Because as much as the waterpark provided them with hours of splashing fun, Pattaya Sheep Farm was a place where they were smitten with plenty of animal friends... and ended up not wanting to leave!


But it nearly did not materialise, simply because of all the Pattaya kid-friendly places I researched, I missed this one out. Thanks to the wifey who did (more) extensive research, we made time in our itinerary to bring the monkies down and I am so glad we did!


Spread over a sprawling site on the outskirts of Pattaya and a 20-minute car ride away from the city, Pattaya Sheep Farm is home to many other animals than just sheep... contrary to what its name implies.


In fact, the first thing that struck me when I stepped into its premises was everything was so colourful and cheery!


And yes, most definitely having the opportunity to snap many Instagram-worthy shots at every corner too!


Okay, but back to the live animals.


If your kids love cuddling and feeding farm animals, they will most certainly go crazy in this huge farm! Because quite frankly, which child doesn't love feeding animals? Certainly not my monkies!


Ale, especially loved feeding milk to the baby goats.


Stepping on poop? Not so much, but that is all part of the farm experience.

But poop or no poop, carrying and swaddling animals seem pretty much the theme of the monkie's time at the farm.


See what I mean?


Fret not if the kids become bored with the sheep, because there are plenty of other animals for them to fawn over - all of which seem to be kept in reasonable conditions.


I personally adore the Balcknose sheep and Alpacas!


Greedy animals, the alpacas were too.


For a fee, kids will be able to hop on a minitiature horse - for older kids, a larger horse - and ride a few rounds the holding pen. Something that no doubt thrilled the monkies!


It was tough to name a favourite but I believe the aviary had a guaranteed among-the-top placing in the monkies' hearts, thanks to the lories' friendly nature!


These were no angry birds. They were hungry birds!


And sometimes, they also love a peck (or two) on the cheek!


But more than just animals, Pattaya Sheep Farm is full of colourful and cute sculptures and dioramas for visitors to pose with!


And the monkies did just that.


The cutesy decorations and sculptures scattered around the farm sure made posing for photos even more enjoyable!


 Okay I admit, even I could not resist getting into the action.


As a bonus, there is also an old-school playground to help expend the kiddos' energy.


 Need to refuel? Head to The Barn Steak House.


At the Steak House, one child below the height of 110cm eats FREE for every adult entrée ordered. Always good news for parents!


I had the its signature steak and it was succulent and tasty enough for Ash to slice away a huge chunk of it. Hmph.


The wifey opted for the Seafood Spaghetti done in Pad Thai style and it was good! Somehow, the spaghetti gave more flavour to the dish instead of the usual rice noodles used.


The Baby Back Ribs was another winner in our books.


Just ask Ayd who could not wait for my photo-taking to be over and done with.


With our tummies filled, the monkies pleaded to roam the grounds of Pattaya Sheep Farm for one final time before we head back to the hotel.


Not that I minded of course, as it gave me an ample chance to go around exploring the different corners of the farm and soaking in quirky sights like these.


There were also carnival-style rides like carousel, bouncy castle and mini-train but they were not in operation while we were there. Perhaps only during weekends.


As for the monkies, they visited ALL of the animals another time before settling on cuddling some cute bunnies until it was time to bid the farm farewell.


I am really glad we made time to visit the farm. The monkies truly enjoyed their time there with the farm being huge and there were plenty of animals to keep them happy. Also thankfully, the farm does not stink. 

Entry fee to Pattaya Sheep Farm is a wallet-pleasing 50 Baht (S$2) per adult or child. Kids under 110cm enter free.

The feeds are chargeable at 20 Baht (S$0.80) per packet, bottle of milk or bunch of leaves so I think it is still pretty affordable even if you end up feeding 10 times. Mini-horse rides are at 100 Baht (S$4) for 2 rounds while larger horse rides are priced at 200 Baht (S$8).

Only drawback? It can get really hot! So be sure to slap on more sunblock and bring caps along.


Other than that, it definitely receives the 'cheekiemonkie' seal of approval for a family-friendly attraction. It is a must-go if you are visiting Pattaya with the kids!

And the moral of the story? The wife always knows best!


Useful Information

Pattaya Sheep Farm
Nong Pla Lai, Bang Lamung 20150
Pattaya, Thailand
Opening Hours: 9am - 7pm daily
Entrance Fees: 50 Baht per person | Kids under 110cm enter FREE
Website: www.pattayasheepfarm.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/PattayaSheepFarm

P.S. We got to Pattaya Sheep Farm via Tuk Tuk which we hailed off the street. It cost us 600 Baht per way.


AirAsia flies direct to Pattaya from Singapore daily. For more information and to book, visit airasia.com.

Every nook and cranny in the Chinatown Heritage Centre pulsates with the memories of yesteryear, transporting me to a Chinatown in the budding years of Singapore's establishment as a seaport. And I knew I had to bring the monkies back to experience the richer story of Chinatown’s evolution from its early days as a Chinese migrant settlement to today’s vibrant heritage precinct.

And so I did.


Located a mere 1-minute walk away from Chinatown MRT Station, Chinatown Heritage Centre boasts six galleries which offer a more comprehensive story narrative that goes beyond the 1960s, and more in-depth collection of personal stories from the Chinatown community.

Galleries 1 & 2: Tailor Shop and Living Cubicles
(Levels 1 & 2)


The first sight that greeted the monkies was the Tailor Shop - an authentic recreation of a tailor shop, typical of those that used to line Pagoda Street during the 1950s – 1980s. How authentic? Right down to the actual order book and cloth specimens!

Best person to confirm its authenticity is the wifey as her grandpa used to run a similar shop and she used to spend most of her childhood playing in his shop. Suffice to say the Tailor Shop brought back many fond memories for her!


One thing I love about Chinatown Heritage Centre - instead of just displaying every information in panels and words, everything is recreated from scratch to depict the actual living conditions back in the 1950s, from the decorations, furniture and even the cramped living conditions back then.


But the real jolt to the senses came when they saw how toilets in home looked like in the early days.


Yes, complete with a hole in the floor where both liquid and solid businesses collected in a metal bucket below. Cue "EEWWW, GROSS!" all around.


We then headed upstairs, where further cramped living conditions awaited.


Back in those days, rich landlords who owned shophouses like these would partition their the properties into small cubicles so as to house as many tenants as possible to earn the most rental. The result? Extremely small and cramped rooms for the occupants of the shophouse.

Samsui Woman's Room

We were even allowed to step into selected living cubicles and experience first-hand what cramped
living conditions were like, allowing us to gain a deeper appreciation for the resourcefulness, resilience, and sense of community that came with communal living. And oh, get a whiff of the hand-rolled cigarettes scent in the Samsui Women’s Cubicle too!

Clog Maker's Room

MaJie's Room

The cubicle occupants – such as the Trishaw Rider, Carpenter, Hawker, Samsui Woman, Clog Maker – told spellbinding stories, some through personal possessions, which definitely evoked waves of nostalgia among the *ahem* older folks like us.

Hawker's Room

Trishaw Rider's Room

One particular room that captured the imagination of the monkies was this - a room that used to house a family of EIGHT.


How a couple is able to fit 6 kids into this room is beyond my belief.

This tiny room gave a glimpse of a typical life for a family of 8 in the shophouse. Interestingly, the room has be recreated to showcase the exact room that a Kong family who used to live at 48 Pagoda Street, the exact shophouse in which part of the Centre is now housed in!


Throughout the shophouse, ambient soundscapes and audio conversations fill the air as they offer a glimpse of the neighbourly goodwill, as well as the occasional skirmish that might ensue in such overcrowded living conditions.


Another cubicle that piqued the interest of the monkies was the Physician's Family Cubicle.


The Physician’s Family Cubicle's story and recreation is based on the real-life accounts of writer Wu Si Jing. Si Jing lived in a shophouse at the junction of Pagoda and Trengganu Streets between the
early 1940s to 1950s, as her father was a Physician then.


The cubicle even came with a peep-hole in the floor, which helped the Physician's family keep a lookout for unruly knocks on the door downstairs late at night.


Gallery 3: Leaving China – A Different World Awaits
(Level 3)


Moving further upstairs, the next gallery chronicled the journey of Chinese immigrants and captured some of the defining stories and moments in the long and perilous journey to Singapore.

Through an immersive multimedia show featuring animations and sound and lighting effects, we were momentarily taken through the hellish journey these passengers endured in hopes of a brighter future... including trying our hands at lifting a heavy gunny sack, sacks that coolies used to carry for work.

Gallery 4a: In Search of Fortune
(Level 3)

Having survived the hellish journey to Singapore, not all was rosy as many had hoped.

In the next gallery, we visited the places where the migrants settled in different parts of Chinatown, the customs they brought along, and the often harsh conditions in which they eked out a living.


We got a peek into the hidden world of old Chinatown to discover how poor migrants impoverished themselves further through gambling and opium addictions, and the vice industries associated with
secret societies.


Gallery 4b: From the Same Lands
(Level 3)

This gallery shines the spotlight on clan associations which were formed in the spirit of mutual support to aid migrants from the same hometown, dialect group or surname. Homage is paid to prominent names in the fields of education and healthcare, such as Tan Tock Seng, as well as the lesser known.

Here, a large interactive touchscreen table allowed the monkies to trace their Chinese surnames back to their roots - definitely a highlight for them!

This gallery celebrates Chinatown of the 1960s, a town teeming with life.

Mock-ups of the street market, heritage shops and the hive of activities along the five-foot way present stories and artefacts of a grittier Chinatown. Attention will shift from the hustle and bustle of a busy street market scene to the evening glow and night time entertainment, featuring prolific entertainment venues of the past, such as Tai Thong Restaurant, Southern Hotel, and Lai Chun Yuen.


Ending off on a sombre note, the final section of the gallery talks about Sago Lane and the death houses, once commonly associated with Chinatown before they were banned in 1961. Here, we learned more about the funeral parlours, processions, and paraphernalia that took place back in those days.


Gallery 6: Every Step a Story and Threads of Continuity
(Level 2)


In this new gallery, we were given the opportunity to trace the physical transformation of Chinatown and the personal memories and tales behind the modern façade.

Overall, a visit to Chinatown Heritage Centre is an intriguing one - each corner hides an interesting story waiting to be told. To further enhance the experience, visitors can top up a further $5 for a guided tour led by a Samsui Woman or Trishaw Rider (1.30pm and 4.30pm only). Or pick up the FREE multimedia handheld guide which provides a floor-by-floor gallery guides, visuals and soundscapes that will bring alive the shophouse living scenes. The guide also provides deeper layers of information on the historical background and context of various exhibits.


Admittedly, the entry fees of $15 for adults and $11 for kids aged between 7 and 12 years old are a tad high but it is truly a worthwhile learning experience for both adults and children alike. And the good news is not only do kids below 7 years old enter free, Singaporeans and PRs who are 60 years old and above enter FREE too (valid until 31 July 2016)!

From the desperate hopefulness of the many “Sinkheh” (new migrants) – risking life and limb to embark on an arduous journey from the various Chinese provinces to the promised land of Singapore – to the raw, seedy and underground practices of gambling dens and secret societies, Chinatown Heritage Centre will be able to offer an honest, revealing glimpse into the lives of Chinatown's early residents for all generations.


Useful Information

Chinatown Heritage Centre
48 Pagado Street, Singapore 059207
Opening Hours: 9am - 8pm daily. Closed on 1st Monday of every month.
Entry Fees: Adult $15; $20 (with guided tour) | Child (7-12) $11; $16 (with guided tour) | FREE for Senior Citizens aged 60 and above (until 31 July 2016)
Website: chinatownheritagecentre.com.sg/index.html

MOSH! is Singapore's first digital media edutainment facility which showcases state-of-the-art multimedia technology from Japan, and is unlike ANY indoor playground that a child is familiar with. Or at least for my monkies, that is.

When I first told them of this new digital playground on Sentosa, to say they were hugely enthusiastic is a severe understatement. I think the part of having their creations come to life was the clincher... and little wonder that they were struck in awe the moment they stepped into MOSH!


Located on the third floor of the spanking new Palawan Kidz City on Sentosa (opposite Port of Lost Wonder) and sharing the same building as KidZania Singapore, MOSH! is housed in one big room with a total of FIVE digital interactive activities to keep the kids enthralled.


Dedicated to providing a unique play-to-learn experience, the five activities allows the little ones to create imaginary worlds of their own in an immersive virtual environment, designed to empower creativity through free play and expression.

And created freely - and in some instances, wackily - the monkies did in the five different MOSH! Worlds:

FANTASY: WORLD OF WONDER


The first activity that kids encounter when they first enter allows them to work those tiny fingers - by colouring their favourite Mosh!cot. Colouring stuff on its own may be boring to some kids, especially older kids like my boys, but all the talk of boring went out of the window when they realised they were able to scan their finished product and make it appear on the giant screen!


Yes, it is alive and rather bouncy too!


SPACE: FIREWORKPARTY


Now this is one digital activity to get those bodies (and butts) shaking! Kids stand along the Fireworks play zone and orchestrate Fireworks into the skyline on the projection wall by simply moving, running and jumping around.

And I think Ayd gave a splendid positive demonstration. Lol.

The older kids might find this the most boring of the lot but younger kids will love playing hide-and-seek with the cute creatures. Just place any objects - or your hands- on the Interactive Table and watch the creatures appear under them... and as Ale shows in the video, she loved squishing them too!

SEA: DOODLE AQUARIUM


By far, this is THE activity station where all of us spent most of our time there simply because the doodling possibilities are endless and oh-so-fun!


Featuring a gigantic digital aquarium, kids will be able to doodle anything they want on a piece of paper, scan it and watch it join the underwater world on the screen.


And when I say doodle anything, I really mean anything.


After the scanning is completed, a digital cut-out of the doodle is formed.


And this instantaneously gets sent to the giant aquarium screen.


