A Day at KidZania Singapore @ Sentosa [Revisit]

31 Beach View #01-01 / 02 Palawan Kids City, Sentosa, Singapore 098008

Tel: 6653 6888

Website: http://kidzania.com.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KidZaniaSingapore

The last time we went to KidZania Singapore (review here), it was to bring the Niece. KidZania had just opened in Singapore then. This June holidays, we brought the Nephew there (he is quite a few years younger than his sister) to enjoy this indoor children's theme park where they get to try out different career and job roles.

I don't think much has changed since our visit 2 years ago - ticket pricing is the same (thankfully), every child must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 and above, and everyone wears a wrist tag.  The games stations are still pretty much the same, and waiting time per station can range from 0 mins to 2 hours (the latter is more for the aviation roles such as Pilot and Cabin Crew).

Let's see. So the kids' first stop should ideally be Maybank, where they queue up and go to the counter and activate their "bank card", entitling them to 30 credits for use around the theme park. The children can use this "bank card" to pay for purchases, or their earnings can be credited into the cards. Kids keen on the financial sectors can also choose to "work" at Maybank or AIA Insurance booths.

For the kids that love food, there are the Pizza Hut, KFC, Ice Cream Factory and Sticky Candy stations for them to learn what's it like to prepare food and sweets for the customers. The Nephew absolutely enjoyed his chef time in  the Sticky Candy workshop, where he happily walked away with a small pack of candies.

Those aspiring to be in the Healthcare / Medical fields, there are Nanyang Optical, True Chiropractic Group, Sunstar Dental and Mt. Elizabeth Hospital stations to try your hands at - the Nephew had fun learning to be a doctor under Mt. Elizabeth Hospital station. The kids all donned the white doctor's coats, used stethoscopes, and got to ride in the ambulance.

For uniform groups, the role-play choices include being part of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) learning to put out fires, or the Singapore Police Force (SPF). It is not hard to imagine why the Pilot and Cabin Crew roles have the longest queues though - I would gladly try them out if I were a kid too.

Other jobs available for the kids are Radio Deejaying, Newspaper Journalist, Renovation (Tiles), Scientist, Tour Guide, Video Editor, , Acting, Sports, Courier Service and learning driving at the range etc. There are a few restaurants here for meals, and a department store for the kids to shop in (using KidZania credits).

The average queue time per station is 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the dates and times you choose to visit. So that means if you spend an entire day here, you get to try maybe 6-7 activities with meal times in between. Rumours have it that during the school holidays- it it wiser to visit on weekends because everyone believed it would be crowded, hence choose to come on weekdays instead.

We enjoyed ourselves nearly as much as the Nephew, totally encouraging this educational and fun attraction to parents to let their kids try.

The Mommyhood Series [iv] - The Accidental BabyMoon (Pregnancy Travel Guide)

After enjoying a good Pre-natal Massage and Pure Organic Facial, as mentioned in the last chapter of The Mommyhood Series (click here to read more), I headed for a trip to Taiwan with Hubby, my best friend and her hubby.

This trip was discussed and planned more than a year ago, and has somehow become my accidental babymoon now that I was expecting. I was 1.5 weeks shy of 7 months into my pregnancy when the trip commenced in April.

About 1 week before travelling, the gynaecologist examined me, and then issued a letter to certify that I was fit for travel. This letter is very essential especially if we are above 20 weeks pregnant, mainly for health reasons.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Take note that your travel insurance does NOT cover pregnancy and its related medical fees (hospitalization, surgery, GP consultations or purchase of medications). Your private MediShield plans do not cover pregnancy complications as well.

For pregnancy-related coverage, you'll need to get either:

1. maternity insurance by a local insurer, such as AIA, AXA, Great Eastern, Prudential etc. The extend of coverage would be anything from $5000 to $20,000; or
2. international health insurance with pregnancy coverage, such as MyHealth, Worldcare, Allianz, Bupa, Cigna, etc. These offer pregnancy coverage including your consultations, vaccinations, delivery and complications etc, up to millions of dollars, depending on the package you choose. The only 2 drawbacks are that premiums are exorbitant, and you need a waiting period of 9 months.

