Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

We were late, in getting up from bed and out from house and breakfast on the replacement holiday of Labour Day. Yet, at 11am, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was not too hot for a late morning trekking and mountain biking. Naturally, the microclimate of the forest is lower and the layers of green filters the sun penetration directly to the ground.

This time, from the car park at Hindhede Road, we randomly picked the nearest trail which led us to a Quarry, and a very fun playground. Swings, obstacle course, flying fox, climbing trees, etc. One part of the playground was cordoned off though. 

Not too far from the playground, there was a short hanging rope bridge for trekkers to cross. The girls were extremely thrilled with themselves conquering the fear of crossing the swaying rope bridge.

Fun for Free Singapore: Venus Loop, MacRitchie

This post is part of the FUN FOR FREE SG series of blog train, brought to you by a group of mum bloggers. We’re sharing on one fun and free venue a day in the month of August. For the complete list of places, please scroll right to the bottom of this blog post.

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Today, I'll be sharing with you another fun and free place to be with your little ones: Venus Loop, a small part of MacRitchie nature trails.

MacRitchie situated in the core area of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR), it is believed that it boasts a rich biodiversity with over 500 animal species. Together with MacRitchie, the CCNR now consists of a mixture of young and mature secondary forests with virgin primary forest surrounding the reservoirs.

As you may already know, MacRitchie Trails is a 20-km network of forest trails and broadwalks winding through the forest, to allow public to experience and appreciate nature. TreeTop Walk is another key attraction of CCNR. Whilst, Venus Loop is less mentioned.

"The MacRitchie Forest Trail at Venus Drive meanders along the banks of a forest stream that is full of freshwater life. Here live dragons and damsels, freshwater crabs and prawns, the Puff-faced Watersnake, Pygmy Halfbeak and Saddle Barb." from Toddycats.

Duxton Hill, Duxton Road

We came here unintentionally. We wanted to visit Oriole, to sip one of the best specialty coffee in town, but it was closed to our surprise (apparently there was a moving out party in mid July). We roamed around the area and found Duxton Road, as well as Duxton Hill - one of the elegant conservation neighbourhood in the city.

Back to the Nature! SBWR

Do you know that there is a 130 hectares wetland site in Singapore?

Over the long weekend (due to Hari Raya Puasa and Singapore's National Day), I dragged my family to visit Sungai Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR), a home to a multitude of wetland flora and fauna. 

According to SBWR, more than 35% of the world's mangroves are already gone. In Singapore, mangrove forest cover has been reduced from an estimated 13% in the 1820's to less than 0.5% of the total land area today.

So, I thought: Must go before it's gone!

Cardboard Challenge

I have been tied down very badly with work. But seeing so much sharing about Caine's Arcade in Facebook, I couldn't get off my mind from those cardboard. It was contagious and I was tempted to bring the girls to attend Cardboard Dreams, to learn about the fun of so-called "Minimum resources, maximum sense of achievement". It was our mantra back in University days, where we always given limited funding to run a project. And we made wonders!

But I can't. Works are piling and the boss' voice is stern, incredibly. While considering to go or not to go, I showed Jiejie about Caine's Arcade. At the same time, I found out that my very nice friend, Evelyn and her daughter, Layla were attending, I thicken my face and asked her to bring Jiejie along with them too. She responded with green light! We were thrilled!

And so our very short journey of building a game with cardboard had began from there.

The ball is meant to be hit and target to fall at the toilet paper roll on the bottom right.

Frankly, my elder daughter isn't a dreamer, she is a little lazy to be a builder. She watched the video of Caine's Arcade over and over again, pointing at different thing each time and declaring it as the object she would attempt to do. She then picked a simple plan to execute: make a hole at two opposite side of the box and let meimei to crawl in and out. The actual cardboard was only given to her on Monday afternoon, four days before the event. I taught her to sketch her plan, but she was rather cut-the-box-and-see-how-first. By Wednesday, I got anxious and tried to influence her and she gently agreed my 'suggestion' by nodding her head and accepted few adjustment to her creation. I thought, ahem! It's done! 

