My kampong kids get down and dirty in Kluang, Malaysia: Day 1.

[warning: Long post with photos overload!]

We just returned from an awesome holiday with the kids!

We went somewhere with no internet, no handheld games, just pure unadulterated fun for the children which was the sole objective this September holidays.

I must confess - this is the first time I booked a tour for the family.

Andy is usually the one in our marriage who is in charge of these stuff. He's good with directions and travel savvy. When I got assigned the task, I decided to bring us to UK Farm.

Don't be fooled by the name though, because UK Farm is not in the United Kingdom. As a matter of fact, UK Farm stands for Un Keng Farm and it's only an hour's drive from the causeway.

I've only read reviews on Trip Advisor, so here is our low-down on being close to nature.

Address & contact:

Plot 8, Projek Pertanian Moden Kluang, KM 13, Jalan Batu Pahat, 86000 Kluang, Johor, Malaysia.

607-7597555

Email:  info@ukfarm.com.my

They are very fast in replying emails.

Getting there:

Very straightforward and easy, you won't get lost if you follow this simple map:

source: UK Agro Farm website.

 Hit the North-South highway, exit Ayer Hitam.

After you exit the toll, you will soon reach a junction in between Batu Pahat (to your left), or Kluang (to your right). Exit RIGHT to Kluang and destination is 9km away.

 

I'm glad we drove our SUV because I don't think our small car will be able to withstand the gravel path. Someone advised on Trip Advisor to be prepared that your tyres become misaligned or punctured. I think he wasn't kidding!

Meals:

3 square meals with drinks are provided by the Farm management. Everyone goes to the canteen for food which is cooked in mass and served to you in huge portions. You don't get to choose what to eat but thankfully, my children are not picky.

If the food is really not up to your taste however, you can always order other items on the menu and pay separately.

Fun factor:

The kids enjoyed themselves to the max! I'll let our photos do the talking.

Outside our chalet during our lull time, the kids would go and throw pebbles. Love the simplicity of this life-style. Ashton, as can be seen, is throwing a pebble shower on, erm, himself.

I've never felt so at ease with my children running on the road.

At the farm centre where we have our meals, arrange for activities etc.

You can choose to get around the different parts of the farm in this bus, which is FOC...

Or you can choose to go by horse carriage which is RM$60 for the entire trip around the farm.

Goat shed, where the kids could feed hay and bottle-feed kids:



Kids face-to-face, so to speak.

Demo on milking the goats.

At the Ostrich farm:

"You looking at me, kid?"

Baby looks unimpressed.

 

 

At the Kampong Asli:

Orang Asli showing us how to use a blow-pipe to make a kill on unsuspecting animals. In front of him is a trap for animals too.

In the tree house!

I said "SMILE!" and these were the expressions of three different boys.

Next stop, to the Mushroom and Vegetable farm:

Wishing tree.

If you could make a single wish, what would you wish for?

After the vegetable farm tour, Adam went horse-riding.

 

 

Our wish lantern which was similar to the one we had lit in Taiwan.
UK Farm reminds me a lot about Taiwan, except it is way nearer and much more accessible to us!

 

We ended the night with setting off wish lanterns, followed by a night tour to spot fire-flies.

 

 

As you can see, there are tons of activities for the children on UK Farm!

But that's not all. Click HERE for Part 2 of our Kluang road trip.

 

 

My kids are the most annoying farts in the universe.

I'm convinced that I have the most ungrateful children in this whole wide world.

Last night, Adam was running a fever and I stayed up the entire night sponging/ oiling/ feeding water/ TCM/ Panadol, getting up umpteen times bringing him to pee, and attending to his million needs.

I ended up being a zombie this morning and couldn't go to work because my head felt like it was floating and my body felt like it was gravity-defying.
I seriously thought I might collapse in a heap.

Instead of getting plenty of rest and letting me get plenty of rest, the kids are now fighting over the same stupid toys, passing germs, refusing to sleep, giggling on the mattress and getting up and prancing around the house. These, despite my nagging for 540783 times.
3.00PM.
My head, at this point in my life, is about to explode.

I am FEDUP.

I should never have had children, and spend all my time and money going on dates and looking fabulous.

Tonight, NOBODY is getting any TV or toy time. The end.

Beauty Mums & Babies: Baby Tuina massage services.

Hi everyone :) Ashton and I are one of the privileged few to attend a baby-and-child tuina massage course, conducted by Beauty Mums & Babies at Paragon.

Tuina has been around in Chinese history for thousands of years. In China, if babies and children have ailments such as fever, constipation, flu, poor appetite, bed-wetting, they do not go to the hospitals but instead their parents and grandparents perform tuina massage for the children at home.

 

The aim of this Tuina course is to teach mummies how to do simple tuina on our babies and children in the comfort of our own homes.

You don't need to engage a professional or travel far from home just to do it, because Mum knows best!

 

Benefits of baby tuina:

- Improves baby's internal energy, blood circulation, and regulating function of various organs

- Improves neurological and physiological development

- Boost immunity, enhance disease resistance, relieves discomfort from gas, colic, and constipation
- Non-invasive and doesn't cost a thing
- Calms the baby and promotes parent-and-infant bonding
- Prevention of illness is better than cure

 

 

Our trainer for the next four sessions is Ms Sakina, a state registered nurse who has vast experience in baby and child tui na. She is also the chief trainer in the centre.

As a rule of thumb, so to speak, always use your right hand to work on your child's left hand.
Using either circular clockwise movements or straight, downward strokes, these are the basics to master before moving on to other techniques.

Thumb: Spleen
Index finger: Liver
Middle finger: Heart
Ring finger: Lungs
Pinky: Kidney

Lesson proper: Introduction to the baby tuina course with a bunch of 8 mummies.

