Gardens by the Bay Christmas Wonderland 2015.

December is usually a month of travel for us, being Andy's birthday month, school holidays and all.

When we are actually in town, it is filled with a frenzy of gift-shopping and party-going.

 

This year, I managed to squeeze in some free time to bring the boys to Gardens by the Bay for the second year running of Christmas Wonderland as we missed it last year.

To be honest, the carnival and light-up totally surpassed my expectations as we were treated to a feast for the senses.

 

My little elves decked in green, ready to soak in the festive cheer :)

This upside-down mirror trick-eye thing was quite a hit with the big kids.

Prices of rides and games.

The carnival games have really attractive prizes!
2-5 tokens ($4 - $10) each round.



Adam is very pro at funfair games. He actually won 1 red Baymax plushie first, but Ashton started crying because he couldn't win, and korkor Adam helped Ashton win one too.
Proud of my big boy!
We didn't have such luck at the other games because they were tough >_<



$6 per ride (3 tokens), but accompanying parent for small children go on for free.



My boys recognized the Helter Skelter because it is in one of their Peppa Pig books. Ahhh the power of reading.
Standing at 14m in height, the Helter Skelter wins The Slide at T3 Changi Airport!
However, there is a height limit for this, so be sure to measure up!
$8 (4 tokens) per ride.

Ice-cream and cold drinks beckon.

$6 per train ride (3 tokens).

Candy floss, $2 per stick. My Double As were happy to end their evening with some sweet treats before their Daddy came to fetch us home for dinner.

 

Thanks to Gardens by the Bay and Blue Sky Events, there is not a need to travel into the blistering cold countries just to enjoy the yuletide season.

With its European style festive market and carnivals, and Italian Luminarie light sculptures, there is something for people of all ages.

 

Looks like we will be back next year!


About Gardens by the Bay Christmas Wonderland:
27 Nov 2015 - 03 Jan 2016
Time: 4pm - 11pm.

Snow blizzard timings:
Mon - Thur and Sundays: 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm.
Fri & Sat: 8pm, 9pm, 9:45pm.

Admission is FREE but do check out the various prices for rides and games.

 

 

 

Club Med Phuket December 2015 - Day 2.

{Phuket Day 2}

 

With the kids enjoying themselves at the Mini Club, Hubby & I went ahead and booked a full day excursion to island-hop around Phi Phi.

Thetrip is from 0730am (bus pick-up) - 6pm (reach resort), which meant that we had to hire a babysitter from 0730am - 0830am before the Mini Club opens, and subsequently from 4:30PM - 6PM till we got back.

 

 

Beware of people touting prices for Phi Phi island excursions as they mark up about double of the intended prices.

If possible, book your excursion directly from the tour agencies (those small pop-up agencies or counters) around your resort and you can bargain to 1400 baht per pax, instead of 3000 baht per pax.

The full-day excursion includes 2 snorkeling sessions, with lunch and drinks provided.

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The day started off beautifully with bright sun and calm seas.

 

On this trip, we saw lots of sea urchins. They were littered everywhere on the sea bed!

Hubby enjoying ice-cream in the warm sun after the snorkel :)

When we got back to our resort, the kids were waiting in our room with their babysitter.
They were both bathed and changed and eating on the bed, and according to them, they both had fun at the Mini Club. Nothing is more relieving that your children telling you they had fun while you were away!

 

If you liked this post, be sure to check out Day 1 and Day 3  of our trip!

[Travel Tuesday] Clubmed Phuket December 2015 - Day 1

We just came back from Phuket this morning and I thought it would be ideal to do a "Travel Tuesday" post!

 

We put up at Club Med during our stay and the kids enjoyed themselves at the Mini Club and Petite Club so much!

Kids 4-7 go to Mini Club (Free)

Children below 4 go to Petite Club (chargeable at 1900 baht per full day)

Club opening hours are 0830am - 4:45pm.

Additional hours that you require after the Club closes will be charged at 100 baht/ hour for a babysitter.

 

Club Med Phuket

Checking out the Mini Club was the first thing we did after dumping our suitcases in the room!

After Adam and Ashton went to the Mini Club, we went around the resort and to nearby Kata beach to recce our surroundings.

 

 

Did pretty awesome things on the first day like climb a tree.....

 

and Parasailing...

 

 

 

 

After hanging out at the beach, we went back to the resort at 4pm for the Mini Club kids party.

 

 

The water slide was fun! Both boys went for it for 2 rounds.

Our kids more happening than us - having a swell time at their foam party while parents could only stay on the outside of the foam pit to watch.. LOL

Adam made a new friend, Hayden, a fellow Singaporean boy from Opera Estate Primary :)

 

 

 We have been to many holidays with the kids the past several years and I can tell you, anywhere with sun, sand, and copious amounts of water are the perfect ingredients for a Happy Family Vacation recipe!

 

As a sidenote, however, the service at Club Med Phuket falls short of some of the resorts and hotels we have been to, for eg. Shangri-La Cebu, W and Westin hotels.

For an instance, check out timing is at 11:00am instead of the largely universal 12noon, and requests for late check-outs are charged at 300 baht per hour per room (Club Med charges per pax instead of per room, so for a family of 4 like us, we were given 2 rooms)

 

Other than that, we were quite happy with everything else - 3 square meals provided in the resort, free alcohol and drinks. Yay to all you alcoholic anonymous out there! :)

 

Their rooms also do not come with toiletries and terry cloth slippers, and I understand it is part of their committment to reduce environmental waste, so if you are a first-time guest to Club Med, please bring along toiletries.

 

 

 

Do check back soon for our Day 2 and Day 3 photo installment :)