Nothing like seeing poop floating around under the sea, eh?


But in all seriousness, the prospect of having the monkies' pictures of anything they draw appear miraculously before them is definitely very appealing and therein lies the fun.

It's a good thing too that the screen is able to scan a few copies of artwork at the same time so plenty of kids will be able to see their creations appear simultaneously on the giant digital aquarium!

Now this comes in as a really close favourite for the boys because they love folding aeroplanes. But what is even MORE incredulous is not only do they fold their own paper planes, the paper planes transform into digital actual planes when they throw them against wall!


Don’t believe me? Just watch.

AMAZING, no? For kids who love aeroplanes, they will go bonkers! What's more, there are mini challenges where kids are tasked to strike certain areas on the screen using their paper planes to earn points.

Helmed by award-winning Japanese creative agency, 1→10, who has won over 150 international awards, and other designers from Japan, MOSH! fuses technology with learning activities that make it so fun for the kids.

Like in the Paper Plan Adventure, the size of the digital version that appears in the screen depends on the quality of the paper plane. So in an educational way, this teaches kids to think about re-engineering their planes for a better result.


All of the 5 activities are positioned next to one another, so kids can hop freely from one activity to another. We spent a total of 2 hours there and even then, the monkies will tell you that it is not enough!


As much as I love the concept, the only bugbear I have about MOSH! is its rather pricey entrance fees at $28 per adult and $22 per child. The activities appeal most to kids so I would prefer that adults pay a cheaper accompanying fee rather than having to fork out a more expensive admission charge.


But make no mistake, the activities in MOSH! are cute, playful and full of endless imagination possibilities. The monkies love it, and I am sure kids will absolutely go wild in MOSH! as well!


GIVEAWAY!

TWO lucky families will each win FOUR entry passes (2 Adults and 2 Children) worth S$100 to MOSH!

For a chance to win, all you have to do is do the following:

1. LIKE MOSH!'s Facebook page HERE.

2. Leave a comment either in the comment section of this blog post OR on our Cheekiemonkies' Facebook corresponding post HERE on which activity in MOSH! that your family will be looking forward to try out most.

IMPORTANT: Complete all 2 steps for your entry to be valid.


WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING?
SHARE this blog post of the giveaway on Facebook for a bonus chance! Remember to set your profile to public so that I can see the shared post.

Giveaway ends on 29 February 2016, 2359 hours.

Good Luck! :)


Useful Information

MOSH!
31 Beach View #03-01, Palawan Kidz City
Sentosa Singapore 098008
(A 5-minute walk from Beach Station)
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm daily
*MOSH! Playtime of 2 Hrs will apply during weekends and public holidays.
Admission Fees: Adult $28 | Child $22 | FREE entry for kids below 2 years old
*Family Bundle at $48 includes entry for 1 Adult and 1 Child (10% off Family Bundles for MasterCard Holders)
Website: www.mosh.com.sg

Woah, a mini waterpark right on the hotel's premises! But more on that later, I promise.


Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort is right smack in the prime location of North Pattaya, offering direct access to the beach just 500 meters away. More importantly for parents, it is located far far away from Walking Street, which is home to Pattaya's seediest night entertainment.

Having opened in November 2014, the property is one of the newest hotels in the North Pattaya area and from our first impressions when we stepped into the lobby, everything looked to be so spacious and well-designed.


Of course, the litmus test for the monkies when it comes to hotel accommodation lies in the room.


Rooms at Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort consist of Superior King/Twin, Ocean View Suite and Executive Family Suite with 2 bedrooms and a living room. All rooms have free WIFI, a balcony, in-room safe, refrigerator and tea & coffee-making facilities.

Superior Rooms starts from S$95 per night if you make an advance booking so that is really affordable! Oh and better yet, accommodation and breakfast is FREE for 2 children under 16 years if they share the parents’ room and utilising existing bedding.

We stayed in an Ocean View Suite (from S$170 per night) which came with a master bedroom with a king-size bed and a separate living room. An extra (and welcome) perk that Ocean View Suites have is drinks in the in-room minibar are absolutely free for us to consume.


And with a name like 'Ocean View Suite', our room had a splendid view of Pattaya Bay.


Well, splendid enough to induce sloth-like behaviour.


Luckily though, the amenities within the hotel provided enough motivation for the monkies to get off their bums... and in the process, push their almost-asleep Dad off the comfy bed.


There are 2 pools at Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort, with the lap pool on the 5th floor catering mainly to adults. The ground floor is where everything in the name of fun comes together for kids.


The Kids Club is a modest set-up, home to dinosaur toys, toy cars, 2 computer stations and Ale's fave - a ball pit.


Outside, there is an open space with 2 mini goalposts where kids can perspire over a game of mini football game. Do note that while the Kids Club is free to use for all children of hotel guests, it is not tended with staff so parents of younger children will not be able to leave them in the Club alone.

One of the activities that the monkies did not manage to try was rock-climbing (chargeable at 200 Bht per person for 30 minutes) due to a lack of time.


But at least they finally got their wish.


Without a doubt, Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort's appeal lies in its water park (free and exclusive to hotel guests).


The water park may not be huge but as long as there are slides, water fountains and pure water play involved, the monkies are always happy!


I know the yellow slide looks like your typical water slide but trust me when I say that the slide is deceptively fast and spirals sliders down into the water in a speedy fashion! But as you can probably guess, that only increased the number of times that the monkies went on it!

For the thrill-adverse, there is always the cute whale to take refuge in.


And to up the thrill factor, the water park also has a dedicated area for swimmers to leap off from a cliff and into the water below.


Never ones to shy away from challenges, the boys took turns to take flight.


There are 2 platforms of different heights... and no prizes for guessing which platform the boys consistently leapt from. (Hint: It's not the lower one.)


Little wonder then that the monkies requested to visit the water park every single day during our stay at the resort.


Over the past years, North Pattaya has seen a rapid growth of properties and businesses with a huge emphasis on family-friendly fun and facilities.

Not only is Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort located a 5-minute walk away from the beach, one block away lies a new development with cafes, grocery store and the Teddy Bear Museum. My recommendation is to hail a tuk tuk off the street (20 Baht per person per trip) and head down to the nearby CentralFestival Pattaya Beach Shopping Mall (a 5-minute ride), billed as Asia's largest Beachfront mall and Pattaya's largest shopping mall. Plenty of deals to be found there, as the wifey will attest to!

Great location, comfy new rooms, and a colourful water park - definitely all the right ingredients for a family-friendly hotel. And knowing the monkies, they will jump at the chance to return!


Useful Information

Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort
463/100, Moo 9 - Pattaya Second Road - Nhongprue Banglamung

20260  Pattaya, Thailand
Website

I'm going to assume that we all love our kids, no?

But as much as I love my monkies to itsy-bitsy bits, I have to be honest. Not every single moment of parenthood is perfect. There are times when they drive me crazy and also times when I wished they would hit the next developmental milestone soonest.

Like when they were just a stationary living thing, I wished they would start crawling soon. Or when I wished teeth would sprout quickly so that they could eat the same food as us when we dine outdoors. Or when I wished they would be able to read independently. Or when I wished they could pop to the supermarket on their own and do the marketing on my behalf.

But you know what they say: be careful what you wish for.

It turns out that all this growing up business really happens far too quickly for me and I end up wishing everything slows down - especially for these 5 things that I initially could not wait for my kids to do... until they did them.


Walking

Let's face it, taking one's first steps is a huge developmental milestone... not only for the child but also for parents who will pretty much announce it via social media. Coupled with the fact that the time that they start walking is also the time when my aching arms can finally take a rest. Erm, right?

Not if they keep falling, knocking over things, falling again. Which means I have to keep an even more watchful eye over them. And did I mention that the walking milestone comes packaged together with climbing, jumping and running???  The average toddler's ability to reason at that age between risk and challenge is not in line with his physical prowess so he thinks he is able to do everything, including trying to climb up that bookshelf. And don't even get me started on stairs. There are days that I wished they would go back to crawling.

Being Independent 

It starts out with babies can't stand being away from their parents even for one second. Just ask the wifey, who can never pee or poop in peace. So the day when the kids become aware that they are individuals and become more insistent on doing things on their own is also the day we bring out the champagne. Or so I thought. Because it is tad sad when your child declares his independence and wants nothing to do with you.

Talking

Ever since they said their first coo, I was waiting for the moment. The moment where they surprise me with their first word. Yes, I am finally going to have a real conversation with my kids, I thought. I cannot wait for all the funny things they will say, I hoped. A few years down the road, and I cannot wait for them to shut up at times. Because be it talking too loud, asking the same questions over and over again or just mimicking an annoying fake voice, they do not stop yapping now.

Sleeping by Themselves

We co-slept with the boys right up until they went to primary school and there were times during that period that I wished they would be able to sleep in their own bedroom. Because they always end up in some weird, awkward position that usually involves one of their feet in my nose or at my crotch, Plus, they inevitably squeeze me right to the edge of the bed, making actual sleep a difficult task. Now? I miss the times when we snuggled in bed together so I sometimes end up snuggling in theirs during bedtime. No space Papa!, they echo in unison now.

Being Toilet-trained

Diapers are costly. So I was eager for the kids to be toilet-trained so that I can finally stop letting the diaper companies earn my money. Well, that was until the day they find the most inconvenient of timings to want to use the toilet in public and therein begins the frantic rush to find the nearest toilet. Only to realise there is a loooong snaking queue... and the toilet bowl looks as if someone has dropped an atomic bomb in there. And surprise surprise, there is no toilet paper and I forgot my wet wipes. Sniff. And yes, dealing with dirty diapers is so much a breeze compared to soiled underpants.


For the record, I am all for development. But the more my monkies grow and achieve the next milestone, I feel like such a fool for wishing for that milestone to come earlier and not enjoying the current moment. Because if I am annoyed with them for talking too much now, there will come a time during those pre-teen angsty years when the only answer I am going to get from them is a short cool "Good."

So as much as I want to go back in time, something tells me when I look back at my life, despite all the frustration and inconvenience, my monkies are going to be my greatest accomplishment.


All I have to do is step back every once in a while to appreciate them.

Just WOW.

How AWESOME is it to snooze in the mouth of a whale???

Actually I need not be surprised. We first had a taste of Holiday Inn's family-friendly facilities when we visited Holiday Inn Resort Mai Khao Beach and Holiday Inn Resort Phuket (Patong) in 2014, and the monkies were blown away by their respective Kids Rooms.

Similarly, Holiday Inn Pattaya is a family-friendly and child-oriented hotel in North Pattaya and situated beside Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort. The beachfront hotel features two towers - the Executive Tower geared towards business travellers and the Bay Tower more suited for couples and family holiday-makers.

To be honest, the colourful Kids Rooms at Holiday Inn Pattaya is enough to make the monkies fall in love with the hotel. But just in case the parents need a little more convincing, here are a few more reasons:

1. Spacious & Comfortable Rooms with a Fantastic Sea View


All accommodation at Holiday Inn Pattaya's Bay Tower features great views of Pattaya Bay and floor-to-ceiling windows, complete with free sea breezes on your own private balcony.


Just. take. a. look. at. that. kick. ass. view.


I could seriously just lie in bed the whole day.

Or in the bathtub.


2. Moby Dick-themed Kids Rooms


To ensure that your kids squeal in delight, book the Ocean View Family Suite (only on the 25th and 26th floors of the Bay Tower) which essentially consists of 2 interconnected rooms - one for the parents and a specially designed room with whale beds and colourful sea motifs for the kids.

To top everything off, the Kids Room also comes equipped with this.


Cue more squeals of delight then.

As you can probably guess, the monkies were over the moon with the themed room.


Oh, and I do not suggest trying this at home. Try this at a kid-friendly resort instead.

3. Swimming Facilities


Holiday Inn Pattaya has total of 4 unique swimming pools - one Infinity Pool at the Executive Tower, two Pools at Bay Tower and one dip pool beside Havana restaurant.



Of course, the only pool that mattered to the monkies was the Kids Pool.


With only one water slide and a few water fountains, it is definitely no waterpark but it still offers a great respite from the heat... especially if parents are not too keen on hitting the beach.


4. Kid's Club


What is a family resort without the presence of a Kid's Club?

From the indoor ball pit, play toys, art & craft tables, to the Wii and computer terminals, the Kid's Club is FREE for all hotel guests' kids to enjoy and I have no doubt that every single child will be duly kept entertained in the colourful premises. At least mine were.


The Kid’s Club also offers a wealth of activities throughout the day ranging from candle making, Thai costumes, model painting, greeting card making, doll painting and more. Some of the craft-making activities are chargeable and parents are able to obtain a calendar of events and activities during their stay, and select the time slots for their kids to attend.


If your kids are aged between 4 and 12, they can be left to the Kid's Club team staff's care while parents sneak off to enjoy Holiday Inn Pattaya's other recreational facilities in the form of a steam room, sauna, Fitness Center and even Yoga classes!


Parents with older kids may wish to head to the Kid's Club at the Executive Tower instead, where a table tennis table, ice hockey table and football table await.


5. Kids Stay and Eat Free at Holiday Inn Pattaya!

At Holiday Inn Pattaya, kids are the kings. Not only will children (age 12 years and under) enjoy a complimentary stay if they share the same room as their parents, they also receive a complimentary meal with every meal that their parents order!

And speaking of meals, Holiday Inn Pattaya recently revamped its Kids Menu in partnership with Nutrition Australia, a non-profit organisation inspiring healthy eating through nutrition education, information and advisory services. Featuring flavourful and playfully-presented dishes to appeal to the small ones’ big imaginations, the new menu has been created with nutrition at the heart, so parents can rest assured knowing their kids are being fed well.

Some of the menu criteria included ensuring that all meals contain a nutritious balance of foods from the core food groups; are low in saturated fats, added sugar and salt; promote food variety; and reflect current standards and dietary guidelines.