However, at the very last minute, as in Thursday night, less than 20 hours before the event, she watched the video again, finally set her mind and changed the idea. She wanted to build a Pinball machine! Or something equivalent. This time I suppressed my eagerness (after reading some sharing in SMB), head over to kitchen and got my self busy with dish-washing, left her with the father to re-birth her games. You know, guys are better in guiding rather than interfering. 

I reminded my self that my very simple thought was wanting her to enjoy the process of discovering numerous possibilities through the building of the game and giggles to the maximum level when she gets to play with other creations. It would be bonus if other kids enjoy her game too.

SC and I only helped out the taping and mending the box when she went into her dreamland.

Photo credits: Rachel @ MalMal Our Inspiration

On the actual day itself, she was jolly brought to E's place, together with her creation. I had planned to leave office early, asked permission a day before and the boss generously agreed. It would be great if I could at least join them for lunch at Botanic Garden, peek at everyone's satisfactory, or something like E suggested me to take a couple hours of "Me-time".

But things don't always go according to plan. It was a long haul, not just one matter but few kept me in my cubicle till 3pm! I didn't even have lunch and straight head back to E's place. 

When I picked her up, the first thing she told me was that no one played her game during the event. I can hear the voice with a bit of disappointment. She sounded more cheerful very soon when I asked her more about the day. Bit by bit about Angry Bird, story-telling session by Aunty Sarah, Aunty Jasmine's games, play with Dot, Poppy, and many other kids that she can't tell me the names (I'm sure she met Malcolm) . She highlighted that the Submarine was too fun to play with! I was beaming while listening. I reckon she enjoyed her self very much in playing other games and the pain for 'being unwanted' was healed unknowingly. Or rather like what SC was saying, being playful her, she probably too busy to run around to explore other games and left hers unattended. 

Either version, we are glad that she shows positive attitude and didn't grumble about it to us.

Photo credits: Jayne 

Toward the end of the day, Evelyn and other mums in SMB started to share more and more of the pictures and stories about the event. It got me hooked into the mood of cardboard again. They were so kind to tell me little bit more about her in the event and made me felt extremely heartwarming. I began to put pieces of info together and imagined my self travel back in time and this time, I was there with my girl and witness the fun! I giggled from ear to ear.

Didn't I say I meet great people in Mommyland?  

Photo taken by E @ The Bottomsup Blog

So she didn't make a sophisticated games to wow people, but she had a blast and very much wanting to go for another Cardboard Dreams again. And I'm think she learnt what I hope she would learn from there.

It was really simple: minimum resources, maximum achievement. In this case, maximum happiness. Often, it comes with creativity and perseverance in the package. You can tell I enjoy the process very much, seeing my girl building her little happiness from scratch. Thanks to Sarah for organised this.

One thing for sure, Little Bomber likes to play the games that her sister made. The girls have been playing with it everyday.

Babies' Smiles

Over at The Gingerbread Mum, Adora is embarking on a project about putting effort into making our kids SMILE through little things everyday. I think it is meaningful. I used to take photo of Jiejie everyday! not only smiley, teary too. In particularly, fond of the moment when her eyes twinkle or having lots of thing to tell me but couldn't.  But it was then, where there was just one child and I was not working. The effort was sort of diluted, after Little Bomber join us as family of four. 

Things are always different when #2. Especially she is quite high in spirit. Then, the elder child forming her own mind, her own voice, it takes me more energy and patince to mother them as days passing us by.

Having said that, I do have a good number of smiley shots of my girls. Flipping through the photo album, it instinctively cheer me up from a daunt day. 

A delightful smile from her, simply because she get to be out and about.

Back in March 2007, playground or outdoor park were mandatory for the little Jiejie. She was a playful toddler. Asthmatic, but still playful. Usually heading out in the evening would sure do us good, especially when we had a tension day.

