Being the second largest city in Taiwan, Kaohsiung (高雄) is located in the Southwestern part of the island. Historically a port city, it has that big cosmopolitan city feel but yet it is definitely more laid back than other Taiwan cities like Taipei or Taichung.


Scoot flies directly to Kaohsiung from Singapore and within the city, it is extremely easy to get around as it is served by a convenient network of metro rail. We visited Kaohsiung after our 3-night adventure in Tainan and spent a total of 4 nights in the city.


If you are planning to visit Kaohsiung with the family, you have come to the right place. Here is our 4-day Kaohsiung itinerary and I hope it serves as a useful resource for you to have the best time there!


Day 1

Check in to our HomeAway Vacation Rental Home


Fisrt things first, we checked into our vacation rental home which was located smack in the middle of the city. The home itself was not spectacular but it was functional and came with a loft bed for the monkies.



The main selling point of the minsu was its location. We were a 5-minute walk away from Formosa Boulevard Station, which is the main interchange station for the metro. In addition, shopping districts and lots of food choices were just around us... including the most important of all - Liuhe Night Market. Yup, plenty nights of stinky tofu. 😂


Shinkuchan Shopping District

Since we checked in in the afternoon, we decided to take things slow for the first day. And the definition of 'taking it slow' in the wifey's dictionary meant erm, SHOPPING!


Covering the area of Wufu 2nd Road and Renzhi Street of Kaohsiung City, Shinkuchan Shopping District is famous for its wide array of fashionable clothing and accessories as well as special designer products just like its other Ximending counterpart in Taipei.

So while the wifey goes off for her shopping spree, we had no choice but to gorge on Taiwan street food. LOL.


If you can only try one type of food in Kaohsiung, make it to be this super XXXXL chicken cutlet. Angel Fried Chicken (天使雞排) is the BEST fried chicken cutlet we have ever tasted. Period. What is amazing about the cutlet is even though it is an entire piece of chicken breast, it is so so so juicy and tender and flavourful and thick. Yes, super thick... and extremely worth it. We ate it a total of 3 times over 4 nights. Heh.

Another interesting find was this.


We sttumbled onto this dessert while waiting for the wifey to be done with her shopping. Apparently it's already a viral hit. The Sharpei doggie is made entirely of chocolate ice cream, would you believe it??? Cuteness (and sugar) overload... and made us feel kind of bad cutting its limbs and head off.


Dome of Light


The Dome of Light is a stained glass installation piece located within the Formosa Boulevard Station. It is made up entirely of 4,500 glass panels, making it the largest work of glass art in the world. Created by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata, it has earned Formosa Boulevard Station the reputation of being one of the world’s most beautiful subway stations... and instagrammable stop.

Liuhe Night Market

Yay, more eating! Come nightfall at 6pm, the Liuhe 2nd Road will be closed and it transforms into the famous Liuhe Night Market. The night market runs for 3 blocks straight and is filled with numerous food stalls. Some quikier than others, like this stinky tofu fries!



Day 2

Kaohsiung E-Da Theme Park


I think it is pretty much a given that we are a family of theme park junkies. Wherever there is a theme park in the city we travel to, you can be sure we will be there!

E-Da World in Kaohsiung may not be largest in the world, or even Asia but it has enough rides to keep everyone entertained. There is a rollercoaster, a really terrifying 360-degree loop ride, swing rides, carousel and other kiddie rides.



Best of all, the entrance fee is extremely affordable at S$42 (adult). But you can even get it cheaper by pre-purchasing your tickets through Klook. Tickets are about 20% cheaper from Klook compared to walk-in!



I feel the theme park is worth a visit if you are looking for some theme park fun and thrills, especially if you have kids aged 10 and below because they have plenty of amusement rides catered to them... and they are all located indoors! Oh, do try out the VR blaster games that the while family can participate together - we loved them!


E-Da Outlet Shopping Mall

Love outlet shopping? Then don't miss paying the E-Da Outlet Mall a visit. Located just beside the theme park, the outlet mall boasts low prices on branded clothing and accessories. There are plenty of shops to browse, and even an ice-rink and Ferris Wheels to keep the kids happy while the parents go shopping!


Day 3

Although Kaohsiung is well connected by the subway system, there are certain attractions which are located outside the central city... which makes getting to them a little challenging. Fortunately, Klook has a ready tailor-made day tour which covers the classic attractions in Kaohsiung. The Kaohsiung Classic Attractions Day Tour by Klook consists of a full-day itinerary where we were conveniently picked up at Formosa Boulevard Station and driven to the following attractions:

Tianliao Moon World


Tianliao Moon World is a tract of barren land between Chongde Village and Gutin Village of Tianliao District. It has a dreary and desolate beauty of desert and is famous for its similarity to the landscape of the Moon surface.


This queer terrain is called "badlands" in geography an adverse landscape caused by the strong erosion of rain and streams over the years due to "rejuvenation" of the earth's crust. Typical badlands are found in dryer climates, are composed of sedimentary rocks, typically have very little vegetation, and have deep valleys or ravines. Taiwan is the only example in the whole world of badlands in a tropical climate. How is this possible?


The rocks at Moon World are composed of mudstone, sandstone, shale, and chalk. Because of high alkaline levels due to chalk in the soil, trees and grass cannot grow, and basically the only plant that can grow in the soil is spiny bamboo. The lack of vegetation as well as high rainfall gives way to quick eroding hills, or badlands.


Getting to Moon World isn't exactly that easy because it’s located in the suburban area so it was a good thing we had hired a drive through Klook. And it was worth the car trip there because it was so amazing!


I haven't been on the Moon before, but I think this is the closest thing I will ever have to stepping onto the Moon!


Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum


Located about an hour drive away from Kaohsiung, Fo Guang Shan is the biggest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan.  It covers an area of over 30 hectares and is comprised of shrines, a cemetery, even a university and a 36-meter tall statue of the Buddha. The highlight has got to be the eight symmetrical pagodas leading to Fo Guang Big Buddha. It is truly an amazing view.


Do take some time to explore the main hall too as it is home to a few exhibits like the Jade Buddha and Golden Buddha Shrines which are beautiful and awe-inspiring.


Oh, and do also pop by the vegetarian restaurant on the second level of the main building at the entrance for a sumptuous vegetarian buffet! It was the first time the monkies had a vegetarian buffet and I think they pretty much enjoyed it!



Lianchi Tan Scenic Area (Lotus Pond) - Dragon and Tiger Pagodas


Lotus Pond is a picturesque lake located in Zuoying District. Known for its lotus plants and many temples surrounding its perimeter, it is most famous for the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. A twin pair of 7-story pagodas with giant dragon and tiger statues, it is believed that entering from the dragon’s mouth and exiting through the tiger’s jaws reverses your fortune and turns bad luck into good luck.


I'm not sure if it is true but we did it anyway! 😁

Pier-2 Art Center

Now this is one truly quirky and fun place!


Or in these days and age, it is one truly Instagrammable place.


Formerly a colonial-era pier of Kaohsiung harbour, this area used to be a warehouse cluster, storing fish powder and sugar supplies for the ships at the port. Now, the area has been turned into an open-air art space with interesting sculptures and installations for visitors to intepret and of course, snap photos.


My personal fave area is the huge space of green area which used to the old railway station. In fact, the old railway tracks are still around and I think kids will love running along them, imagining themselves to be a train. Us? We just take photos to post on social media. LOL.


But for younger kids, the huge draw is a functional mini replica of a vintage train that takes riders around the sprawling grounds. How cool is sitting on top of the chugging ride? Well, certainly cool enough for Ale to clamour to go on it and insist that ayd accompany her.


The area is a huge treasure trove of boutique shops and cafes too but if you do want to rest those legs, head to SunnyHills, which is one of the most famous pineapple cake shops in Taiwan. Not many people know this, but the cafe actually serves a free sample of their famous pineapple cake and green tea! All you have to do is wait to be seated, and you get to enjoy one piece (it's one full piece, not those tiny cut sample sizes) of the pineapple cake. There is no obligation to buy... but it was so good that I ended up buying 2 boxes.

The tour actually covers the Kaohsiung Love River but I read that other than it being nice to stroll along it, it doesn't offer anything much besides that. Much like our Singapore River. So we skipped it and were dropped back off at Liuhe Night Market... where the feasting continued!


Day 4

Cijin Island


Cijin or Qijin Island is a small and narrow island about 10-15 minutes away by ferry from Kaohsiung Harbor.

It is a popular day trip destination with both locals and tourists, and is famed for its liad back vibes and seafood restaurants.


To get around the island, I recommend renting a bicycle from one of the numerous shops scattered throughout the harbour exit. You can choose from single bicycles to even quad-cycles - and they come either in manual pedal or motorised versions.


Once you get your ride of choice, drive away from the main street to Cijin Seaside Park. The ride along the bicycle road is breezy and pleasant.


Be sure to stop by Rainbow Church, and continue all the way to Cijin Windmill Park. The whole journey is relatively short and should about 30 to 34 minutes.



Perosnally, I really loved the tranquility of the island. It was a nice change of pace from the bustling ciy life at Kaohsiung.

Ruifeng Night Market


The Rui Feng Night Market is one of the top night markets in the city because of its strategic location. The night market is just a 5-minute walk from the Kaohsiung Arena MRT station and the Hanshin Arena shopping mall.


It’s packed, it’s local, and there are tons of food and shopping choices. The food choices here are mind-boggling and we loved it here better than Liuhe Night Market.



So there you have it, our 4-day guide to enjoying some of the best attractions that Kaohsiung has to offer. Hope it will be helpful for you should you be planning to bring the family!

We stayed for 3 nights in Kenting and frankly, I don't think any one of us would have complained if we had stayed on for 3 more nights. Yes, there are many things to do in Kenting, from the beautiful beaches and unique rock formations to animal experiences (hello, cute deer!). But above all of those, we really loved the vibes the seaside city exude.

And a huge chunk of that also had to do with our fabulous 3-storey minsu.


Its exterior may look like any other normal house but inside, it was a completely different world.


Can I just say, out of all our HomeAway vacation rental homes we stay in - we have currently stayed in homes in 6 different cities - this was our fave of the lot. Especially with all the cute wall murals, which made the home feel so whimsical and homey!




The wifey and Ale were particularly enamoured with the 3 bedrooms.




Best of all, there is a washing machine AND a BBQ pit on the third floor too.


Clean underwear and roasted Taiwan sausages, life can't get better than this! Woohoo!


In fact, we did have a BBQ cookout on one of our nights there. Nothing quite like having a BBQ in the Winter wind!


Oh, and it was also one of the nights that the boys learnt how to play mahjong. 😁


The minsu also came with breakfast every morning - only catch was we had to make our way on our own to the cafe. But at least the food was delish!


So how did we get to Kenting from Kaohsiung? 

We rented a car.

Yes, the Taiwanese drive on the right side of the road while we in Singapore, drive on the left side of the road. Prior to this, I have NEVER driven on the right side of the road so I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried.

But I also believe that there is a first time for everything so I decided to just do it - and I was glad I did because it really is so much more convenient to get around in Kenting since the city does not have a metro system.


If you do not drive, you can take a 2-hour bus ride from Zuoying train station in Kaohsiung. There are also buses and taxis available in Kenting.

And is Kenting a family-friendly place with kid-friendly attractions? You bet it is. Here was what we got up to during our 3 nights there:

National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium


Kenting is home to National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, which is the largest marine life museum in Taiwan. We booked our entry though Klook at a discounted rate, and enjoyed fuss-free entry to the attraction.

It has 3 main exhibitions: Coral Kingdom which showcases different coral reef habitats, from shallow waters to deep oceans, Waters of Taiwan which features aquatic animals native to Taiwan, from waters as small as rivers to as vast as the open sea and Waters of the World which covers ancient aquatic animals as well as ocean formation.


Exhibits are educational and exploratory, including a massive kelp forest, shark tunnel and beluga whales.
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Here's a tip if you are visiting with young kids - bring along swimming attires because there're 2 large wading pools (like the one Ale is standing in the first photo) where kids are free to indulge in water play. Or if you prefer to keep dry, there is a huge marine-themed playground within the aquarium too.


Paradise of Deer


We actually didn't plan on visiting Paradise of Deer but we had some free time after we left the Aquarium and thought, why not? Paradise of Deer, as its name implies, is mini zoo with free roaming Formosan sika deer.


The tamer deer are allowed to free to roam about and be fed by the visitors while the fiercer ones are kept in enclosures. If your kids love feeding animals, then this is a great place. The deer are extremely gentle and some are even shy.



The entire area is pretty small, so sometimes when there is a lot of people, you will have many visitors dangling carrot sticks in front of one deer. But overall, great to spend about an hour's of your time. At least we didn't have to travel to Nara. LOL.


As it was a last minute decision, we bought out tickets onsite at the ticketing counter when in fact, tickets would be much cheaper had we gotten them from Klook. Lesson learnt.


Even though we rented a car to drive around in Kenting, we booked a day attractions tour through Klook as well. That's because the tour itinerary covers 10 of Kenting's most popular attractions and I figured it was the best way to see the sights without having to worry about navigation.

The Shared Kenting Sightseeing tour picked us up at 9.30am and dropped us back at our minsu at 6pm. Here was what the tour covered:

Sail Rock


The Sail Rock ( Chuanfanshih, 船帆石)  is a huge piece of coral reef rock standing a few meters of the shore. From a distance, the huge rock looks like a sailboat with its sail raised, hence its name.


Shadao Ecological Reserve


Composed of 98% of seashell sand that contains seashell, coral, and fossils, Shadao is the most beautiful sand beach in Kenting National Park. In addition to being famed for its distinctive seashell beach, do visit the Shadao Shell Sand Exhibition Center located next to Shandao Ecological Reserve, where kids get to touch and feel some of the seashell sand samples found in Kenting National Park.


Eluanbi Lighthouse Park


This lighthouse is perhaps the most photographed in Kenting.

Towering 21.4m, Eluanbi Lighthouse was built during the Qing Dynasty in 1888 with a trench and holes for cannons due to the frequent raids by local aboriginal tribes in the past. This makes it the only armed lighthouse in the world!


The area around the lighthouse is actually one huge park so expect plenty of green spaces for the kids to run amok.


Taiwan Southernmost Point


Well, the name is exactly that. There's nothing much to see here though, only to proclaim that one has been to the southern most point in Taiwan. 🤣

Longpan Park


Lying between Jiae road and the Pacific Ocean, Longpan Park is a spectacular stretch of cliffs which offer astounding views of the waves crashing onto the rocks below. It is EXTREMELY windy here though so watch out for your belongings!

Houbihu Marina

Houbihu is the biggest fishing harbor in Kenting National Park, and has the largest yacht wharf in Taiwan. Local residents and tourists always come for fresh seafood from the fishing boats just retuning with their day's catch. So you can expect to find plenty of eateries selling frsh seafood and sashimi! We had our stopover here for lunch and this bowl of sashimi only cost us S$5!


Located on the western side of peninsula, Maobitou defines the sea border of Taiwan Strait and Bashi Channel. The name “Maobitou” which means “cat’s nose and head” in Mandarin comes from its unique appearance like a crouching cat. Can you see it in the photo above?


Maobitou is also an excellent place to catch magnificent ocean views and watch the waves crash onto the coral seashore.


Baishawan Beach


If you want to laze the day away on a beach in Kenting, Baishawan Beach will be your best choice. Literally translating as “White Sand Bay,” it has got everything you need: ocean, sand for lounging and nearby shops for food and drinks.


Best of all, it is not overly crowded. Beach umbrellas and floating devices are available for rent, water activities and a few snack stalls onsite whenever it’s sunny during weekends and holidays.

House of A-Jia


If you have watched the movie, Cape No. 7 (海角七號), you will be familar with this house which is the home of the protagonist Ah-Jia. The home of A-Jia has now become a major tourist attraction even after almost a decade since the movie was released. In the movie, Ah-Jia’s room is at the second storey of this house, and admission tickets can be bought for a small fee.


Chuhuo Natural Fire


Our last stop of the day tour brought us to Chuhuo special scenic area. Here, there are many fissures on the ground which emits natural gas and ignites on its own – you can actually see flames sprouting from the ground.


I'm told that the best time to visit this area is in the spring and winter dry seasons as during rainy seasons, the fire will be extinguished.


Kenting Street Night Market


Come nightfall, Kenting Street transforms into a 2km-long night market with food stalls on both sides of the road. The main difference here compared to other night markets in Taiwan is the road is still open to traffic so do remember to keep the kids close to you and look out for traffic before crossing over to the other side!

The number of food stalls here is mind-boggling... erm, just see what we had for dinner for one of the days. 😅


Magic Cafe (魔幻咖啡)
No. 80, Nanhe Road, Fangshan Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan 941


Now this was a surprise find. I was driving back to Kaohsiung on our last day in Taiwan to catch our Scoot flight back to Singapore but we had some time to kill. So along the highway before leaving Kenting, this quaint little cafe by the beach caught our eye so we made a stop to chill.


Oh, and it's Instagram heaven too. 🤣


And that concludes our 10-night holiday in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Kenting. 😍


BONUS! If you are planning to book any tours or attractions through Klook, you can enjoy $5 off your first booking on Klook when you enter the promocode CHEEKIEMONKIES5! Code is valid till 30 Jun 2019.

Is there something special about the month of April? There seems to be a huge number of attractions and experiences either opening or taking place this month!


From roller-skating to stepping into a Wonderland & Floral Fantasy world, from visiting the massive Jewel Changi Airport to going on KFC Kitchen tour, and from eating your way through a Precious Moments/Care Bears cafe and Shilin Night Market, there are no shortages of places to bring the family this April. Enjoy!


Hi Roller Singapore
Opens 6 April 2019


Hi Roller is Singapore's only indoor skating rink and offers exciting programmes and customised lessons for skaters of all ages and levels. In additon, it is air-conditioned! Beginners can learn both inline and roller skating at this family friendly environment, while seasoned skaters can relive those magical moments of dance-gliding through the floor with family and friends on Retro Night, when resident DJs spin popular music from the 80s to disco lights.