All meals will provide a balance of vegetables, meat and wholegrain foods plus fruit or dairy where relevant, offering a variety of colours, flavours and textures to educate and encourage kids to enjoy healthy eating.

Ale had the Fish & Chips, which was not deep-fried but baked instead. It turned out that she loved it so much more than the usual fried Fish & Chips that she polished off everything! Erm, everything except the salad. Heh.


6. Location, Location, Location


Occupying a beachfront location at North Pattaya, Holiday Inn Pattaya is far away from Pattaya's infamous night entertainment. It offers direct access to the beach just 300 meters away, and has plenty of restaurants and cafes right at its doorstep. But if you know us, we will choose 'hawker-style' food anytime and happily for us, there is an open-air food court located just behind the hotel!


The beef soup noodles and chicken wings are really delicious by the way!

The hotel also offers a FREE shuttle service to the nearby CentralFestival Pattaya Beach Shopping Mall (a 5-minute ride), billed as Asia's largest Beachfront mall and Pattaya's largest shopping mall. In addition, it is nearby to many other attractions: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum (10 min); Underwater World Aquarium (17 min); Pattaya Sheep Farm (20 min); Pattaya Floating Market (22 min) and Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (37 min).


Fresh, funky, family-friendly with a fabulous Kids Room to boot, I cannot recommend Holiday Inn Pattaya enough if you are thinking of holidaying with the family in Pattaya.

The wifey and I loved the scenic ocean views of our rooms while the monkies adored their colourful whale room (as they call it) and played themselves silly at the Kids pool or at the free Kids’ Club - testament enough of a perfect holiday resort!


Useful Information

Holiday Inn Pattaya 
463/68, 463/99 Pattaya Sai 1 Road, Nongprue
Banglamung, Pattaya Chonburi 20150, Thailand
Website

If you have been following my blog for some time, you will know that there is no way that Singapore is boring for families! There are places like the parks, beaches and playgrounds that kids can run, play and tumble at... and then there are places, or rather activities, that only happen once a month making it truly special outing for everyone in the family.

From catching a glimpse of a guard changing ceremony and walking down a car-free road to specially-curated activities for kids at museums and sailing in the Marina Bay, mark these events down your calendar and prepare for a year's worth of fun.


And you know what is the best part? They are ALL FREE to enjoy!


1. Changing of Ceremonial Guards Ceremony

On the first Sunday of every month (except July and August), a Singapore tradition since 1969 takes place outside the gates of the Istana - the changing of the Istana Ceremonial Guards.

Source

The main role of the Istana Ceremonial Guards is sentry duty at the Istana Main Entrance along Orchard Road and at the entrance of the Istana Building. A platoon of 20 guards from Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command would perform duties in the Istana for one month before another unit takes over. The take-over by a new unit is signified by the Changing of Guards Ceremony.

The format of the Ceremony is based on the British Changing of Guards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace, England. The in-coming Guards march from Koek Road (beside OG Orchard Point) to meet the out-going Guards at the main entrance of the Istana. The Changing of the Guards Ceremony is then carried out at the entrance of the Istana with military bands in attendance. Included in the ceremony is a Rifle Precision Drill Performance.

The guards start marching from the starting point at approximately 5.45pm, with the ceremony starting at 6pm in front of the Istana Gate and will end before 6.30pm.

Dates: 6 March 2016 | 3 April 2016 | 1 May 2016 | 5 June 2016 | 4 September 2016 | 2 October 2016 | 6 November 2016 | 4 December 2016
*Note: Dates may be subject to changes.
Time: 5.45pm onwards
Venue: The Istana, Orchard Road, Singapore 238823 (Near Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station)
Admission: FREE

2. Car-Free Sunday SG

On every last Sunday of the month, the Civic and Central Business District will be transformed into a cycle-friendly, walkable and activity-filled public space with something for everyone as roads around the Padang, together with Fullerton Road, will be fully closed to vehicles from 7am onwards.

And the first Car-Free Sunday SG will be taking place this Sunday, 28 February 2016! The streets will come alive for families, joggers and cyclists who can look forward to activities ranging from fitness group exercises, kid-friendly activities to a breakfast picnic. For full details on the list of activities and timings, visit HERE.


Dates: Last Sunday of the Month
Time: 7am - 11.30am
Venue: Padang and surrounding area
Admission: FREE

3. Saturdays@ACM

On the first Saturday of every month, Asian Civilisations Museum opens its doors to everyone with free and engaging activities for kids! Enjoy storytelling sessions, craft activities and drama performances with the family.


The upcoming Saturdays@ACM will be taking place on 5 March 2016 and will takes on an Easter theme. Celebrate Easter early with ACM and let the kiddos go on a treasure hunt in the galleries and watch a drama performance. Definitely an egg-citing time at the museum!

Dates: First Saturday of the month
Time: 1pm - 5pm
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum
Admission: FREE
More details HERE

4. Straits Family Sunday @ Peranakan Museum

Every second Sunday of each month, Peranakan Museum invites all families to enjoy an uplifting cultural weekend. Admission is complimentary and families will be able to spend a fun day at the museum learning more about the highlights of Peranakan culture through a specially curated experience.


Discover the meanings behind Peranakan designs and motifs in the special guided tours for children. Dress up with the whole family in batik or a sarong kebaya, and create your own masterpiece inspired by objects on display in the galleries. The next Straits Family Sunday is taking place on 13 March 2016.

Dates: Second Sunday of the month
Time: 1pm - 5pm
Venue: Peranakan Museum
Admission: FREE
More details HERE

5. Gardeners' Day Out

HortPark's signature event, Gardeners' Day Out, is held on a Saturday every month (except July & August 2016 due to Singapore Garden Festival 2016). Lined up with gardening and lifestyle activities for everyone, favourite highlights include a Gardeners' Market, Food Bazaar, free talks and demonstrations, free garden tours of HortPark and kids' activities like storytelling and art & craft! The next edition of Gardeners' Day Out will be happening on 12 March 2016.


Dates: Once a month (except July 2016 and August 2016).
*Check the upcoming edition HERE
Time: 9am - 5pm
Venue: HortPArk
Admission: FREE

6. DBS Marina Bay Public Sailing Programme

Sail in Marina Bay for free! Launched in 2013, the DBS Marina Sailing Programme provides the public with an opportunity to get into the Marina Reservoir and enjoy the view of the bay from a different perspective.


Slots for the following month usually open up for registration towards the end of each month. But do note that slots are always filled very quickly as soon as they are released due to the popularity of the Progamme!  So it pasys to bookmark the booking page HERE or stay updated via DBS' Facebook page. Anyone can sign up!

Dates: One or two weekends every month
Time: Various time slots
Venue: Marina Bay
Admission: FREE

7. MAAD

One Friday night of each month, the Red Dot Design Museum Singapore hosts a creative platform, MAAD (Market of Artists And Designers) for enterprising creatives to showcase their works and talents. Expect a quirky marketplace of original creations ranging from mini artisanal postcards, fashion and crafts, to literature, photography and furniture. From 9pm to midnight, home-grown bands take the stage, so take the chance stay up late with the kids and sway to the groove!

Source

Dates: One Friday of every month (Stay updated HERE)
Time: 5pm - 12 midnight
Venue: Red Dot Museum
Admission: FREE
Website:www.museum.red-dot.sg/maad

8. Stargazing at Science Centre Singapore

If your little ones love gazing at stars (and for free!), there is no need to wait once every month! Every Friday night, head to the the Singapore Science Centre Observatory for a night under the stars. Little astronomers can take turns looking through the telescopes at various objects visible in the sky. Some additional activities such as talks and slide shows will be held during special events.

Source

Fun fact: The Singapore Science Centre Observatory is one of the few in the world that is located next to the Equator. As a result, this unique position opens up more vistas in the sky enabling one to view more of the night sky!

Dates: Every Friday
Time: 7.45pm - 10pm
Venue: The Observatory (at the Omni-Theatre building)
Admission: FREE

9. Fire Station Open House

Every Saturday mornings between 9am and 11am, ALL fire stations, except Jurong Island Fire Station, open their doors to the public. Unless you are visiting in a group of more than 10 people, no prior registration is required. Just walk in and let the kids clamber onto a real fire engine, spray the water hose and even take a ride up the mechanical ladder! Definitely an experience to thrill every child. For more information, visit HERE.


Dates: Every Saturday morning
Time: 9am - 11am
Venue: All fire stations, except Jurong Island Fire Station
Admission: FREE
Website:www.scdf.gov.sg/content/scdf_internet/en/scdf_247/others/visit_our_fire_stations.html

10. Footprints Walking Tour

Did you know there are FREE walking tours that trace Singapore’s roots from her humble colonial trading port beginnings along the Singapore River to the modern home we have today? Best of all, the tours take place EVERY weekend, instead of once per month!

Led by a team of enterprising, enthusiastic and passionate walking guides from the Nanyang Technological University’s Tourism and Hospitality Management Club, Singapore Footprints organises walking tours that allow participants to marvel at the modern developments around Marina Bay and venture off the beaten track onto a cultural trail to appreciate how the different races and religious communities co-exist harmoniously in our multi-racial society.

Source

There are currently two tours available: Singapore River.Bras Basah.Bugis Tour which brings participants down the scenic banks of the Singapore River and through the monumental enclaves of the Bras Basah & Bugis Precinct AND Chinatown Tour:Footprints of our Forefather Tour where stories and experiences of our pioneers will be shared.

The great thing about the tours is NO registration is required for the Singapore River.Bras Basah.Bugis Tour. All you need to do is turn up at the meeting point and join in the fun! The tours last slightly over 2 hours, and are FREE.

Dates & Time:
Singapore River.Bras Basah.Bugis Tour
Every Saturday and Sunday, Rain or Shine
Meeting Point: Raffles Place MRT Exit B, street level
Meeting Time: 4:15pm
Tour departs at 4.30pm sharp
*No sign ups required – just show up!

Chinatown Tour: Footprints of our Forefathers
Every Saturday morning
Meeting Point: In front of Chinatown Visitor Centre
Meeting Time: 9.15am
Tour departs at 9.30am
*Sign up at Chinatown Visitor Centre, or email singaporefootprints@gmail.com.

Website: singaporefootprints.com

BONUS!

Then there are some activities for families that do not take place every month. Rather, they spring up once every few months, or in some cases whenever the public holidays roll along.

Singapore Really Really Free Market

The Really Really Free Market is a temporary market based on the concept of giving and building a community based on sharing resources, caring for one another and improving the collective lives of all. No need to bring your wallet along as EVERYTHING IS FREE! Apart from the books, CDs, toys and goods, there will be people cutting hair, doing tarot card reading, singing and writing poetry too. You are encouraged to share your own stuff as well by giving them to others who need them!

The upcoming one will be taking place this Sunday, 28 February 2016 at Jurong Central Park (near Jurong Point) between 2pm and 6pm. For future editions, stay updated via its Facebook page.

Istana Open House

The Istana Grounds is open to the public in celebration of Chinese New Year, Deepavali,  Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day and National Day. There will be a variety of performances on the grounds during the Open House. For an entrance fee of $2, visitors could tour selected function rooms in the Istana building and view a special display of gifts presented to the President and the Prime Minister. There are also guided tours of the Istana building, conducted by the Preservation of Sites and Monuments (PSM) volunteers. Istana souvenirs are also sold at the Open House. All proceeds from the sale of the souvenirs and the entrance fees collected are donated to charity.

Dates: Chinese New Year (2nd Day) 9 February 2016 | Labour Day (Actual Day) 1 May 2016 | Hari Raya Puasa (Actual Day) 6 July 2016 | National Day 30 July 2016 | Deepavali (Actual Day) 29 October 2016
Time: 8.30am - 6pm
Venue: Istana (Entrance to the Istana grounds is via the main gate at Orchard Road)
Admission: FREE for Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents.  Other visitors are required to pay an entrance fee of $2 per person.
Tanjong Pagar Railway Station Open House

The old railway station at Tanjong Pagar opens its doors on public holidays. The public can enter the railway station using the main entrance along Keppel Road or through the side entrance along Spottiswoode Park Road. Read about our previous experience HERE.

Dates: Public Holidays.
*Stay updated regarding the Open House dates via Singapore Land Authority's Facebook Page.
Time: 9am - 6pm
Venue: Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
Admission: FREE


Do you know of any more events or activities that take place only once a month or on an ad-hoc basis? Share them with me in the comments below!

Located at Raintree Cove, East Coast Park (near Burger King and beside East Coast Prawning), Diggersite opened this year and offers both adults and kids realistic experience in operating smaller scale construction machinery.

Yes, these are no toys. They are REAL machinery!


There are a total of three stations - 2 outdoor and 1 indoor. The favourite station arguably has to be the enclosed sandpit, where kids are tasked to scoop bricks out while operating an excavator.


There are a total of three excavators at this station and even then, there was a steady stream of kids waiting for their turns.


The recommended age is from 2 years and above. Children under 6 years old must be accompanied by an adult at all times.


If the kids are too young to operate the excavator themselves, they are allowed to sit on their parent's lap. (Something tells me the parent will be delighted at the chance to operate the excavator!) But do note that only one child is allowed per ride.


The other outdoor station involves knocking over plastic bottles using a ball attached to the arm of the excavator.


Sun too hot? Take shelter from heat at Diggersite's indoor station, where kids will be able to grab colourful balls using a giant claw from the comfort of a digger.


Interested to head down? Here are a few things to take note of:

- Each station is priced at $7. There is a bundle promotion of $18 for 3 rides.

- Each ride duration is for 5 minutes.

- Complimentary usage of safety helmet and vest.

- The recommended age is from 2 years and above. Children under 6 years old must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

- Opening hours are from 10am to 10pm daily.

- Due to the machinery involved, avoid wearing flip-flops or sandals as they do not protect the feet.

- Predictably, weekends and public holidays are peak periods to visit. So expect to wait much longer for the excavator rides.

