{Travel Tuesday} Roadtrip to Queensland, Australia. PART 1.

PART 1: Getting from Brisbane Airport to Sunshine Coast, then to Gold Coast.

Free-and-easy road trip. 

source

In 2015, for the Jubilee long weekend in August National Day, our family flew to Queensland for a holiday.

We travelled to many places in 2015 because that is the last time we can jet off on a whim before Adam starts Primary school.

This trip is super backdated because I had made the photos into a coffee-table album and didn't have the energy to repeat another story about it!

Until now that is!

As for most flights with the kids, we took the redeye flight and landed in Brisbane in their morning.

The minute we touched down at Brisbane airport, we could feel the chilly winds on our skin and we had to quickly layer up with our parkas and bomber jackets.

Once we settled our car rental, we drove to PYO (pick-your-own) Strawberry Fields in Sunshine Coast, Qlds.

Our itinerary was to drive from Sunshine Coast to Gold Coast.

*In order not to make a wasted trip, please check out their website for the season!

PYO Strawberry Fields:133 Laxton Rd
Palmview, QLD, 4553
Exit 190 off Bruce Highway.

 It was a HUGE farm which wasn't populated. In fact, there were only a couple more families besides ours.

Lots of opportunities to pick big, juicy strawberries without bumping into others.

{sponsored review} The Rock School - vertical challenge for your kids.

Before I had sons, I never knew I would be ever getting anywhere near scooters, snot, dirt, or rocks, for the matter.

Sure, I envisioned different shades of blue, and trucks and stuff, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself needing to get down and dirty with them.

Obviously, I've come to learn this the hard way and I may have to spend the next 20 years doing stuff like that with them!

After Adam's limited exposure to the obstacle course at Forest Adventure during the March holidays, I thought of finding more outdoor activities for him.

I don't mean the run-around-your-neighbourhood kind of outdoors, I mean the stimulating, mind- and body-building structured kind of outdoor activities.

I enquired with The Rock School as recommended by my mummy friend Serene (read about their rock climbing experience here), and as luck would have it, they were happy to offer Adam a complimentary rock-climbing lesson.

I was thrilled!

Benefits of rock-climbing:

In fact, rock climbing is one of the best sports to develop your child’s psychomotor, cognitive as well as affective skills. The exciting sport intrigues their little minds and challenges their physical abilities.

It improves their motor skills, co-ordination, self-esteem and self-confidence.

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Off we go to check out The Rock School!

Located conveniently at Bedok Community Centre, it is directly across the road from Bedok Swimming Complex.

Address: Address: 850 New Upper Changi Rd, Singapore 467352.

We started off indoors, with his instructor Joy.

He told her he was a little scared of falling as he has not done this before.

[media invite] Singtel launches Netflix.

Ever heard of Netflix?

Me neither.

Therefore when the PR company for Singtel and Netflix contacted me for this media event, I thought maybe I should go to keep myself updated because we have Singtel Mio TV at home.

Moreover, Hubby was keen to attend.

As a matter of fact, I don't ever turn on the TV at home as the control is always monopolized by Hubby or the kids.

While I don't object to the kids watching TV, I also limit the kids' screen time. For eg, they only watch maximum 30 min of cartoon on school days if they have completed all their tasks early including bathing and brushing up for bed.

Hey, my brothers and I grew up watching TV and playing Nintendo games and we turned out fine, I think! LOL

Arrived at the event venue, Amazonia indoor playground at Great World City, right on time.

My boys are nowhere to be seen as they made a beeline to the playground before I could even say "Go".

Found Adam right on top. It was very dark and I forgot to use the flash.

Went to the party room to attend the media briefing.

With our same hairstyle and parting, I think Ashlyn and I look like twins! LOLsssss

Spot any familiar faces? :D

Learning how to use Netflix on other media platforms besides TV.