Children and adults alike will also enjoy other fun activities like Rollerobics (aerobics on skates) while skates rental is also available for exploring the surrounding nature parks and attractions around Downtown East, some of which include the nearby Pasir Ris beach and mangrove forest.

Address: Market Square @ Downtown East, E!Hub, Level 5, 1 Pasir Ris Close, Singapore 519599
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm daily
Admission: 2-hour session at $12 per Adult & $10 for students
Website

Rewild Our Planet
Opens 6 April 2019

Rewild Our Planet is Singapore's first Social Augmented Reality (AR) experience, jointly brought to you by WWF, Google, Netflix, ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands and PHORIA. The experience connects people to nature and one another through immersive storytelling that blends cutting edge persistent AR technology with stunning content from Our Planet, a new Netflix original documentary series. It combines spectacular IMAX style projections with spatial soundscapes and AR to transport visitors to the last wilderness landscapes on Earth - from vast Arctic ice caps to the remote jungles of Borneo and coastal seas of Southeast Asia. At Rewild Our Planet, visitors can interact with the environment and each other to understand how collective action is desperately needed to restore balance and protect the Earth's vibrant and diverse natural habitats. It closes on 2 June 2019.

Address: ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands, Inspiration Gallery, Level 4
Opening hours: 10am - 7pm daily
Admission: Free
Website

PetExpo 2019
12 - 14 April 2019


Spanning over 6000m2 in Singapore Expo Hall 7, it is an all-encompassing fair that caters to the needs of pets, pet owners and promotes responsible pet ownership. Pet owners can look forward to bond with their beloved pets over the weekend, shop for a plethora of pet products and services. What’s more, partake in engaging pet-focused competitions, catch exciting performances and educational talks all under one roof. There will also be adoption drives by pet welfare organisations, to promote responsible pet ownership.

Address: Singapore Expo Hall 7
Timing: 11am - 8pm
Admission: Free
Website

KFC Open Kitchen Tour
From 13 April 2019
Registration for tours happening in April will open on 8 April 2019


Curious about how KFC’s chicken is prepared? The KFC Open Kitchen programme is your chance to be a #KFCInsider, get access behind the counter and learn the secrets that goes into the preparation of each piece of the finger lickin’ good chicken.

The KFC Open Kitchen programme gives you exclusive rights to enter its highly guarded kitchen, where the famous Original Recipe chicken is freshly prepared in-store daily! In a group of 5 – 8 people, you will be guided into the kitchen by our KFC restaurant managers. Through this journey, you will discover Colonel Sander’s unique breading technique and how his legacy is carried out in every KFC restaurant around the world by well-trained and dedicated cooks. At the end of the programme, you will be served with two pieces of Original Recipe Chicken, two sides and a drink. KFC Open Kitchen will be available in 9 KFC restaurants on the second and third weekend of the month. Each #KFCInsider pass will be priced at $15, which includes a KFC goodie bag and a KFC meal.

Website

Sports Hub Community Play Day – Super 7s Warrior
13 & 14 April 2019


Singapore Sports Hub celebrates a weekend of thrilling rugby action with a slate of exciting obstacles courses, at the Sports Hub Community Play Day – Super 7s Warrior. The fun happens at the OCBC Square over the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens weekend on 13 & 14 April. Test your warrior instincts during the experiential Red-X Challenge and Red-X Kids Obstacles while parkour enthusiasts can go on a free-wheeling adventure at the Parkour Playspace. Rugby fans can take part in the Super 7s Adventure Race which will take them to seven different locations around the Sports Hub to complete various rugby-themed challenges. Participants stand to win a limited-edition Finisher’s Kit and exclusive Super 7s Warrior finisher tees. Tickets to the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens can also be purchased at the ticketing booth located within OCBC Square over the weekend.

Address: Singapore Sports Hub, OCBC Square
Timing: 10am - 7pm
Admission: Free
Website

Wonderland
Opens 13 April 2019


Wonderland is a playful and interactive exhibition for all ages, based on Lewis Carroll’s timeless stories of Alice and her adventures. Wonderland is a one-of-a-kind exhibition which follows Alice’s journey through popular culture and reveals how artists and filmmakers have portrayed Alice and her story for over a century. Visitors will step into an enchanted world that draws together a remarkable selection of over 300 artefacts and objects, including first edition books, drawings, original costumes, films, magic lantern projectors, and more. Developed by Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), this immersive exhibition makes the first stop of its global tour at ArtScience Museum. It runs from 13 April – 22 September.

Address: ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands
Opening hours: 10am - 7pm daily
Admission: From $15 per Adult & $11 per Child for Singapore residents
Website

Floral Fantasy
Opens 14 April 2019


Floral Fantasy is the latest thematic attraction at Gardens by the Bay. Flowers, artistry and technology come together to create a dream-like, fantastical experience for visitors. It comprises four diverse garden landscapes - Dace, Float, Waltz & Drift - each showcasing a different concept, as well as a 4D ride.


The Flight of the Dragonfly ride allows visitors to embark on a simulated journey of a dragonfly's flight path through Gardens by the Bay to discover a whole new world of wonder.

Address: Bayfront Plaza (next to exit of Bayfront MRT station), Gardens by the Bay
Opening hours: 9am - 9pm daily
Admission: Opening Promo of $9 per Adult & $5 per Child for Singapore residents till 13 May 2019
Website

Jewel Changi Airport
Opens 17 April 2019


This certainly needs no introduction. The Jewel Changi complex, with its distinctive dome-shaped facade made of glass and steel, is home to an eclectic mix of one-of-a-kind play attractions, unique shopping and dining experiences, accommodation and aviation facilities. Bringing the outdoors indoors, Jewel's unique mix of lush nature and urban energy is coalescing amidst Singapore's largest air-conditioned indoor garden with the highlight being its four-storey Forest Valley which features two walking trails and a 40-metre Rain Vortex, which is also the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.


Jewel will also house the largest Nike store in Southeast Asia with other anchor tenants including Marks & Spencer, Muji, Zara, Uniqlo, Shaw Theatres with IMAX and FairPrice Finest. It will host various renowned restaurants and F&B chains from overseas, including Burger & Lobster, Shake Shack and A&W. The massive complex is integrated with Changi Airport’s Terminal One at the Level 1 Arrival Hall, and linked to Terminals Two and Three via air-conditioned pedestrian linkways.

Website

Pokémon Center @ Jewel Changi Airport
Opens 17 April 2019



Jewel Changi Airportwill be home to the first permanent Pokémon Center in Asia outside Japan. The store is a real-life replica of the Pokémon Center featured in the gaming world. At Pokémon, you can purchase the same merchandise sold at the Pokémon Center in Japan. Original merchandise created exclusively for Pokémon will also be available. This includes plush toys, stationery, Pokémon Trading Card Games, video games and many more!

Address: Jewel Changi Airport, #04-201/202
Opening hours: 10am - 10pm daily

Precious Moments and Care Bears Pop-up Cafe
Opens 18 April 2019


From the café that gave you Pusheen, Cinnamoroll, Miffy, Care Bears, tokidoki, Mr Men & Little Miss and My Little Pony, comes another one, or rather two popular and well-loved characters - Precious Moments® and Care Bears™. This is the first of its kind co-branded, cross over pop-up café in Singapore and South East Asia. And, also the first co-branded Precious Moments®and Care Bears™ pop-up café in the world.


This exclusive pop-up will have a limited time from Thursday, 18 April 2019 – 30 June 2019. Kumoya will be transformed into the Precious Moments® and Care Bears™ décor featuring exclusive original art created just for this pop-up collaboration!

Address: Kumoya Singapore, 8 Jalan Klapa Singapore 199320
Opening hours: 12pm - 9pm (Closed on Mondays)
Website

Pokémon GO Safari Zone, Sentosa
18 - 22 April 2019


Trainers from all over the world will gather on Sentosa, from 18-22 April 2019,  for Singapore’s first-ever Pokémon GO Safari Zone. Taking place across The State of Fun, from the Sentosa Boardwalk to Tanjong Beach, Pokémon GO Safari Zone, Sentosa will see players hunting their favourite Pokémon including some that do not often appear in Singapore, or even Southeast Asia such as Shiny Shuckle, Tropius, and more! Registration for the event may have closed but the public can still enjoy Pokémon-themed fringe activities during the event.

Address: Sentosa Island
Timing: 10am - 8pm
Admission: Free event, but island admission applies

Shilin Night Market
19 - 21 & 26 - 28 April 2019


The famous and well-loved Shilin Night Market concept (Shilin Singapore) will debut in Singapore this April at The Grounds@Kranji at Singapore Turf Club. Happening over two weekends from April 19 to 21 and April 26 to 28, the 200,000 square feet big event space will feature a wide selection of food, fashion, lifestyle and design goods, interactive arcade games, KTV booths, live music performances as well as massive lantern installations. Join in the fun for an immersive night market experience where your five senses will be in for a treat at the four different zones of  吃, 逛, 玩, 樂  (“Eat, Shop, Play, Fun”). Admission is free for all.

Address: The Grounds @ Kranji (Carpark B, Singapore Turf Club)
Opening hours: 3pm - 11pm
Admission: Free
Website

Officially, it opens on 17 April 2019. But if you were lucky enough to register for free preview tickets from 11 to 16 April 2019, let me just say your journey to the east will be worth the effort... even if you stay in Jurong West.

For starters, the Jewel Changi Airport complex, with its distinctive dome-shaped facade made of glass and steel, is home to an eclectic mix of one-of-a-kind play attractions, unique shopping and dining experiences, accommodation and aviation facilities.


Well, the interior certainly looks modern and spacious but the real highlight here is the Rain Vortex and Forest Valley.


Bringing the outdoors indoors, Jewel's unique mix of lush nature and urban energy results in Singapore's largest air-conditioned indoor garden with a 40-metre world's tallest waterfall and a four-storey Forest Valley which features two walking trails!


If you are heading down with the family, here is what to expect:

RAIN VORTEX
Open daily: 24 hours 
Location: Heart of Forest Valley


One can take in the grandeur of the Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall at 40 metres high and the nucleus of Jewel. And my word, it is spectacular.


The great thing about the Rain Vortex is, because of its massive size, you can view the gushing waterfall from different vantage points... from the ground level to Level 5 where you get a bird's eye view of the towering water feature.



You can even head down to B2 to see the water cascading down, separated by a glass panel of course.


If you are there at night, do stay for the nightly Light & Sound show where the sheet of water becomes a screen on which the show is projected. Showtimes are from 8.30pm to 12.30am daily at hourly intervals.

FOREST VALLEY
Open daily: 24 hours 
Location: Forest Valley: Entry and exit points at every level


A lush green sanctuary, and a tranquil retreat in the core of the world's best transport hub? Yes! And you can even go on a walking trail within the complex, all in air-conditioned comfort!


The four-storey trail is divided into 2 trails - West Trail and East Trail. The West Trail includes an interactive art installation created to enhance one's visit while the East Trail allows visitors to take a leisurely hike up that leads past cascading waterfalls on the east side of Jewel.



Do allow half an hour for each trail, at a comfortable pace with ample time for photo-taking. There are several exit points and seats along the way, and it totally suitable for all ages.


LUSH GREENERY ALL AROUND


Even when not within the Rain Vortex, there are just so many different varieties of vegetation all around the complex... including this highly instagrammable spot filled with bamboo plants.


Here's a fun fact - Did you know that the number of plants within Jewel is equivalent to both the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay COMBINED???

SHOPS, SHOPS, SHOPS and MORE SHOPS

There are more than 280 shops at Jewel, of which 30% are F&B outlets.


Jewel is home to the largest Nike store in Southeast Asia with other anchor tenants including Marks & Spencer, Muji, Zara, Uniqlo, Shaw Theatres with IMAX and FairPrice Finest. It will host various renowned restaurants and F&B chains from overseas, including Burger & Lobster, Shake Shack and A&W.




Some of the shops sport a duplex unit - a 2-storey shop which is something new in Singapore's retail scene.



Oh, and who can resist stepping into Pokémon Center Singapore?


The first permanent Pokémon Center in Asia outside Japan, the store is a real-life replica of the Pokémon Center featured in the gaming world. At Pokémon, you can purchase the same merchandise sold at the Pokémon Center in Japan. Original merchandise created exclusively for Pokémon will also be available. This includes plush toys, stationery, Pokémon Trading Card Games, video games and many more!


Who knows, you may bump into Pikachu too!


SHAW THEATRES @ JEWEL


Besides the usual cinema halls, it will also have Singapore’s first dedicated children and family hall, alongside Singapore’s first next-generation IMAX hall, featuring IMAX with Laser. Named Dreamers, the child-friendly hall – with reduced brightness and volume, as well as soft lighting inside the halls – will screen kids and family-friendly movies throughout the year. The hall will have colourful seats and an open space at the front of the hall with bean bags for the kids!

Photo courtesy of Shaw Theatres Jewel

Don't wish to head home after all the shopping? Check yourself into the first YOTELAIR Hotel in Asia. YOTELAIR offers flexible check-in and check-out time, available 24 hours, perfect for business travellers and transit passengers on the go. YOTELAIR's cabins are affordable, comfortable and smartly-designed adaptable spaces that are functional.


For families, go for the Family Room which come with a queen bed and a bunk bed.


PLAY SPACES


Throughout the sprawling complex, expect to find pockets of space which allow visitors to take a breather, as well as play spaces for kids.

CANOPY PARK
Opens on 10 June 2019


Now this is where the real fun begins! Jewel's top floor is a 14,000 sqm recreational wonderland for all... but visitors have to wait till 10 June before it is open officially. BUT just for preview visitors, the Canopy Park will be open for a sneak peek from 11 to 16 April. Visitors will be able to walk through the park but the play structures will remain closed.

What is open for preview is the FOGGY BOWLS where kids can slip in among puffs of cloud and hide away in gentle bowls of mist. Kids will love the chance to play in this dreamy setting and let their imagination take flight.


One attraction that I think will appeal to my monkies is the DISCOVERY SLIDES, which is a work of art, a playground and a viewing deck all rolled into one.



Want to go all trigger-happy with your caqmera? Head to the TOPIARY WALK!




But the most anticipated attraction of all has got to be the SKY NETS (BOUNCING AND WALKING).


Experience the thrill of being almost weightless as one leaps about this giant trampoline! Stretching 250 metres long, even little ones can safely indulge in fun play.


For now though, the Rain Vortex and Forest Valley are enough to leave one breathless... and trust me when I say you will NOT be disappointed.


I will definitely be back with the monkies!

What exactly changes as the sun sets?

Plenty, as the monkies and I found out.

Hollywood Dreams Light-Up Parade
Time: 7.30pm


The Hollywood Dreams Parade first premiered at Universal Studios Singapore in 2011 and since then, it has kept things fresh for visitors by enhancing the parade floats, incorporating new music and dance routines as well as new props and costumes.

Now, Universal Studios Singapore has updated the parade with its biggest - and most glamourous - transformation yet... a NIGHT parade, complete with illuminated floats!











The parade starts at The Lost World, and makes its way through Ancient Egypt, Sci-Fi City, and New York, exiting at Vine Street just before The Brown Derby. If you ask me, the New York area is the best location to catch the parade procession.

Expect to see floats and dancers illuminated with neon hues and LED magic with performers rocking along the streets of the park.



The crowd was grooving along with characters from Madagascar and dancing to a tribal drumbeat - everything felt so festive and cheery!



The monkies' fave? Characters from the fairytale wonderland of Far Far Away like Shrek and Puss in Boots.



I had seen the daytime version of the Hollywood Dreams Parade and I definitely prefer the night version because everything just seems so much more vibrant and visually engaging.



Somehow, the light and sound effects of the Jurassic Park and Revenge of the Mummy floats are immensely accentuated during the night parade - further enhancing the experience!


The parade ends off on an upbeat note, with an infectious musical number.

I think I can speak for my monkies when I say all of us love this night parade: the music is catchy, the floats are impressive, and there is a downright fun energy to it. It is exactly the kind of parade that hypes you up and puts a smile on your face.


Oh, and of course we get reminded not to head home too early lest we miss the fireworks. But more on that later.


Night Sessions (Live Bands)
Time: 8.05pm & 9.10pm


What's After Hours fun without some music? Chill out with live performances of pop & rock songs and original numbers from local bands like OK Ready and 53A.

With all the radio-friendly hits that the bands dish out, it will be extremely hard not to sing along. And there is absolutely no need to feel shy - chances are you will not be the only one!


Pop-up Food Stalls
No night party will be complete without food so start licking those lips! Choose from street food like Lollipop Wings, Popcorn Chicken Cone, Golden Cheese Potato and Curry Fishballs.


Psst, those Lollipop Wings were the monkies' fave!


Explore Universal Studios Singapore in a new (moon) light

Personally, I feel each themed section of the park becomes more mysterious and mesmerising at night.


Riding an outdoor attraction, like rollercoasters, at night can also offer such a totally different experience. Launching into the cool night on Battlestar Galactica: CYLON feels exhilarating in a unique way.


Did I mention the rides remain open until 10pm too???

As an added bonus, with the sun down the Singapore nights are significantly cooler too... which makes queuing for rides a much more palatable proposition. Although I have to say that when we were there, the queues for the rides were all noticeably shorter! Another plus point, WOOT!


And that includes queuing up for photo opportunities with the characters too.

Fireworks Spectacular
Time: 10pm (Only on Saturdays and select public holidays)


There's nothing quite like ending the day (and night) with a spectacular display of fireworks.


Synced to a dramatic musical score, the whole experience was truly breathtaking.



But the BEST endorsement of Universal After Hours probably came from the monkies' response when the fireworks ended - they DID NOT want to leave!

Looks like we have to make another trip back then! 😜



Useful Information

- During Universal After Hours, operating hours at the theme park will be extended until 10pm on Fridays, Saturdays and select public holidays.
- Universal After Hours is included with your theme park admission or Annual/Season Pass.
- Singapore Residents enjoy online discounts for the After 5pm Adult Ticket and Dining Bundle at S$75 (U.P. $79), which comes with S$16 worth of meal vouchers.
- More information can be found at www.rwsentosa.com/universal-after-hours.