Speak to individual insurers to find out more (the above is just a guide).

MEDICATION

Prepare pregnancy-friendly medicine for the trip, in the event we fall sick and there are no hospitals or clinics nearby. Simple ailments such as fever or tummy aches warrant for Panadol and Po Chai Pills, both safe for pregnancy (please double check with your gynae as each person's body is different).

The Do's

• Book flights in advance and select a comfortable seat with good leg space. 
• Pack shoes that are comfortable for walking.
• Have your gynae's number on hand to call in case of abnormalities (i.e. blood in urine).
• Avoid food that's too exotic or prepared in an environment that does not appear very hygienic.
• Beware of slippery surfaces (outdoors during rain or snow;  bathroom floors, etc).
• Bring antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizer (personal hygiene is very crucial).

The Don'ts

• Excessive cold drinks.
• Thrill rides (we visited a theme park with exciting rides)
• Exertive sports
• Over-buy infant clothes for 0-3 months old
• (Babies outgrow clothes like crazy).
• Be too stressed out during the trip (i.e. hectic schedule by package tours).
• Carry heavy stuff (let the porters handle your luggage).
• Visit very crowded places where you might get bumped into alot.
• Go for full body massage or hot springs (the latter is an enjoyment in Taiwan where we went; I had to skip it).

For the next series, we shall take a look at the endless shopping list to prepare for, for the arrival of the little bundle of joy.

Backtracks

(i) The House-Hunting Series

(ii) The Honeymoon Series

(iii) The Nuptial Series

(iv) The Mommyhood Series (i) - Receiving The News

(v) The Mommyhood Series (ii) - My Pregnancy Journey

(vi) The Mommyhood Series (iii) - Post Natal Massage by Schone Mama @ Takashimaya

Tackling Thailand - playing in Phuket

Conquered another part of Thailand recently, besides the usual Bangkok, Koh Samui and Pattaya. This time, we headed to Phuket Island, which has its own airport, so it made travelling more convenient. The flight was around 1 hour, 30 minutes. What did we do in Phuket, where did we stay in, and what dishes did we feast on this time round?

PLACES OF INTEREST

Phuket is a very scenic island with lots of lovely beaches such as Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Phatong Beach, etc. Besides beautiful views to take strolls or chill out against, water sports also form part of the itinerary. We went island-hopping during one of the days so we explored more than our fair share of gorgeous seasides.

AO PO GRAND MARINA
113/1 Moo 6 Tambon Paklok, Phuket, Thalang Phuket 83100, Thailand
Tel: +66 76 336 200
Website: http://aopograndmarina.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aopograndmarina

A beautiful and halcyon marina where one could enjoy the views, charter a yacht out to the seas, take photos or just chill at the Port of Call Restaurant or Deck Bar located right at the marina itself. I don't know about you, but I could stare at the yachts at the marina for hours. We booked an Andaman catamaran boat under the operator Blu Anda, which brought us island-hopping.

KOH HONG ISLAND (KRABI)
Nong Thale, Krabi Town, 81000 Thailand

Koh Hong Island is nestled on crystal clear waters and has two stunning twin bays at its side; high cliffs and white sands also add to its picturesque beauty. We tried snorkeling here, as well as some swimming.

PAK BIA ISLAND
Nong Thale, Krabi Town, 81000 Thailand

A small isle located behind Koh Hong Island, between Koh Yao Noi and Krabi Coast, this remote paradise is a popular spot for island wanderers. Its peculiar dome-like shape is covered with thick lush foliage and links to a thick strip of sand that seems to divide the waters. When the tide is high, the waters would cover the entire strip of sand, merging into one.

FISHERMAN'S VILLAGE
I couldn't find the address for this small little mysterious fisherman's village that we visited- had thought it was Koh Panyee but it did not have the crafts shopping section. It should be in the Krabi district, near Koh Hong and Pak Bia Island for sure, since it was our in-between stop.