It was a breezing evening stroll at The Bottle Tree Park, while waiting for daddy to arrive at the bus stop nearby and headed home together. It was one of the good old days for just the three of us.

Four years elapsed, outdoor strolling was still the best way for us to enjoy family moment. This time round, Little Bomber was just turn One. We were in Water Promenade of Marina Bay Sand. Must be the big sister being goofy in front of her and she giggled, affectionately.

I recalled it was a another breezing family outing, watching Little Bomber wobbly, attempted to walk without support and Jiejie demonstrated few martial stances. 

"A child's smile is one of life's greatest blessings." - Unknown. 

I have two. And this is a good reminder that I need to continue in capturing those enchanting smiles.

This post is linked to I Heart Smiles by The Gingerbread Mum 

and

Photo *Heart* Fridays by Catch Forty Winks.

Photo *Heart* Fridays: Playground

SC was having migraine that day,

I was getting tired of handling two.

The kids didn't agree to go home. 

So 'throw them into playground' pop into my mind. 

We were nearby Ang Mo Kio 

We went to AMK Town West Garden. 

Making everyone happy.

This is one of the best way to recharge their energy,

and give ourselves a break. 

Having the blue sky to witness their joy,

having the earth to take their countess of stomping and patting,
having the the chance to recharge our energy (both parents and the children),
We heart playground;).

This post is linking with Photo Heart Fridays by Catch Forty Winks.

We, Rock Climbing.

Due to a very attractive calling, we went for rock climbing yesterday. All three of us climbed.Unbelievable! 

I don't know what makes me game into rock climbing. I never try it before. I never a sports person. I mean, I like sports, but I took very long time to really play well in badminton, then squash (then someone told me not worth the time for being the best in a game). Anyway, me now? I am 98% being away from rackets and balls these days (the 2% is house chores, don't say it is not counted!). I didn't really ask myself if I can do this or not. I didn't think much after saying yes to Pamela. I was pretty sure of not losing my life (or face) of this. As a mum, the initial thought is really, "Good for the kids to try". Well, I don't mind Bomber try if she was keen. But she wasn't.

Me trying? hmm... maybe not, little Bomber would be clingy to me. 

But hey, what if she shows interest to join jiejie to climb too? 

Ahem, then... no harm trying, isn't that our way of encouraging our children to strive for a challenge? It would definitely great opportunity to participate in first trying rather than cheering them at the side.

Yup, show jiejie her mum is walk the talk. Make her proud too, for once!

There are two voices inside me. Sometime, they talk too loud to each other that I can't ignore them.

So, we reached. Late! Because little Bomber woke up from her nap a little late, the traffic was moving slowly due to an accident. Best is, we missed a few junctions and drove a longer route to reach instead. But the door was widely opened when we reached the destination. It was soon to be 5pm. Didn't Pamela say the event is only opened from 1 to 5 afternoon? 

Sorry, sorry but really glad to see Poppy and Yvonne's husband were in the middle of climbing!   

Jiejie, second attempt to climb up. Proud of her!

Looking at others to climb up is a very exciting thing to do there, in a breezing afternoon, if only there was beer for observers and cheer-mummy( kidding). I was super impressed with Yvonne who climbed all the way up to top. She did so well until I felt... maybe I should sit back, admiring others and play with younger kids. However, Mr Chua, the instructor of Beyond Academics came to me and asked me to give it a try. The little fairy of me came out and reminded me that, "it is not nice to reject an invitation from a nice person." 

Then, Mr Chua taught me on wearing the harness and shoes, the little wizardess of mine came out and tried to persuade me to take it easy. Just a few step up the wall, right hand was finding a climbing hold to grab, "Hey! Enough of climbing! Let's call it a day! You don't need to climb further!!!"

Mr Chua's voice came into my ears in guiding me up. "Left, try grab the yellow hold."