Note: Show timings are subject to changes. Please visit the website for the latest operating hours.


Sesame Street ® and associated characters, trademarks and design elements are owned and licensed by Sesame Workshop. © 2019 Sesame Workshop. All rights reserved. Shrek, Madagascar, Puss In Boots and all DreamWorks Animation elements © 2019 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. Woody Woodpecker ® Walter Lantz Productions. © Universal Studios. All rights reserved. Jurassic Park TM & © Universal Studios/Amblin Entertainment. All rights reserved. Battlestar Galactica TM Universal Studios & © 2019 Universal Cable Productions LLC. All rights reserved. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE, Universal Globe logo, and all Universal elements and related indicia TM & © 2019 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Did I mention that you can redeem free parking too? But more on that later.

To get started, simply download the ap for free from Google Play or App Store. Tap on 'Deals' at the lower bar and you can scroll through the various eDeals that some of the stores are offering.


The eDeals range from a $5 or $10 off with a minimum spend to a 10% or 20% discount off purchases.

The deals sure looked good on the app but will the savings be substantial? There is only one way to find out, which is to take the monkies to Marina Square for a day out at the mall.

Our first stop? Midtown Mart, #03-130A.


Midtown Mart is set up by a Japanese supermarket in Japan, known as Daikoku. Daikoku started out as a humble store in 1988 with the vision of providing affordable price for its customers. And true to its vision, Midtown Mart imports mainly Japanese products at affordable prices, with over 1000 different products ranging from confectionery to household items.

They practically wanted to buy everything! Fortunately, I had the eDeal from the Marina Square App - a $5 discount with a minimum spend of $20.


The discount isn't too shabby, no? It's a 25% discount if I stick to the minimum $20 spend... which was exactly what I did.


Well, sort of. My total bill came up to about $25 so I saved $5 in the end!


Next, Ale needed to buy a lunchbox for school as she deemed her current one to be *ahem* too childish. (It's a Dora the Explorer design 🤣) So we ended up at Bumwear, #03-156.


Did you know that Bumwear was started by a former resident of Bali who is now staying in Singapore? Its range includes babywear and children's wear that are exclusively designed for newborn babies and children. They also sell a host of kids' products, including plenty of tokidoki products!


As you can tell, Ale was momentarily distracted by the tokidoki merchandise. Luckily, I managed to make her refocus and she picked her spanking new lunchbox and snackbox.


Bumwear is offering a $10 off with a minimum spend of $50 so all I had to do is to fire up the Marna Square app, search for the eDeal and scan the QR code in the shop. Like this.


Super easy! My total purchase came up to $53 and after utilising the $10 eDeal, this was what I had to pay.


So what this means is all I had to do was to pay for my Bumwear purchase with FavePay and I get to enjoy 20% cashback which I can use to offset for my future purchases at over 60 Marina Square stores before 30 June 2019! (Do note that the cashback is capped at $10 per transaction)

So this was the amount I saved:

Total purchase value: $53
Marina Square app deal: $10 off with min. $50 spend
FAVEpay cashback earned: $$8.60
Total savings: $$18.60

All those shopping made the monkies really hungry so I decided to make a stop at Pasta e Formaggio @ The Dining Edition, #02-100A/B.

Pasta e Formaggio serves Italian cuisine from pasta, pizza, risotto and tapas. They use only fresh ingredients and food is only prepared upon ordering.



To top everything off, the prices are relatively affordable. Pizzas start from $10 while pastas start from $10.90, and the servings are pretty decent.



More importantly, everything tasted so good! Well, an empty plate is always a good sign! LOL.


Pasta e Formaggio's eDeal on the Marina Square app is a $5 off with a minimum spend of $20.


And as usual, redeeming it was a breeze.




But wait, there is still that 20% cashback to be enjoyed when I use FavePay to pay for my meal.


And this was the amount I saved in the end:

Total purchase value: $63.20
Marina Square app deal: $5 off with min. $20 spend
FAVEpay cashback earned: $10 (capped at $10 per transaction)
Total savings: $15

Have young kids? Then I think a visit to Pororo Park,  #02-29 to 31is in order too.


The 11,000 square feet indoor edutainment playground integrates a train ride, indoor playground attractions, educational classes, mini parades, character meet-and-greets and sing-along shows featuring Pororo and friends.


The eDeal on the Marina Square App currently offers a 20% discount off the Savers Pass ($189)... which means you pay $151.20 for 7 visits. Pay using FavePay and you get a $10 cashback! This works out to about $20 per entry compared to the usual $29.90 entry fee. PLUS, you can share the 7 visits among friends too!


Can you make out the deal on the display screen in the above photo? It says '$25 off with $100 regular-priced spend'.

But if you have the Marina Square App, you are in for MORE savings:


You only need to spend $50 on regular-priced items to enjoy $25 off! No-brainer, right? 😁


Another great eDeal I spotted is at Ergoworks,#03-140/141, a store that is famed for its ergonomic furniture.


Chairs, study tables, school bags - you name it, they have it and it's all in the name of ensuring good posture for kids.



Study posture is important, but sleep posture is equally paramount too. And Marina Square App users will be able to purchase the Dual Plus Perfect Sleep Pillow at $188/pc (U.P.$229) with a FREE extra piece of Original Pillow Case worth $69 thrown in too!


I think I know what the monkies can get for me for Father's Day. Heh.

It's the long weekend - otherwise known as the long weekend before the mid-year exams beckon! In any case, don't let the 3-day break go to waste... not when there are 20 egg-citing activities for kids to make the Easter long weekend an egg-xtra FUN one! Omelette it be a fruitful one! 🤣




Trainers from all over the world will gather on Sentosa, from 18-22 April 2019,  for Singapore’s first-ever Pokémon GO Safari Zone. Taking place across The State of Fun, from the Sentosa Boardwalk to Tanjong Beach, Pokémon GO Safari Zone, Sentosa will see players hunting their favourite Pokémon including some that do not often appear in Singapore, or even Southeast Asia such as Shiny Shuckle, Tropius, and more! Registration for the event may have closed but the public can still enjoy Pokémon-themed fringe activities during the event.



From 19 - 21 April 8am to 12pm, embark on a jungle hunt around Bollywood Veggies' 10-acre organic farm! There are more than 500 eggs hidden all around the farm - can the kids find them? For just $5/ticket, find up to 3 eggs and qualify for a sure-win lucky dip! Win delicious banana muffins, bird whistles, kampung garden books and other attractive prizes! If you're the first 10 customers of the day, you even get to paint your eggs and take them home for free (others can do the same for $5).

In conjunction with Earth Day, you can also pair this wonderful family activity with a sprouting session at 10.30am each day. Learn how to grow one local leafy green, one local sprout and one local herb in a bento and take the bento home!



This Easter, T-Play will be buzzing with fun activities from themed game stations to art workshops. The Easter bunny will also be making a special appearance bearing sweet treats to further brighten your little ones’ day!

Mark your calendar to visit Bayfront Pop-up Market, a marketplace for local businesses and social enterprises at the new Bayfront Plaza which showcases a wide variety of unique wares, artisanal products and knick-knacks.


Help! Save Us
The Mind’s Eye Exhibition
10am – 12.30pm & 2pm – 4.30pm
Perfect for ages 5 – 8
Some animals are on the brink of extinction. While we humans might be their biggest threat, we are their only hope. Join us to pick up some interesting facts about our animal friends and take home your own little animal craft.

Have you BIN recycling
Climate Change Climate Challenge Exhibition, Hall B
10am – 12.30pm & 2pm – 4.30pm
Perfect for ages 7 and above
You might be binning it. But do you bin it right? Learn more about recyclable materials through this interactive activity and start binning it right.

Solar-Powered House
Scientist For A Day, Hall A
10am – 12.30pm & 2pm – 4.30pm
Learn how to make a solar-powered house to embrace a green lifestyle!

Paint your future
The Tinkering Studio, Hall E
10.30am – 12.30pm & 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Perfect for ages 5 and above
Predict the future. How do you think our planet Earth will look like in 50 years?

Sustainable City – Tinkerville
The Tinkering Studio, Hall E
10.30am–12.30pm & 2.30pm–4.30pm
Perfect for ages 5 and above
How can we improve our towns and city to be more sustainable, using green energy and co-living with nature?

Seeds Talk – Show Us Your Science at Scientist for a Day
Scientist For A Day, Hall A
20 April 2019 (Sat)
2pm–4.30pm
Learn more about seeds as NUS-NTU researcher Sapna A.N shares her knowledge on the different morphology, functions, and uses of seeds.

Workshop – Eco-Friendly Toy Making
The Tinkering Studio, Hall E
20 April 2019 (Sat)
10.30am–12pm 
Perfect for parents and children aged 9 – 12 years old
Harness the power of wind, waves or the sun to create your very own environmentally-friendly vehicles! Using recycled materials coupled with sustainable energy, let us prototype for a greener tomorrow.



The famous and well-loved Shilin Night Market concept (Shilin Singapore) will debut in Singapore this April at The Grounds@Kranji at Singapore Turf Club. Happening over two weekends from April 19 to 21 and April 26 to 28, the 200,000 square feet big event space will feature a wide selection of food, fashion, lifestyle and design goods, interactive arcade games, KTV booths, live music performances as well as massive lantern installations. Join in the fun for an immersive night market experience where your five senses will be in for a treat at the four different zones of  吃, 逛, 玩, 樂  (“Eat, Shop, Play, Fun”). Website



Come 20 Apr (Sat), relive the good old days of the old Satay Club at Esplanade Park in the 70s, where the aroma of succulent sticks of satay grilled over hot beds of charcoal filled the air and bellies of many.

This special edition of Satay Night Live, held at The Incubator at Heroes Lawn (Esplanade Park), celebrates Singapore's love for our local cuisines combined with entertainment for all throughout the evening. Come on down and show your support and appreciation of #OurHawkerCulture!

Feast on satay, served with ketupat, freshly-cut onions and cucumber slices, and sweet-and-spicy peanut sauce, sup kambing, mee soto, otah, and more halal options. Durian-lovers, you’re not forgotten! Enjoy the King of Fruits with your family, friends and loved ones as you recline under the stars at the Chillax Zone. Enjoy live entertainment by buskers (Jill-Marie Thomas, Jordin Tan and Raphael Leong), ShiLi and Adi, The Vibes and Douglas Oliverio and his band Energy at the Party Zone, and dine in air-conditioned comfort at the Family Zone, complete with a kids' play area.

Admission is free. This is a pet-friendly event. (outdoor areas only)


The Artground has a variety of age-specific drop-in programmes on the weekends that participants will get to enjoy!

20th April Saturday

• 11am, 1pm & 3.30pm: BABY SPACE (Ticketed performance, strictly pre-walking babies, 35 mins): Baby Space is a multi-sensory installation designed for pre-walking babies. It is where contemporary dance, music and visual art meld together to form an immersive encounter with the arts. Please book tickets here.
• 10.30am to 12.30pm: [Open Craft Workshop, Stage] Petite Piñata party: Crafting local desserts! By In Merry Motion (Suitable for ages 4 years and up): An ice kachang that never melts? Yes please! Join us at our craft kitchen as we make some of our favourite local desserts – the potong ice cream, ice cream wafer sandwich, and of course the ice kachang! Let’s (craft) party!
• 2.30pm to 4.30pm: [Open Craft Workshop, Stage] Dreamcatchers Craft (Suitable for ages 3 years and up): Create your own dreamcatcher to chase the monsters away! Perfect for children ages 3 years and above!

21st April Sunday (Easter Sunday)

• 11am, 1pm & 3.30pm: BABY SPACE (Ticketed performance, strictly pre-walking babies, 35 mins): Baby Space is a multi-sensory installation designed for pre-walking babies. It is where contemporary dance, music and visual art meld together to form an immersive encounter with the arts. Please book tickets here.
• 10.30am to 12.30pm: [Open Craft Workshop, Stage] Tie Dye Egg by art@homesg (Suitable for ages 3 and up): Make your own psychedelic tie-dye easter egg with makers and few drips of rubbing alcohol!
• 2.30pm to 4.30pm: [Open Craft Workshop, Stage] Tie Dye Egg by art@homesg (Suitable for ages 3 and up): Make your own psychedelic tie-dye easter egg with makers and few drips of rubbing alcohol!

JazzAsia's outreach program, Jazz @ The Red Dot Connector Series culminates in this performance that features bands from all parts of the growing jazz community. Come watch what our jazz at the red dot has to offer and be treated by a special guest appearance by The Jazz Djogets,  a Singapore based sextet who plays a mix of Malay, Indonesian, English, Brazilian, Japanese music and some of the finest jazz standards and beyond. Get ready to dance to whatever that they find extremely ‘groovy’ normally from undiscovered hits from the 50s-70's, inspired by Jazz, Funk, Soul, Malay Pop Yeh Yeh, Japanese City Pop, Dangdut and anything djogetable (danceable).



Inspired by the classic fairy-tale ‘Alice in Wonderland’, the mall will be transformed into an enchanting garden, where families and friends can take photos of the whimsical space decorated with oversize Easter Eggs, garden maze, flowers, magical castle with cherry blossoms,  and a giant tree stump with the magical wonderland door. For more details, visit HERE.



Based on the well-loved Brothers Grimm classic fairy tale, Gretel and Hansel is a heartfelt, humorous and exciting tale about sibling rivalry, family love, courage and understanding what it means to be a big sister! The two children become both characters and storytellers as they bring audiences on a thrilling, imaginative journey. Gretel and Hansel will help encourage children to work together, appreciate their siblings and understand the importance of family love. For tickets, visit HERE.



Join the festivities at the Sesame Street 50 Years and Counting Celebration, only at Universal Studios Singapore! Party, play and learn with your family and friends at all-new interactive shows and exhibits featuring your favourite characters like Elmo and Cookie Monster.

Don’t miss the Sesame Street Birthday Blowout show with festive pop songs and a giant birthday cake. Visit Big Bird’s Nest, Abby’s Fairy Garden and sing and dance with Oscar the Grouch as he brings you the freshest beats from the streets. Then take a walk down Sesame Street and get cosy at Bert and Ernie’s Apartment!



Partnering Jurong Bird Park for an eggs-hibition eggs-clusively for the month of April, fans of the cutest egg character would want to snap photos with supersized Gudetama figurines and a towering 5-metre Gudetama inflatable in the park. Say ‘yellow’ and meet and greet Gudetama, get creative and let your inner child take over with a myriad of craft activities! Embark on an egg-citing Easter egg hunt within the lush confines of Jurong Bird Park’s Waterfall aviary, and find that golden egg to walk away with exclusive collectibles.



Come on down to KidZania Singapore as the City celebrates its 3rd Birthday! Join in the birthday celebrations as all 3-year-olds enjoy FREE ADMISSION into the City, dance along to a special birthday parade, and enjoy exclusive promotions! For more details, visit HERE.



From 15 March to 1 May 2019, immerse yourself into the world of tokidoki. Slide, bounce and capture cute moments with Donutella and SANDy as tokidoki takes over Changi Airport at the Inflatable Playground, Exhibition Show Flat and ST3PS. That’s not all, bring home your very own tokidoki x Changi Airport premiums, merchandise and a complimentary photo souvenir! For more details visit HERE.



The Artground presents Wild Rumpus –  an invitation into an imaginary world of creatures big, small, furry or gentle, and to make friends whoever is hiding behind the corner. Embrace the world of tactile material and feel what it is like to hug, cuddle and squeeze into something out of the ordinary.


Explore the Dutch countryside as Tulipmania returns to Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay with a brand-new tulip display set in an idyllic pastoral landscape.

Discover the agricultural roots of the Netherlands as you stroll across blooming tulip fields dotted with traditional thatched-roof farmhouses, stopping ever so often to admire the over 35 varieties of tulips, including crowd-pleasers such as the brilliant golden 'Yellow Flight' and new ones like the vibrant red and white 'Singapura' which commemorates the 200th anniversary of Singapore's founding. Along the way, learn about the different stages of growth in a tulip's life cycle, step into a windmill to take a closer look at its clockwork mechanism within, and look out for adorable chicken and cow sculptures roaming the tulip fields in the little Dutch village!

Complementing the country-style tulip display is a European-themed fair in Flower Field Hall! Get ready for European culture and gastronomy such as dressing up in Dutch folk wear, decorating the wooden clogs, and feasting on delicious snacks like Dutch stroopwafels, Swiss meatballs and Spanish churros.


Experience more thrills and more fun at Universal Studios Singapore after the sun goes down! On select evenings, enjoy the coolest line-up of nighttime activities during Universal After Hours. For the first time ever, experience the evening incarnation of the Hollywood Dreams Parade as it transforms into the Hollywood Dreams Light-Up Parade. See the floats and dancers in a new light as they’re illuminated with neon lights and LED magic.


Wonderland is a playful and interactive exhibition for all ages, based on Lewis Carroll’s timeless stories of Alice and her adventures. Wonderland is a one-of-a-kind exhibition which follows Alice’s journey through popular culture and reveals how artists and filmmakers have portrayed Alice and her story for over a century. Visitors will step into an enchanted world that draws together a remarkable selection of over 300 artefacts and objects, including first edition books, drawings, original costumes, films, magic lantern projectors, and more. Developed by Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), this immersive exhibition makes the first stop of its global tour at ArtScience Museum. Visit the Website for more information.

I went for the media preview in November 2018 and even though the hotel was not in operation yet, I was certain even back then that this hotel will be one that is loved by both parents and kids. Yes, the amazingly gorgeous pool - or rather, pools - definitely play a huge part in that but I will get to that bit in a minute. I promise.


Located just behind KidZania Singapore and a stone's throw away from Palawan Beach, Village Hotel at Sentosa is part of the three new hotels under Far East Hospitality. The other two hotels are The Outpost Hotel (an adult-only hotel) and The Barracks Hotel (opening in Q3 2019).

So for families, Village Hotel at Sentosa will be your best bet for an outrageously fun staycation and the kid-friendly bit begins the moment you step into the spacious lobby for your check-in.