- Outdoor stations are not sheltered. So do bring along hats or sunblock in case the queues get too long.


The monkies did not get a chance to try out the excavators though... because the queues were rather long and we had to rush off to another place. But I could see they were itching to try the excavators. And yes, even Ale too!

$7 for a 5-minute worth of digging time isn't exactly cheap but if you have a child who is tremendously crazy about construction vehicles, the experience of having the chance to take control of an excavator for themselves (and seeing the thrill and excitement on their faces) makes it worth every cent.


Useful Information

Diggersite
Address: Raintree Cove, 1020 East Coast Parkway, #01-04, Singapore 449878
Opening hours: 10am - 10pm daily
Cost: $7 per ride (5 minutes). Bundle promotion of $18 for 3 rides.
Website: www.facebook.com/diggersite

If there is one thing I learnt after my family's trip to Pattaya, it is this:


Sure, it has a seedy reputation. But the good news for families is most of the adult entertainment areas are located along the alleys and most importantly, away from the family-friendly resorts

So yes, Pattaya has been a bunch of surprises for us. All in a good way, of course with loads of family-friendly attractions and resorts abound.

We spent a total of 7 nights in Pattaya. What, 7 nights? That was precisely the reaction I got from some friends when I first told them of my travel plans to Pattaya. What is there to do in Pattaya for kids? Well, as things turned out, plenty and the monkies could not even bear to leave when it was time to bid Pattaya farewell.



So here was what we got up to in Pattaya - our itinerary where the monkies got to splash in a water park, get up close with farm animals, visit a floating market and more. We spread out the attractions as we wanted to take things easy so I reckon 4 to 5 nights in Pattaya will be reasonable enough to experience most of the kid-friendly attractions.

Day 1: Arrival


As of now, AirAsia is the only airline that flies direct to U-Tapao Airport in Pattaya from Singapore 4 times a week. So there is no need to endure a 2-hour road trip from Bangkok.

Day 2: Sanctuary of Truth


In fact, it has taken 30 years to build and is still a work in progress!


Inspired by temples across Asia, the Sanctuary of Truth is a study in Thai architectural styles. Every available space is intricately decorated with wooden carvings it is a maze of intricate carvings ranging from tiny flower petals to giant elephant heads.


Did I mention the entire building is carved out of wood??? Truly an amazing piece of architecture.


As a bonus, there is a mini goat petting area near the temple as well. Feeds and milk can be purchased for a small fee for the kids to feed the goats.



See what I mean???



But as each attraction is individually ticketed (there are combo tickets available), we only purchased the tickets for the main museum and Infinity Maze. The former is unique in its collection of oddities - a mixture of the strange, the shocking and the beautiful while the latter took us through a maze immersed in spectacular illusions, innovative lighting effects, and atmospheric effects.


Website:www.pattayasheepfarm.com
Admission Fees: THB50 per person | Kids under 110cm enter FREE


Other than attractions, the other highlight for the monkies was the family-friendly RESORTS we stayed in Pattaya, In total, we stayed in 3 different resorts that the monkies could not get enough of:

Centara Grand Mirage Pattaya
(3 nights)

Our first resort in Pattaya was booked through AirAsiaGO. As its name suggests, it has an exclusive tie-up with AirAsia so the portal is able to offer substantial savings, ensuring that their flights & hotel packages are priced attractively and competitively in the market.

Fantastic yes, but what was even more awesome for the monkies was Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya has its own full-scale 'Lost World' full-scale water park IN THE RESORT!




And yes, it even has a kick-ass Kid's Club for the little adults.

Website:holiday3.wwwsgss1.a2hosted.com/

One of my favourite Marina Bay events returns!


Over the next 3 weeks, the Marina Bay waterfront transforms into a colourful outdoor spectacle as i Light Marina Bay 2016 returns for its fourth edition. From 4 to 27 March 2016, a whopping 25 sustainable light art installations will dot and light up the areas around the Promontory @ Marina Bay, the Marina Bay waterfront promenade and the Float @ Marina Bay.


Originally held once every two years, i Light Marina Bay has proven to be so successful that it is now going to be staged ANNUALLY!

This year's theme is ‘In Praise of Shadows’, inviting visitors to reimaginethe fundamentals, forms and roles of light. Challenging the obsession that brighter is better and seeking to reframe perceptions of light and sustainability, the team hopes to inspire artists and festival-goers to re-imagine and reconsider sustainability issues in a new light and come together to create and sustain a harmonious relationship with our environment.


There will be tons of other fringe events too - like an Uncle Ringo Carnival! - but just strolling through the installations is going to be a treat for the whole family.


The bulk of the light installations are congregated at two main areas - The Promontory/Bayfront Event Space (beside Marina Bay City Gallery) AND The Floating Platform.


I got a sneak peek to some of the key light installations and from first impressions, these year's installations are highly more interactive than previous years... which means they perfectly suit the itchy fingers that kids possess! So if you are planning a fun night out by Marina Bay, here are some of the installations that families should not miss:


C'SCAPE


C’scape is an installation where form folds into a space reminiscent of the city. The central feature is a time-lapse light display evoking the synergy between the sun and the moon. On the perimeter, geometric forms represent the city skyline. As the sun sets, these screens animate the night scene at a city scale.

MOON HAZE

Beyond its delightful representation of the full moon, Moon Haze also functions as a monitoring system for air pollutants, picking up and responding to the ambient air quality – the better the air quality, the brighter the installation!

LAMPSHADE


Lampshade is made of simple bamboo structures covered in photovoltaic cells to prevent sunlight from entering its interior in the day, while lighting up intensively at night with solar energy enough to power a thousand lamps. Made to be both socially and environmentally friendly, the lamps used in this installation will be donated to communities in Myanmar after its display while the bamboo structure and its light fixtures will be recycled as construction scaffolding.

SHADOW BATH


Shadow Bath is a luminous inflated bathhouse with coloured light and air casting spectacular patterns inside and out, bathing visitors in dynamic patterned shades. The pneumatic form is a mathematical toroidal space, signifying the geometry of the universe. During certain periods, visitors will be able to enter the bathhouse for a unique light show.

TORRENT


TORRENT aims to transport users into a dreamlike landscape. As users walk past the screen, they find their movements reflected on a screen against an icy landscape, as if a virtual shadow with a swarm of trailing particles, with their motions mirrored but their forms vague.


BOLT


Inspired by the form and behaviour of lightning, the installation comprises an intricate network of LED tubes resting on steel legs that flare up when touched. Bolt not only mimics the ethereal nature of lightning, but also allows people to experience direct visceral connections.

ANGELS OF FREEDOM


Five sets of giant, colourful wings invite visitors to come close and interact with the symbolic angels. This installation seeks to remind visitors of their true selves and to always remain connected to loved ones and those who matter. Judging from the preview, I forsee this installation to be a huge hit with the crowd!



CYCLE HOUSE

Cycle House is a mobile workstation combining temporary shelter and cycling. Two cycle houses have been created: the stationary house invites visitors to cycle to light up the piece while expressing their ideas of exploration by drawing on the canvas wall; the mobile house brings a more energetic, disco-themed performance to the bay.

LIGHT WALK


Light Walk consists of thirty-six custom made modules presented here borrows the form of the existing Mist Walk at the Marina Bay waterfront promenade. Together, they create an entirely new, immersive and playful experience. Just like plucking the string of a harp, passing underneath through the beams triggers its circuitry and sensors to emit melodic notes and project glowing interactive lights.

Clockwork Stories


*BUBBLES ALERT!*
Clockwork Stories consists of environmental receptors which breathe out bubbles when roused. The surrounding light sources and other elements such as wind, water currents and human interaction activate these receptors. One of the receptors is The Swing and the Bubbling Turbines, which invites visitors to swing on it, working the turbines to breathe out bubbles which capture and transform light into a spectrum of colours as they fly and disappear into the air. This will DEFINITELY be a HIT with the kids!

GROOVE LIGHT


Groove Light generates geometric shadow patterns when a point light source is shone through five 3D printed lanterns, creating a carpet of light giving physical dimension – in the complex forms of the lanterns – to virtual projections. The suspended lanterns are positioned with precision to create a continuous lightscape which visitors can modify by moving the lanterns.

EMOGRAPH


The mysterious Emograph measures the visitor’s pulse and transforms it into a bright mosaic of colours and sound when a finger is inserted into the installation. The pulse triggers a motorised kaleidoscope into action, projecting the image onto a facade, at the same time converting the pulse into a complementary soundtrack.


WHAT A LOVING & BEAUTIFUL WORLD @ ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM


Whatever you do, DO NOT miss this light show. Projected on the facade of the ArtScience Museum, anyone can participate by ‘swiping’ the Chinese characters onto the facade of the building using your smartphone! Yes, the public gets to decide on what images appear.


The result is a colourful, multi-sensory experience that continuously evolves as images are released from these Chinese characters, while influencing and changing each other within its own immersive, computer-generated world. Interact with this artwork at ilight.team-lab.com.

GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM


A fun piece that hopes to bring out the child in us and our fascination of space, the rocket is a glimmering, colour-changing piece by day, and a multi-coloured lantern casting light onto its surroundings by night. The installation loosely interprets this interplay of darkness and light in space, and seeks to allay fears of what human beings do not totally understand.

SONICTOWER


SONICtower comprises four zones with a total of 320 solenoids and LED lights to create a rhythmic sound and light scape within the confines of the scaffolds. It invites visitors to listen and discover unique compositions as they explore different pockets of the artwork.

DANDELION


Dandelion is a low-fi interactive sphere consisting of 320 3D-printed flip panels and a singular light source installed at its core, projecting shadows on surrounding surfaces. Visitors are invited to open and close the panels to create different configurations of light and shadows.

UNSEEN: TOUCH FIELD


Unfolding like an endless topographical illustration within a floating tunnel, Unseen: Touch Field depicts the cityscapes of Singapore and Taipei as a drawing that is meant to be ‘seen’ in the dark, using the touch of the hand instead of the gaze of the eye. The work invites visitors to experience the reality of visually-impaired individuals.


OTHER FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS

Families can also bond through a timeless carnival by Uncle Ringo and an outdoor camping trip under the city skyline; music lovers can groove to the beat of roving drums and music performances; while foodies can enjoy the wide array of offerings from gourmet market PasarBella and food trucks. Festival goers can also look forward to complimentary events and activities such as educational talks, seminars and sporting activities. Some of the highlights include:

i Light Carnival at the Bay
4 – 27 March
The Float @ Marina Bay - 6.00pm – 10.30pm
Bayfront Event Space - 6.00pm – 10.30pm (weekdays), 5.00pm – 11.00pm (weekends)
Located at 2 sites, Uncle Ringo is a name that is synonymous with good old fashioned carnival fun. Expect plenty of carnival rides such as bumper cars, haunted house ride and the all-time fave, carousel!


Festival Village
4 – 27 March, Every Friday – Sunday | 7.30pm – 11.00pm | The Promontory @ Marina Bay
Visitors can enjoy the first Festival Village at The Promontory @ Marina Bay with dining options from the likes of Harry's and Haagen Dazs daily, Coffee Bandits (12-13, 19-20, 25-27 March), Kerbside Gourmet (6, 13, 20 March), Old Chang Kee (5-6, 12-13 March) and The Travelling C.O.W. (4, 6, 11, 13, 18-20, 25-27 March) food trucks. There are also activities like stargazing and community performances over the weekends.

Play It Forward Singapore
4 – 27 March | Around Marina Bay
Play it Forward Singapore is initiated by a group of passionate local artists and designers to transform old, unwanted pianos into art pieces and place them in public spaces for all to enjoy. Leading up to the festival, artists will be transforming the public pianos in a studio space at the URA Centre where visitors can participate in the process. Visit https://www.facebook.com/playitforwardsg/ for updates.

KamPONG
4 – 27 March | Mist Walk (between the Marina Bay City Gallery and Marina Bay Sands)
The initiative by Innoverde brings locally designed and custom fabricated ping pong tables to public spaces for the public to play anytime. Since last year, the KamPONG tables have roved around Singapore to revive the kampung spirit with a friendly game of ping pong.


Marina Waterfront Bazaar
4 – 27 March | 5.30pm – 10.30pm | Event Square
Feel the soothing breeze and admire possibly the world's most spectacular skyline as you shop at the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade. The Marina Waterfront Bazaar offers a wide variety of products including handicrafts, LED products, fashion apparels, gadgets and not forgetting your favourite street snacks too!
Very Wishing Exhibition 2.0
5, 12, 19, 26 March, Every Saturday | 7.00pm – 10.30pm | The Promontory @ Marina Bay
Join in this interactive light typography installation of light balls, glow sticks and lighted bottles and let your imagination go wild to create your dream.

LED Kites Aerial Performance
11 – 12, 18 – 19, 25 – 26 March, Friday and Saturday | 9.00pm – 11.00pm | Bayfront Event Space | Free admission
Illuminating the night sky with LED-lighted kites flying in tandem to the music, the aerial light performance presents a colourful display of lights dancing in the air, made possible by the creative use of traditional kite design and modern ultra-light high intensity LED lights. With the strings removed from the kites and powered by a small electric motor, kites can soar freely and dance gracefully in the sky, even without wind.
PasarBella Goes To Town
11 March – 3 April | Every Monday – Friday: 4:00pm – 11:00pm | Every Saturday – Sunday: 4.00pm – 12.00mn | Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza
Offering seafood, meat, dairy, fresh produce, wines and more, this market will be a fresh experience for the public to learn more from traders about their love for food.

If there is one card in my wallet that I consistently use every single week, it has got to be my Plus! Card. Buying daily necessities and groceries for a family of 5 is no trivial matter, and I absolutely need all the savings I can get my hands on. Great bargains mean saving a little bit of money here and there... which certainly helps in paying for my next LEGO set the monkies' future education.