"I thought your intention was just want to show your daughter the spirit of "Good Try!"" Few more steps up the wall, wizardess started to grumble, "Can't believe it! You are not listening! You are going to hurt yourself, do you know that?!"

Sometime, she does sound like my mum.

"You don't need to try so hard! Do you know that? There isn't prize awarding later!?" When I reached middle of the wall. I couldn't get rid of her.

"Come on! You have enough. Bleah, hands are aching!"

"Back off! She is doing well. Her hands are so strong to pull her up, and up again! Leave her alone to finish the climbing!" The fairy of mine finally came out to confront wizardess.

While they were arguing, I followed Mr Chua's instruction, here and there. It was not easy, in finding the right hold and pull myself up one step after another. When I last grabbed and reached the top, saw the horizon of bluish in front of me, for a moment, I asked myself if i had just completed a new challenge?

 It was surreal.

But I was up there. 

And It was amazingly great to stretch my arms and legs, after so long (of idleness)!

Personally, I like what Yvonne said, "It’s nice to do something different and out of our comfort zone. Each time you overcome something you think you can’t achieve, you come out a better person." I totally agree. The great achievement of overcoming something is fabulous! It boosts my confidence level a bit higher(a bit). In many things in life.

I hope to do this, with my family again.

Linking up with 

Puddle and Pebble, at the Flyer

Finally, we are sick of shopping malls for our Saturday outing. I told SC why not we re-adventure outdoor this weekend. But weather was wet the whole afternoon, drizzling on and off. It took us a while to decide where to since we have to skip park this time. SC thought of Singapore Flyer, I could not think of any better alternative. Well, worst case scenario if the weather turned very bad, we would probably stay and food-testing a lot in the Singapore Food Trail and count the number of rounds we walk around the built-in urban garden, under the sheltered corridor.

Oh, we didn't intend to ride the flight. Instead, we strolled into the rainforest set in the central atrium of the Main Terminal Building, feed the fishes in the pond and allowing the kids run wild at the ample space outside Flyer. It was just two and a half hours of adventurous, included dinner time. 

The gloomy weather didn't gloom the kid's spirit. We literally play by eras: strolled in the (partly) sheltered Rainforest when it was drizzling, roamed towards the riverside get some fresh air and admiring Garden by the Bay when the rain stopped. We love the breeze when we sat along the riverside. Kids were really amazing, too. They found fun along the way without any guidance, without any extra expenses. Jiejie tapped on the puddle, meimei tried to balance her self on the pebble stones. While we strolled, SC taught they to print the wet-sole and see the pattern of each and everyone of our shoes. They were fascinated. And I got to tell HY that how an imagination can become reality by looking at Marina Bay Sand. Yup, I'm a boring mum. 

By the way, we love the nostalgic Food Trail in the Flyer. Not the food though, but the ambience. The oldies reminds me of my very young days a lot. So far, chicken rice and fried oyster and eggs won our taste bud.

I realised that I have not recording many of our outing since 2009 (actually I have not been doing lots of thing here). So here I am, writing this entry, try to "wow" you. I do hope my pictures tells a good story of the joy moment we had. 

Those Instagram pictures are inspired by this post and that:).

Ears Whispering | Observation Wheels | Daddy's Girl
Urban Green | Do-Mi-Re | Wow, Raindrops!

Admiring Skypark | Enjoying Pebble | Tapping Puddle
Work in Action | Trying Nostalgia | Rewinding Oldies   

The kids love the lush vegetation of the rainforest and adjacent spacious space to bits! The little chatter box (jiejie) have requested to come back again. And we thought of bringing sushi platter for having picnic by the river:). 

I'm glad our intention not to go shopping mall again didn't influenced by the iffy weather today (i mean yesterday). This was not our first visit to Singapore Flyer though, we just forgotten that they do offer quite a fair bit of natural outdoor (semi-sheltered) and few little surprises here and there. This outing reminded me that kids don't really ask for complicated or expensive thing for fun, all they want is a place to run, play and be together with their parents. 