We played games and our team won 2nd prize!
From left to right: Jolin from The Js Arena, myself, and Ashlyn from Ashlyn Thia blog, Darryn from Singtel Media :)

So, for the uninitiated (like myself), what exactly is Netflix?

Netflix is a global provider of streaming movies and TV shows, started in 2007 in America.

What devices can I use to stream Netflix?

You can watch instantly from any Internet-connected device that offers a Netflix app, such as a computer, gaming console, DVD or Blu-ray player, HDTV, set-top box, home theater system, phone or tablet.

How much does Netflix subscription cost in Singapore?
$10.98/ month (standard definition + 1 concurrent screen eg mobile phone or iPad)
$13.98/ mth (high definition and two concurrent screens)
$16.98/ mth (ultra high definition and four concurrent sceens).

Here's more about Netflix on Singtel...

If you sign up or re-contract with Singtel between now till 22 July 2016, you can get:

a) 3 months complimentary Netflix Standard HD Content subscription for Mobile plans or Fibre broadband plans.

b) 6 months complimentary Netflix Standard HD Content Subscription if you re-contract or sign up for Fibre broadband + TV (like Mio).

c) 9 months complimentary Netflix Standard HD Content if you re-contract or sign up for Fibre broadband, TV, and mobile plans.

* For parents with children under 12, you can set 4 different types of parental controls: Little kids, Older kids, Teens, Adults.

**There is no contract requirement for Netflix, and customers are free to cancel after the free subscription has ended.

Not a Singtel customer?

I have good news for you! Get free 1 month's trial access simply by going to Netflix website and signing up an account.

Read more about Netflix on Singtel website :)

[media invite] Visit Changi T3 for the Great American Vacation.

Changi Airport Terminal 3 has been featuring a different country for display and education purposes every school holiday.

This March holidays, they are featuring America.

Welcome to The Great American Vacation at T3!

Available from now till 3 April 2016, 12 noon - 11pm daily.

Thank you Changi Airport Group for the passes!

*Redeem passes to go on the carousell. How to redeem passes are explained at bottom of this post. 

Get your chance to ride on a real Harley Davidson with a simulator virtual reality headset for FREE!

No minimum spending and redemption needed for this.

There is also a booth for you to try different types of cheese.

That's not all for the exhibition at Level 2 Departure hall.

Head down to Basement 2 for more carnival rides for the little ones - Train ride and Horse-riding.

There is also a face/ hand-painting booth which is free and doesn't require redemption.

My cowboys giddyup-ing around. Yeehaw Cowboys!

How to redeem passes to carnival rides?

*A minimum spending of S$60 in a maximum of 2 same-day receipts (S$40 for Changi Rewards members and Kids Pass holders, S$80 for all supermarket purchases) is required to redeem 1 carousel ride pass, 1 kiddy train ride and 1 galloping horse ride.

Redemption starts from 12pm and ends at 10.30pm or when the activity passes are fully redeemed; whichever is earlier.

Do you know how many states are there in USA?

Some argue there are 50, but upon some argument and online research, it seems that there are 52 states:

1. Alabama

2. Alaska

3. Arizona

4. Arkansas

5. Colorado

6. California (where San Francisco is, with the world's biggest Chinatown)

7. Connecticut

8. Delaware

9. Florida (where Disneyland is and where Walt Disney was born)

10. Georgia

11. Hawaii

12. Illinois

13. Indiana

14. Idaho

15. Iowa

16. Kentucky

17. Kansas

18. Louisiana

19. Massachusetts

20. Maryland

21. Missisippi

22. Maine

23. Missouri

24. Michigan

25. Minnesota

26. Montana

27. New Jersey

28. New York (Statue of Liberty)

29. North Carolina

30. New Hampshire

31. Nevada

32. Nebraska

33. North Dakota

34. New Mexico

35. Oklahama

36. Ohio

37. Oregon

38. Pennsylvania

39. Puerto Rico

40. Rhode Island

41. South Carolina

42. South Dakota

43. Tennessee

44. Texas

45. Utah

46. Virginia

47. Vermont

48. Wisconsin

49. West Virginia

50. Washington

51. Wyoming

52. Washington DC

Source: Google images.