At Village Hotel at Sentosa, KIDS are VIK, otherwise known as Village Important Kids. And they are tasked with the 'check-in' process! No kid is too tiny to do the check-in, as a cute flight of steps is even provided so that kids can reach the counter and sign the check-in form.How cool is that???

Well, Daddy or Mummy still has to foot the bill but still... 😜


After the check-in, comes the rooms! There are three room types at the hotel: Premier Room (offering sweeping sea views), Deluxe Room and Family Room.

The Deluxe Rooms have a variety of views from Pool Deck, city view of KidZania or the Merlion, to sea views of the Southernmost point of Continent Asia. Deluxe Twin rooms also come with a bathtub.

But if you are having a staycation with the kids, go for the Family Rooms which are essentially two connecting rooms. But the two rooms come with two connecting doors, two vanity areas, and two bathrooms. No more fighting for the toilet! *YAY!*






The rooms are a tad smaller compared to the usual hotel rooms though, but what I love about them is the use of scandinavian decor and cheery prints on the walls to make it feel like one is truly on a beach holiday.





Also, every child (up to age 12) who stays in the Family Room will have a set of their own amenities upon request. Depending on the age, this includes baby cots, bathtubs, baby toiletries, corner protectors and kid-sized bathrobes.

Honestly, I had the intention of just chilling on the bed and let the monkies do their own stuff.


But it was never ever going to happen... all because of this.


From design, ambience to the choice of furnishings, Village Hotel at Sentosa is decorated in sun-washed hues of nature by the sea and is is gorgeous. Presumably made even more so by the presence of FOUR pools!


Yes, there are four pools at the hotel - three for families and one solely for adults.

The Adventure Pool


Soak up the sun at this free-form pool which has social pods in the middle of the pool that mimic tiny islands. This is the largest pool at the hotel, and also one where kids will have the most fun at. I know the monkies sure did!



Children's Play Pool


Babies and toddlers will love this pool! With kiddy slides, water features including a water fountain, and even a man-made 'beach', this ankle-depth pool kid-friendly water play section.



Lazy River Pool


Want a more relaxing bit to the staycation? Grab a doughnut float and let the gentle current sweep you along the river.


Compared to other Lazy Rivers found at swimming complexes and water parks, this one feels a little underwhelming - and short. So I reckon this will actually be great for younger kids because the current isn't too strong and the water isn't deep too.


Hey, there's even a mini 'jacuzzi'! 😁


Pamukkale Pool

But the most beautiful (read: instagrammable) pool of them all is the Pamukkale Pool, which is inspired by the cascading pools in Turkey.


An infinity pool overlooking the seaside and comes complete with a pool bar, this pool is THE prime spot to chase the sunset while enjoying a cool dip at the same time. Plus, you can see the daily evening fireworks by Wings of Time from the pool too!


The only no-no? Kids are NOT allowed at this pool, only adults. So if you are looking to steal some time away from the kids, you know where to go.


As for food options, besides a cafe selling snacks and drinks, Village Hotel at Sentosa is also home to Native Kitchen, which serves up a fusion of Asian and Polynesian cuisine.



The unique thing about Native Kitchen is it only serves a buffet spread for breakfasts. For lunch and dinner, it reverts to an ala-carte concept.


The buffet breakfast at the hotel is like your typical hotel buffet breakfasts. Nothing fanciful, but adequate to keep families happy.



After breakfast though, the menu changes.



At Native Kitchen, guests can tuck into the best of land and sea with a tropical twist. From the land, key signatures include a hearty Big Kahuna Burger, a savoury Mojo Pork Cubano Sandwich and comforting Bebek Goreng. From the sea, the refreshing island ceviche, Misoyaki Butterfish and Steamed Barramundi are not to be missed. For more local staples, order its signature Native Kitchen's Nasi Lemak, Hainan Island Chicken Rice and Singapura Laksa.



And as if the fun isn't enough, the hotel organises activities like pool games, face painting sessions, balloon sculpting, and even movie nights by the pool on weekends too!


Let's just say watching a movie by the pool against a backdrop like that is simply too beautiful.

Although the monkies might beg to differ... since they love swimming in the pools so so so much!


I think Village Hotel at Sentosa is a fantastic new option for families if you are looking for a staycation, especially since it is just beside KidZania and Palawan Beach!

If you can peel the kids away from the hotel that is. 😂


To participate, all you have to do is the following:

1. LIKE Village Hotel at Sentosa's Facebook page HERE.
2. Tell me why you wish to win the 2D1N stay package. Leave your comment either in the corresponding Facebook post HERE or in this blog post.

TWO WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING!

1. 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.

2. Head to my post on Instagram to score more bonus chances!

Giveaway ends on 28 April 2019, 2359 hours.

GOOD LUCK! 😊
Useful Information
Village Hotel at Sentosa
10 Artillery Avenue, #02-01, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099951
Price: Family rooms start from S$280++
Website: www.VillageHotels.com.sg/Sentosa

A part of Jurong Lake Gardens finally re-opened today and let me just say it now - it is the BEST nature park in Singapore by far!


The 90-hectare Gardens comprises Lakeside Garden (formerly Jurong Lake Gardens West), Chinese and Japanese Gardens (formerly Jurong Lake Gardens Central) and Garden Promenade (formerly Jurong Lake Gardens East). Lakeside Garden is already open for visitors, while Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden and Garden Promenade will be completed from 2021 onwards.


But trust me when I say the 53-hectare Lakeside Garden will be more than enough to offer a day of fun and activities whether it is for families, couples or individuals. Did you know that there is even a swimming complex within the park???

First, let me show you the areas of the park which will be definite hit with the kiddos!

FOREST RAMBLE
(Nearer to North Carpark)
*Open from 8am to 10pm, Closed on Mondays except for Public Holidays

Make no mistake, Forest Ramble is the largest nature playgarden in the heartlands. The 2.3-hectare playgarden is HUGE and comprises of 13 adventure stations for kids to explore, while being set in a natural environment consisting of streams and plants.

Most interestingly, the playgarden's stattions are designed to emulate the movement of animals which inhabit a freshwater swamp forest. What this means is the play structures are designed to allow kids to mimic the movements of a monkey, frog, heron, crab, squirrel and even an otter!

Heron Play


There are 2 gliders of different lengths which enable kids to soar like a Grey Heron from one platform to another.


Children can also climb up structures mqade of logs resembling heron nests, which are connected by a rope bridge.


Frog Play


The play area is set smid grasses and enables kids to hop from one 'lily pad' to another. The pads are actually small trampolines that are set in the ground.


Crab Play


Kids can 'burrow' in this wodden maze like a swap forest crab scurrying to safety. This series of tunnels and hidouts allow kids to explore, along with transparent bubbles along the upper-side of the wooden maze. Expect lots of hide-n-seek play here!


Ant Play


Depending on programme availability, giant building blocks will be provided in this sheltered play area and kids can use them to build castles and houses based on their imagination - just like how ants build their homes below the ground.


Birdwing Play


This play area consists of 9 swings of varied designs - rope swings, a bucket swing, basket swings, and a seesaw swing. The last one is the most fun of the lot!



In addition, kids can head to the Hammocks area which comprises of numerous hammocks of different heights, and they can just chill the day away.


Otter Play


Now this is the most ingenious play area of the lot, in my opinion!


Here, there are logs and boulders that re-create the habitat of the otter and it is also where kids can hone their balancing skills as they climb, balance of jump over the logs.

There is also - and kids will love this - a water play feature next to the log pile where kids can activate a lever to allow water to flow down a series of wooden channels and platforms.



There is sand covering the platforms, and kids can dig and shift the sand to uncover the buried channels, or build their own channels to manipulate the flow of water. VERY FUN!

Monkey & Spider Play


Got monkeys at home which cannot stay still? Bring them to this net structure and watch them climb and swing away - just like how the Raffles' Banded Langur moves through a forest canopy.


Squirrel Play


This play area consists of log seesaws, balancing log and rope obstacle courses, balancing springboards and ramps that connect to a wooden structure resembling a squirrel's nest. Love this!



Snake Play


The tallest play structure at Forest Ramble allows kids to climb all the way up, just like how a Paradise Tree Snake scales a tree. The steps in the structure are fashioned from logs, and the climbing tower is surrounded by climbers, which is the host plant for the caterpillars of the Common Rose Butterfly.


Once at the top, kids can feel the adrenaline rush from gliding down of the three slides, mimicking the actions of the Tree Snake!

CLUSIA COVE
(Nearer to North Carpark)
*Open from 8am to 10pm, Closed on Mondays except for Public Holidays

Be sure to bring a set of change clothes when you head down to Lakeside Garden with the kids because of THIS:


There is a huge water play area here!


Located in the north-eastern section of the park, Clusia Cove features a water play area, an eco-pond, a pavilion and a cafe.

The water play area for kids is divided into the Tidal Play Pool and Sand Play Pool.


Kids can enter the Tidal Play Pool by walking down a gentle slope. Periodically, water will gush out from the steps, making the water level rise (up to 30cm in depth) which gives kids the opportunity to learn about natural tide cycles!


As the water from the Tidal Play Pool flows into the Sand Play Pool, it mimics the surface ripples and directional currents similar to those found at coastal shores. Kids can experience the various movements of water by interacting with the levers and gates located at the mouth of the pool. Yes, it's not just all play at the water play area, you know. Heh.


At the Sand Play Pool, kids can experience the varying textures of sand while observing how water movements create wave-sculpted ripples in the sand.



There are shower facilities and vending machines located next to the play pools. Hungry after all the playing? Head to the cafe which sells a variety of Asian and Western cuisines at the eco-pond.


THE LOGS TRAIL
(Nearer to South Carpark)


This nature trail feature is made from materials recycled from fallen trees and are held together to form a series of adventurous paths of different elevations. How do they know that kids will love hopping from log to log?



RASAU WALK
(Nearer to South Carpark)


A 300-metre meandering boardwalk along the water’s edge, Rasau Walk enables visitors to get up close with nature.


Plants along Rasau Walk thrive in the riparian zone, where parts of certain plants are constantly submerged underwater. Many of these plant species have evolved mechanisms that allow them to cope with constant inundation.



Or it is just a great place to relax. 🤣


ALSTONIA ISLAND
(Nearer to South Carpark)


Alstonia Island is a man-made island which conditions are greatly influenced by changes in the water level of Jurong Lake, and the plant species on Alstonia Island were chosen to reflect the natural history of the area - swamp forests and wetlands that were the original habitat prior to the development of Jurong.

GRASSLANDS
(Nearer to South Carpark)


This 3.5-hectare area is dominated by tall grasses and small hills - AND this is made for Instagram! 😂😂😂



Well actually, this is the area where visitors can appreciate and observe birds up close as the Grasslands are an important habitat for many small bird species that feed on grass seeds and seek shelter amidst the area which is surrounded by tall grasses.


But I think both adults and kids alike will love the vast open space that the Grasslands offer, including climbing up the many small hills that dot the area.




Do go search for the Lone Tree too - you can't miss it.


From afar, it looks like a bare tree but it is actually a metal sculpture made entirely from recycled iron bars salvaged from old park pathways! It really looks amazing!


ActiveSG Park @ Jurong Lake Gardens
(Nearer to South Carpark)
*Opens Daily, 7am to 10pm. Admission charges apply.

Remember I mentioned there is a swimming complex within Lakeside Gardens too?


Located next to the South Car Park, ActiveSG Park offers an indoor gym and lap pool operated by Sport Singapore. Visitors can take a refreshing dip in the lap pool or relax on a lounge chair, while enjoying the peace and serenity of the surrounding greenery. Guests can get their exercise fix at the indoor gym or head to the roof-top for a great view of the garden.


Planning to head down with the kids? Here are some things to take note and a handy map:

Click to enlarge

- There are 2 carparks at Lakeside Garden, accesible from yuan Ching Road. The North Carpark is nearer to the playgrounds and water play area while the South Carpark is nearer to the Grasslands and Rasau Walk.
- If you don't drive, the Gardens is accessible from Chinese Garden or Lakeside MRT stations, and also by bus services 49 and 154 from Jurong East or Boon Lay Interchanges.
- A walk between the 2 carparks takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
- There are toilet facilities, together with water coolers and vending machines at the major attraction areas.


We spent about 3.5 hours there, and probably could have stayed even longer.... which means that we will be back really soon! 😁

Website

There is a new playground playgarden at HortPark but you cannot find a single seesaw or slide here. Rather, the Nature Playgarden at HortPark is designed to encourage kids to spend more time outdoors and reconnect with nature.


Built with pre-schoolers in mind, the playgarden is best for kids aged between 3 and 6 years old. And already, the sign at the entrance of the playgarden had won me over before I stepped into the garden.


"Creative and nature play may entail some risk-taking"

How very true! The Nature Playgarden at HortPark is exactly that, as it utilizes natural terrain and about 99% of the 0.35 ha area is made out of recycled material, keeping in tune with its nature theme.

Courtesy of NParks

The first thing that struck me when I ventured into the playgarden was how everything was kept as natural as possible. With wood chips and dry leaves covering the floor of the playgarden, it reminded me of the playgrounds that we visited in Australia.


In fact, this playgarden is NParks' first Biophilic Playgarden, which integrates play features with more natural elements such as trees and sand. Biophilia refers to the innate emotional connection humans have with nature, and the playgarden was conceived to encourage children to spend more time outdoors to enhance their overall well-being, increase their self-confidence and creative expression and let them connect with nature.


In all, there are a total of nine play features at the playgarden.

The Building Huts


These two zones - Gravel Play and Sand Play - feature three teepees, and the ground is filled with sand and gravel respectively. All teepees have open sides, so children can build upon it with twigs, branches, or big dried fronds found in the play areas.


Kids can also work together to build houses and castles using natural materials such as timber cookies, wooden poles and tools provided at the Tool Board next to The Building Huts.

The Singing Seeds

This area for musical play is made up of hanging bamboo poles of different sizes, creating different pitched chimes as children move the poles, or when the wind blows.


There are also hollow musical seesaws and wheels filled with seeds from the Saga Tree, Rubber Tree and seed pods of the Rattleweed, where children can rock and spin to listen to the percussion of the rolling seeds.


The Big Fig Adventure


This log play area within a grove of Fig Trees features a collection of logs that are made into steps, a table for gatherings, and a log hill.



The stepping stones allow the children to challenge themselves as they climb, balance, or jump to their hearts' content.


The Stream


Here, children will encounter water flowing through a series of channels carved from logs. They will be able to manipulate the flow of water as they construct their own dams in their imaginative play.


The Kitchen


This area for kitchen play has a table surrounded by fruit trees in The Treasure Trail where children can pretend to cook with some cooking tools. Loose materials such as dried fruits and leaves are placed in boxes as “ingredients”, for the imaginative play of children.


The Log Valley


This is perhaps the most physical portion of the playgarden. Children can explore the valley made from logs, by climbing, balancing or even going under the logs. After clearing the Log Valley, they will find themselves at...

The Secret Den


Children can take shelter from the elements, or to spend some quiet time individually or bond in small groups under a grove of bamboo.


The Tresure Trail


Conssiting of the Frutiy Trail and Forest Trail, kids can go on a short hike around the playgarden and keep a lookout for fruit trees and other plants.


I have to say the trails are absolutely made for young kids because the trails are short and easy to navigate, with colourful signs along the trails to pique the interests of the young hikers.


The Magical Woods


The Magical Woods is home to a series of tunnels and hideouts for children to explore, or just simply to seek refuge (from parents).


 Overall, I think the Nature Playgarden at HortPark is an excellent place to bring the kids, especially if they are aged 6 years old and below. There are none of the usual slides, seesaws or even climbing structures that one usually associates with playgrounds but I love how the playgarden has ingeniously blended play activities with nature... along with plenty of hideouts for kids to explore.


The playgarden does not cover a large area, which is great for small kids as well since they can play in a contained area. Together with the many elements of sensory and nature play, this is one 'playground' that all parents with pre-schoolers should head to! PLUS, it's FREE entry for everyone!



Useful Information

Nature Playgarden at HortPark
33 Hyderabad Road (off Alexandra Road), Singapore 119578
*Closed on Mondays for maintenance.
*The playgarden is lit by natural sunlight only. For your own safety, please refrain from entering at night or during bad weather.

OOH. get those swimsuits ready because another water theme park will be opening in Malaysia - this time, it's in Melaka and it will be HASBRO-themed!



The world’s first ever Hasbro-themed water theme park will be opened at Meridian’s Malaysia Tourism City (MTC) development in Kuala Linggi, Melaka, through a Hasbro licensing agreement secured by M101 Holdings Sdn Bhd.

And it will be ready by Year 2022!

Hasbro owns several popular intellectual brands like My Little Pony, Nerf, Transformers, G.I Joe, Play-Doh, and Monopoly. So expect some of them, if not all, to feature heavily at the water theme park!

The water theme park will be developed over 20 acres within the Malaysia Tourism City (MTC) in Kota Linggi, offering a wide range of branded new rides that are not available in other parks of the world.

Oh, and did you know the world's first Monopoly hotel is opening in Malaysia too??? The Monopoly Mansion will be opening at M101 Bukit Bintang so hopefully, guests can collect $200 when they pass 'GO' at the check-in lobby! 😂😂😂

So... who's excited???

It's undeniable how technology has changed our lives.  More so than ever, technology features in our daily activities in one form or another. But technology is more than just checking emails on the go or letting the kids do their e-learning from home.

Nowadays, more emphasis is being placed on having skills in tech knowledge such as coding, electronics and animation. Why? Because it teaches kids other crucial skills like problem-solving and logical thinking, and encourages them to think creatively. All useful skills to have in this ever-changing world of ours.

But experiencing and learning more about technology need not be all about confusing jargon and theories. In fact, it can be made fun and most importantly, made easily accessible to kids of all ages... and parents too (so that we don't get left out)!


And there is no better place to bring the kids than SG:Digital Wonderland!

