bag to ensure no spillage. Recycle the free toiletries bottles from the hotel - just empty the content and refill with your big bottle of shampoo or shower wash! 


• If you are bringing formula milk, use the sealed refill pack so you won't face much trouble at custom (would recommend to declare at custom to avoid unnecessary problem). Besides, bring a clip-on and the spoon along for easy storage. Put them all in a ziplock bag and pack among your clothes in the luggage, just bring the normal travel milk container (enough for 2-3 feeding) with you when boarding the plane or traveling on the road.



The emergency pouch. Never ever leave home without it and make sure your partner knows where it is. I've got all the necessary gels , oilment, medicine in there and I hand carry it just in case I need them during the flight or in the waiting area. Just make sure no sharp objects in there.




Need More Idea?
Check out more about the Fun Bag (a.k.a. Busy Bag) to give you some ideas on what fun stuff to pack for little ones.


Keep Calm & Travel On. :)



Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Monday, March 2, 2015

忆•妈妈


妈妈走了,就那么走了。年初八,当家家户户还喜气洋洋忙着庆新年的时候。


再也不能在电话那头听到你熟悉的声音,声带沙沙的唤我阿妹是末?放工了吗?吃饱了吗?有过来吗?。年轻时我总觉得你好啰嗦,总是重复一样的问题烦不烦呀。到我自己升格为妈妈了,才深深体会到那纯粹是为母亲的关心。你总是担心我没吃好没睡好,到后来被病魔折磨到离不开家门,吃不好睡不着痛不断我却什么都帮不上,只能尽量抽时间陪你治疗谈天说笑吃饭慰寂寥,但这一切也无法减低你所承受的痛楚。

我只能庆幸觉悟的未太晚,在这几年有机会回报并承当起当女儿的责任,不然我真的会后悔一辈子吧。永远默默为我们一众子女付出的妈妈,我多希望能为你付出更多。

妈,对不起。


再也没得回老家吃你烹煮的卤蛋卤豆腐,烧肉炒蒜,冬菇卤海参猪脚,黑胡椒猪肚汤,白切鸡,干炒大明虾。这些都是从小到大除夕夜吃的年菜,到我出嫁为人妻了你还是会不厌其烦地在我年初三回家拜年时特地煮给这馋嘴的小女儿吃,然后第二天才来个白粥送卤蛋咸菜加罐头菜心,潮州式的清淡家庭饭。

我最后一次把你送进医院的那个晚上,打了吗啡的你躺在病床微笑兮兮的望着我和大姐,说你为你的女儿感到骄傲,个个都那么美丽(妈妈永远是偏袒的)又懂得烹煮饭菜照顾家人,不用你担心了。你的那番话把我和大姐都给弄哭了。真后悔没来得及把你的拿手菜都记载起来,我一直以为我们还有时间的。永远把家庭摆在第一位的妈妈,虽然有千万个舍不得,最后还是不得撤手而去。

妈,我好想好想好想您。


再也不能带妹妹哥哥来对你撒娇耍坏了,小瓜们都爱依着你看卡通片上彩色,你是那么地疼惜他们如至宝,总是把好吃的都留给他们。直到你躺在医院医生吩咐我们要有心理准备的最后时刻,你竟然还坚持等到我把小瓜俩带来枕边和你道再见,才安详的睡着离世。

妈妈,你到临终那一刻还是那么的坚强。谢谢你的爱屋及乌,让我那两个小瓜的童年记忆里有个如此疼惜他们的外婆。

妈,谢谢您。


再也不能听你细述当年你和爸爸的情史,你们的过去就好像琼瑶爱情故事一样感人。一个洗衣持家的少女,结识了在外谋生的游子,由小表妹悄悄传情书让感情慢慢发芽,纵然之间困难重重你们最后还是成功地结为夫妻。你在当时的封建社会风气下承受了夫家个人对你的偏见和不公平待遇,虽然一度想抱着女儿离家出走,你始终对爸爸不离不弃。后来公公婆婆年老体衰,在身边默默照顾他们的也是你这个当初不被看好的媳妇。

你以前总是忠告我要忍才能保持快乐婚姻,我总是一笑置之认为你好老土,这年头哪儿还有人提倡忍呀。原来你和爸爸能够一起共枕五十三个年头,并不是缘分那么简单。当中你是做出了多大的牺牲和承受了多少的委屈,才保持了这个家庭并得到先辈们的认可!

妈,您幸苦了。


再也不能和你分享我生活中的点滴,只有在你和爸爸面前我用远是个孩子。和大个子吵架了你为我开解,拿了花红第一个就向你报道,给你看我为妹妹缝制的第一件裙子你赞我好panai,烤了蛋糕立马来和你分享要你评分,食谱材料想不通就拨电找你,生病了也拨电话和你撒娇。妈,你就从来不嫌我烦呢。

陪你上西餐店就听你评味道价钱卖相没一样达到你的要求,但你从来不话人长短,不欠人钱财,不贪小便宜。记得小时家里不好过要省吃省用,但不论亲友邻居来借钱救济你从不敷衍,钱借了出去迟迟不换你也不计较,只当他人有苦衷。你这以身作则让我们兄弟姐妹受惠一辈子,读万卷也没有你和爸爸的身教那么透彻。

妈,感恩有您。


~~~

在妈妈离世后,我用了几天时间断断续续的记载我对妈妈的记忆和情感,我怕有一天我会逐渐淡忘。趁记忆犹新就写下来吧,哪怕只是抒发情绪也好。一面写眼泪一面流,哭得够了,眼泪自然就会干。

在妈妈还健在的最后那个星期,我买了白切鸡腿肉给她吃午餐,好几个月都没胃口的她竟然吃的津津有味,开心的告诉我她好久都没吃的那么美味的饭了。烧鸡太韧了她嚼不来,能看不能吃,白切鸡腿却是刚刚好。就那么简单的一件小事,我竟然开心了一整天。

我原以为我有心理准备来面对道别的这一天,因为妈妈已被病魔折磨了整一年,医生也不能担保化疗能够延长她的寿命。原来,我没有想象中的坚强。生离死别,是无法有准备的。原本以为可以在三月和她举办个家庭聚会,庆祝她抗癌一周年,但....都已不重要了。


望着院子里开了那一朵朵鲜丽的富贵花,红的粉的白的混种的,都是妈妈当初送给我新居入伙,眼泪即不听话一撮撮地流下;吃到带甜的豆沙饼我就不期然的想起这是她的最爱;一想到我再也没有机会再唤妈妈了,眼泪又直往下奔。我这一辈子不曾流那么多的泪。



医院那晚趁妈妈还有意识时,我们拍了这一册全家福。少了小哥哥,小妹妹和二姐夫,但也算是挺人齐了。

庆幸的是,在妈妈尚健在时我赶紧制作了这本家庭小相簿给她和爸爸。里头有他们两人年轻时的合照,也有我们一家人由小到大的生活照。妈妈是那么得爱不释手,翻了又翻总不厌。我好怀念她灿烂的笑容…当时的爸爸多开心。



母亲想我一阵风,
我想母亲在梦中。


妈妈,您安息吧。
女儿永远不会忘记您。



注:妈妈于28.02.2015 2:12pm 与世长别,享年七十三岁。