Demo of Tuina techniques by Sakina on Ashton.

 Mummy Irene does practical on James.

Fellow mummy-blogger and friend, Serene and I together with our trainer Sakina after the session.

 

Thank you Beauty Mums & Babies for inviting us for this course.
Gained some very useful knowledge indeed :)
Ashton and I are so lucky.

 

Beauty Mums & Babies are located at Paragon Tower 2, #14-11/12.
Other than Baby Tuina, the services they offer include:
Infant massage
Baby Spa
Labour Support massage

Prenatal massage

Postnatal massage

Lactation massage
Mum and Baby yoga

 

[Review] Philips Disney nursery night lights.

Philips couriered some of their relatively new Disney range of nursery lights over this evening.

I must say, for someone whose kids sleep in total darkness, these are the most entertaining night lights ever.

Clever yet simple, it's little wonder why my kids were sold with these simple devices.

 

For safety's sake! All items are battery-operated and doesn't require wires.

Ashton's favourite is the Mickey sensor night light which he has claimed as his.
It will be activated by even the gentlest movements made by your child.
Good for chasing the Boogie Man away.

Handheld Winnie the Pooh torch.

Adam has chosen the Cars projector as he has slightly better taste than Ashton.

Two light functions of this projector are - basic night light, and a projector source which displays pictures on the wall/ ceiling.



The Disney Cars projector comes with 3 slides of 8 different pictures each.

 

 

 

Thank you Philips for this delightful opportunity to trial your newbies.

Adam and Ashton have never been so eager to go "lights out"!

 

Of course, there're more than just these designs.

Philips Disney range of nursery lights can be purchased directly from Philips Online LED lighting store:  http://www.shopled.philips.com.sg/disney.html

or at selected departmental stores.

 

 

Prices are as follows:

Night Light Mickey / Minnie: SGD$24.90

Projector Disney Cars: SGD$38.90

Winnie the Pooh torch: SGD$19.90

 

*all items come with free delivery within Singapore if you purchase from Philips website.

 

They make perfect birthday or baby shower gifts so hurry and get yours today! :)

 

[sponsored post] Vaby subscription box is here!

Hi Mummies! You've heard of Bella Box and the like, but what about Vaby Box?

It's the mummy and children version of subscription boxes, and I guarantee you will be delighted with the quality products Vaby packs for you.

It's either they've got really awesome sponsors, or are very generous, or both!

 

Let's take a look at August's Vaby box:

For mummies: Korean Adhesive Labra from La Brassiere. Comes in a nice zip-up storage pouch which is handy for travel as it protects its shape.
I've yet to try it though, due to lack of occasion.

For babies:
Skip Hop zoo bib
Baby Organix natural cotton diaper
Idocare Lavender Fields concentrated laundry detergent (1 box is good for 30 full adult loads or 40-45 full loads of baby clothes).
Nurtureme organic fruit snack
Portable pencil mini fan
Kids Party entertainment voucher
The Playhouse unlimited play pass at Rochester.

Baby Organix natural cotton diapers made in Korea: made with natural cotton, it is soft and comfortable as the inside is made with 0.0163mm fine fibre. Gentle to baby's sensitive skin, it contains mild olive leaf extract that is naturally anti-bacterial, preventing diaper rash.

"It is breathable and comfortable!"
I wore it for Ashton's bedtime to give it a test-drive through the night.
Verdict: even though it is thinner than his normal brand diaper, it didn't leak and could hold all the night's pee.

5 star product!

Each packet is SGD$17.90, comes in sizes S, M, L, XL.
You may purchase full sized item of this Baby Organix cotton diaper at Vaby's website HERE.

Adam and Ashton love this Nurtureme organic dried fruit snack. I took a sample of it before giving the kids and I must say the banana and pineapple are really yums!

Foodie Ashton never gets left out when there is anything to eat.

The Skip Hop zoo bib comes with a pocket for spillage and is water-resistant to keep mealtimes neat and tidy! At only SGD$4.90, it's really quite a steal.

 

 You can join the subscription for monthly Vaby boxes to be delivered to you, or purchase full-sized items you like at: www.vaby.com.sg

 

Have fun shopping!

 

 

 

p.s. I'm delighted by the kind understanding by Vaby for accommodating me on my busy schedule and giving me lots of grace. It's been an honourable experience partnering with you and I look forward to future collaborations. You have been nothing but exceptional in your service and products :)

My last baby, Ashton, turned TWO.

I'm a little sad. Our last baby, Ashton, turned two today.

Oh my, where did all the time go?

This year, no fancy affair, just a simple meal with my family and in-laws at Prima Tower revolving restaurant.

 

My brother's girlfriend is from Japan and my Granny won't stop speaking to her in Cantonese.

 

 

Ashton looked indifferent throughout. This baby is cool as a cucumber, cannot be bothered about the bahooha of everything, even if it's his PARTY!

I'm getting old and have not the energy to conjure up anymore fancy parties for the children.

As a matter of fact, apart from feeling sad, I also feel a huge relief now that he's two. It has been such a roller-coaster year for us, but I can't really put a finger to what it is.

I just feel as if I have been running a marathon for the past year, maybe it's his newfound mobility now that he's running around, maybe it's his ability to fight for attention and toys with his brother.

I don't know exactly.

From now on, they will just have to make do with birthdays in school because their mother is old and perpetually exhausted.

Speaking of school, Ashton is still happy with his status quo as a Stay-at-home-son.

He's not enrolled in any preschool yet, and I'm not even anxious.

I'll just let him enjoy being a SAHS a little bit more.

Really taking my time with this baby.