Yes, Singapore’s largest tech carnival is back. And it's even better and bigger than before! Formerly known as Tech Saturday (Upsized!), SG:Digital Wonderland is a 2-day tech carnival organised by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and will be held over the weekend on 18 & 19 May 2019 from 11am to 8pm daily, at Suntec City Convention Centre, Halls 404 - 406. ADMISSION IS FREE!!!


Of course, there will be plenty of exciting tech activities, new innovations, gadgets and cool tech for everyone to experience! Kids and parents can discover how to enhance their personal digital defence and interact with the latest AI powered robots, challenge your friends and family to a game of Augmented Reality dodgeball, step into a zombie infested zone and shoot some VR zombies, and even sign up for free workshops and have fun learning about coding and digital making!


Phew, sounds like a whole load of activities huh? I'm not kidding when I say that the kids will be able to spend one entire day at the tech carnival! But where does one even begin? Fret not, because I have done the homework for you - here's your 1-day itinerary at SG:Digital Wonderland so that you do not miss out the best stuff!

For starters, there are 3 zones at the event – DISCOVER, EXPERIENCE and; INNOVATE.

DISCOVER ZONE

Enhance your knowledge on AI, discover the importance of enhancing personal digital defence; learn how to safeguard your personal data and how to Be Safe, Be Smart and Be Kind in your online digital world. Visit the Discover zone to learn more and get a chance to win attractive prizes in the sure-win lucky dip too!

EXPERIENCE ZONE


Look forward to a plethora of fun and excitement from discovering the latest tech gadgets and innovations that can help improve our lives; to interacting with a multitude of Immersive Media experiences, having fun with a game of Augmented Reality dodgeball to taking part in a Drone Try-athlon challenge!

INNOVATE ZONE


Come on down to the Innovate Zone, to attend free tech and media workshops and have fun learning about design innovation, coding and digital making. Be inspired by tech prototypes created by students and join the crowd to cheer our local and regional students innovating and participating in the Youth Innovation Awards, Code Quest and Tech for Good coding competitions!

MORNING to MID-AFTERNOON

Personally, the Experience Zone looks the most fun for me... I mean, the kids.

Located at Gillman Barracks, Playeum is a museum without walls which hopes to inspire children through self-directed exploration and learning and in the process, establish a culture of meaningful and impactful play.

The new exhibition, I-Opener, features the aesthetic and sensory play-worlds co-created by individuals with various disabilities, and also without. It invites kids aged 1 to 12 to explore their senses through play and the arts.

As we all know, the senses - sight, touch and hearing all play an important role in a child’s discovery of the world as well as their social-emotional development. But more than that, this exhibition DIFFERS from Playeum's previous exhibitions in that instead of just introducing the art of play to kids, it allows kids to step into the world of those with special needs and experience the way how they interact, play and sense the world around them.

There are FOUR main spaces within the exhibition:

CLEMENT SPACE


Clement Space is a sensorial interactive space designed, produced and created by Dr. Dawn-joy Leong, an autistic artist. Kids can choose to enter the space through the usual doorway or step into her world through a tiny opening in the wall. No prizes for guessing which they would prefer!



In a time in which the world seems increasingly void of calm, the focus of white in her design here allows children to explore their senses by feeling, interacting and changing the moveable elements.


Or they can really just do nothing and lay in the tent... which is what the play space advocates.


The entire space is made of repurposed and sustainable materials, with each handmade detail carefully crafted for the audience to see, touch, and feel.


CAVAN SCOPE


Cavan Chang is an artist with Down Syndrome. And his Cavan Scope work is an invitation for his audiences to enter his colourful world.


Here, kids can view a myriad of colourful objects inspired by his work and create new collages by playing with his artworks.


SOLScape


SOLScape, is inspired by the two dimensional artwork of Sol Pickens, a young boy with autism. He makes his drawings comes to life and transforms them into three-dimensional structures.


This space features acrylic boxes in which children will be able to slot in different art works by the artist. With each artwork individually painted, the objective is an aesthetic exploration of colours.


Kids will be able to transfer their own two-dimensional works into three-dimensional play scapes.


How? By doodling on the blank sheets of papers at the side of the installations.


Once they are done, all they have to do is to flip the panel upright.


And there you go, the drawing forms the second level of the house! So through this installation, kids can imagine how they would like their home to look like. Personally, I was left mightily impressed with this play space!


POETREE


Jo Devadason is a poet with Down syndrome and the voice behind Poetree. From an early age, she developed a love for books imaginary play and self-expression. Her poetry works can be found throughout the Playeum space.



There is also a large seating area in the middle of the exhibition with 4 different couches, each representing the 4 artists. The fabrics used are chosen according to the artists' taste but parents, this is not a place for you to sit down and look at your phones.


Rather, this space is meant to spur further discussion with your kids about the various installations and promote further free play.


In addition, kids can further explore FIVE other technological inventions and play areas within the exhibition.

THE COLOUR CAVE


This sensory cave seeks to further explore Cavan's colourful world with various textiles.


THE EYE TRACK PAINTER


Here, kids can create colourful patterns just by using their eyes!

TYRE LIGHT PLAY PROJECTION


Using various transparent colourful films, kids can discover and play with shadows and light.


And see their creations being projected on a wall somewhere else. I won't tell you where... you have to head down to look for it!


HOLOGRAM PROJECTOR


Here, kids can doodle on paper and transform their artworks into moving images via a Hologram Projector.



THE MAKER SPACE


The shelves are well-stocked with a mind-boggling selection of upcycled materials like plastic bottles, paper rolls, caps, and strings.

Useful Information

Playeum's Children's Centre for Creativity
I-Opener
Address: Blk 47, Malan Road, Gillman Barracks, #01-23, Singapore 109444
Dates: 14 May 2019 - 26 April 2020
*Soft launch from 14 May 2019 to 31 May 2019
Opening Hours: Tues - Sun: 10am - 6pm (Closed on Mondays)
Admission: $22 per child (1-12) | Accompanying adult: Free | Additional accompanying adult: $10
Promotions:
HSBC Employees: 20% off child admission
Baby Bliss Card: 20% off child and additional adult admission
OCBC Baby Bonus Card: 20% off child and additional adult admission
Getting there:
Nearest MRT Station (5 to 10 minutes walk): Labrador Park Station (Circle Line)
Nearest Bus Stop (3 minutes walk): Along Alexandra Road, Opposite Alexandra Point (Bus Stop Number 15059) - Available Buses: 51, 57, 61, 83, 97, 97e, 100, 166, 175, 408, 963 or 963E
*Free Parking on Sundays.
Website:www.playeum.com

Vesak Day falls on on a Sunday this year, which means 20 May 2019 is a public holiday - which also means it's a LONG WEEKEND! Woot! For most kids, the mid-year exams should be over so it's time for some fun activities this weekend. Double woot!


So if you haven't got anything planned this long weekend, here are 16 suggestions for you:



Thai Festival 2019 at the Royal Thai Embassy, Orchard Road, is coming back! Enjoy your favourite Thai Food, Thai Fruits and Thai Fashion which are flew from Thailand, as well as having Fun with our cultural performances including Muay Thai.



Join Adventurer Quek Quek on a journeuy to the bamboo forest to listen to different sounds, be it the chirping of morning birds, wild animals, grasshoppers fooling with the rooster, or even hundreds of birds adoring a phoenix! Did you realise that these sounds were actually produced by music instruments? Good for kids aged 5 and up. For tickets. visit HERE.


Celebrate International Museum Day (IMD) and find out more about the past and future of museums, in line with this year's IMD theme - Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Traditions. Attend a HistoriaSG talk to learn about the development of early natural history in Singapore through the story of the Malayan Tapir! Participate in a thrilling scavenger hunt in our permanent galleries, enjoy live music performances, or visit our craft stations and take home handcrafted keepsakes. For details oin programmes, visit HERE.



Gardeners' Day Out promises an entire day of gardening and lifestyle activities for everyone. Favourite highlights include the Marketplace, free talks and demonstrations, free garden tour of HortPark, and kids' activities like storytelling and handicrafts!


Take a stroll down memory lane with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Show Choir as they present pop classics from yesteryear. With a repertoire ranging from 1960s swing to pop hits of the 2000s, the choir aims to inspire and appeal to music lovers from all generations.


Join Hoodw¡nked for a night of fun and nostalgia as they perform your favourite hits from the ‘90s, featuring the likes of Backstreet Boys, Michael Learns to Rock, Spice Girls, Savage Garden, Radiohead, Xiao Hu Dui, 5566, Mayday, Power Station and many more.


Explore the Dutch countryside as Tulipmania returns to Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay with a brand-new tulip display set in an idyllic pastoral landscape.

Discover the agricultural roots of the Netherlands as you stroll across blooming tulip fields dotted with traditional thatched-roof farmhouses, stopping ever so often to admire the over 35 varieties of tulips, including crowd-pleasers such as the brilliant golden 'Yellow Flight' and new ones like the vibrant red and white 'Singapura' which commemorates the 200th anniversary of Singapore's founding. Along the way, learn about the different stages of growth in a tulip's life cycle, step into a windmill to take a closer look at its clockwork mechanism within, and look out for adorable chicken and cow sculptures roaming the tulip fields in the little Dutch village!

Complementing the country-style tulip display is a European-themed fair in Flower Field Hall! Get ready for European culture and gastronomy such as dressing up in Dutch folk wear, decorating the wooden clogs, and feasting on delicious snacks like Dutch stroopwafels, Swiss meatballs and Spanish churros.


Experience more thrills and more fun at Universal Studios Singapore after the sun goes down! On select evenings, enjoy the coolest line-up of nighttime activities during Universal After Hours. For the first time ever, experience the evening incarnation of the Hollywood Dreams Parade as it transforms into the Hollywood Dreams Light-Up Parade. See the floats and dancers in a new light as they’re illuminated with neon lights and LED magic.


Wonderland is a playful and interactive exhibition for all ages, based on Lewis Carroll’s timeless stories of Alice and her adventures. Wonderland is a one-of-a-kind exhibition which follows Alice’s journey through popular culture and reveals how artists and filmmakers have portrayed Alice and her story for over a century. Visitors will step into an enchanted world that draws together a remarkable selection of over 300 artefacts and objects, including first edition books, drawings, original costumes, films, magic lantern projectors, and more. Developed by Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), this immersive exhibition makes the first stop of its global tour at ArtScience Museum. Visit the Website for more information.



I-Opener features the aesthetic and sensory play-worlds co-created by individuals with various disabilities, and also without. It invites kids aged 1 to 12 to explore their senses through play and the arts.


As we all know, the senses - sight, touch and hearing all play an important role in a child’s discovery of the world as well as their social-emotional development. But more than that, this exhibition DIFFERS from Playeum's previous exhibitions in that instead of just introducing the art of play to kids, it allows kids to step into the world of those with special needs and experience the way how they interact, play and sense the world around them. Read my review HERE.


ENJOY YOUR LONG WEEKEND WITH THE FAMILY!

We're not even done with the first half of 2019 and already, a flurry of new family-friendly attractions and places have opened in Singapore. Who says Singapore is boring for families???


So while there are the usual malls amd playgrounds to bring the kiddos, there are actually quite a number of new places that have sprouted up this year to discover together as a family - all 18 of them!

1. Lakeside Garden @ Jurong Lake Gardens


The new 53-hectare Lakeside Garden is one huge park that will be more than enough to offer a day of fun and activities whether it is for families, couples or individuals.

Kids will no doubt love Forest Ramblw which is the largest nature playgarden in the heartlands. The 2.3-hectare playgarden is HUGE and comprises of 13 adventure stations for kids to explore, while being set in a natural environment consisting of streams and plants.


Most interestingly, the playgarden's stattions are designed to emulate the movement of animals which inhabit a freshwater swamp forest. What this means is the play structures are designed to allow kids to mimic the movements of a monkey, frog, heron, crab, squirrel and even an otter!


There are also water play areas in the park - the Tidal Play Pool and Sand Play Pool. Kids can enter the Tidal Play Pool by walking down a gentle slope. Periodically, water will gush out from the steps, making the water level rise (up to 30cm in depth) which gives kids the opportunity to learn about natural tide cycles! At the Sand Play Pool, kids can experience the varying textures of sand while observing how water movements create wave-sculpted ripples in the sand.
Visitors can also head to Rasau Walk, a 300-metre meandering boardwalk along the water’s edge or zoom towards Grasslands which is dominated by tall grasses and small hills - AND totally made for Instagram! Read more about Lakeside Garden in my review HERE.


Address: Along Yuan Ching Road and Boon Lay Way
Opening hours: Always open
*Forest Ramble & Water play areas are open from 8am to 10pm, and closed on Mondays except for Public Holidays
Admission: FREE

2. Nature Playgarden at HortPark


There is a new playgarden at HortPark but you cannot find a single seesaw or slide here. Rather, the Nature Playgarden at HortPark is designed to encourage kids to spend more time outdoors and reconnect with nature. Built with pre-schoolers in mind, the playgarden is best for kids aged between 3 and 6 years old.


This playgarden is NParks' first Biophilic Playgarden, which integrates play features with more natural elements such as trees and sand. In all, there are a total of nine play features at the playgarden. There are none of the usual slides, seesaws or even climbing structures that one usually associates with playgrounds but I love how the playgarden has ingeniously blended play activities with nature... along with plenty of hideouts for kids to explore. Read more about it in my review HERE.


Address: 33 Hyderabad Road (off Alexandra Road), Singapore 119578
Opening hours: Daily except for Mondays.
*The playgarden is lit by natural sunlight only. For your own safety, please refrain from entering at night or during bad weather.
Admission: FREE

3. Floral Fantasy


Floral Fantasy is the latest thematic attraction at Gardens by the Bay. Flowers, artistry and technology come together to create a dream-like, fantastical experience for visitors. It comprises four diverse garden landscapes - Dace, Float, Waltz & Drift - each showcasing a different concept, as well as a 4D ride.


The Flight of the Dragonfly ride allows visitors to embark on a simulated journey of a dragonfly's flight path through Gardens by the Bay to discover a whole new world of wonder.

Address: Bayfront Plaza (next to exit of Bayfront MRT station), Gardens by the Bay
Opening hours: 9am - 9pm daily
Admission: Singapore residents - Adult $12 & Child / Senior Citizen $8 | Standard - Adult $20 & Child / Senior Citizen $12
Website

4. Jewel Changi Airport


This certainly needs no introduction. The Jewel Changi complex, with its distinctive dome-shaped facade made of glass and steel, is home to an eclectic mix of one-of-a-kind play attractions, unique shopping and dining experiences, accommodation and aviation facilities. Bringing the outdoors indoors, Jewel's unique mix of lush nature and urban energy is coalescing amidst Singapore's largest air-conditioned indoor garden with the highlight being its four-storey Forest Valley which features two walking trails and a 40-metre Rain Vortex, which is also the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.


Jewel will also house the largest Nike store in Southeast Asia with other anchor tenants including Marks & Spencer, Muji, Zara, Uniqlo, Shaw Theatres with IMAX and FairPrice Finest. It will host various renowned restaurants and F&B chains from overseas, including Burger & Lobster, Shake Shack and A&W. The massive complex is integrated with Changi Airport’s Terminal One at the Level 1 Arrival Hall, and linked to Terminals Two and Three via air-conditioned pedestrian linkways.


Read all about my visit HERE.

Address: 78 Airport Blvd, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: 24 hours (certain shops and eateries)
Website
7. Nestopia


Spanning more than 470 square metres, Nestopia is more than just an outdoor playground. Part of Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, it draws inspiration from the natural landscape and greenery in its surroundings, bringing to life the story of a flock of legendary birds building homes with ropes, branches, leaves and a touch of magic.


The unique structure features variations of climbing obstacles, suspended bridges, mazes and slides. Kids can embark on an exhilarating adventure through 17 play sections with netted obstacle courses connecting 3 giant nests and 2 of the longest slides on Sentosa island. Each challenge aims to develop a combination of motor skills, strength, balance, spatial awareness and problem solving skills. The three nests with a height of up to 7.5 metres offer a bird’s-eye view of the South China Sea and the surrounding Siloso Beach precinct. Nestopia is suitable for children aged 5 and above.

Address: 6 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 098995
Opening hours: Weekdays: 11am to 9pm | Weekends: 9am to 9pm
Admission:
Weekdays (Monday to Friday) 
In-house guests - $10 for 1 hour | $15 for 2 hours
Public - $15 for 1 hour | $25 for 2 hours
Weekends (Saturday, Sunday, Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays) 
In-house guests - $15 for 1 hour | $25 for 2 hours
Public - $18 for 1 hour | $28 for 2 hours
*One adult entry is included for every child (aged 12 and below). Children below the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult.
*Additional adult: $10

8. T-Hall.sg


Hidden in the heart of Lavender, T-Hall is the newest kid on the block when it comes to indoor climb gyms. Kids will love the Challenge Zone which features 25 climbing elements ranging from easy-peasy to hardcore.


There are also interactive climbing games where you can ompete against your friends on the state-of-the-art augmented climbing wall. Using motion sensing technology, the wall is transformed into various mini games that require you to climb up, down, and sideways!

Address: 464 Crawford Lane, Singapore 190464
Opening hours: Monday: 5pm to 10pm | Tuesday-Friday: 10am to 10pm | Sat, Sun, PH: 10am to 7pm
Admission: $30 for 90 mins (Challenge Zone)
Website

9. Museum@My Queenstown


Museum @ My Queenstown along Commonwealth Drive is a community museum that showcases the story of Queenstown as Singapore's first satellite town.

Entirely curated and run by numerous volunteers from civic group, My Community, Museum @ My Queenstown's inaugural Exhibition, "Our Stories, Do You Remember Them?" celebrates the stories of the common man in Queenstown as this is a place where they work, live and play. The exhibits were collected over a period of 8 years and spanning more than 60 years history of the town.


Address: Blk 46-3 Commonwealth Drive, #01-388 Singapore 140463
Opening hours: 9.30am to 2.30pm (Wed to Sun); 5.30 to 8pm (Fri & Sat only); Closed on Mon & Tue
Admission: FREE

10. Hi Roller Singapore


Hi Roller is Singapore's only indoor skating rink and offers exciting programmes and customised lessons for skaters of all ages and levels. In additon, it is air-conditioned! Beginners can learn both inline and roller skating at this family friendly environment, while seasoned skaters can relive those magical moments of dance-gliding through the floor with family and friends on Retro Night, when resident DJs spin popular music from the 80s to disco lights.