If you are into global brands, rejoice because not only does Plus! Gateway has more than 200 brands to shop from, you get to earn LinkPoints for your purchases too! And when I say online shopping portals, I do not mean local ones - I am referring to truly global ones from Apple to Expedia to Taobao.com! And yes, even Groupon!

You will be directed back to Plus! Gateway where you can search for your desired retailer. Find your desired brand from the full list of global brands at the ‘Categories’ header or perform a quick search on the A-Z listing page.


Depending on the merchant, shoppers will be able earn up to 6 LinkPoints or more for every dollar spent. I highly recommend checking out the 'Bonus Offers' header tab, where some merchants offer even more LinkPoints earned from time to time. Now this is what I really call stretching your dollar!


Want to stretch it even more? Locate the 'Vouchers' tab on the header and utilise the respective voucher codes during checkout to enjoy even MORE savings!


Once you have identified your desired brand, click onto the brand’s logo to enter the retailer’s micro-site on Plus! Gateway.


Here, you will be able to see the LinkPoint details (in my case, $1 = 1 LinkPoint for Lazada Singapore) and its purchase conditions. Click ‘Shop Now’ to head directly to Lazada Singapore's shopping portal.


Now this is the IMPORTANT part: In order for the accurate tracking of LinkPoints earned via Plus! Gateway purchases, shoppers must access the merchants' websites through the Plus! Gateway portal AND items must also be added into the shopping cart ONLY when you have reached the retailer’s site through Plus! Gateway. Oh, and please enable your internet browser cookies too in order for the LinkPoints to be awarded to your account.


With the March school holidays around the corner, I decided to get something from Lazada that I am sure will delight the boys.


Okay, I admit. I am looking forward to play the game together with them too! Lol.

And it will be criminal (in the eyes of Ale) if I did not get something for her too.


I reckon a huge inflatable doughnut should do the trick. And it's pink too!

With a few clicks, my purchases were done. Easy peasy.


LinkPoints can be used as rebates at participating retail stores, redeem as travel/dining vouchers or even to offset your purchases at Plus! Marketplace.

But if the monkies had their way, I think they will be looking to using my LinkPoints to redeem dining vouchers! Not that I have any complaints... since dining out with a family of 5 isn't exactly all that cheap.


I guess the main perk of shopping via Plus! Gateway is it does NOT make shopping any more expensive. Instead, I get the additional benefit of earning LinkPoints!

So if I have all along been shopping with say, Expedia, all I have to do now is to include the small step of logging into my Plus! account online and access Expedia's site via Plus! Gateway. I can then shop as per normal - shop at the same prices and enjoy the same special offers BUT I also earn LinkPoints on top of all that!

So with more than 200 global brands on board, shopping online via Plus! Gateway has never this easy and rewarding!


*For more details, visit gateway.plus.com.sg.

PROMOTION!


To make it even MORE rewarding for shoppers, be one of the top 5 spenders of Plus! Gateway from 1 March to 17 April 2016 and win over $3000 worth of prizes on top of LinkPoints! Prizes include an iPad Pro, UE Boom 2 Bluetooth Speakers, Nescafe Coffee Machine and many more.

Terms and Conditions:
- Campaign is valid from 1 March 2016 to 17 April 2016.
- Purchase must be done via Plus! Gateway with their transaction captured.

Welcome to the world of Changi Village where famous Nasi Lemak aside, time seems to stand still in this sleepy part of the island. Located just 10 minutes away from Changi International Airport, everything about Village Hotel Changi makes perfect sense if you are looking for a serene staycation with the family away from the crowd.


The last time I stayed in this hotel, it was still known as Le Meridien Changi Village Hotel... and I was still a young boy, unmarried and definitely had no kids. Fast forward nearly two decades later, I am back in the same hotel with refurbished rooms to check out... and with three noisy monkies in tow.


Oh, and my parents too. Since Village Hotel Changi was kind enough to provide us with two adjoining rooms, it was the perfect opportunity to have my parents tag along for a short one-night staycation.


The rooms are pretty much what you expect from a hotel room - nothing too fanciful but comfortable, bright, and spacious enough for the family.


If you are staying with the family, I recommend going for the hotel's 'PLAY & STAY' package (from S$170 for a Superior Room) which some with a few family-friendly free activities. Like fish feeding at the koi pond located on the 6th floor of the hotel.


The 'STAY & PLAY' package provides complimentary koi feed for guests, which Ale wasted no time in wanting to fatten up the kois!


Not to worry if you wish to burn more calories - the package also includes a complimentary two-hour bicycle ride OR 2 games of bowling at the opposite Civil Service Club at Changi.

Since my parents were with us, we chose the air-conditioned option.


Pardon Ash's constipated look. Erm, he was trying to show that the bowling ball was very heavy. Lol.

As with every staycation, the monkies look forward to swimming in the hotel pools. Fortunately for them, Village Hotel Changi offers 2 options with one being on ground floor and a see-through one at that!


Definitely a novel one but it is located right in front of the hotel's Saltwater Cafe, in full view of of dining guests. Hmmm, not sure it would work wonders for their appetite seeing a half-naked pot-bellied man swimming in front of them.

So I decided to bring the monkies up to the 8th floor instead, where an infinity pool awaited.


Even though 8 floors is not considered relatively high but given there is no other taller buildings in the vicinity, we could get a nice sea view overlooking neighbouring islands like Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong. Oh, and the occasional plane spotting too since it is near Changi Airport.


In addition to having a jacuzzi, there is a also a children’s wading pool at one end of the infinity pool.


I suppose the great thing about staying at Village Hotel Changi is it is near to a bunch of activities that families would not have typically tried since Changi Village is not exactly the most accessible and central location for everybody.

Besides the more obvious reasons of changi Village Hawker Centre and hipster cafes, Changi Village is the perfect springboard to nature experiences. The nearby Changi Point Ferry Terminal is where families can catch a 15-minute bumboat ride to Pulau Ubin, home to Chek Jawa, one of Singapore’s last remaining natural wetland areas.

If you prefer to stay on the mainland, Changi Boardwalk is of walking distance and links up Changi Beach and Changi Point. Whether cycling or strolling, the Boardwalk is easy enough for kids... and more importantly, less crowded than East Coast Park!


One minor incident marred our stay though - one of our rooms reeked slightly of cigarette smoke when we first opened the door. Our rooms were of a non-smoking nature so the smell was definitely off-putting. I called Housekeeping, who promptly sent someone to spray the room with air freshener but the cigarette smell came back and lingered for the rest of our stay. It was not entirely overbearing though but it was something I felt that the hotel's Housekeeping could have tried to rectify BEFORE releasing the room to new guests.

Overall, it was still a somewhat pleasant stay - the infinity pool and bowling games helped! - and for the monkies, the perfect opportunity to bond more with their grandparents.


Village Hotel Changi's PLAY & STAY Package
Superior Room - S$170 | Deluxe Room - S$190  | Club Room - S$220
*Rates are exclusive of 10% Service Charge & 7% GST
*Includes:
One-night accommodation
Complimentary buffet breakfast for two at Saltwater Café
Complimentary two-hour bicycle ride OR 2 games of bowling per stay
Complimentary koi feeding (first-come first-served basis, please enquire at front desk)
Complimentary Changi Village cycling reference guide
Complimentary Hop-on Hop-off City Tour worth $39.80 for two
More Details HERE


Useful Information

Village Hotel Changi
1 Netheravon Road Singapore 508502
Website:www.stayfareast.com/en/hotels/village-hotel-changi.aspx

It seems like only yesterday that I was lamenting about the first week of school being extremely draggy. And what do you know, the March School Holidays are upon us!

A big big congratulations to both you and me for surviving the first term of a brand new school year. And there is no better way to reward the kiddos with a little bit of fun than taking your pick from this huge list of March School Holidays activities.


I know, 9 days' worth of school holidays is hardly enough time for SIXTY activities so that only makes early planning all the more important. HAVE LOADS OF FUN!



Over the next 3 weeks, the Marina Bay waterfront transforms into a colourful outdoor spectacle as i Light Marina Bay 2016 returns for its fourth edition. From 4 to 27 March 2016, a whopping 25 sustainable light art installations will dot and light up the areas around the Promontory @ Marina Bay, the Marina Bay waterfront promenade and the Float @ Marina Bay. There will be tons of other fringe events too - like an Uncle Ringo Carnival! - but just strolling through the installations is going to be a treat for the whole family. Read my detailed post on the event for family-friendly activities!



Experience fun at Universal Studios Singapore's Easter Eggstravaganza featuring your favourite rides, live entertainment and festive characters. Highlights include live shows like "An UnEggspected Wedding" and a special egg hunt with an exclusive Minion Easter Egg treat. Plus, top up a little eggstra to enjoy the Easter buffet lunch and get up close and personal with the Madagascar characters!

Egg Hunt
Embark on an Eggs-ploration to find the Easter Eggs in the park and receive an exclusive Minion Easter Egg when you complete the Hunt.

Eggciting Live Shows And Street Acts
- Witness Egg Lord and his entourage in the ‘An unEGGspected Wedding’ show at Pantages Theatre.
- Watch out for The ‘Sunlight EGGspress’ gang at the Parade and as they skate through New York passing beads to guests.
- Watch Puss in Boots and Kitty Softpaws flaunt their feline flamenco moves at The Dance for the Magic Beans Show. Don’t miss Easter-themed surprises throughout the show!
- Enjoy Easter-themed Projection Mapping at New York Public Library


Celebrate Easter at S.E.A. Aquarium with festive activities and colourful experiences that everyone in the family will enjoy. Take pictures with the Easter decorations, embark on the Eggtopus Eggtivity Trail, find out what colourful wonders the SEAcret Garden holds, plus more!

Underwater Easter Bunny Appearance
Time: 11am – Open Ocean Habitat | 2pm – Open Ocean Habitat | 4pm – Shipwreck Habitat
Catch the underwater Easter Bunny as he distributes Easter eggs to his fishy friends from 12 Mar to 3 Apr. *Weekends and public holiday only

Eggsuberant Easter decor
A riot of colours are overtaking the aquarium as we litter Easter Eggs in the habitats, dress up our divers and staff members with bunny ears, and decorate our spaces with twinkling Easter lights.

Eggtopus Easter Trail
The hero of our Easter celebrations, the Eggtopus, has hidden 12 eggs in our aquarium - can you and your kids find them all? A little token will be given for those who complete the Trail!

SEAcret Garden
Enter this fantastical realm to be overwhelmed by multi-hued decorations and displays teeming with colourful fish! Kids will love the Eggtivity Area where they will get to make their own Eggtopus crafts!

Manta Mascot Meet & Greet
Time: 2.45pm – Open Ocean Dome | 3.45pm – Open Ocean Dome
Kids (and the kid in you) will enjoy meeting our cute and friendly Manta Ray mascot and taking pictures with it! And don't forget to give it a hug while you're at it!




Clarke Quay, Central Fountain

BATMOBILE REPLICA
4 - 20 Mar 2016 | 12pm - 4am
Come face to face with the newest life-size fully armoured batmobile replica.

Bugis+, L2

1:1 LIFE-SIZE STATUES OF ARMOURED BATMAN, SUPERMAN AND WONDER WOMAN
5 Mar - 3 Apr 2016 | 11am - 9pm
Come up close with 1:1 life-size statues of Armoured Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, set within a Gotham City and Metropolis battle scene, first to be unveiled in Singapore at Bugis+.

BATTLE OF THE BEST
5 Mar - 3 Apr 2016 | 11am - 9pm
Live out your superhero fantasies at the motion-controlled interactive game zone which immerses players in different battle scenes from the movie. Supporters of Batman can experience the thrill of hurling the Dark Knight’s signature batarang weapon at villains, while fans of Superman can use The Man of Steel’s heat vision to clear obstacles while flying around Earth.

Funan DigitaLife Mall, Atrium, L1

BATTLE OF THE BEST
14 - 20 Mar 2016 | 10am - 10pm
Live out your superhero fantasies at the motion-controlled interactive game zone which immerses players in different battle scenes from the movie. Supporters of Batman can experience the thrill of hurling the Dark Knight’s signature batarang weapon at villains, while fans of Superman can use The Man of Steel’s heat vision to clear obstacles while flying around Earth.

Lot One, Roof Garden, L5

BEGINNINGS OF GREATNESS
19 Mar 2016 | 1pm onwards

Everyone Can Be A Hero
Be spellbound by heroic tales of ordinary people at this special storytelling session by friends from the Choa Chu Kang public Library. Admission is free. Suitable for children aged between 7 to 10 years old.

Beginnings of Greatness
Discover your hero powers through our Little Heroes Training Academy that has a line up of exciting activities including creating your own hero mask, navigating through a go-kart race circuit and defeating villians with battle toys. Collect three hero stamps and receive an exclusive BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE tablet casing.

Raffles City, Atrium, L3

SIMPLY TOYS CHARACTERS EXHIBITION
21 Mar - 3 Apr 201 | 10am - 10pm 
Stand in awe at life-size Kotobukiya, Sideshow and SquareEnix statues of their favourite characters. Come dressed in your superhero T-shirts or costumes, and spend $50 to walk away with an exclusive keychain worth $9.90.

Westgate, Courtyard, Level 1

BATMOBILE REPLICA
22 Mar - 7 Apr 2016 | 10am - 10pm
Redeem a photo opportunity with the Batmobile replica at the Courtyard (Level 1) with a minimum spend of $60*. Includes a complimentary instant print in an exclusive photo sleeve.

Bukit Panjang Plaza, Garden Plaza, L4

PHENOMENAL FEATS
26 Mar 2016 | 1pm onwards
Take part in the "Phenomenal Feats" activities, including an action hero costume creation workshop, a break the piñata challenge and a POW WOW photo booth. Collect three hero stamps in the promotional mailer and receive an exclusive BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE tablet casing.