It was here that we were exposed to the many types of sea creatures, got to hold some of them (such as the puffer fish and lobsters, had lunch surrounded by cooling breezes, and had fun kayaking in the waters. This was part of the island-hopping itinerary.

BIG BUDDHA TEMPLE
Yot Sane 1 Chaofa Road, Karon (Chalong), Mueang Phuket 83100, Thailand
Tel: +66 81 891 3827
Website: http://phuket-big-buddha.com
Opening Hours: 6.00am to 7.00pm
Admission is free of charge.

Located at the Chalong district on Nakkerd Hills, this 45 metres tall Buddha statue is created out of concrete and adorned with white Burmese jade marble. From this temple, one can glimpse the beauty of Southern Phuket island. At the side of this white Buddha statue, there is a beautiful golden Buddha statue as well.

PIMNARA SPA @ PIMNARA HOTEL
195 Rat U Thit Road, Jungceylon Mall, Patong 83150, Phuket, Thailand
Tel: +66 08 69 422 226
Website: http://www.pimnaraspa.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PimnaraSpaThailand

I believe that one shouldn't leave Thailand or a resort holiday without a good massage, therefore we headed to Pimnara Spa for a good 60 minutes classic massage at only 500 baht! Clean settings and polite uniformed staff endeavor to deliver a good bone-cracking massage that lets you feel rejuvenated and relaxed at the end of it.

30 MINUTES TO ESCAPE
187/1-4 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150, Thailand
Tel: +66 63 081 5992
Website: http://30mintoescape.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/30mintoescape
Opening Hours: 11.00am to 10.00pm daily
Fees: Adults 690 Baht / Children 370 Baht

Be an investigator for 30 minutes as you and team are locked in a room (Robbers or Temple) trying to break the code that enables you to escape from the room. Pretty exciting, and good game for teamwork for sure.

ATV (ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE)
59/26 Moo 5, Si Sunthon Thalang Phuket 83110, Thailand
Tel: +66 76 617 747
Website: http://www.atvphuket.com

An exciting and different way of touring the island, cutting through rough roads, farms, plantations and rainforests etc, on these steady 4-wheeled vehicles that are automatic, safe and easy to operate. Plus, they will have staff members riding alongside your entourage to assist and steer your ATV back on track whenever necessary.

SHOPPING

To me, no holiday is complete without shopping, and that makes Phuket no exception. We were exposed to a variety of shopping environment - larger malls, smaller malls, and night market for our buying needs.

CENTRAL FESTIVAL PHUKET
Wichit, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Tel: +66 76 291 111
Website: http://www.centralfestivalphuket.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentralPhuketFanpage

If you are familiar with Central World Shopping Centre in Bangkok, this new multi-storey mall should be no stranger to you. Spacious and containing many retail shops as well as cafes, restaurants, etc - be prepared to hang out here for hours. Familiar names such as H&M, Aldo, Charles & Keith, Segafredo, Bebe etc are all here for your shopping and cafe-hopping pleasure.

JUNGCEYLON MALL (PHUKET SQUARE)
200 Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket, 83150, Thailand
Tel: +66 76 600 111
Website: http://www.jungceylon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JungceylonFanpage

A huge mall with Robinsons, cinema and lots of shops within its building, and many retail shops, restaurants, cafe and beauty parlours making up the tenants, this mall is another pulse of the city, allowing visitors to be kept entertained within its walls for hours.

TESCO LOTUS SUPER-CENTER
104 Moo 5 Chalermprakiet Ror 9 Road, Rasada, Muang, Phuket 83000 Thailand
Website: https://www.phuket.net/directory/shopping/tesco-lotus-supercenter

A 3-storey shopping centre whose anchor tenant is Tesco, a huge supermarket where we bought all our groceries and foodstuff for the next few days of the villa stay. There are also smaller shops and push carts retailing clothes, shoes, manicure services etc, as well as familiar brands such as Watsons and Starbucks. There are also quite a few restaurants for one to fill their stomachs.