Children and adults alike will also enjoy other fun activities like Rollerobics (aerobics on skates) while skates rental is also available for exploring the surrounding nature parks and attractions around Downtown East, some of which include the nearby Pasir Ris beach and mangrove forest.

Address: Market Square @ Downtown East, E!Hub, Level 5, 1 Pasir Ris Close, Singapore 519599
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm daily
Admission: 2-hour session at $12 per Adult & $10 for students
Website

11. Coast-to-Coast Trail & Rower's Bay

The Coast-to-Coast Trail is a 36 km trail that spans across Singapore. Stretching from Jurong Lake Gardens in the west to Coney Island Park in the northeast, a total of 10 checkpoints will take you through 18 parks and nature areas and 11 park connectors.


You can choose to explore the Trail on your own using the C2C online Trail Guide or using the C2C Mobile App.

Or if you prefer to take things easy, head to the newly opened Rower's Bay at Lower Seletar Reservoir.


Part of a future PCN loop around Lower Seletar Reservoir, Rower’s Bay itself is a key activity node with new boardwalks to bring visitors closer to the water’s edge, and other amenities including shelters, vending machines, a toilet, and a bicycle repair shop. It is also near to The Oval at Seletar Aerospace Park which is rich in colonial history and is home to F&B offerings too.


Rower's Bay Address: Seletar Club Rd
Website

12. Shaw Theatres Dreamers

Shaw Theatres Dreamers at Shaw Theatres Jewel, is Singapore’s first movie theatre designed with families in mind.


Playing with a concept of vibrant colours of seats, wall mural and fun-touch, the child-friendly hall features reduced brightness and volume, as well as soft lighting inside the halls and will screen kids and family-friendly movies throughout the year.


There is even an open space at the front of the hall with bean bags and ball pit for the kids (available on a first-come, first-served basis)!

Address: Shaw Theatres Jewel, 78 Airport Boulevard, Jewel, #B2-237 Changi Airport
Price:
OFF PEAK (Mondays - Thursdays, except Opening Titles and Sneaks, Eve of Public Holiday, Public Holiday)
Adult: $9.00 | Toddler (below 90cm): FREE | Kid/s (above 90cm/ below 13 years old): $5.00
PEAK(Fridays - Sundays, Eve of Public Holiday, Public Holiday)
Adult: $14.00 | Toddler (below 90cm): FREE | Kid/s (above 90cm/ below 13 years old): $8.00
Mondays - Thursdays (Opening Titles & Sneaks)
Adult: $10.00 | Toddler (below 90cm): FREE | Kid/s (above 90cm/ below 13 years old): $6.00
Website

13. ST3PS @ Changi Airport T3


Head on down to ST3PS at Terminal 3, Changi Airport's brand new event atrium featuring a myriad of exciting offerings such as movie marathons, live performances and football matches! Hang out with family and friends, relax and enjoy movies and sporting action on the Ultra-high-definition LED screen. Head HERE for more information on the screening times and get up to date information on the live performances on a monthly basis.


Address: Changi Airport T3, Basement 2
Opening hours: 9am - 1am daily*
*Extended operating hours for live sports telecast
Admission: FREE

14. The Live Turtles and Tortoise Museum


Originally from Chinese Garden, The Live Turtles and Tortoise Museum has since relocated to ORTO in Yishun. It is home to more than 200 turtles and tortoises in over 60 different species like the fortune turtle, the gold soft-shell turtle and the ferocious alligator turtle.


Tamer turtles like the Terrapin and Soft Shells roam the compound, so opportunities to pet and feed the animals will never fail to thrill children and adults alike.

Address: ORTO, 81 Lor Chencharu #01-16, Singapore 769198
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm daily
Admission: 
Singapore Residents - Adults: $10 | Children (3-6 years old): $6 | Seniors (62 years old and above): $6
Standard Rate - Adults/Seniors: $14 | Children (3-6 years old): $10
Website

15. Pokémon Center @ Jewel Changi Airport


Jewel Changi Airportwill be home to the first permanent Pokémon Center in Asia outside Japan. The store is a real-life replica of the Pokémon Center featured in the gaming world. At Pokémon, you can purchase the same merchandise sold at the Pokémon Center in Japan. Original merchandise created exclusively for Pokémon will also be available. This includes plush toys, stationery, Pokémon Trading Card Games, video games and many more!


Address: Jewel Changi Airport, #04-201/202
Opening hours: 10am - 10pm daily
16. Village Hotel at Sentosa


There is a new kind of family-friendly staycation fun - and it comes in the form of the newly-opened Village Hotel at Sentosa! Located just behind KidZania Singapore and a stone's throw away from Palawan Beach, Village Hotel at Sentosa offer Family Rooms which are essentially two connecting rooms with two connecting doors, two vanity areas, and two bathrooms.


From design, ambience to the choice of furnishings, Village Hotel at Sentosa is decorated in sun-washed hues of nature by the sea and is is gorgeous... made even more so by the presence of FOUR pools!


The Adventure Pool is a large free-form pool which has social pods in the middle of the pool that mimic tiny islands while the Children's Play Pool is best suited for toddlers and younger kids with its kiddy slides, water features including a water fountain, and even a man-made 'beach'.


There is even a Lazy River and an adults-only Pamukkale Pool which is inspired by the cascading pools in Turkey. You can read more about my experience HERE.


Address: 10 Artillery Avenue, #02-01, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099951
Price: Family rooms start from S$280++
Website



I-Opener features the aesthetic and sensory play-worlds co-created by individuals with various disabilities, and also without. It invites kids aged 1 to 12 to explore their senses through play and the arts.


As we all know, the senses - sight, touch and hearing all play an important role in a child’s discovery of the world as well as their social-emotional development. But more than that, this exhibition DIFFERS from Playeum's previous exhibitions in that instead of just introducing the art of play to kids, it allows kids to step into the world of those with special needs and experience the way how they interact, play and sense the world around them. Read my review HERE.

Address: 47 Malan Rd, Singapore 109444
Opening hours: Tues - Sun: 10am - 6pm (Closed on Mondays)
*Ends on 26 Apr 2020
Admission: $22 per child (1-12) | Accompanying adult: Free | Additional accompanying adult: $10

18. Outdoor Playgrounds at HDB Heartlands

Dinosaur Playground @ Fu Shan Garden
81 Woodlands Street 81, Singapore 730827



Little Houses @ Buangkok Court
986D Buangkok Crescent, Singapore 535986

Through 11 imaginative artwork installations, kids can embrace a fantastic, magical world by composing their own tunes, braiding giant tresses, wandering beneath massive lanterns, popping into a dome, and more. And the best part? It is all FREE for for Singaporeans and PRs!

Here are the TOP 8 works that kids will absolutely spend the most time at:

KENANGAN KUNANG-KUNANG (MEMORIES OF FIREFLIES)
Supreme Court Wing, Level B1, Koh Seow Chuan Concourse Gallery


Without a doubt, this is the most Instagram-worthy installation of the lot. But more than just jazzing up your Instagram feed, the six life-sized, interactive lanterns encourage individual and group play. Kids can head inside into the largest lantern and rotate the turnstile.


And this is the beautiful effect it conjures up.


These lanterns are inspired by damar kurung, traditional Javanese lanterns that feature paintings of everyday life in Java. The artist has decorated them with distinct patterns, colours and characters, inviting everyone to imagine a world where everyone is loving and caring.


Like fireflies in the forest at night, kids can follow the markers on the floor either on their own or with friends, and be dazzled by the lights!

I know I was. LOL.


BEAR HUG
City Hall Wing, Level B1, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Concourse Gallery


If you have kids aged 10 and below, I personally feel this is the BEST installation to bring them to. Comprising of five rooms – Discover the World, Friendship Room, Family Room, Self Room and BIG HUG’s Little Museum - this multi-room installation is filled with fun and familiar items from everyday life.



Activities in some of the rooms let them imagine their future as one of many interesting professions, through learning about colours, positive and negative spaces as well as friendship and teamwork. There are plenty of touch and play elements throughout the big space so kids with itchy fingers can rejoice!



CHANCE OPERATIONS
City Hall Wing, Level B1, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium Anteroom

WARNING: This room can get really really really noisy!


All thanks to the ingenious pairing of hollow pipes and soft balls, this installation allows kids to throw the balls against the pipes to create music. Well, that is the idea anyway but no maater what tune one creates, there is something therapeutic about throwing something against something elses to create sounds.

I know because I tried. Heh.


DAYUNG SAMPAN
City Hall Wing, Level 1, Keppel Centre for Art Education Project Gallery


Dayung Sampan means 'Row Your Boat', which is exactly what this art installation wants kids to imagine. Here, children will discover a collection of giant objects that seem to resemble a foot or a cage – young explorers are encouraged to use their imaginations, follow their dreams and let their imagination take flight!



PLAY BY THE RIVER
City Hall Wing, Level 1, City Hall Foyer


Play by the River is inspired by a painting from 1974 by Singaporean artist Liu Kang titled Life by the River. Kids can play under the trees, say hello to a family of ducks and even play a game of five stones with parents. There is also a multimedia room where kids can customise their own houses and chracters and add them to the huge virtual painting.



THE OORT CLOUD AND THE BLUE MOUNTAIN
Supreme Court Wing, Level 1, Padang Atrium


Two things inspired this interactive artwork: The Oort Cloud, a thick layer of icy particles in outer space, and Blue Mountain, a painting by Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky of horses galloping beneath a hill.


A motion-activated installation with lights, sounds, objects and sensors, the many buttons and textures here represent imaginary terrains in the universe. As kids move closer and touch these objects, different lights and sounds will be activated!


THE OTHER WALL
Supreme Court Wing, Level 3, Supreme Court Foyer


The Other Wall reflects an idyllic life in the countryside of Myanmar, also known as the Shwe (golden) land. The artists have tried to recreate the lives of the Shwe people by casting everything, even the plants, in gold!


You will find woodcuts, traditional toys and Burmese alphabets within each house, each handcrafted with care and love. But more important for kids, there are woodblock rubbing stations within the house, where they can grab a piece of blank paper, place it over the woodblock prints and rub away with the wax crayons.


THE STORY OF KARUNG GUNI BOY
City Hall Wing, Level 1, Outside Keppel Centre for Art Education


This installation brings to life the popular story of Karung Guni Boy written by Lorraine Tan and illustrated by Eric Wong. Ming, the Karung Guni Boy, loves to collect and find new uses for old items. Ming’s innovation and love for experimenting is seen in the creative processes of many artists who find inspiration in everyday things.


Everything here is constructed from cardboard and it looks amazing!


There are other installations that we didn't get to visit during the preview but something tells me they will be just as fun for the kids....

OR for adults too. *ahem*


Useful Information

Gallery Children’s Biennale 2019: Embracing Wonder
Date: Saturday, 25 May 2019 – Sunday, 29 December 2019
Venue: National Gallery Singapore, 1 Saint Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
Admission: Free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs). Ticket prices start at $20 for others.
Website

Set in the historic Fort Canning Park, The Bicentennial Experience takes visitors back in time to witness key moments in Singapore’s transformation and if I have to give a short summary of the experience after my preview, it will have to be this:

IT IS AMAZING AND YOU HAVE TO BRING THE KIDS!

To be honest, my expectations were not high prior to the show as I was just anticipating just another usual multimedia show with heavy uses of light and sound. But boy, was I proven wrong! The re-telling of the Singapore's 700-year (yes it's not only 200!) history was extremely ingenious and uses different forms of mediums to touch our hearts.

TIME TRAVELLER

The star of the experience has got to be Time Traveller, which is a 60-minute immersive, multisensory experience within the Fort Canning Centre which transports visitors through time. The Time Traveller begins with the Atrium, and is followed by five powerful acts presenting Singapore’s story over 700 years.

There are a few pleasant surprises along the way so I will not be describing each Act in detail so that you will get to enjoy the whole experience.


The show begins right at the holding area at Fort Canning Centre, where visitors will be able to get briefly acquainted with the different acts and view some actual artefacts that were unearthed at Fort Canning.


ATRIUM


Here, visitors can catch a weather installation featuring rain that falls in ‘reverse’, providing insights into how weather played a significant role in the rise and fall of civilisations and cities, including Singapore.


Act 1: Beginnings (1299 – 1613)


This segment combines live performers with multimedia projections in a high-action re-enactment, with a moving travellator adding drama and dynamism to some of the most colourful exploits that unfolded in early Singapura.

Witness how Singapore was already at the forefront of regional and global events as early as the 13th century, and get drawn into a fascinating world of explorers, adventurers and warriors, with court intrigues and epic battles unfurling before your very eyes.


Act 2: Arrival (from 1819)

Visitors will then be ushered into a room with a 360-degree screen where the familiar narrative of how Raffles came to Singapore in 1819 is retold from an omniscient perspective through the eyes of local wildlife.

Board the Indiana, the ship that Raffles arrived on, and embark upon a cinematic voyage, witnessing dramatic historical moments and meeting important historical figures who were instrumental in shaping the fate of early Singapore.

Act 3: Connectivity (1867 – 1941)

Be enthralled with how colourful early 20th-century Singapore looked as it blossomed into a dynamic port city.


This upbeat, fast-paced segment features a rotunda with a wrap-around screen and a revolving platform, recreating both the magic and the mayhem urbanisation brought about in the early 20th century.


This Act captures the many different facets of progress, showing how connectivity — resulting from new shipping routes and communication lines — helped this small island make the big leap forward.

And then, the tone shifts...


Act 4: Occupation (1942 – 1945)

A distinct shift in tenor, this Act conveys the difficult days of the Japanese Occupation. And it begins like this.


Just a dark room with an audio segment recounting how local resistance fighters bravely stood up to the Japanese invasion.


Visitors then move into a tunnel where cracks in the wall provide peeks into wartime life. At the end of the tunnel is the actual oral account, with re-enactment, of a survivor’s harrowing escape from  the Sook Ching massacre.


Act 5: Destiny (1950s – 2019)

This is easily my fave Act! And I highly suspect it will be the same for kids too... because they get to play in the 'rain'!


Visitors will be handed umbrellas for this Act because there will be rainfall! Here, they will be able to journey through the story of how our nation emerged after World War Two and comes into her own in this special ‘rain enclosure’.


Shimmery water projections highlight the nation’s remarkable achievements, the road to independence, and a promising glimpse of the future.



After the experience, visitors will be asked to pick a DNA trait - Multi-culturalism, Openess or Self-determination - that is the most important to Singapore by dropping a ball into the respective boxes.


You can then view the results on the opoosite side of the display with the most chosen trait of each day being represented in the Lightbeam projection show nightly. More details further below.


PATHFINDER

Done with the show? Head to the area opposite Fort Canning Centre's main entrance for Pathfinder, a series of eight pavilions and installations where visitors get to uncover fascinating aspects about early Singapore and experience Singapore’s 700-year old history through space.


This area is open to everyone and does not require any pre-registration, and it takes visitors through Singapore’s place in the world across the centuries by using artefacts, maps, flora and the written word.



One standout pavilion is the Seed Conservatory which features the historical flora of Singapore over the last 700 years. This pavilion spotlights native plants, alongside those which were brought to the island either by forces of nature, or to be cultivated for aesthetic as well as economic reasons.


If you are in dire need for some air-conditioned comfort, head to the Observatory which is the Old Married Soldier’s Quarters.


Here, visitors can see how historical events around the world coincide with our 700-year history.


Remember the Lightbeam projection show I mentioned earlier? At 8pm, 9pm and 10pm nightly, the Lightbeam shoots from the Pathfinder area and the intensity of each colour is determined by the choice of DNA traits made by visitors after they complete the Time Traveller: Blue for Openness, Silver for Self-determination and Gold for Multiculturalism.


Above all, the pavilions are great for adding some jazz to your Instagram feed.... so just selfie away!


Yes, I couldn't resist too.


Echoes is a series of four site-specific short films projected nightly at Fort Canning Green. These fictional stories by Multimedia Director Brian Gothong Tan explore the themes of love, compassion, and multiculturalism, in scenes inspired by life in early Singapore.




Personally, I feel Time Traveller is a must-visit for everyone - young and old. Last I checked, the tickets for the weekend shows are mostly snapped up. There are still plenty of tickets for shows on weekdays. So if you planning to head down, here are some things to take note with regards to ticketing:

• Entry to The Bicentennial Experience is free of charge and open to all. It is recommended for children aged 5 and above, and is rated PG.

• Members of the public who want to visit in June may book their tickets online via the Singapore Bicentennial website.

• Tickets are offered on a first-come-first-served basis, and visitors may book up to a maximum of 12 tickets online. Once booking is complete, an e-ticket will be issued via e-mail, which needs to be shown for admission at Fort Canning Centre.

• For the subsequent months in July, August and September, tickets will be available at the ticketing counter at Fort Canning, and online, within the first week of the preceding month.


Useful Information

From Singapore to Singaporean: The Bicentennial Experience
Address: 5 Cox Terrace, Singapore 179620
Dates: 1 June - 15 September 2019
Timings:
o Time Traveller: Monday: 0830 – 1730 | Tuesday – Sunday: 0830 – 2200
o Pathfinder: Monday – Sunday: 0830 – 2230
o Echoes: Tuesday – Sunday: 1900 – 2230
*Echoes will not be screened when events are taking place at Fort Canning Green
*Time Traveller is located at Fort Canning Centre within Fort Canning Park
*Pathfinder is located at Fort Gate within Fort Canning Park

Back then we stayed in a rainforest-themed room which came with a bunk bed for the boys. This time around, we decided to go for the classic chalet stay in one of the resort's Beach Cove units.


The Beach Cove rooms are closest to Pasir Ris beach and come in two bedding options - 2 queen-sized beds or 4 single beds.



The room comes with standard amenities like a fridge, TV and microwave. Yes, there's free WiFi too.