Some other facts about planning your holiday to USA:

- 3 airlines that connect you to USA from Singapore Changi Airport - Delta Airlines, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.

- From 1 June 2016, United Airlines will fly direct non-stop to San Fransisco (about 13 hours flight).

Time to plan your June summer vacation with your kids!

Changi Airport website here for more info on event highlights.

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Thank you Changi Airport group for your invitation, with special thanks to the PR girls who facilitated our visit today, and for your kind hospitality :)

This visit has been very informative and educational for us to learn more about America.

Look out for the next school holidays' exhibition and which country they will feature.

March holidays: exploring Forest Adventure at Bedok Reservoir Park.

Ever since Adam entered Primary one, school holidays are like Godsend to me.

When he was in kindergarten, school holidays were such a torture as having him home the entire time seemed such a nightmare.

Now, I look forward to having him home so much! No more waking up before the sun rises.

No more spelling to learn, homework to do. Which means Mummy can relax. YAY!

Today, Serene and I brought our boys to Bedok Reservoir Park for the tree-top climbing, Forest Adventure.

Getting there:

Park at Carpark A, opposite Aquarius Condominium.

From the carpark, walk towards your right.

You will walk past the kayak Water-Venture centre, just continue walking ahead and you will see Forest Adventure hut.

It is about 10 minutes' walk.

We reached at 0930am, just nice for our first slot of the day booking.

The Kids Course looks daunting already to me.

Adam and Xavier were all smiles until they got to the top and Adam had cold feet and chickened out.

No amount of coaxing from the instructor nor me made him want to go at it! *horror of horrors*

In the end, I let Adam come down and the kind instructor, CS, let Ashton put on the harness and have a try at the Mini Course.

As Ashton was quietly observing below the tree canopy the whole time while Serene babysat him and I had to go up there to encrouage Adam, I was quite worried that Ashton may be afraid like his brother.

Much to my astonishment however, he took to it like a champ.

My baby boy just went and went, all on his own!

Thug-life expression says it all about this child of mine.

I did not force Adam to go and I did not chide him for being timid/ useless/ scaredy-cat compared to his brother etc. I just let him decide on his own whether he wanted to do it again ot stop.

But seeing that his younger brother had completed the course on his own, Adam felt a little indignant and wanted to try again, so Ashton went another round in front of Adam to encrouage him.

On the other course....

More kids have joined us by 10.30am

Xavier is the one in fluorescent green and he enjoyed himself so much he went a second round.

After completion, everyone gathered for cold drinks and a popsicle for Xav :)

A certificate for my happy threenager who did so well today.

I'm proud of you my boy!

On the way walking back to the car, the kids stopped several times.

On one occasion, they found some twigs which they used as boomerangs/ rifles/ broom (it had leaves attached).

On another occasion, they found a termite nest.

We tried prodding it and it's surprisngly very hard! Like a rock!

Not all termites are bad. Now we know.

Overall, I find this course very good for children as it builds their self-confidence and improves hand/eye coordination and gross motor skills.

It is also great fun outdoors, something different from the usual indoor playground setting my kids are so used to.

I will bring them again because Adam said he would like to try and conquer the course again.

If you are interested in bringing your kids for the Forest Adventure, do take note the minimum height requirement is 1m tall for Mini Course, and 1.1m tall for Kids Course.

The Grand Course for adults is open everyday except Mondays and PH.

However, the Kids Course and Mini Course open on weekends from 1pm to 6pm and during school and public holidays from 9.30pm to 6pm. Last departure is at 5.00pm.

Fees:

Kids course: $35/child per hour.

Adult accompanying on Kids course: $20/ adult.

Mini course: $15/child.

Additional hour: $10.

Please call 81007420 to enquire.