The Maker Bay is a multi disciplinary workshop which provides tools and space for people to come…read moreand work on their own projects, from pure recreation to new startup ideas and companies. I really can't do justice to the place here, it's basically for anybody who wants to do their own projects but as space in Hong Kong is so limited is prohibited. They have tools to work on wood, metal and also have a laser cutter. You rent a space for the day etc, they offer lots of different options. The staff are so friendly and will answer any questions you have. Get creative and go check it out!

We had a great time visiting Baumhaus while visiting family in Hong Kong!…read more If you've got a toddler in a big city, you know it can be a tough and overwhelming environment. We were so grateful for the oasis provided by Baumhaus - it's truly so wonderful to have somewhere to go where your little one can just be themselves in a safe and enriching environment. All of the staff were incredibly kind and sweet with my daughter and our drinks & food at the cafe were delicious. I wish were local so that we could visit more often. 10/10!

I've seen ads for this playgroup around town for a couple months and I finally have attended their…read moreclasses. I wish I had sooner! This center for young children ages 0 - 7, is one of the best musical playgroup centers that I have attended with my son. First, Using the Kindermusick Method, the children are learning complex musical ideas in a easy going way. But, Secondly, what makes them different from other musical centers is that their instructors can REALLY sing, REALLY well. I see that my son and his classmates are more tuned in when they have an instructor that has a beautiful voice. The children are that much more engaged and I myself, as a parent, really appreciate the class. Thirdly, the play area is very nice and well thought out. The jungle-gym reminds me of the Waldorf educational method which promotes an environment with an emphasis on natural materials. This would mean that the gym would lack bright colors like most other playgrounds, but the unique structure is still aesthetically pleasing, very safe, challenging but achievable, and my son loves to play in and out of it. Fourth, they have a cafe area where you can order a cup of coffee and snacks while your child plays or has class. GREAT IDEA. Do they have wifi for your computer? I'm not sure, but I did see some mom's with their laptops out. Secondly, we celebrated my son's birthday with his friends at Baumhaus. We ended up paying about 4400 HKD for 2 hours of time - 1hour was a kindermusick class. (Again, the class: so fun!) We also had 900$ credit to use at the cafe. You are free to bring your own food as well. We brought cakes, cookies, and 2 other small main dishes. I believe that our 2 hours became more like 2.5 hours but I appreciate that they were really patient with us as we wrapped up. I would definitely celebrate here again.

I love ESF Hillside! The principal, Chris Duncan, is great and so are all the teachers. My…read moredaughter attended K1 and K2 there. Every day, she is excited to go to school and loves her classmates and teachers. As part of the IB program, the students here learn in units of inquiries and they get exposed to a lot of topics such as the nature and social responsibility. If you want Chinese program, this is not the place for you. Mandarin is taught only once a week, and about 20 minutes each. The primary language is English. The teachers do an excellent job preparing the kids for Primary. They learn a lot of basic skills and are all confident young individuals when they graduate. I have only great things to say about ESF Hillside!

The English School Foundation (ESF) was formed in 1967 to cater for children of local expatriates,…read morepredominantly English and a lot of them were civil servants working out here at the time. They have developed since then, growing to some 20 -odd schools at all levels at this moment. I was lucky enough to have attended Shatin College for some time and I would say that the ESF is an education body that really does care for its students. Without getting all teary eyed, my school years were filled with opportunities that could not be had if the school was a local one. The ESF invests heavily on extra curriculum activities and it affords its student many different facilities that would simply out of the question if it had not been for the immense resources of the education body (the ESF had been funded by the government during all these years; being withdrawn gradually now). Every year there seems to be more facilities being made available to students and given the British curriculum (as well as the IB now being introduced) being taught, it gives students more time and flexibility to develop their interests and I truly believe that it does provide children with a more dynamic childhood. The fees are being raise every year as government funding is being cut back and understandably there will be heavier burden on parents to chip in where the government had paid the bill before. I believe though (and I'm not the only one given the rumoured 3 year waiting list); that for your child this is still worth it.

I was invited to eat at the YMCA restaurant. So this review is for the restaurant…read more It was a buffet dinner. Surprisingly, It's much better then other buffets I've tried in central.