KARON TEMPLE MARKET
Patak Rd, Tambon Karon, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83100, Thailand
Tel: +66 98 885 6306
Website: http://www.phuket.com/shopping/karon-shopping.htm

A small night bazaar comprising many stalls retailing local goods - clothes, ornaments, crafts and some food stalls. We thought the variety was not impressive, but what really put us off was the attitude of some of the vendors. One lady was loudly singing in English to her stall neighbor that we were probably "Only shopping, no buying". Damn right lady, with such an attitude, you can be sure that you merchandise won't move.

ACCOMMODATION

There are plenty of choices to stay at Phuket, from seafront hotels and villas to smaller hostels for the backpackers. We put up at this super-new villa located at Kata Beach area, pretty secluded, and enjoyed the stay tremendously. The owner is a pretty lady who, together with her female crew, ensured that we had a good stay throughout.

Photo Source: http://baan-st-tropez.com/3-bedroom-villa

Photo Source: http://baan-st-tropez.com/4-bedroom-villa

BAAN ST. TROPEZ VILLA
12/19 Patak rd, Soipatak10, T.Karon , Kata Beach Phuket, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100, Thailand
Tel: +66 86 364 2269
Website: http://baan-st-tropez.com

Baan St. Tropez Villa has a variety of different housing - villas with 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms. All villas come with its own pool overlooking the lush foliage and further beyond - the sea. Facilities are complete, as are kitchen-ware. The villas are clean and rather tastefully-decorated; housekeeping takes place everyday.

RESTAURANTS

Here at Phuket, Thai food and seafood were our main cuisine - we got to experience Thai food and "local cuisine" referring to Southern Thai food, which makes up traditional here at Phuket.

Photo Source: https://www.facebook.com/baanchomviewkata

BAAN CHOM VIEW RESTAURANT
69/15 Kata Noi Road, Kata Noi Beach, Phuket 83100, Thailand
Tel: +66 95 352 5836
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baanchomviewkata

Views were magnificent at this restaurant, overlooking Kata Beach and offering breezes throughout the evening. We had good Thai cuisine and seafood dishes here, such as Green Curry, Garlic Prawns, Basil Chicken, Clear Tom Yum Soup, to name a few.

KAN ENG @ PIER PHUKET SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Rawai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100, Thailand
Tel: +66 76 381 212
Website: http://www.kaneang-pier.com

This restaurant was a surprise for us, having entered through the super vintage-looking main entrance, expecting the interior to be just as traditional. But what greeted us was a beautiful pier, sea view and natural alfresco dining settings. It was here we enjoyed some delectable Southern Thai cuisine, the best being the Yellow Crab Curry, Papaya Salad and Red Tom Yum Soup. The staff crew provided superb service too - attentive; they even took the trouble of retrieving a balloon dropped accidentally into the pier while we were dining!

MK RESTAURANT
104 Moo 5 | Tesco Lotus Extra Phuket, Phuket Town, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Website: https://www.mkrestaurant.com/en

Always a favorite restaurant of ours when we are in Thailand, we stumbled upon MK Restaurant at Lotus Tesco Super Center, and had lunch there. We shared the Wanton (meat dumpling) and Roast Duck Spinach Noodles, as well as the Roast Pork Noodles.

Photo Source: http://bluanda.com

BLUAQUA RESTAURANT
None supplied - seems the only information I got about this restaurant is from Blu-Anda website. A hut-like restaurant where we had our breakfast and buffet dinner during the island-hopping trip. While out at the floating fisherman's village, we were served set meals "pin-to" style (what we probably call "tingkat" in Singapore) - round metal tiered tins of food. One could choose seafood, poultry or vegetarian.


Overall, our Phuket trip was very gratifying and pleasurable; I was glad to be able to try out so many activities I wouldn't have gotten to try usually. The first day was a rainy one, as well as the morning of our 2nd day - but none of these days dampened our moods, because there were myriad of activities to keep one entertained even if we had to stay indoors.