Holiday Resort for Young Family with Under Three Years Old Babies

We are looking for a balance, some good play time for the baby, some good viewing time for parents, something quite, something dynamic, something urban, something in the nature, something tiring and challenging, something soothing and relaxing. Isle of Wight suffices all, with every small bit but in style!

We went to Ryde first and fine sand and the distance from the sea makes the beach there as a perfect place for babies to play. We stayed in Ryde Castle hotel which is very family friendly and has a superb location, within five minutes' walk to the beach. There are several playgrounds at the side of the walk around the beach. When kids are bored with building sand castles, these playgrounds are alternatives. When it is baby's nap time, quickly, parents can retreat into the quite woods where parents can enjoy birds singing and baby can have a sound nap without being disturbed by car horns and dogs barking.

After we visited Osborne house, then we went to Shanklin. Shanklin chine is so adorable! Could you imagine carrying a baby to climb cliffs? It does not sound that feasible, but in the chine, special geology shape makes such attempt nothing but possible and the combination of cliff, waterfall, hills, creeks, and sea, all within reachable zones, does make me feel, at one moment, that I am in Shangri la! Our choice of hotel "Luccombe Hall Country House Hotel" is not disappointing. It was the residential place of the local Bishop which might explain that the interior is not new, but it has a lovely garden and sea view. Its indoor pool and outdoor playground did keep my baby busy.     
   
On the fourth day, we managed to find time to go to Ventnor and walked around the rocky beach. It was windy on that day which made the view more special, imagining strong and torrent waves hitting on those hard rocks again and again, wave splashes bounced in all directions to make us feeling wet. The walk to steephill cove is so pleasant and exciting; we enjoyed challenges of pushing a heavy pram and trying to pass around rocks, pebble beach, and to climb hundreds of stairs up the hill; At the same time, the baby enjoyed all the wildness and freshness and slept without any tiny complaints. When we were just about to feel exhausted, we had arrived in Ventnor Botanical Garden and enjoyed a nice cup of tea and cake there, before we took a ferry back home!

Shanklin Chine:

 Ryde Beach:

Shanklin Beach:

Ventnor Beach:

Books for new Mum

Your Pregnancy Bible: Dr. Anne Deans
Your Babycare Bible: Dr. A.J.R. Waterston
French Children Don't Throw Food: Pamela Druckerman

For being a mum

Having a child is like letting "your heart go walking around outside your body".

 

---Cited by Hillary Clinton at her interview and the original is from the writer, Elizabeth Stone. 

Irregularity in Bird's Nest

Why does a Chinese bowl or a Chinese window have this kind of pattern? Maybe the Chinese people like things to appear in this irregular way, but underneath there are very clear rules. The Bird's Nest developed in this way.

— Li Xinggang, head architect of CADG

Walking along with butterflies

It felt like a dream land where flowers were blooming and butterflies were around when we entered into Butterfly show in Natural History Museum.

Irregularity in Bird's Nest

Why does a Chinese bowl or a Chinese window have this kind of pattern? Maybe the Chinese people like things to appear in this irregular way, but underneath there are very clear rules. The Bird's Nest developed in this way.

— Li Xinggang, head architect of CADG

A strange poet and a little bit I learned about American Naturalism

"Hope" is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul. Stay calm and fresh or hope will fly off. 

By Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.