One great thing about the Beach Cove rooms is it has age-friendly features to better accommodate seniors like railings for support and a stool in the bathroom. Which is great news for my parents! But do note that such rooms are only available upon request, on a first-come, first-served basis.


The BBQ pits are located just outside the rooms so it's perfect for those huge gatherings with family and friends.


However, do note that the pits are not included in the room reservation pricing, and are subject to availability. You will have to book a pit separately after booking your room.


There are also activities galore within and around the resort - renting a bicycle is a good start.


Espeically since resort guests can access a back gate which leads directly to Pasir Ris Beach!



But the monkies had different ideas.


4 years ago, we had also paid Wild Wild Wet a visit and it seemed that all of the previous rides are still present.



But there has been a huge change since then - it has nearly doubled in size with the addition of many new water slides and play areas!


In addition to the Professor's Playground (or huge water playground for kids), the new Splash Play is specifically catered for younger kids. Here, the little ones can slosh around the low water with fun jets and water sprays.


For older kids, there are four new water slides with varying thrill factors.


The Vortex (red & orange slide) is Singapore's first high-speed 360° extreme loops ride which lets riders get sucked into a world of extreme turns and curves at absolute break-neck speeds!

The Free Fall (yellow slide) is one of Asia's longest free fall water slides where you can take the plunge down a near-vertical drop at speeds of up to 50 feet per second. Phew!


Or if you are highly competitive, go for the Kraken Racers (green & blue slide) which allows up to 4 racers zip down the slide lanes to earn bragging rights.

One new ride which we didn't get to try was the Royal Flush as it was under maintenance.

And what about kids who are between 3 and 12 years old? They have a brand new water play space to call their own - Kidz Zone!


The water slides found here are replicas of the usual bigger water slides, but in a pint-sized version just for kids!


So this means that the slides are not as steep and terrifying as the actual-sized ones. No wonder Ale went on the slides so many times. LOL.



And if I thought one whole afternoon of fun at the water park would tire the monkies out, who am I kidding? Because they could absolutely NOT pass up the chance to zip around in a go-kart!


Located at Begonia Open Air Carpark, electric go-karting is available every Friday from 6pm to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 9pm.


The circuit is pretty small and straightforward, while the go-karts' top speed can be curbed for younger kids so I reckon it to be an extremely kid-friendly activity for families.

The standard price is $10 for 3 rounds while NTUC card members & kids pay $8 for 3 rounds.


Oh, and did I mention that Downtown East is also home to a 6-hall cineplex, 32-lane bowling alley, Tayo Station indoor playground, and more than 60 retail shops and F&B outlets? Time to plan a staycation with the family this June school holidays then! 😉


GIVEAWAY

Thanks to D'Resort @ Downtown East, I have a Family Package Day Pass to Wild Wild Wet!

The pass is valid for 2 adults and 2 children, and is good for entry on either off peak or peak days til 31 October 2019.


To participate, all you have to do is the following:

1. LIKE Downtown East's Facebook page HERE.
2. Leave your comment either in the corresponding Facebook post HERE or in this blog post. Simple!

BONUS: 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 2 June 2019, 2359 hours.

GOOD LUCK! 😊


Useful Information

D'Resort @ Downtown East
Website:www.dresort.com.sg
Address:  1 Pasir Ris Close, S519599
Tel: 65891865 | 65823322

The June School Holidays are here again and parents, if you are fretting how to keep the kids occupied, just keep calm because I have got the answers all compiled into one handy list for you! More than 80 90 activities to pick from as a matter of fact!


As usual, I have divided the activities into OUTDOOR and INDOOR so plan away! And have fun! 😉



The DBS Marina Regatta is back this year with an exciting line-up of activities for all ages! Join Singapore’s largest outdoor eco-maze, where participants will race against the clock to complete physical and mental challenges that aim to unearth myths about recycling and the environment. Learn more about how you can contribute in small and simple ways to a more eco-friendly society through our workshops and giant games.

Catch exhilarating dragon boat races as the top teams in the region battle it out in the 8th edition of the international dragon boating competition organised in partnership with the Singapore Dragon Boat Association. For those who would like to enjoy the iconic Marina Bay skyline from a different perspective, you can take part in our ever popular Sailing By The Bay programme. For more information, visit HERE.


If you like music by the Beatles, U2, Bon Jovi, Queen, Bryan Adams, Culture Club, Bananarama, Rick Astley, Erasure and many more, this party is where you need to be at. No need to hit the clubs to get your retro music fix, because we are bringing all the best retro bands in town onto one stage for the 12th instalment of NParks Concert Series in the Park: Rockestra®, themed ‘Saturday Night Retro Fever’! Hosted by Justin Misson, Enigma, Jack & Rai, Jive Talkin’, Shagies and The Vibes will rock you down memory lane with hits from the 60s to the 90s!


Enjoy scrumptious bites and shop for plants at the Market Square in the Orchid Plaza as part of your weekend outing from 1 to 2 June 2019! Stay till the evening for our concert and revel in the enchanting music!



Families for Life P.L.A.Y. Camps are back with TWO editions this June for an awesome start to the School Holidays! Embark on an extraordinary family adventure with our 2-day, 1-night Family Camps designed to foster family bonding and build stronger ties between parents and children! Join us in an array of fun, outdoor activities that include Parent-Child Kayaking (at Sembawang) or Rock Climbing (at Pasir Ris) guided by PAssion Wave’s instructors, and a family challenge “Race to Connect” that takes family fun to a whole new level. Together with your children, learn to map out the constellations of the beautiful night sky with our specially-curated Stargazing activities! To find out more and register, visit HERE.


Fort Canning Park has 700 years of history, dating from the 12th century right through to the arrival of the British in the 19th century. Fort Canning Park sits on a hill and spans 19.74 hectares or 197,400 square metres. It is filled not only with history, but also a wide variety of flora and fauna. Join NParks' guides as they bring you through one of Singapore’s most historic landmarks which has witnessed Singapore’s golden age, from the time the Malay kings ruled from its peak, and watched as the island transformed over the centuries into the vibrant city-state it is today. To register, visit NParks' website.



Go on a musical journey at Jurong Bird Park as The Singing Forest takes centre stage. Step into a whole new world as The Singing Forest captivates visitors with its melodic harmonies. Discover the reality of how forests in our region are going silent… as they lose their songbirds to poachers. You too can help to save the songbirds! To start with, 50 cents from your admission ticket will be channeled to the Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund. For more details in activities, visit HERE.



Having fun is in our nature. Just like how kids love the playground, animals enjoy playtime too! Be amazed by how animals play! Watch them in action as they interact with handcrafted enrichment devices. Learn about their natural behaviour and enjoy special animal appearances, craft activities and more. Come join in the fun, bring your family and discover playtime by the river! For more details in activities, visit HERE.



Hakuna Matata. It’s time to put your worries away and join us for a fun-filled day! Welcome to the Circle of Life Festival. This day-to-night wildlife experience promises to take you on an extra wild adventure to explore what shines in the light and what lurks in the dark. Meet the real animals seen in all new Disney's The Lion King like Mufasa, Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, the laughing hyenas and other favourite characters from Pride lands. For more details on Singapore Zoo's and Night Safari's activities, visit HERE.



Beat the summer heat at Adventure Cove Waterpark's Splash Bash where a whole slew of thrilling activities – think exciting riddles and physical challenges at the Adventure River and Bluewater Bay, and participating in a water-filled battleground to win attractive prizes – await you. Don't miss the whimsical photo zone featuring larger-than-life decorations of tantalising ice cream cones, icy popsicles and an ice-cream see-saw.


Perfect for families, young and old, join in for this free concert at the Singapore Botanic Gardens in a celebratory closing to SIFA 2019. The concert welcomes back to Singapore leading musical stars Elena Wang, Julia Abueva and Sean Ghazi – vocalists who have made their mark in Singapore’s theatre scene and also on the international circuit – to perform some of your favourite musical tunes, accompanied by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.


Visitors can experience an exhibition that explores Singapore’s longer history, and be immersed in an array of interactive activities and performances hosted by key communities in Singapore. Activities include:
· Cultural performances and showcases by key communities such as Sree Narayana Mission and The Peranakan Association
· A Nature Guided Walk to explore Istana’s rich flora, fauna and biodiversity
· Tour the Istana’s main building and view collections of State Gifts
· Discover Singapore’s history and heritage at the Istana Heritage Gallery



Build your fortress, have fun interacting with new friends made as children learn how ants build homes as they get the opportunity to mimic ants and play with huge blocks bigger than regular blocks.


This family tour introduces Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and its biodiversity through the use of interactive exploration themes and activities. Have fun working together to answer worksheets, conduct surveys and photo hunts, among other activities. To register, visit the following links:
8 Jun 2019, 15 Jun 2019, 22 Jun 2019, 29 Jun 2019

The walk will introduce participants to this unique nature area and the species which are living in its marsh, woodland and grass habitats. Participants will be guided through the ecologically sensitive core conservation area which is not usually opened to the public. The approximately 3 km guided walk will take visitors on a two-hour journey.

Limited to 20 participants. Registration opens on 31 May 2019 (Friday) at 8.00am. The walk will be cancelled if it rains. Registration is compulsory and visitors who turn up without registration will be turned away. To register, visit HERE.



Bringing back retro & old school tunes with a live band performance, enjoy some satay and a variety of grilled-to-order food under the night sky on the hilltop.


Enjoy an evening with your family and loved ones as Kebun Baru Chinese Orchestra performs a wide range of music from the region, which will include pop songs and classical music. The Orchestra will be conducted by Mr Liu Chong Zeng, a renowned first class Hu Qin performer and Mr Lee Khiok Hua.


Soak in the morning sun with a family yoga session in the park, every second Sunday of the month! Take the opportunity to enjoy the vast open lawns, lush banks of wildflowers and unique waterways. For the young ones that enjoy a splash, bring a change of clothes and head over to the ever popular Water Playground!


Perhaps the most talented live performer and songwriter in the Nordics for years is coming to Singapore Botanic Gardens. 21 year’s old Nicklas Sahl is one of Denmark’s rising stars, and despite a musical career that recently kicked off, the naturally gifted musician has already performed in front of 30.000 people. Inspired by artists like Frank Ocean, John Mayer, Troye Sivan and James Blake, Nicklas’ catchy tunes are described as pop music with a twist of Nordic melancholy and a desire for experimenting. Join us for a joyous evening and Asian premiere when the Royal Danish Embassy in Singapore, Finnair and Singapore Botanic Garden brings Nicklas Sahl to the Garden City.



Aviva Superfundae is a one-of-a-kind funival where you can indulge in some unique, quirky and all-out fantastic all-day play with your family. Experience play at its best via games and activities which effortlessly fuse structured and free play. For tickets, visit HERE.


It’s a double celebration! This year, Opera in the Park commemorates two special events - the 35th anniversary of Singapore Press Holdings and 160th anniversary of Singapore Botanic Gardens. The concert aims to bring music to the masses with locally trained talents, featuring a programme consisting of nature and celebratory-themed pieces.



SAFRA Family Day Out is back and get ready to have some good old-fashioned Singapore style fun with your family. Showcased through five galleries at the SG Bicentennial Showcase, travel back in time and get immersed in the iconic moments of Singapore’s 700-year history. Get moving and be intrigued through exploration of the three free and easy installations at the Fort Gate area.

Fancied yourself to be a master of old-school games? Test your skills at the game booths and stand a chance to bring home exciting prizes! Look forward to other activities such as the Families for Life 365 Workshop, stage games and many more. To register, visit HERE.



Get ready for a big adventure, with hundreds of Pokémon descending upon Singapore this June school holidays as part of the Pokémon Carnival at Sentosa Cove Village! Marking the first time in Asia where fans will be able to see all 403 Pokémon from the Pokémon region of Alola in one place, the Carnival will also feature the hugely popular Pikachu Parade. Plus, Pokémon plushies will be up for grabs when guests complete the Pokémon Adventure, which will take fans on a journey around Sentosa Cove Village. Guests can also look forward to relaxing in the evening breeze together with loved ones by the waterside, as well as meet-and-greet sessions with their favourite Pokémon.

Pikachu Parade
16 - 30 Jun 2019 | 8.15pm
The 15-minute parade will take place at the Sentosa Cove Village concourse at 8.15pm on alternate evenings - specifically, on the following dates: 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 June 2019.

Pikachu Meet & Greet
15 - 29 Jun 2019 | 7pm & 8.15pm
Get up close to the adorable Pikachu during these sessions on 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 27 and 29 June 2019, at 7pm and 8.15pm.



Celebrate Father's Day on Sun 16 Jun 2019 with an awesome day of fun activities for Dad and the whole family at the Singapore Sports Hub OCBC Square! For more details on activities, visit HERE.



Bazaar food and a gorgeous light-up? Enough said.

Learn all about the Estuarine Crocodiles that bask in the Reserve with volunteer Bernard, who has a keen interest in our reptilian friend! Drop by to have a chat with Bernard and learn fascinating information about the crocodiles – such as their characteristics and behaviour, and observe them as they go about their daily business.



The Families for Life Celebrations (FFLC) will be back this year on 29th June 2019, Saturday at SAFRA Punggol! Jointly organised by Families for Life (FFL) Council and SAFRA, this signature event presents a variety of exciting activities throughout the whole day. Enjoy the fun walk in the evening and proceed to the event lawn for a picnic and movie screening while we will end-off the exciting day with FIREWORKS! So bring the whole family together – invite your aunties / uncles / cousins / nieces and nephews and join us this year!


Take your family on a leisure stroll through southern ridges, a soothing sanctuary of greenery that is not only steeped in history but also home to some of Singapore's most exciting flora and fauna. Highlights of the tour included the Henderson Waves, Sembcorp Forest of the Giants, Forest Walk and the Singing Forest. Registration will close on 23 June 2019 (Sunday) or when registration is full. Successful applicants will be notified by 26 June 2019. To register, visit HERE.



The world’s most delicious run is back! Join in the fun with your family and friends by treating yourself to delicious snacks and drinks after the run at the Meiji Buffet! Capture exciting moments at the GIF photo-booth and top it off at Sentosa’s fun-filled movie screening. To register, visit HERE.



A 2-day gathering of conscious creators sharing themselves, their products, their services, and their processes in the journey of living consciously and authentically in Singapore.

“Pasar” is a Malay word that means “market”, and “Athma” is the Sanskrit word for “the Divine within”. To co-create Pasar Athma is to co-create a marketplace for a holistic approach towards supporting our inner Divinity and an ecosystem, deeply connected to both Earth and Spirit. Pasar Athma brings together an amazing collective of local spiritual practitioners, food providers, entrepreneurs, products, artists, and musicians...that are all in alignment with the Sustainable Self, to support you to do the same. For more details, visit HERE.



Pesta Ubin is Ubin Open House! This year's theme is "Support Ubin Businesses" as the organisers hope to support and preserve the unique businesses that service Ubin visitors, from bumboats and vans to the local food fare.

Many Pesta Ubin activities are free of charge. Some do NOT require registration. Simply come to Pulau Ubin and join the fun! Find a Pesta Ubin activity that suits your schedule and interest! Head HERE for the full list of activities taking place on the island.



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. Everything is free! Come share your stuff (books, cds, toys, food, etc) or skills (tarot card reading, hair cutting, poetry writing, singing, etc) by giving them to others who need them!




Enjoy free admission to National Orchid Garden for students, Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, Work Permit Holders.

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. Not applicable to tour groups, tickets purchased in advance and other promotions.


Experience more thrills and more fun at Universal Studios Singapore after the sun goes down! On select evenings, enjoy the coolest line-up of nighttime activities during Universal After Hours. For the first time ever, experience the evening incarnation of the Hollywood Dreams Parade as it transforms into the Hollywood Dreams Light-Up Parade. See the floats and dancers in a new light as they’re illuminated with neon lights and LED magic.





Esplanade’s most playful festival returns with 10 days of laugh-out-loud, imaginative and unexpected performances and encounters. Celebrate creativity and life through physical theatre, puppetry, comedy, music, and visual art and design, as they intersect in surprising ways. Experience art and sound installations with free and ticketed performances by local and international artists. For more details on free and ticketed shows, visit HERE.



THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA tells the tale of a disfigured musical genius known only as ‘The Phantom’ who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House.  Mesmerised by the talents and beauty of a young soprano - Christine, the Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her. Unaware of Christine’s love for Raoul, the Phantom’s obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealousy, madness and passions collide. For tickets, visit HERE.



Showcasing 8 collections of the best short films for kids from more than 30 countries, each programme is curated to engage kids in a fun, thought-provoking, and creative way.  For more details of all 8 films and tickets, visit HERE.



The Pigeoning is a darkly comedic yet heartfelt story that spins Bunraku-style puppetry and lo-fi special effects into an epic tale about the illusion of safety and control in the context of the end of the world.  A funny, dialogue-less performance that will enthrall school-age children and speak to adults, whether they are seasoned theatre-goers or newcomers. Each performance is followed by a post-show dialogue with the artists, where audiences will also get to see the set and puppets, up close. Recommended for ages 6 and above. For tickets, visit HERE.



Peter & Blue Go Around the World will stir the imagination of children with its cheery brilliance and playful storyline. This is an hour-long ballet that features engaging live story-telling and comical choreography which will inspire and incite creativity in the little ones. Interweaving the magic of fairy-tale and delightful dancing about the ever-inquisitive Peter, his dog, Blue, and his cat, Calico. Join this cheeky and playful trio as they embark on a magical adventure across the world. For tickets, visit HERE.



Imagination comes alive! A small, ordinary table transforms into an extraordinary giant's table. Objects and drawings come to life and nothing is what it seems. The award-winning Giant's Table mixes live animation with physical theatre that puts the audience at the heart of the action. Having taken Korea by storm in 2012, CCOTBBAT has since been invited to festivals all around the world.

Expect a whimsical experience in two parts. The first comprises three pieces, segmented by short scenes aptly dubbed Snack Time. In the second half, audiences get to jump into the Giant's Table, where you'll interact with live drawings on projection. Recommended for ages 4 and up. For tickets, visit HERE.