Do you have favourite natural outing place for kids in Singapore? Do share please:).

outing with grandma

cherish this moment. cherish life.

Credits: Angelica, MaryAnn, and kimladesigns

Wish Angelica a great summer and many more summers to have.

wish Charmaine fights with lots of love and blessings.

SSO at Toa Payoh Central

we were here. for another marvellous concert.
met Mama Joyce and Cherrlyn (pretty little princess).
met Mama Ariel and Hann (we finally met this cute little young man... in library).
met the excellent performance of SSO.
for once, the rain was gone but return to us and listen to the magnificent musics.

unfortunately, she couldn't sit through till the very last minutes.
but then again, the brochure said, it meant for 4 and above:).

sc said, look forward for another outdoor concert.
he loves it. for free and easy reason.

i could not remember when was i last scrapbook.

i could not remember what else i can play with beside edit the picture effect and arrange all the kits accordingly.

i almost forgot why and how i started to scrapbook.

.

until... akizo designs.

we had a wonderful weekend. i'm sure you too:).

another playdate

Last Saturday, last day of February, we were out again for another playdate.

Been looking forward to meet up Mama Evelyn and pretty Layla again since... age ago. She is another mum i know with many bags of brilliant trick with her little one. When she suggested kite for the kids, I was thrilled. Mainly because I'm a city girl and kite in my memory of childhood was kind of blur, and kind of failure too. LOL.

Anyhooo, it was a breezy sunny morning. Winds were just nice to the little ones and inexperienced mum. For few times, HY manage it well in the air without much help.

I'm proud of her:).

We then proceed to near by LTA's transport gallery, lunch at Tekka Market, flour fun! and more other plays at their house. Mama Evelyn did a wonderful post and do hop over and check it out:). I personally like how she wrote in her last para, it is not a bad Saturday at all! Hy wish to say sorry to Layla as well as showing off to her daddy on her skill of soring the kite:).

Didn't I said she's a brilliant mum^^. Many more kampung fun in our concrete jungle to be discovered in her blog.

Buddha's face

See the Buddha's face? It was done by my girl from a printmaking workshop in Peranakan Museum this morning. No, she didn't carve the block. She only rolled the ink on the block and printed on the paper. And she learnt to say, 'buddha's face':).

Mama Ade was very kind to invite us to join C and her a visit to the Museum as it is open house over the weekend. The two little girls were happily meet-up again. From the museum tour to the children art workshops, to our lunch.

It was a fabulous outing with them again, totally a de-stress day for me and Missy Little Fussy! Mama Ade and i chatted jolly while both of them had their laughter and play. It was very lovely that C asked, "HY wants to come to my house?" and see how my girl shared her raisin and jelly with C. I was surprise to see a well behave Missy Fussy.

We shall target Asian Civilisation Museum next ;).

Other Museum stories of ours:

http://lifewithc.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/christmas-at-the-museum/

http://chiahfamily.wordpress.com/2009/01/01/spore-art-muesum-open-house/

Little Bud's 1st Excursion

To Singapore Garden Festival :). The pictures was taken by Monica (Brainy Child's Principal) & teachers. Can tell, children are too excited to be able outside of the classroom. They can't settle for a while just for one shot.

Must say, the exhibits are stunning! I was in awe, the creations of using variety of floral & fauna are far far beyond my imagination & words to describe.

Surprisingly, we met Cherrlyn & daddy mummy on our way home. It was her birthday! And she is so nice to share her 1 of her helium balloons to little Bud. You know, this is our very first time to meet familiar face in spore *smile*.

credit:- all from angelica e., except alpha fr lsdsdesigns.

A simple layout with Angelica's happy doodle. She drawn her happiness for all of us. and it is so perfect for this scrapbook. Thanks dear.