I'm writing this review for a Montessori course I am taking at the YMCA. Yes, If you didn't know…read morethe North American Montessori Centre that is globally recognised for their Montessori teaching diplomas is offered here in Hong Kong at the YMCA. I first got interested in Montessori, when I saw many kindergarten schools redirecting their curriculum to include if not completely transfer over to a Montessori teaching system. I, myself went to a Montessori myself and I think that a lot of my problem solving skills that I hone today derived from the Montessori kindergarten I went to when I was little. Wanting to learn how to teach this to kids and for general knowledge, I decided to get a Montessori teaching diploma and I was exceptionally excited when I found out that the YMCA offers it here in Hong Kong. Olivia is the girl I correspond with. She is super courteous and informational. She always emails me and asks how I 'm doing with the course and reminds me of assignment due dates. Extremely helpful and reliable. YMCA is conveniently located on Salisbury RD in Kowloon. The montessori program offered there is about 6 months long. It can be used for teaching children up to 6 years old. There are two courses offered, one for infants and one for three to six years. THe infancy program is harder and just slightly more expensive. NAMC diplomas are recognised worldwide. So if anybody is interested in learning the Montessori philosophy, be sure to check out the program offered at YMCA.

You know how schools nowadays stress on the all rounded development of students, academics…read moreachievements, musical talents, sports abilities... Whats more is leadership and team building/ managements skills. Outward bound training program has since become very popular among high schools, colleges for students , and I have heard, large corporates for their employees. Definitely not for the faint of hearts; outward bound aims to push personal limits. Other than the more common rock climbing and the not as common jumping off the pier straight into the sea to train up one's courage and willingness to step out if his comfort zone, outward bound also provides sea and/or land expeditions if you are staying with them for a longer period of time like 3 to 5 days. Sea expeditions include canoeing for half a day and camping out in a remote-ish island for a night; the land one, you've guessed it, is like hiking for a long day and wild camping in a country park. The fun part for me is cooking in the wild using canned food with limited supplies and you really have to improvise as you go along. Too used to the lifestyle in the city makes people in HK too take things for granted; by stripping away some of the "urbaness", it forces people out of their comfort zones and allows the survival instinct to kick in. Its pretty much a once in a lifetime experience and is pretty worth to join~

Not bad,I do have great memories in here,my best friend was Nazir,Anwser,and Adiba. They provide…read morethe best ESL classes and have English classes for students who don't know Chinese. They also take care of South Asian students. But sometimes they are rowdy in this high school and have fights. They even have SEND classes for adolescents with special needs such as dyslexia,asd and adhd,social works from SKH will have help them,I was one of the clients from the social worker.

Hong Kong is a place where creativity is mostly encouraged. With shops like Art Jam, people…read moregravitate to an outlet where they can express themselves through it. While I love art jamming with my friends once in awhile, I thought it might be beneficial for me have some professional guidance while I produce some form of artistic creation involving paint and a canvas. This is where I came across Find Arts. Located on Caine Rd, down the street where I live is a little art studio that pertains to teaching young children to paint. Curiously, I popped my head in to inquire some information. They offer adult night once a week from 7PM to 9PM. The price was pretty reasonable as they will provide all supplies for you and you can have a teacher guide you to paint whatever you like. I was determined to hang a piece of art specifically made by me as anyone can go and buy a painting. Well that and admittedly for bragging rights, or just an ice breaker piece for when I have guests over. Perfect opportunity! I felt assured that with professional guidance, my living room wall would no longer be blank but filled with self-made meaningful painting. I signed on and started class. Firstly they let you choose you blank canvas. You can choose a matte one or a glossy one, as well as different sizes. After picking out the size, you need to find inspiration to paint something you like. Find Arts, has lots of books for you to find your inspiration. I learned that art you appreciate might not exactly be easy to recreate! I finally chose a serene piece i found online of two Koi fishes in the pond. Koi has always been a symbol of prosperity, so I thought it would be good fengshui for my apartment as well. My teacher is an extremely impressive artist. Just looking at his sketches I was amazed. He taught me how to proportionally sketch out my picture first, this is by far the most important step. Next he taught us how to mix colours, to how to hold the paintbrush the right way, to cleaning the brushes afterwards. I fell in love with this art class and I'm on my second piece. For people who need a little more guidance to painting/creating art, I definitely recommend this place. It is a warm, clean friendly space that is kid friendly. It is for beginners who don't know how to begin a painting.