[Review] Canon Powershot D30 Waterproof camera.

Adam is always telling me he wants to be a diver when he grows up, and he loves water more than anyone can imagine.

Every Sunday for about a year now, you can be sure to catch us at Pasir Ris Swimming Complex as that's where he has his weekly swimming lessons with Desmond from DolpSwim school.

So when Canon released a spanking new semi-pro camera which is also waterproof, I knew I had to lay my hands on it!

 

Introducing the new Canon Powershot D30!

 

Price: $350* (prices may vary from different authorised retailers).

 

Ease of usage: It's small and compact with minimal functions and it's pretty fool-proof even for beginners.

 

Other specifications: 2m shock-resistant, can go to water depth of up to 25 metres.

 

Cautions when using: Be sure to rinse off excess water after going into pool or sea.

Avoid using in hot springs or mineralised water.

 

 

We got it yesterday and immediately started testing it today.

I would say it's very handy for any photoshoot that involves water - diving/ swimming/ resort getaways. Love it!

If your kids love adventures and you want a not-too-costly digicam, this is the camera for you!

 

[Sponsored event] Vaby official launch at Rochester House.

If you enjoy receiving monthly sample boxes with lots of different products for you to try, here's a new kid on the subscription-box block - VABY!

 

It will officially be launched on the 28 June, so we got invited to a nice preview brunch on Vaby.

 

The event was brilliantly held at Rochester House, with almost half the venue being children-themed.
There are trampolines, a water play area, and indoor and outdoor playgrounds.

Bloggers who attended the event get a welcome pack each!



Listening to Eliz and Shirley brief us on the Vaby boxes, age group suitability for products, and different vendors involved.

Everybody so serious!

The range of baby and mummy stuff to expect in the Vaby box is making me excited!

After the briefing, yummy lunch was served.

Mum-blogger Serene (http://xavvy-licious.blogspot.sg/) and I. It's such a small world because I "know" Serene not from blogging but from the use of Young Living Essential oils!

The world is just a small little circle!
*sudden realization: I think Serene looks like a tan version of Anita Mui! with her hair, sharp nose and face.. LOLssss.

 

Adam, Ashton, Andy and I had a dandy time at Rochester House this morning meeting up with the other Mummy bloggers for the event.

Thank you Shirley and Eliz for inviting us. It's been an honour!

 

Stay tuned for the official launch of Vaby which is happening on the 28 June!

However, that weekend we will be at LEGOLAND and therefore have to give the launch a miss.

 

Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to using and reviewing the products from Vaby boxes!

 

 

UPDATE! You're invited to VABY's Official Launch on 28 June, which is happening next Saturday!!

credit: VABY

 

***All you need to do is to simply REGISTER HERE, and then LIKE Vaby's Facebook page HERE.

 

You will be given a Vaby box on that day (limited to one box per attendee) and your kids get to play at the Playhouse for free!

 

June holidays 2014 part 2: Visit to Farmart.

Hello from the animals of Farmart!

 

Adam hand-feeding the conures. Lovely birds :)

 

 

We brought the kids to Farmart today. Having not been there for many years after I shifted from Woodlands (my mum's) to the eastern side of Singapore, I must say sometimes, oldies are goodies.

Am glad that most of the anchor shops are still around, like Uncle William's, which sells farm fresh chicken and quail eggs. The petshop which sells chicks and quail chicks is also still around.

I remember when I was little, my mum bought us chicks in a brown paper bag. My brothers and I reared them till they were big and we barter-traded them for vegetables at a nearby kampong farm.

Yes those were the days! I am still very much a kampong girl at heart! Which means, I am really tempted to buy the quail chicks home!!

Kids of this era do not have the luxury of being surrounded by nature and animals, and that is a shame.

At the end of the animal-feeding session, Adam was already complaining of how hot it was, and kept pestering me to buy him a glass of ice Milo. Brat.

My Mom-in-law bought some farm eggs from Uncle William's, and we left after a quick lunch.

The weather was indeed very unforgiving, and I was dying for some ice cold drink myself.

 

Here's the website for Farmart. They have eateries and shops that sell their produce and even a prawn fishing corner. Do support our local businesses :)

 

台湾游 2014 part 3: Chiong night markets and eating in Taipei!!

The place we stayed in Taipei was called 民生西路 (Min Sheng Xi Lu)... just in front of Shuang Lian TRTC (mrt) station.

We stayed at an apartment (Min su/ 民宿) which was clean, convenient and cheap. Only sgd$106/night!

 

Walked around in the morning for breakfast and were spoilt for choice on what to eat.

 

Took a cab to Chrome Hearts boutique at No. 37-1, Chung Shan North Road, Section 2... Almost everything OOS, then open boutique for what. Left empty-handed. Damn you, CH!

So Hubby and I went to do hair instead. Had the most orgasmic head and neck massage, hair wash and tong styling for only SGD$10!!! So cheap!! SO love!!!

Hubby had a haircut..

Taipei 101, we meet again.

At Xi Men Ding

At Shilin Night Market where the kids played a myriad of games.

Ashton 人小小 also clever to play, until he won a small Thomas toy.

Preserved snakes in Chinese wine and turtle testicles (睾丸 gao wan) at a corner of Shilin night market.

It's true when they say the Chinese eat every damn thing that moves man!

Snake soup tastes like herbal chicken soup. Really.

 

The moment we reached our 民宿 after all the night market shopping at Shilin, Hubby & I left the kids with my in-laws while we chiong another night market just a stone's throwaway from our apartment, Ning Xia night market (寧夏夜市). Gawd... we just died and went to seafood heaven.

 

Palm-sized oysters anyone?

The further we walked along 寧夏夜市 Ning Xia, the more food we came upon. Uniiii~!!!! So fresh that it was still alive when we picked it.

We gorged ourselves silly with the food, then bought fruits from roadside stall, and went back to apartment eat some more. Never been so happy from eating!

 

 

On the last day, before heading to Tao Yuan airport, we had to stop by Chia Te to queue for their famous pineapple tarts and Wife cakes. Of course we did.

As we reached there early, we only queued for about 10 minutes. By the time we left, there was a snake queue forming outside the shop.

Chia Te Bakery
No. 88, SEc 5, Nanjing East Rd,, Taipei.

After queuing and paying for them, we went to Yang Ming Shan.

Lily garden at Yang Ming Shan

 

Had lunch at Yang Ming Shan and then had to come back to Singapore

 

That's all for our Taiwan trip. I'm packing up and getting ready to jet off to Bangkok next week for Mother's Day celebration. Have a great celebration, wherever you are!