Things we did in Singapore

This time, I didn't intend to bring them to theme parks or man-made entertainment places just for the kids' amusement, other than the dinosaur show.

Seeing them very rarely out in the open running about, playing catch or ball, or just walking, I wanted them to explore the outdoors and feel the air, feel the freedom, feel the wonderful nature we have. *arms opening up, eyes looking up, deep breathing...*

Too much of computer games, Wii games, iPhone games, I learned that all these have bad effects and create lots of social issues to children of our time. They do not know how to communicate with other children, play with them, talk to adults with good manners and ... you know any others? And I certainly can't deny that it's showing on them. I have indeed feel the pinch.

Regretted that I introduced all these games to them and got them addicted. Initially I thought I can control them but all they ever think about all day is when they get to play these games. Then again, their dad doesn't seem to think that it's a problem. Men! As insensitive as usual.

So....

This time, I had surveyed some parks and gardens I would like to bring them to explore in Singapore before we departed. I am amazed and always like to follow my friend, Mun Yee, footsteps to take her kids to walk for long trails in HK or whenever they go for vacations. Her boys can really walk! I am so so amazed. I wondered if my kids would be able to do that. Maybe yes, BUT with complaints ALL THE WAY! Not good, not good at all.

Shortlisted a few trails I planned to take the kids to, among those are the Southern Ridges and East Coast Park.

The Southern Ridges has about 6 sections from one end to the other, so I wasn't very ambitious and asked for recommendations from friends. Was told that the Henderson Walk and the Canopy Walk are good. So okay, here we go.

We reached Singapore very late at night on Thursday, so we just practically dropped our bags and went off to bed right after we arrived. The number of beds are just nice. Each one has a bed to sleep on.

Early next morning on the Friday, JM woke us all up and shoo-ed us to the pool. Really need to thank her for getting our lazy bums away from the bed for those 3 days, else we would have wasted all the glorious mornings for nothing.

We spent the time at the pool while I continued lazing around on the lazy chair. The rest of the day just whizzed by with lunch, dino show, and a very Very Vvvvvery awesome dinner treat by my hub's sis' hub. We gained a few couple of kilos from just that night alone, I think. And we (JM and I) were even MORE determined to walk the talk.

So.

Early next morning again, the koon-kar-poh knocked on our doors and yelled on top of her voice "WAKE UP, WAKE UP!!!" How I wished I could throw the pillow at her face then! But of course, I just grumpily got off from the bed and get the kids changed. We decided to head to Henderson Waves.



Yay! Henderson Waves, finally we were here!

The trail from the carpark.

Henderson Waves elevated from the highway. So high up that kor ALWAYS make sure he walks in the middle pathway. This boy, really scared of height. There! Now you know his greatest fear of all.

Meimei performing some stunts, following her dad's comical acts.

And 5 mins later, we reached the road which leads to Mt Faber cable car station. Aiks! Not even half an hour walk? And moreover, we fooled around, camwhored around, rested our legs every few steps, how la??

JM ditched us at that point to continue her high powered day of activities with her friends. We turned back to where we came from and went the other side of the trail to Hilltop Walk. It began to drizzle a little before embarking on the steps, and hub asked me to decide, go up or back. I replied UP, and UP we went!

Here we are. Overlooking the view. It was very peaceful and nice.

(A bag from the US. Love it!)

And that was our first walk, so to say. Not very impressive, but we shall make it better.

Then of course, I had mentioned earlier of the walk I took on my own from Esplanade to the Raffles MRT overlooking the Marina Bay.

Damn the darn drizzle!

The next early morning again, just like the alarm clock, very punctually and reliably, came knocking on our doors again. ARGHH!!! (But of course, I am ever so grateful for that, my dear friend)

This time, we just went out and about nearby her home. It was a nice walk around Keppel Island in the cool and crisp morning.

Partly didi had been nagging JM to go to the playground since he arrived.

Again, camwhoring is part of the game.

The kaki pose - on purpose one, ok? Like this, look more like going exercise.


Reflections. Will be another icon of Singapore later.

A vast green field for the kids to run around and play catch. I really loved watching them run and play. Beats staying home and play those devices games anytime.

There, I got to know of a game the kids play these days. It's called Ice Fire. 3 of them. 1 is the catcher. The other 2 run and when the catcher catches 1, he/she needs to freeze. The other runner is allowed to unfreeze him/her. So, didi played the catcher and he ALWAYS, freeze meimei. And meimei just stood there waiting for kor to come and rescue her. Then, we just laughed our heads off watching how these 2 boys run, 1 following the other closely. It was so so cute. When kor finally unfreeze meimei, didi immediately freeze her up again! Haha!! Meimei had no chance to run at all. Damn funny watching them play.

After running out of breath and sweating all over, we went back to the condo's compound and played at the basketball court and the playground.

And that was Sunday. We went to a market for breakfast right after and then went home to clean up. I stayed home with JM to babysit the kids, together with my sil's toddler while she went for kick-table-legs with her hub for the first time since they have their child, and the other 3 adults went to Chinatown to stock up food for CNY. *rub hands, lick lips ...*

After forcing the kids to an afternoon quick and power nap later, we set off to another crowded spot. Marina Barrage to fly kite. What can I say, it was such a fantastic time for the kids and for myself. I just love the open air and the cozy wind on my face.

We went to Orchard Road for dinner followed by a walk on the road itself to admire the colorful christmas decor. But I wonder if the kids were too tired or just not appreciative, they didn't think it's anything to shout about. Frankly though, I myself do feel the decor had slacked from the way they did it years ago. Or was I too innocent still last time?


The entourage.
Didi looking not very enthusiastic about the surrounding.

The next day, JM went to work and expectedly, without her to move our asses, we slept in and hang around doing nothing all morning. But to be fair, hub did work on something. After all, it was a working day and he was up reading his mails and well, working.

We met his sis and the rest up for dimsum lunch after that and then we stayed at her home ALL afternoon, toddler taking her nap while the rest watched Jurassic Park. Wanted to go to a park in the late afternoon but rain spoilt our plans. What a bummer.

We drove out and ventured into a prawn fishing site. So there we were, ngong kui kui, spent 15 bucks, waiting for the prawns to fall prey.


After a loooooong time, only this prawn got into his hands. 2 other more tiny prawns came into the picture to join this tailoe, and that's it! Sucker!

Feeling deprived and wasted of our time, hub wanted to go somewhere before heading home the next morning. So, we went off and looked for Alexandra Arch, also a section of the Southern Ridges trail.




Alexandra Arch joins the Jungle walk and Hort Park. Jungle walk is a elevated steel walkway joining somewhere from the earlier Hilltop walk which we went to the day before that.


It was a nice day indeed. Too bad we don't have much time to walk leisurely, else it would just be perfect!

And here it's Hort Park, a floral and vegetable and herbs garden. Very educational for kids. We didn't linger around or explore the area, we had to save it for another time. On our way back, hub wanted to stop by at Mt Faber and take a short walk up to the cable car station. It wasn't a very good idea as I had thought, because the kids were nagging to be IN the cable car instead of just looking. See? Men? What do they ever think in their heads?

And this sums up the vacation we had in down south this year. Rather boring, eh?