Bring a smile to a less privileges child by donating your pre-loved toys to The Salvation Army. The first 300 shoppers who donate each day will stand to win shopping vouchers in our exciting Drop & Win Game.

Carnival Games
Enjoy carnival games for kids of all ages at game booths made from recycled materials. Fire at CD-rom targets, launch catapults at toy soldiers, or knock over recycled plastic bottles with a ball. Free for all shoppers!


Bring your kids to Tampines Mall Atrium for exciting LEGO play activities! Take part in exciting games, including: Whack-a-Monster; Fortrex Castle Shooting Game; Copy and Build; and Build and Snap, and receive a mini LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS intro pack. Also, keep a look out for the mascot appearance of Clay Moorington, the brave leader of the Nexo Knights!



Join us for Brain Awareness Week 2016 as we appreciate the importance of this amazing organ. Activities for Brain Awareness Week 2016 are free but Science Centre Singapore admission fee applies. For more details, visit HERE.


The Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) programme is back again this March bringing you enriching arts experiences at your doorsteps. Packed with entertaining, fun and interactive performances and activities over 3 weeks in March, AYN is a great way for everyone to experience the arts in your very own neighbourhood, whether you are catching an arts performance for the first time or a seasoned arts-goer.

Rediscover familiar sights and landmarks in Toa Payoh on a unique music & storytelling trail, appreciate Singapore’s rich melting pot of cultures through a series of multi-cultural music performances, or spend a special evening under the stars with popcorn, films and live music, and much more. Whether you are a kid, a parent, a grandparent, or just an adult looking to explore the arts in your neighbourhood, join in for a fun and educational experience! For programme details, visit HERE.



Gather your family and friends and join in on Singapore's biggest egg hunt! Search for giant Easter eggs that are hidden across Mount Faber, Harbourfront and Sentosa, and stand a chance to win great prizes! On top of a Grand Draw, participants can also stand to win attractive prizes every week, including shopping and dining vouchers, hotel stays, attraction tickets and more. Visit www.thegreateggventure.com for more details.



Come 11 March 2016, the Red Dot Design Museum Singapore hosts a creative platform, MAAD (Market of Artists And Designers) for enterprising creatives to showcase their works and talents. Expect a quirky marketplace of original creations ranging from mini artisanal postcards, fashion and crafts, to literature, photography and furniture. From 9pm to midnight, home-grown bands take the stage, so take the chance stay up late with the kids and sway to the groove!



Put on your best kebayas and batik shirts and chill under the stars. Immerse yourself in live drama and musical performances. Join in with our mass outdoor exercise session. And enjoy food and drinks and more out on Armenian Street. Check out the event schedule for more information.



A musical voyage through a galaxy of iconic film scores from John Williams alongside a spectacular light and laser display. The 80 piece Metropolitan Festival Orchestra will play music from Star Wars; E.T.; Superman; Jurassic Park; Jaws; Harry Potter and many others, conducted by British conductor, Anthony Inglis. For tickets, visit HERE.




Get ready to enter a world of enchantment featuring the most magical moments from across the kingdom in Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival. You’ll be whisked away into the wintery world of the Academy Award-winning and number one animated feature film of all time, Disney’s Frozen, to join royal sisters Anna and Elsa, the hilarious snowman Olaf, rugged mountain-man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven as they help the sisters along the way in a story full of action, adventure, magic and unforgettable characters. Experience Disney’s The Little Mermaid with a show-stopping performance by Sebastian as he breaks out of his shell to make waves with Ariel “Under The Sea!” Get tangled up with a chorus of harmless hooligans when they get a visit from the sassy and spirited Rapunzel and her charming ally Flynn from Disney’s Tangled. And get swept away by Disney’s Beauty and the Beast as the Beast and his castle’s enchanted entourage take center stage in a spectacular show for Belle. It will be a magical mix of royalty when Disney On Ice brings this winsome wonderland Singapore during the school holidays! For tickets, visit HERE.

For those that enjoy some outdoor fun, head outside to City Green park! Reach for the skies on the bungee, or bounce around and make new friends in the inflatables at the park.



Come enjoy FOOD and FUN GAMES at our first-ever family picnic breakfast! Besides receiving a yummy and healthy Breakfast Pack from us, you can expect an entertaining play line-up such as a power-packed mass work-out and family games. Junior will be kept happily engaged at the GIGANTIC BOUNCY CASTLE and a MEET-AND-GREET with his favorite cartoon character. For more information, visit HERE.



AWARE is proud to host Fair for All Families, a FREE carnival in support of single parents and their children! Open to all, but with something special for single-parent families. Jump into the bouncy castle, get your hands messy with parent-child painting, stretch your muscles with a yoga class, hear single mothers talk about their lives, and hang out with your friends and family at Hong Lim Park.

Programme highlights include Family art (4pm - 5pm), Community yoga class (4.30pm - 5.30pm), Toddler Capoiera session (5.30pm), 'The real lives of single parents' Sharing Session (6pm) and Books, clothes and toys swap (throughout). Visit HERE for more details.



Family Weekends features a line-up of parent-child programmes that use the Gallery’s collection as a springboard to introduce little ones to art. Designed in collaboration with artists and art practitioners, the programmes offer interactive experiences to awaken children’s natural curiosities and stretch their imaginations to a whole new level! Highlights include:

- Art Explorers invites young ones to see artworks from a different perspective. (11am & 1.30pm)
- Drawing sessions led by artists. (3pm & 4pm)
- Bond through creative art-making sessions. (11am-6pm)
- Interactive storytelling sessions for parents and children. (11am-6pm)



The kids may be in charge, but everyone can enjoy Sentosa Kidz Flea, an international award-winning event for enriching family fun! Uncover treasures amongst new or pre-loved toys, books, accessories and handicrafts at great bargains. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Autism Association (Singapore), the designated charity of the event this year.



Catch The Amazing World of Gumball for the first time in Singapore and South-East Asia! Watch as Gumball and Darwin take over the stage and help Detective Dickie Gumshoe solve “The Mystery of the Stolen Test Papers”. Their amusing antics and hilarious misadventures are sure to have you rolling on the ground laughing! Remember to have your cameras ready for a snapshot with these lovable characters on stage during the Meet & Greet sessions.



Enjoy family time while supporting the integration of people with disabilities in the community. There are lots of fun family activities such as the fun family workout sessions and Easter-themed food decoration classes at the Enabling Village. There's also bouncy castle and art & craft corner for the little ones, life-sized interactive family games and snacks. Enjoy indoor movie screenings of Turbo and Penguins of Madagascar too!



HortPark's signature event, Gardeners' Day Out, is back! Lined up with gardening and lifestyle activities for everyone, favourite highlights include a Gardeners' Market, Food Bazaar, free talks and demonstrations, free garden tours of HortPark and kids' activities like storytelling and art & craft!

Click on poster to enlarge

Discover the meanings behind Peranakan designs and motifs in our special guided tours for children. Create your own masterpiece inspired by objects on display in the galleries.


Grab a picnic and head down at the beautiful Botanic Gardens on Sunday 13 March for Big Band Bash with Thomson Swing Band and Thomson Big Band!


Mar 14 is Pi Day and it happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday too! Pi day is a much celebrated day that pays tribute to the mathematical constant, Pi (or π), that is used in geometry. Pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter (approximately 3.141592). Come join us at Science Centre Singapore in our double celebration of the “irrational number” and Albert Einstein’s birthday, and look out for the various Pi (π) Day activities in the galleries! Activities for Pi (π ) Day are free but Science Centre Singapore admission fee applies. For more details, visit HERE.



Join us for the third round of “Play It Forward” at Waterway Point, a 12-month quest in partnership with Community Chest aimed at raising funds for Family Service Centres, which serve as community-based focal points of family resources that provide social support for families facing difficulties. Simply donate $10 to enjoy a 25-minute play session in the giant charity ball pool, and obstacle course that is exclusive to Waterway Point. For one week only, there will be a fun obstacle course for the ultimate kids' adventure as part of the ball pool event. The obstacle course includes fun elements like Walk a Plank, Crawl Tunnel, Foam Stick Curtain Trail and Float Run. All participants will also get to bring home an instant-print photo as a reminder of great family moments!


School’s out and Causeway Point is bringing a bouncing fun party to you! With a minimum spend of $30, immerse in loads of fun at the colourful Trampoline Party at Play and experience an adrenaline rush on the bungee trampoline and trampoline rock wall.


What's that swimming in the water? A fish, a worm, an insect or a crocodile!? Let the kids join in for an interesting morning walk getting to know the creatures and plants that lives in and around the water edges of Sungei Buloh. Registration opens on 11 March 2016.


The Naked Hermit Crabs introduce you to Chek Jawa without getting your feet wet. Even though there is no going on to the shore, there is still much to see and enjoy. Perfect or families and kids. Registration is required so do sign up via HERE.


Re-discover the wonders of Lower Peirce through this nature appreciation guided walk. Along the shady, cool boardwalk,  discover and learn about the amazing plants & animals that can be found along the trails. Keep an eye out for pitcher plants, Macaranga (Ant-plant) and Nibong palms as well as macaques and on lucky days we might even get spot the Flying lemur (Colugo) in action. Gain a greater appreciation of Singapore’s rich natural heritage and the need to protect it for our future generations. Register via HERE.


Organised by WWF Singapore, this year marks Earth Hour's 10th anniversary. Buildings across the nation will switch off all lights for one hour from 8:30pm to 9:30pm to raise awareness for climate change. There will also be a celebration at the Float@Marina Bay starting from 6pm which includes a concert, a laser light show at MBS and the ArtScience Museum, and a massive yoga event.


Join in for an evening of band performances in the gardens, featuring the concert and brass bands from St. Patrick's School, St. Stephen's School, St. Anthony's Primary School, St. Joseph's Institution Junior, Catholic High School Primary, Singapore Chinese Girls' School & St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School. The program will consist of popular music through to the classics. Don't forget to bring your picnic baskets for a wonderful musical evening in the gardens!


Enjoy free admission to National Orchid Garden from 5 March to 20 March 2016 for students, Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, Work Permit Holders and visitors with local residential address.

Terms and Conditions:
1. Students are required to present valid student cards.
2. Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, Work Permit Holders and Dependant Pass Holders are required to present their ID cards or relevant documentation.
3. Visitors with local residential addresses are to present any documentation with proof of residency.




Following a hugely successful English production in 2015, The Little Company is proud to present the Mandarin version of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, an entertaining musical that is bound to be unforgettable. Step into the magical, fairytale world of The Three Billy Goats Gruff - a musical guaranteed to be snortingly silly and full of giggles! For tickets, visit HERE.



Read the monkies' experience here: www.cheekiemonkie.net/2015/09/playeum-art-of-speed-children-centre-for-creativity.html



Join Snoopy, Charlie Brown and friends from the Peanuts Comic Strip in sending your love through letters, postcards and greeting cards. Letter writing and postal themes are commonly featured in the comic strips. They are also popular themes on postage stamps. View rare stamp artworks, stamps and first day covers issued by Portugal, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, USA, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong. Learn about the creator Charles Schulz and his creation of these famous characters – Charlie Brown and his sister Sally Brown, Snoopy his famous beagle, and his friends Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Woodstock, Pigpen, Franklin, Peppermint Patty and Marcie. Also on display are comic strips and collectibles on loan from private collectors, Charlie Brown Café, and Mint Museum of Toys.


The school holidays are here again! Join ActiveSG's programmes to keep active, be happy and be sporty! Definitely a fun way to relax before school bell starts ringing again. Check out the list of sporting activities HERE.



Zootopia - Now showing
Kungfu Panda 3 - Opens 10 Mar 2016


Exclusively at LEGOLAND, "The LEGOMovie 4D A New Adventure" follows a new journey for Emmet, Wyldstyle, Unikitty, Benny and MetalBeard after they receive a mysterious invitation leading them to a new theme park where all of the rides are based on the characters' adventures in "The LEGO Movie." But not all is as it seems as the heroes are once again thrust into the middle of an evil secret plot, only this time, it will be up to the audience to use their Master Builder skills to help save them! Using elements such as wind, water, smoke and special lighting effects, the larger-than-life experience brings the film's main characters, Emmet and Wyldstyle, back together with their friends for another awesome adventure.



Looking for new experiences and activities to do with your children? Join us in this introductory workshop to the 3D pen and the interesting things you can do with it! In this workshop, you and your child will learn how to use the 3D pen safely and how to create your own customised keychain. Not suitable for kids aged 6 years and below. For more details and to book, visit HERE.

With Singapore universities churning out more and more graduates every year, what will separate the excellent from the mediocre? Look around and you will observe: successful leaders are those who impress others through excellent communication skills, and who build positive relationships by active listening and asking the right questions. Those who merely possess good academic results but lacking in communication skills would face many hurdles in their life. On Day 2, all parents will be invited to watch a 45-min mind-blowing presentation before fetching your child home. You will witness your child’s remarkable transformation and be amazed at how your child has become a more confident, eloquent and creative person! For pricing and more details, visit HERE.

We had the Seared White Cod Fish  (above) and Miso Salmon Brown Rice at Dome Cafe. The former was a satin-smooth pan-fried cod fillet paired with sautéed vegetables while the latter was a seared miso-infused salmon fillet served with brown rice. The wifey was initially apprehensive of ordering a fish dish as she is not a huge fan of fish, but let's just say her plate was polished clean!


I know brown rice has a not-so-good reputation of being hard, bland and grainy. But in addition to being one of the healthiest foods in the human diet - rich in fibre, provides more vitamins (such as Vitamin B and E) and minerals (iron, zinc) than refined or polished grains - brown rice also provides bulk by absorbing fluid, hence one feels fuller with fewer calories. The brown rice in my wife’s meal also has a deep, nutty flavour and hearty texture that was further enhanced with the chunks of capsicum found together with the rice, making it a delicious combination!