With the theme “Encounter@Reading City”, this year’s Singapore Book Fair, organised by Singapore Press Holdings’ Chinese Media Group, will continue to promote the joy of reading and make reading a part of our lives. The event, into its 34 year, will feature close to more than 20 publishers from Singapore and the region. Visitors can look forward to a host of activities during the seven-day event, ranging from literary talks,  free movie screenings, music performances, to book launches, interactive workshops, and storytelling sessions and heritage tours.



From 31 May till 16 June, Marina Square’s Central Atrium will be transformed into the Land of emoji™. Singapore’s first emoji™ pop-up will be installed at the 4,500 square-feet atrium, with large-scale photo stations featuring the emoji™ company’s most popular icons. Visitors can express their favourite emoji™ personalities in fun, colourful photo booths that will inspire a bit of FOMO in their friends and family.

There are photo opportunities galore! 10 specially created photo stations will put visitors in
enviably fun scenarios. Strike a pose among the clouds with unicorns and rainbows, get
behind mermaid icons in an underwater scene, transform yourself into a popular poo emoji™,
and climb aboard oversized floats in a fun-filled ball pit. There will also be 15 life-sized 3D
emoji™ in the world’s favourite expressions and a full-size know-your-emoji™ panel that’ll
help you put a name to your favourite icons. Without doubt, it’s a full immersion into an
emoji™ world IRL!

Meet & Greet emoji™ Icons
1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 Jun 2019, 3pm & 7pm
The emoji Ghost, Poo and Heart Eyes will come to life at the weekend Meet & Greet sessions. Get upclose and take photos in the first ever meet-the-emoji™ sessions in Singapore. Limited to the first 70 families per session, on a first-come-first-serve basis.


From 31 May to 14 July 2019, experience Europe with Spider-Man as he takes you to Venice, London and Prague. Channel your inner Spider-Man energy at the fun adventure playground and meet your favourite hero up close! What’s more, be amongst the first to watch the movie. Redeem Spider-Man Far From Home movie tickets and exclusive Spider-Man themed premiums when you shop & dine at Changi Airport Terminals 1 to 4!

SPIDER-MAN ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND
Location: Terminal 3, Departure Hall Level 2 (opposite Check-in Row 11)
Jump in and unleash your inner Spider-Man as you conquer stepping stones, suspension bridges, spider-webs in this fun adventure playground. Strike your coolest Spider-Man pose while making your way through the zip-line! All redemption for activity slots must be made through this link : https://playpass.changiairport.com

MEET & GREET
Location: Terminal 3, Basement 2, ST3Ps
Meet & Greet Timings: 2pm and 7pm
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays: 1-2 June, 8-9 June and 15-16 June
Excited to meet your favourite superhero?  Feel the action when you meet Spider-Man in person and grab your chance to take a photo with him at ST3Ps! Simply spend a minimum of $50 ($80 for supermarkets) in a single same-day receipt at the public areas of Changi Airport Terminals 1,2,3 and 4 (Jewel receipts excluded) to redeem a Meet & Greet pass. Limited to the first 50 redemptions per session per day.



Stop and smell the roses as you take a stroll through a romantic European garden setting adorned with over 40 varieties of roses in myriad hues of red, pink, orange, yellow and white. These are not your garden variety roses, but a spectacular medley of classic, unique and whimsical ones rarely seen in this part of the world. There is Roald Dahl, which was named for the English author and is peach-coloured like the fruit in his well-loved novel “James and the Giant Peach”; Rosa Mundi, which was first introduced in 1200 and is said to be named after the beautiful mistress of the then King of England Henry II; and Boufarick, which traces its origins to Algeria and is cultivated for its damask fragrance, the scent most often associated with roses. These lovely blooms trail down from trellises and arches, flourish amidst magnificent ruins reminiscent of castles of long ago, and surround a tower where Juliet on her balcony is wooed by Romeo in the courtyard below.



Organised by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, Wan Qing Dumpling Festival 2019 presents an exciting weekend of activities including dumpling making sessions, craft workshops, dramatised storytelling and evening music performances ranging from the traditional to the contemporary. Join us at Wan Qing Dumpling Festival 2019 on 1 and 2 June to learn more about the history and cultural significance of this much-loved festival! For more details on activities, visit HERE.



Suspected foul play has left your team locked within the dinosaur research facility of Island Saurus. Information on the security system has also been tampered with. Armed with clues left all over the research facility, overwrite the security system and escape before it is too late! Form teams of 3-5 people with your friends or family and take part in this highly exciting mass escape game! Suitable for ages 10 and above. For more information, visit HERE.



Make new discoveries about common objects at home which are beautifully transformed into an uncommon experience. The magic of this exploration is that it shows children new ways of looking at ordinary objects around us. From a simple dot to the intricate lines that characterise the different parts and objects in a house, journey through the little spaces which open up new possibilities for imagination and innovation! Entry into The Artground itself is free and donations are encouraged. For more details on activities, visit HERE.


Watch the designer artists – Jan Doodle and Zamzammee from Netherlands and Malaysia as they perform ‘LIVE’ freehand doodle art in a 30-min session. Parent-and-child teams can participate in the workshop sessions guided by the artist – Jan Doodle to unleash their creativity by doodling with cubes or plastic balls. Jan Doodle’s specially designed doodle colouring sheets are also available for kids to colour and doodle on the spot and take home their masterpieces after the workshop.

Doodle-Le-Do Playland
Friday, 14 June 2019 - Sunday, 23 June 2019
Workshops Operating Hours
Monday to Friday: 11:30am – 6pm
Saturday and Sunday: 11:30am – 8pm
(Last admission is at 5:30pm on weekdays and 7:30pm on weekends)

Doodle-Le-Do Live Demo Sessions
Monday to Friday: 1pm, 3pm & 5pm
Saturday and Sunday: 2pm, 5pm & 7pm
(No showcase on Monday, 17 June)

Spend $60* ($40* for U-POPP members) to redeem a Workshop Pass.
*Details at Level 1 concierge.

Visit KidZania Singapore this June school holiday as the City buzzes with animal encounters and wildlife-related activities for the whole family.

Animal Awareness Exhibition and Movie Screening by ACRES
Date: 1 – 12 June
Venue: Exhibition Booth at the Main Square | Movie Screening at the Theatre
Kids and adults alike can find out more about Singapore’s wildlife welfare issues and conservation efforts at the exhibition, or catch a movie screening at S$10 in the City’s Theatre. Some movie titles include Monkey Kingdom, Racing Extinction and more!
All proceeds raised from the movie screening will go to ACRES fundraising efforts.

Animal Crafts Booth by MuzArt
Venue: Main Square
Be a Muz-Zookeeper for day and identify animals based on their distinct patterns and features.

Animal Encounters – Sentosa
Date: 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27 and 29 June
Time & Venue: Meet-and-Greet at 1:45pm at the Stadium | Special Performance at 2pm at the Main Square*
Witness the awesome display of intelligence, agility and responsiveness from our animal friends. You can also look forward to mingle and enjoy the delightful antics* of our feathered-friends at selected timings.
*Meet-and-Greet and Special Performance will be subject to availability and temperament of animals. 

Safari-themed City Parade
Time: 1:30pm and 4:30pm daily
Join in the special rendition of our City Parade and groove to the jungle beat!



Discover how different fields of science work together in a real-life dinosaur expedition at Science Centre Singapore’s latest exhibition, DinoQuest. Also, find out more about the science of palaeontology and the process of fossilisation.

Curated by world-renowned palaeontologist Emerita Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich, DinoQuest spans across seven thematic zones that promise a multi-sensory experience like no other. An ambitious gamification creation that blends the latest multimedia technology, from holographic mapping to augmented and virtual reality environments, with dramatic fossil displays and ancient backdrops, be transported into a long extinct world. Embark on the quest to find out if you have what it takes to be a Palaeontologist extraordinaire! For more details, visit HERE.



As the centrepiece event of the Singapore Bicentennial, this multimedia sensory experience brings you back in time to witness key moments in Singapore’s transformation from as far back as 1299. It comprises of two parts - Time Traveller and Pathfinder. The first is an indoor cinematic, immersive journey which requires pre-booking of time slots while the latter is an outdoor exploratory trail featuring eight interactive pavilions and installations with no pre-registration required. Read more about my experience HERE.



Photo with Triceratops and Friends
Causeway Point: 3 to 9 June 2019
Yew Tee Point: 10 to 16 June 2019
12pm to 9pm
Spend $30 in a maximum of 3 same-day receipts and ride on the life-sized dinosaur for an Instagram-worthy photo!

Dino Movie Screening
Causeway Point: 3 to 9 June 2019 - Mon to Fri at 3pm, Sat & Sun at 7pm
Yew Tee Point: 15 & 16 June 2019 - 3pm & 7pm
Catch COMPLIMENTARY screenings of ’The Good Dinosaur’ and ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ and munch on FREE popcorn* when you spend $30 in a maximum of 3 same-day receipts.
*While stocks last.

DIY DinoCraft Workshops
Causeway Point: 3 to 9 June 2019
Yew Tee Point: 10 to 16 June 2019
12pm to 9pm
Spend $30 in a maximum of 3 same-day receipts and your crafty kids can join in our fun DIY Dino Tail and Paper Dinosaur Hat craft workshops.

All About Fabulous Fossils
Causeway Point: 6 to 9 June 2019 - Thu & Fri at 7pm, Sat & Sun at 2pm
Yew Tee Point: 15 & 16 June 2019, 2pm
Join us for enthralling educational talks by Fossil Finders and learn more about fascinating fossils. Admission is FREE!



Celebrate the first RWS Summer Matsuri with a line-up of exclusive Japanese food and alcohol, as well as free film screenings and large-scale cultural performances! Try over 38 Japanese dishes from just $3 each, including award-winning rice bowls by Japanese chefs and vote for your favourite to win at the RWS Donburi Championship. Purchase RWS-exclusive snacks and over 55 types of sake, beers and more. Catch the Tokyo Koenji Awa-Odori Dance and a display of skill with 8m tall lanterns at Akita Kanto Spectacular performance. End the day with a movie marathon with free screenings of 7 recent and award-winning Japanese films from Shochiku Co.



Have a fun-filled time at Downtown East this June holidays! Enjoy regular Stage Performances, a Workshop Alley where your child can try his or her hand at Arts & Crafts, Robotics, and even Academic Games, and a Food & Merchandise Fiesta.




Unleash your little ones’ creativity in the Play-Doh activity area and take home a Play-Doh Bucket set worth $9.99 when you sign up your little ones for the kids’ kitchen workshop with a minimum spend of $50.

Play-Doh Character Appearance
7 to 16 June 2019 (Fri, Sat & Sun only)
1pm, 4pm and 7pm

This June holidays, Marvel Studio’s Spider-ManTM will be springing into action at NEX. Catch your friendly neighbourhood superhero before he embarks on a European vacation in his upcoming movie, Spider-ManTM: Far From Home. Hot off the Avengers: Endgame movie, Spider-ManTM will be returning to the big screen this July and NEX is creating an atrium-filled Spider-ManTM activity and entertainment zone with life-sized replicas for its shoppers.Families can be part of the Spider-ManTM: Far From Home Adventure when they shop at NEX. Several opportunities await them when they participate in the exclusive activities, games, lucky draws, Instagram-worthy photo opportunities and premium redemptions.



Toys Tour
In this tour, we will focus on our Batman, Superman and Ultraman collections; three superheroes whose popularity have stood the test of time! Whether you have lived through the 1960s or belong to the iGeneration, chances are you would have heard of Batman, Gotham city’s popular Dark Knight. During the tour, families will not only learn about Batman’s history, but also how his character has developed and changed over the past 79 years. You will also get to see first-hand Batman figurines that are half a century old! Besides Batman, the tour will also introduce you to Superman as well as Ultraman toys, another two much-loved superheroes. We will share with you stories on how these toys have evolved over the decades, through changes in materials, colours, and designs.

Workshop
In this workshop, your little ones will get to express their ‘superpowers’ by moulding their own superhero with clay. Families will have fun using this versatile medium to express their creativity, as children take inspiration from their ‘super parents’ and their ‘super kids’ inspire parents!



From 13 to 30 June, Mint Museum of Toys features UNBOX presents: Godzilla Sofubi Exhibition, featuring a display of more than 500 Godzilla Sofubi toys, making it one of the largest collections of its kind on display in the world. To top if off, the president of MARMIT - one of the biggest producers of iconic soft vinyl toys associated with Godzilla, Kazumitsu Akamatsu, will be the special guest of this landmark event.



There is no better place to relive your best memories of Spider-ManTM than at NEX, as you wait in eager anticipation for his new movie. Shoppers can look forward to visiting a life-sized replica of Peter Parker’s New York City setting, and capturing fun photo moments with a 3D figurine of Spider-ManTM at the 180-degree Freeze Frame Photo Booth. Fans of Spider-Man will also get the opportunity to live in the shoes of their favourite superhero. At the Game Zone, they can pit their shooting skills with Nerf Blasters and stealth crawling skills at the Web Obstacle Game.

Spider-Man Meet & Greet
14 - 16 Jun & 21 - 23 Jun 2019
2pm & 4pm

Spider-Man Cosplay Party
15 - 16 Jun & 22 - 23 Jun 2019
5.30pm

*Redeem a photo pass with a minimum spend of S$30 in a single receipt. Limited to 50 passes per session. Each pass admits a family of 4 only. All passes are available 1 hour before each session from the Atrium, Level 1. Strictly 1 pass per shopper/NRIC per day.


Celebrate Children's Season at Indian Heritage Centre with a line-up of engaging activities for children and families. Embark on a Heritage Hunt around the Little India precinct, create your own craft masterpiece at our drop in activities and stimulate your curiosity, creativity and learning at our interactive storytelling session and performances!



Presented by The Storytelling Centre Limited and The Arts House, StoryFest is an annual festival that celebrates and showcases a variety of styles, repertoire and cultural arts presentations of storytelling from Singapore and around the world. With the theme of 'Make Believe’, StoryFest 2019 invites audiences to be open to new experiences and to allow their imagination to soar as they listen to stories that are beyond belief. For more details on shows, visit HERE.



Set in a ‘castle’, the festival welcomes all to be inspired by the endless possibilities of art. Over 10 days, the public can look forward to a wide variety of activities that revolve around our products – ranging from interactive workshops with local artists, an art exhibition and more. There will also be a wide selection of Faber-Castell products that range from materials for professional artists, hobby artists, kids, office supplies, technical drawings and even fine writing instruments on sale.



Goodman Open House is back this June Holidays! Get set for another arty day out with play-full performances, workshops and the Goodman Market to shop and fill your tummies at. Rain or shine, it’s a bevy of fun-filled programmes for the family at Singapore’s largest arts enclave. For more details, visit HERE.


Enjoy a weekend of festivities with your family and friends at the Malay Heritage Centre. Fiesta Raya @Malay Heritage Centre features free craft activities, cooking demonstrations, live music, dance performances, and more!



King Nila sails the high seas and discovers a mysterious island. On this island, he makes friends with a boy, a mermaid and a lion, and they journey together, weathering storms. Will they reach their destination? Will they find a home? This tale is a retelling of how Sang Nila Utama discovered Singapore, and with his friends, travelled to find home. Recommended for ages 4 – 7 years old. Performed in Malay. For tickets, visit HERE.


Let your imagination run wild as dragons and phoenixes come to life in this immersive drama performance. Then try to spot them hidden in the galleries, as you visit ACM’s new special exhibition, Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture. Plus make your own dragon and phoenix plushies to take home!



An original musical puppet show inspired from the classic The Jungle Book, "The Jungle Adventure" is the tale of Mowgli and his journey to find who he is and where he belongs. Take a romp into the enigmatic jungles of Southeast Asia with Mowgli and his animal friends through interactive play, and learn the importance of wildlife conservation! With an action-packed plot, captivating characters, and spirited music, "The Jungle Adventure" is set to be an exhilarating and dynamic theatre experience for all, the young and the young at heart! For tickets, visit HERE.



Pokemon Detective Pikachu - Now Showing
Disney's Aladdin - Now Showing
The Secret Life Of Pets 2 - Now Showing
Godzilla II King Of The Monsters - Now Showing
UglyDolls - Opens 6 Jun 2019
Men In Black International - Opens 13 Jun 2019
Disney's Toy Story 4 - Opens 20 Jun 2019


Floating Utopias is a playful and poetic exhibition that explores the social history of inflatable objects, showing how, over the decades, they have been used in art, architecture and activism. Floating Utopias reveals the impact inflatables continue to have on our collective imagination. The exhibition juxtaposes historical and contemporary works, featuring over 40 artworks by international and local artists, as well as hands-on workshops and interventions in urban space.

Inflatables invite us to be playful and to reclaim public space; they help to forge communities and promote participation. Their disruptive, ephemeral presence challenges power structures, by reminding us that after all, everything is temporary. For more information, visit HERE.



Back for the second edition, the Children’s Biennale has opened at the National Gallery Singapore from now and will run all the way until 29 December 2019. This year’s exhibition is themed ‘Embracing Wonder’ and invites kids all all ages to experience a new dimension of creativity and open themselves up to wondrous surprises. Through 11 imaginative artwork installations, kids can embrace a fantastic, magical world by composing their own tunes, braiding giant tresses, wandering beneath massive lanterns, popping into a dome, and more. And the best part? It is all FREE for for Singaporeans and PRs! Read more about our experience HERE.


I-Opener features the aesthetic and sensory play-worlds co-created by individuals with various disabilities, and also without. It invites kids aged 1 to 12 to explore their senses through play and the arts.


As we all know, the senses - sight, touch and hearing all play an important role in a child’s discovery of the world as well as their social-emotional development. But more than that, this exhibition DIFFERS from Playeum's previous exhibitions in that instead of just introducing the art of play to kids, it allows kids to step into the world of those with special needs and experience the way how they interact, play and sense the world around them. Read my review HERE.



Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum's Bicentennial exhibition, ‘200: A Natural History’ will showcase more than two centuries of Singapore’s natural history.