After the awkward first night, where I was even afraid to go take a shower for fear of my lil monsters' breaking something, our second day at Singapore went better than expected.
No...we didn't move to a hotel. Though I very much wanted to, I just couldn't say it. I mean, how to say to someone who has opened up their home to you & kids
"Er...we are going to stay in hotel la...your house got too many things." Anyway, it was kinda comforting that someone would be there in case I needed help with the boys...
The host & hostess were out of the house at crack of dawn (to the gym & then to work, yawn!), so they left us to our own designs. Actually, their condo is like a hotel. They got pools & Cartoon Network. And they bought us breakfast.
At about 9, we also hit the road. But first the boys wanted to make a stopover - they can't wait to try out the unique playground equipment.
They were so engrossed with testing the 'firmness' of the equipment, I had to ply them away. Ha, ha...what to do, mommy loves the zoo &
Singapore Zoo is so much nicer than our own. Loved it even more with the
Half Price Singapore Surprise. We can even pay the equivalent in RM (but must remember to bring exact change). So for 3 of us, we only paid RM36, instead of S$36. So darn 'tai' (worth it)!
Which is good...cos I didn't get to see much animals!!! The boys were like bullet trains, speeding from one enclosure to the next. They really didn't understand the concept of 'pausing & observing'.
Sigh!I didn't even get to catch the whole elephant show (I remembered it was good when I watched it 4 years ago with Kor-Kor)! They watched the last 5 minutes & were not interested to catch the whole show at later time already! However, I did dragged them to see the Splash Safari show - with the penguins, sea cow & sea lion. This also like the mommy enjoyed it more.
After the show, they were done with animals. The call of Rainforest Kidzworld was just too
great. So we hustled over at abt 3. One look & they were so smitten.
I repeatedly told them that there are other interesting areas within Kidzworld that we have not explored. However, nothing could pry them away until the park switched off the water at about 5.30pm - the zoo closes at 6.
After I changed them, they ran off to the dry play area. Since I could see that they would be preoccupied for some time & by then, the area was not crowded anymore, I told them to stay at the play area -& Kor-Kor was to take care of Di-Di - while I made a quick hop to the bathroom (normally I would make them wait outside the bathroom).
When I came out to find them, they were not there anymore. Instead, they have moved a little bit off. All my agitation left me when I saw that they have charmed 4 teenage girls to help to swing them on this.
They so liked this. But it was so tiring cos they always got stuck in the middle (not enough weight & dunno how to swing), so someone had to push them!
They played till almost everybody left. By then, it was getting dark & the zoo was quiet except for the animals' sound. This would be the best time to enjoy the zoo - the weather is cool, few people around & the animals are getting active.
Except Di-Di was whining louder than the hungry animals. Dead tired, he was out cold in the taxi back. So we had to give dinner out a miss, and went back to the condo for home-cooked pasta. Darn good of the host & hostess!
2nd day also started in similar vein. This time, we went to the
Bird Park. Similar to 1st day, we took the public transportation again - by the MRT & bus. The boys loved it. Must be a boy thing. And living too privilege a life if they love public transportation.
I always ask for directions or for the best route, at times just to make sure. However, that day, I did not & took us to Bird Park via a longer MRT route. The boys were so restless by then - they were not
really interested to look at Singapore suburbs!
By the time we reached, almost all the morning session shows were over already. We only managed to catch the last 15 mins of the Bird n Buddies show. It was very nicely done.
"Mommy, it can talk Mandarin eh..." The boys were so captivated by the talking parrot.
We then wanted to do an overview of the park first via the panorail. However, it was not allowed, meaning
cannot go one round 1. The panorail is 'mah fan' (troublesome) in this sense as it can only be boarded 3x & passengers must get off at the very next station already!
So we have to get off at the next station & walked. As per day before, the boys did a 'quick tour' again.
Sigh!By lunch time, we were almost done. The longest I demanded for them to stop was at the penguin enclosure - got air-conditioning mah, haha! After lunch, the boys, as usual wanted to checked out the Splash n Slide Station.
But they were disappointed. Compared to the Zoo's Kidzworld, it was pretty lame. And as the play areas are mostly not shaded, it was
hot!
So we decided to push off to our next destination -
Singapore Flyer! On the way there, the boys were constantly mocking each other & bickering. Running in circles around me as we walked. Making a nuisance of themselves. Didn't manage to burn off some energy at the Splash n Slide play areas, I think.
Then I saw 2 boys about their age walking quietly with their parents. Without thinking, I yelled, really pissed
"Why can't 2 of u be like them ????"The security guards were
so amused. And that was the
highlight of the Flyer, cos the flight itself was nothing to shout about...it's really just like riding a huge bubble lift. Very stable. Not scary at all. It was one of those 'once is enough' kinda thing.
So we went off in search of another playground. I read on the net that VivoCity has something 'free' to offer. Anyway, the park's lunch (fast food again!) was really zapping my energy & it was only 4+pm.
After filling our stomach at the food court, we went off the the roof, where I read was the wet play area. I had imagined that there would be water fixtures with water shooting from the ground. But alas, there only this:-
But my 2 sons, like
'ak kia kua tuok chui' (hokkien for when ducklings see water) also went in. That's them in the water above. Though the water looked murky due to the color of the floor pavement, but still got a number of people soaked their feet in it, enjoying the harbour view (quite a good view here), so under no circumstances should the boys put any water in their mouth. But did my 2 boys listen? No, they didn't. They repeated sprayed water at each other using their mouths!
Ew, I know!
After a while, I managed to drag them out with a promise of another playground downstairs (I asked a cleaner uncle, cos
this can't be
it). Sure enough, there's another one at Level 2. For me, it was nothing to shout about, but it was still enough to amuse the boys.
We left about 8ish. They were so tired. Di Di started whining immediately after leaving the playground - he would forget to be 'tired' when there are things to play, while Kor Kor was only concerned about missed shows on Cartoon Network.
For 2nd day in a row, Di Di fell asleep in the taxi & I had to haul him back. But Uncle S was still amazed that the boys could last that long, so he promised them another playground the next day.
Our last day at Singapore, Uncle S & wifey took us to breakfast at the
Botanic Gardens. They were also so considerate - they brought along a loaf of bread for fish feeding. After breakfast, as we walked along the trail, the boys got to feed the fishes in the big pond. And mommy got some adult conversations.
Our hosts brought us to Jacob Ballas Children's Garden (at a corner of the Botanic Gardens). Both the Botanic Gardens and the Children's Garden are free. And are
so well kept. Very impressive.
The boys, of course, charged ahead - climbing trees, running the maze & playing at the tree house.
Their only disappointment was that the wet play area was closed for maintenance. But never fear, there was still the pools at the condo. It was like they have super turbo power or something!
Anyway, we managed to catch our afternoon bus home without a hitch. Di Di must have overdone his super turbo power....he was asleep before the bus left Singapore!
So this mommy had to carry him -like a sack of potatoes - and walk thru 2 checkpoints! One of which, must lug the luggage along (which had to somewhat delegate to Kor-Kor)!!! U should see the face of the immigration 'chop passport' guy when I plonked Di Di on the counter & turned his face for the guy to check. And Di Di slept thru it all...
On the whole, it was really an experience for me. Really tested a few of my boundaries, foremost of which was...
patience!