Swensen's


Now which kid will say no to a dinner at Swensen's? My childhood memories certainly consisted of ice cream treats there! But as I found out, Swensen's is more than just sweet treats (and fries!). They have a decent range of 'Healthier Choice' options which include Grilled Barramundi, Grilled Fish Sambal, Pesto Salmon (above) and Ale's fave - Teriyaki Chicken Pasta.


I guess it is a no-brainer that healthier food choices equate to non-deep fried food. Deep-fried food are higher in calories and may result in weight gain. On the other hand, grilled meats could have a reduced fat content.

Jack's Place


A place usually associated with good steak, Jack's Place surprised me with an ample offering of healthier options. A bowl of Jack's Seafood Salad (above) - tuna and assorted seafood served on a bed of crunchy lettuce - was always welcome but I had a pick between BBQ Chicken Steak, Spaghetti Bolognese and Grilled Salmon Steak. As a fan of fish, no prizes in guessing which I picked then.


Hot Tomato

I had the Sirloin Steak while Ash devoured the Tenderloin Steak, both of which were lower-calorie (¬< 500kcal) meals. Who says eating healthy needs to be bland???


Paradise Dynasty


But the main highlight for the monkies has got to be the XLB, or Xiao Long Bao. For some reason, kids just loved eating them and frankly, I did NOT expect these XLB to given the 'Healthier Choice' status. But it is... so that probably means the kids will be eating more of these then (and less for me. Sniff.).


A-ONE Claypot House


A dining experience at A-ONE Claypot House is expressed through its family-style comfort food, comfy ambience, and well-mannered hospitality which was exactly what we experienced - and more, since claypot cooking uses less oil but yet retains the ingredients' natural flavours.

It was my first time dining there and for sure I will be back again, thanks to its flavourful Claypot Frog Legs with Scallion Ginger Sauce (above). It was the perfect complement to the smooth white porridge and the Premium Claypot - a combination of abalone mushrooms, scallop, prawn, sliced fish and fish maw - rounded off a perfect dinner.


Soup Restaurant


As you can probably tell, this was by far the most filling meal we had out of all 8 restaurants! I think it was largely due to the fact that Soup Restaurant had a lot more dishes that are labelled as 'Healthier Choice'. We had (from top left, clockwise) all options of the Earthen Bowl Rice, Hand-Chopped Minced Pork with Salted Fish, Tomato Egg, Poached Baby Spinach with canopy in century and salted egg stock, and Claypot Salmon

I have to give special mention to the Steamed Meat with Brown Rice dishes. There are 4 choices available but no matter the choice, all are very tasty - certified by the monkies. Because this has to be the first time that the monkies ate brown rice so readily!


Oh, and who can forget the Steamed Hand chopped Minced Pork with Salted Fish? The monkies definitely can't! I heard that the minced pork is painstakingly hand-chopped so each outlet is only able to prepare 30 servings a day!


PastaMania



Mention pizza and pasta, and kids will inevitably start to salivate! Or at least mine do. So I suppose PastaMania needs no further introduction. But it got interesting when I found out that unlike some restaurants which only have 2 or 3 'Healthier Choice' options, PastaMania has NINE pasta dishes to choose from!


Likewise for its pizzas, there are plenty of options to satisfy the hungry kiddos!


Ayd chose his long-time favourite of Chicken Bolognese while Ash eventually settled on the "super yummy" (his words) Supreme Pizza.


As for Ale, she was the smart one. She took a little bit from each of us, including the grandparents!


I guess that is the beauty of dining out at a restaurant participating in the Healthier Dining Programme. There are healthier options that will appeal to everyone, not only to parents with kids but to grandparents as well... making it a true family-friendly dining experience for the entire family.

I think it is evident that the monkies loved all of the food we tried - all of them were 'Healthier Choice' options but that did not mean the taste and quality of the dishes were sacrificed. The food was just as yummy, with some even providing wholegrains and wheat options.

Price-wise, the dishes were not more expensive than the usual food fare. Pizzas at PastaMania range between $8 and $10.90 while the Teriyaki Chicken Chop with pasta at Hot Tomato was only $8.90. Who says eating healthy has to be exorbitant? Above all, the restaurants we visited were located in both heartland and city shopping malls which are all easily accessible no matter which part of Singapore we live in.

So the next time you are scratching your head as to where to bring the family out for an affordable and healthy meal, be sure to check out the list of participating restaurants in the Healthier Dining Programme - it will not burn a hole in your wallet and most definitely will not blow away your family's calorie and nutrient goals.

We are closing in on the first quarter of 2016 and already, a flurry of new kid-friendly attractions have opened in Singapore. Who says Singapore is boring for kids?

Learning need not be confined to the classrooms and books, because kids learn a whole lot better than getting outdoors and making sense of the world through play. So the next time the holidays or weekends come along, here are 7 new adventures - of which 3 are FREE for all! - to discover together as a family this year.


Psst... I also have a bonus of 3 additional piping hot attractions that are due to open in April 2016 at the end of the post!


1. PIP’s PLAYbox @ The Esplanade


Opened in February 2016, PIP’s PLAYbox is an activity space tucked away on Level 4 at the Esplanade designed especially for kids - AND it's all FREE! There is a kids craft station where kids will be able to churn out their own handicrafts. The crafts will vary throughout the time of year and depending on the season. Since it is nearing Easter now, kids will be able to make their own paper bunny.

If you know what is an OHP (Overhead Projector), you are probably as old as me. In one corner of the massive room stands an OHP where kids will be able to indulge in some shadow play.


PIP's PLAYbox also stocks a massive library of children’s books, complete with plenty of personal - and some secret too! - speaces for kids and parents to read together.


Need a little fresh air? Head to the mini playground just outside where kids can get active and even crawl inside the brick-red tower to get a kaleidoscopic view of the sky above!


Children’s toilets (shrunk down to the little adult size) and a nursing room are conveniently located just outside of PIP's PLAYbox.

Address: Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Dr, Level 4, Singapore 038981
Opening hours: 11am - 6pm daily
Cost: FREE
Website: www.facebook.com/esplanadepipsclub

2. Diggersite


Located at Raintree Cove, East Coast Park (near Burger King and beside East Coast Prawning), Diggersite offers little diggers to realise their dream of operating a real-life working excavator!

There are a total of three stations - 2 outdoor and 1 indoor. The favourite station arguably has to be the enclosed sandpit, where kids are tasked to scoop bricks out while operating an excavator.

The indoor station allows kids will be able to grab colourful balls using a giant claw from the comfort of a digger. Considering that the Diggers work like a real excavator with their hydraulically controlled arms, it is no wonder they are a hit with the kids!


Our Blog Post HERE
Address: Raintree Cove, 1020 East Coast Parkway, #01-04, Singapore 449878
Opening hours: 10am - 10pm daily
Cost: $7 per ride (5 minutes). Bundle promotion of $18 for 3 rides.
Website: www.facebook.com/diggersite
3. MOSH!

Launch fireworks using your body, watch your doodles spring into life from a piece of paper or marvel at how your paper plane transforms into an animated jumbo plane on the screen. Welcome to Singapore's first digital media edutainment facility, MOSH!, an indoor playground with no slides or climbing structures.

Instead, MOSH! is home to FIVE digital interactive activities which allow the little ones to create imaginary worlds of their own in an immersive virtual environment, designed to empower creativity through free play and expression.


Top two activities guaranteed to keep the kiddos enthralled include the Doodle Aquarium where they will be able to draw anything they want on a piece of paper, scan it and watch it join the underwater world on the screen AND Paper Plane Adventure which tasks them not only to fold their own paper planes, the paper planes transform into digital actual planes when they throw them against wall!


Our Blog Post HERE
Address: 31 Beach View #03-01, Palawan Kidz City, Sentosa, Singapore 098008 (A 5-minute walk from Beach Station)
Opening hours: 10am - 9pm daily
*MOSH! Playtime of 2 Hrs will apply during weekends and public holidays.
Cost: Adult $28 | Child $22 | FREE entry for kids below 2 years old
*Family Bundle at $48 includes entry for 1 Adult and 1 Child (10% off Family Bundles for MasterCard Holders)
Website: www.mosh.com.sg

4. Kranji Marshes


Spanning 56.8 hectares (half the size of Gardens by the Bay), Kranji Marshes is the largest freshwater marshland in Singapore. It is home to a combination of lush, marsh, woodland and grass habitats with more than 170 species of birds, 54 species of butterflies and 33 species of dragonflies lies in the north-western part of Singapore. And not only is it open to everyone, it is FREE to visit!

There are two main areas – one that is open to public and the core conservation area which can only be accessed via guided walks. For the public walk, the start journey begins at Kranji Gate which is located at the end of Neo Tiew Lane 2 (beside D'Kranji Farm Resort).


The walk is a relatively straight-forward linear one, a 1km route which ends at 10-metre tall Raptor Tower which offers a panoramic view of the entire Kranji Marshes. Suffice to say, scaling the tower is the highlight for the kids!

To complete an educational day out, be sure to head to the nearby Marsh Station where they can learn more about the birds and their respective bills and feet.

Our Blog Post HERE
Address: 11 Neo Tiew Lane 2, Singapore 718814
Opening hours: 7am to 7pm daily
Cost: FREE
Website: www.nparks.gov.sg/kranjimarshes
5. Chinatown Heritage Centre


For a glimpse into the original interiors of Chinatown’s shophouse tenants in the 1950s, visit the Centre as the colourful past of Chinatown comes alive within the walls of these three beautifully-restored shophouses on Pagoda Street. Re-opened in February 2016 after 1.5 years of renovations, every nook and cranny in the Chinatown Heritage Centre pulsates with the memories of yesteryear, offering an experience like no other as one is transported to Chinatown in the budding years of Singapore's establishment as a seaport.

One thing I love about Chinatown Heritage Centre - instead of just displaying every information in panels and words, everything is recreated from scratch to depict the actual living conditions back in the 1950s, from the decorations, furniture, the cramped living conditions - and even the toilet of yesteryears!

Visitors are allowed to step into selected living cubicles and experience first-hand what cramped
living conditions were like, allowing the kids to gain a deeper appreciation for the resourcefulness, resilience, and sense of community that came with communal living.


Other galleries depict the stories and struggles of the many “Sinkheh” (new migrants) – risking life and limb to embark on an arduous journey from the various Chinese provinces to the promised land of Singapore – including the raw, seedy and underground practices of gambling dens and secret societies. Best to visit with the grandparents as Singaporeans and PRs who are 60 years old and above enter FREE (valid until 31 July 2016)!

Our Blog Post HERE
Address: 48 Pagado Street, Singapore 059207
Opening hours: 9am - 8pm daily. Closed on 1st Monday of every month.
Cost: Adult $15; $20 (with guided tour) | Child (7-12) $11; $16 (with guided tour) | FREE for Senior Citizens aged 60 and above (until 31 July 2016)
Website:  chinatownheritagecentre.com.sg/index.html

6. Wonderland Indoor Playground @ Waterway Point


The newly-opened Waterway Point in Punggol is home to a rather impressive FREE Indoor Playground. Adopting an 'Alice in Wonderland' theme, the fully padded WONDERLAND indoor playground features creatures like a bunny, butterfly and caterpillar set in a garden setting - and a mini slide!


Together with sensory play boards mounted on the walls, the play area should appeal more to toddlers and children aged below 7 than older children.


Our Blog Post HERE
Address: Waterway Point (83 Punggol Central, Singapore 828761), Level 2
Opening hours: 10.30am to 10pm daily
*Open to all children under 12 years old and below the height of 1.1m
Cost: FREE

7. Future World @ ArtScience Museum

The newest kid on the block, Future World is ArtScience Museum's latest permanent exhibition and officially opens on 12 March 2016. Kids will be able to imagine, play and explore in Singapore's largest digital art gallery, where 15 digital art installations come to life through cutting-edge science and technology!

Some of the really interesting installations include Crystal Universe (above) where you become the centre of the universe by stepping inside a scintillating and dazzling world of 170,000 LED lights and Light Ball Orchestra (below) which blends vivid lights with beautiful music together to create an orchestra of colours and sounds that change constantly. Children can experiment with creating their own music freely as they run and play among a multitude of light balls, changing their sounds and colours as they touch or throw them around!


But perhaps, the one installation that will capture their imagination is Sketch Town, where kids will be able to colour in and draw objects such as cars, buildings and sapceships. Scan these 2-D pictures and they become animated, and join the large town projected on a screen. Kids can even touch them as they move along for an added experience!


Even better, the Sketch Town Paper Craft enables the kids to print their drawings into paper craft patterns, which can then be brought home to be assembled into 3-D models!


Oh and did you know? Children get FREE entry every Friday (up to four children under 12 years old) with every adult ticket purchased!

Address: ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands
Opening hours: 10am to 7pm daily (Last Admission 6pm)
Cost:
Singapore Residents - Adult $14 | Child (2-12) $7 | Senior (65 & above) $11 | Family (2A&2C) $35 | Annual Pass (Individual) $90 | Annual Pass (Family) $150
Standard - Adult $17 | Child (2-12) $10 | Senior (65 & above) $14 | Family (2A&2C) $44 | Annual Pass (Individual) $90 | Annual Pass (Family) $150
BONUS!
As promised, here are 3 more attractions - all with confirmed opening dates - that are scheduled to open its doors come April. ARE YOU READY?


12 April 2016
KidZania Singapore


Opening on 12 April 2016, KidZania Singapore comes with NO rides or arcade attractions at all! Instead, kids get to participate in a variety of role playing activities specifically designed to educate and inspire kids aged 4 to 17, creating a kid-centric city experience from arriving at the airport, to visiting a city centre and exploring the city streets. All in all, there will be a diverse range of over EIGHTY role-playing activities where kids will be able to earn money in the form of KidZos currency and use it to buy stuff or save it in the bank!

16 April 2016
Playeum's HIDEAWAYS - Creating with Nature


Playeum is refreshing its exhibition and come 16 April 2016, say hello to Hideaways - Creating with Nature! The immersive experience will invite children to explore, observe, construct, reflect, innovate and engage with nature and natural materials through hands-on exhibits and interactive artists’ installations. Each installation will be curated to provide an interdisciplinary and engaging experience serving as an important reminder of the world’s ecosystem. More details HERE.

24 April 2016
Splash @ Kidz Amaze at SAFRA Punggol

Source

Opening on 24 April 2016, the upcoming 5-storey SAFRA clubhouse in Punggol will boast a first of its kind indoor water playground in Singapore! Splash @ Kidz Amaze spans 23,000 square feet and three stories high, with eight different play decks, five slides and a themed splash pad. With an ‘Enchanted Deep Sea’ theme, its fun and interactive water play elements are suitable for kids of all ages.


SO... EXCITED MUCH???

When the monkies were much younger, I remember going around malls in Singapore during Christmas for the festive shows and Meet & Greets. Because let's face it, nothing makes parents smile more than seeing their kids' faces light up when coming face to face with their favourite cartoon characters. I've been there, done that... especially when it comes to Christmas shows at Marina Square.


Elmo, Barney, even Little Robots, both Ash and Ayd had lapped it all up! But family-friendly activities at Marina Square need not be confined to the festive holidays. Marina Square has been holding an epic balloon exhibition for the past 5 years and after last year's Dinosaur-themed one, the 6th edition begins TODAY (18 March 2016)!


This year, step into a colourful world of balloons and roam around fairytale cottages, flowers and butterflies, creatively sculpted using around 92,000 balloons.


Titled 'A Fairytale Garden Balloon Exhibition', a team of 50 balloon artists including champions of the World Balloon Convention, winners of Taiwan International Balloon Art Championships and overseas record-breakers from 9 countries have transformed the Marina Square atrium into a fairytale garden!


Kids will be greeted by fairies, rabbits, grasshoppers and other animals!


They will even have the chance to walk through a 6-metre tall gigantic mushroom made from balloons! Just try not to poke them, okay? Heh.


Besides marvelling at the balloon creations, there will be a host of other activities to thrill and entertain families and kids as well... with the most appealing to kids being this, I reckon.


Meet Pororo & Friends 
18 – 20 Mar, 1pm & 5pm 
Meet Petty the Penguin, Crong the Dinosaur or Poby the Polar Bear from Pororo Park Singapore at the atrium. Limited to the first 30 families per session.

Other activities include:

Kids’ Balloon Workshop 
18 – 20 Mar, 2.30pm – 4pm & 4.30pm – 6pm 
Register your child for a balloon workshop at $12 per child (between 3 and 12 years old) at the Customer Service Counter, L2. Limited to 20 kids per session.

Balloon Acts 
19 & 20 Mar, 2pm & 7pm 
Don’t miss the talented overseas balloon artists perform balloon sculpting acts! Enjoy the unique interweaving of story-telling and balloon-twisting by Marcelo Zaquieri from Spain and the 13 years old Jakarta born Nicholas Putra Hartono who holds the current MURI World Record for the Youngest Professional Balloon Artist in action!

Feeling lucky? Then don't miss your chance to win some really great prizes in the following contests!

Instagram Photo Contest 
18 – 20 Mar 2016 
Snap a photo of the balloon display at the atrium to stand to win $100 Gain City vouchers and $100 Marina Mandarin Hotel vouchers! 5 consolation prize winners will also each win $100 worth of vouchers. Follow Marina Square on Instagram, tag us your photo with the hashtag #marinasquareballoon2016 to participate. Submit your entries by 20 Mar 2016, 11:59 pm. Visit Marina Square's website for more contest details.

Shop & Win (11 Mar – 3 Apr 2016) 
Spend a minimum of $50* and dip for shopping or dining vouchers! Plus, stand to win $500 Gain City Vouchers in the lucky draw.

*Maximum 3 same-day combined receipts. Limited to 1 redemption per shopper per day, while stocks last. Redemption must be made personally on the same day of purchase at the Customer Service Counters (Level 2). Other terms & conditions apply. Visit Marina Square's website for details.

I know, the hotel's facade may look a little jaded, but the Studio Suite that we were hosted in was anything but that. In fact, it was spacious enough to fit our family of 5 - thanks to the existing sofa bed and addition of an extra bed.


Decorated in earthly hues with a chic minimalist Zen flavour, the 52sqm Studio Suite was modern, clean and well-maintained.

One peculiar habit about the monkies when it comes to staycations is they absolutely love watching cartoon channels on the hotel bed - or catching up on the world's latest news on the iPad (:P) for that matter.


Because somehow, watching TV or playing the iPad at home doesn't quite cut it like watching cartoons while slothing it out on a hotel's bed. I believe Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy's super comfy beds had a hand in this because yes, I too succumbed.


Each Studio Suite comes well equipped with free WiFi (very important!), a LCD flat screen TV with cable channels and radio channels, self-controllable air-conditioning, iron and ironing board, safe deposit box, mini-bar, complimentary coffee and tea making facilities, hairdryer, over-mattress and bathroom amenities with bathrobe and slippers.


But the greatest perk of staying in a Studio Stuite has got to be having exclusive access to the Executive Lounge located on level 17!


Here, guests enjoy all-day complimentary refreshments as well as free-flow of finger food and drinks between 6pm and 8pm daily.


Enjoying food while watching TV at the same time; what could be better than this???


Which is fine with the wifey and me actually, since it left us with some peace and quite to enjoy the awesome sea view.


But to truly experience the precinct that Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy is sitting in, one has to explore the surroundings to enjoy the activities that the hotel is close to.

Besides being nestled in the heart of historical Katong, a heritage area on the East Coast of the city that is rich in Peranakan culture and having all the Katong coffeeshops/cafes/restaurants one can visit, the hotel is directly opposite Parkway Parade Shopping Mall - a mall which is notorious for its terrible car park jams during weekends. More shopping you say? I12 Katong is a 5-minute walk away.

Even East Coast Park is just a 10-minute walk from the hotel! Walk towards the direction of the expressway towards Parkway Parade, cross the underpass and come face to face with a sea of green and blue.

We had our 4-course dinner at the Breez Bistro Bar, which offered casual and modern ambience dining with a nice view of the swimming pool.


Food was pretty decent although I have to say I was surprised that the Bistro Bar was almost packed with customers during our dinner. I later found out that all guests enjoy a 30% discount at the cafe - quite a good deal!


Of course, a staycation is never complete without a hearty buffet breakfast to round up the experience!


Feast@East Buffet Restaurant is famed for its Peranakan Hotel Buffet, and its breakfast buffet spread is does not disappoint too.


Actually, I was paying more attention to the interior of the restaurant which was dotted with memorabilia of a Peranakan influence.


No prizes for guessing that the monkies enjoyed their 1-night stacation at Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy then.


The rooms are pleasant, with its location is an interesting one.  From some of Singapore's best food and shopping options to activities at East Coast Park for the kids, Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy offers just that something extra in a staycation for families.


And GREAT NEWS if you are looking to book a room at Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy! Did you know that you enjoy a whopping 30% discount on your hotel room rate instantly if you book up to 30 days in advance? And to sweeten the deal, accommodation and breakfast are free for 2 children (under 12 years) sharing parents’ room! One complimentary roll-away bed will be provided for one child under 12 years of age with the second child sharing existing bed. More details HERE.


[GIVEAWAY!]

EVEN GREATER NEWS! Thanks to Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy, I have a 1 x 2D1N Weekend Stay in a Studio Suite with buffet breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children to give away! That is the exact same room we stayed in, and it comes with Executive Lounge access too!

For a chance to win, all you have to do is do the following:

1. LIKE Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy's Facebook page HERE.

2. Leave a comment either in the comment section of this blog post OR on our Cheekiemonkies' Facebook corresponding post HERE once you have done so.

IMPORTANT: Complete all 2 steps for your entry to be valid.


WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING?
SHARE this blog post of the giveaway on Facebook for a bonus chance! Remember to set your profile to public so that I can see the shared post.

Giveaway ends on 31 March 2016, 2359 hours.

Good Luck! :)


Useful Information

Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy
50 East Coast Road, Roxy Square, Singapore 428769
Website: http://grandmercureroxy.com.sg/

Nothing like a long weekend to cushion the dread of the new school term. So if you are looking for something fun to do with the family, here are 20 suggestions to make the Good Friday long weekend a fruitful one!




The old railway station at Tanjong Pagar opens its doors this Good Friday. The public can enter the railway station using the main entrance along Keppel Road or through the side entrance along Spottiswoode Park Road.

In addition, a 90's themed art market with over 100 art, retail and food stalls organised by The Local People will be held from 3pm to showcase crafts made by local young artists. Highlights include movie screenings within the indoor portion of the station, digital art installations around the platform and musicians doing covers of 90s music.



This year, Pet Expo 2016 aims to provide the platform for pet lovers and owners to engage in and learn about sport activities which will promote the growth and health of their pets. Consumers can also look forward to a series of informative seminars, educational workshops and entertaining contests and competitions organised to bring the pet community together on a fun-filled learning journey towards pet ownership. For more information, visit petexposg.com.



Known as the festival of colours or the festival of love, Holi is a spring festival widely celebrated in many parts of India and South Asia. It signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring and the end of winter, and is for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair ruptured relationships. Join Grace in the PLAYbox as she tells you tales about love and family before and during this festival of colours.


Bring your family down to Sentosa and experience the magic of Easter! Wander through the whimsical Easter Garden, where you can snap photos with our colourful giant Easter eggs, and indulge in mystical encounters with faeries and bunny characters. And don’t forget to partake in fun-filled activities like egg painting and bunny photo prop making as well!



Indian communities all over the world gather on Holi each year to throw colour at each other in celebration of the spring festival. Over the years, it has become the most important and highly-anticipated component of the festival. Bring your family and friends to join in the fun at this color-throwing activity at the Lawn, where DJ Milan spins the latest Bollywood numbers, accompanied by the Singapore Dhol Federation with their percussive beats.



Over the next 3 weeks, the Marina Bay waterfront transforms into a colourful outdoor spectacle as i Light Marina Bay 2016 returns for its fourth edition. From 4 to 27 March 2016, a whopping 25 sustainable light art installations will dot and light up the areas around the Promontory @ Marina Bay, the Marina Bay waterfront promenade and the Float @ Marina Bay. There will be tons of other fringe events too - like an Uncle Ringo Carnival! - but just strolling through the installations is going to be a treat for the whole family. Read my detailed post on the event for family-friendly activities!

The Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) programme is back again this March bringing you enriching arts experiences at your doorsteps. Packed with entertaining, fun and interactive performances and activities over 3 weeks in March, AYN is a great way for everyone to experience the arts in your very own neighbourhood, whether you are catching an arts performance for the first time or a seasoned arts-goer. This weekend's highlights include:

Stories Under the Stars by ACT 3 Theatrics
26 Mar 2016 | 2pm | Woodlands Regional Library | FREE
Bond with your child over stirring tales of Singapore’s rich history and be merrily entertained in this storytelling and craft session, Stories under the Stars.

Rojak Rendezvous by KULCHA
26 Mar 2016 | 7.30pm | Tanglin Halt (Blk 88) | FREE
Go on a rendezvous with KULCHA as they bring you a ‘rojak’ of popular tunes and original compositions through a wonderful concoction of music combining eastern and western instruments that will promise to leave you with a pleasing earwig. Join in the fun during the interactive segment where audiences will be introduced to the basics of playing the Angklung, in harmony with the band.

Cinema’hood by Objectifs
27 Mar 2016 | 7pm | Toa Payoh Amphitheatre | FREE
Relive moments of yesteryears catching films in neighbourhood open spaces with popcorn in hand at Cinema’Hood and bring the entire family.

Located at Yishun River Green and at the foot of Block 330 Yishun Ring Road, this brand new playground is conceptualised by the same people behind the awesome Vertical Playgrounds (if you haven't checked them out already, why haven't you???) and is truly a highly interactive one!


At the centre of the playground lies a spiderweb-like structure where kids will be able to clamour onto via a tunnel and reward themselves with a quick descent down the slide.


But the one play structure that caught my eye (and the monkies) was this.


Crooked houses that serve as the foundation for a playground structure. Pretty unique, huh? It turns out that this structure is designed by MONSTRUM, a danish company famed for reinventing the notion of kids' playgrounds through artistic and design-related thematic areas that fascinates and inspires both kids and adults. All of MONSTRUM's products are handmade of weather-proof wood in its workshop in Copenhagen.

Go ahead, google 'MONSTRUM Playgrounds' and you'll see some of the most astounding playground designs around the world, some in the form of dragons, robots and even bugs!


MONSTRUM believes that good playgrounds reflect the world and that kids should be allowed to experience a sense of danger. That is why they love creating playgrounds that look dangerous but are totally safe. I think that is exactly what the monkies loved!


The interior of the crooked houses are slightly slanted and quite frankly, play on the structure is entirely left up to the imagination of the kids - just the way how the monkies enjoyed it. Of course, a huge and tall slide only upped the fun factor!


The interactive element of the Yishun River Green's playground consists of a few circular pads on the floor.


These interactive light pads are by Jen Lewin, whose works were last seen in the 2014 edition of i Light Marina Bay.


The circular pads change colours as one hops on them but they were not operational during our visit. Perhaps they are switched on come evening time.


Comprising of multiple swings - or kinetics hammock trellis, as it is known technically - linked together, the structure encourages kids to explore the different ways they can swing by themselves and with other kids. The 9-piece swings are positioned at varying heights so other than just the usual swinging, the monkies treated it as an obstacle course and were bent on reaching the higher ones.


Either way, they certainly had a lot of fun while at it!


Useful Information

Yishun River Green Interactive Playground
330 Yishun Ring Road
Singapore 760330
Free admission