RWS Marine Life Park

We were lost! This was our very first time at Resorts World Sentosa, and everywhere seemed to point to our target destination. The last time we came as a family was likely to visit the original Underwater World Sentosa at Siloso Beach. We heard a lot about how massive the RWS Marine Life Park is, and we were all ready to be wowed by the spectacle. The VIPs (dolphins) weren't on display yet, but we were sure that the 800 plus species of marine life would be enough to capture our imagination.

Finally, after a little unplanned sight-seeing and snapping of pictures with our friendly Merlion in the background, we found the aquarium. We had purchased our tickets online, which turned out to be wise as it was a public holiday and the ticketing queue was long. We breezed past the lines, had our print-outs scanned and in we went.

A quick sandwich from the Fish & Crab Shack and the walk into the aquarium brought us through a gallery of the Maritime Experiential Museum.

We were not here for the maritime exhibits, so we tried to hurry past them. Despite our haste, there were many interesting items that caught the attention of our kids. The theme of the gallery was entitled 'Pirates of the East', which showcased the adventures and exploits of famous Asian pirates and pirate hunters in a historical era. The children were enthralled by large ship models, interactive digital platforms, and colour Wayang Kulit cut-outs, with informative posters on the trade of the maritime Silk-Route.

But we've got 'bigger fish to fry' and this is not what we came here for. So we move on, down past additional ticketing counters and carpeted passageways until we catch sight of the entrance to the tunnel aquarium.

Over the two and a half hours, we will be covered in shades of blue and green. The first exhibit through the tunnel was a mock-up of a wreck colonized by the creatures of the sea. It was a nice but short appetizer for the long walk ahead. The tunnel reminded us of Underwater World Sentosa (UWS). Needless to say, the exhibit sent blood sugar levels of our girls soaring and they started peering and marveling at the fishes swimming in and out of the 'wreck'.

There were smaller exhibit tanks reminiscent of those at UWS...

... and then there was  an interesting floor tank, which we sent the girls down on their fours scouring the reef for small sharks and rays. I liked the concept as the bird's eye view focused on animals on the reef floor, and left little room for the critters to hide, making most of the critters very easy to see. There were many other kids crawling around on their fours too, oblivious to the crowd trying to navigate their way around these tiny obstacles.

A short walk through a static exhibit and giant posters brought us to a cylindrical tank with a large 'coral encrusted' pillar in the centre. The tank was about two stories high, dwarfing the visitors standing next to it.

Interactive digital panels allows you to swipe between fish photographs to find the one 'you just saw' and determine its identity and other information.

Here we observed schools of colourful smaller fish swimming in and out of the 'coral' structures. There was a feeding going on and bits of food were raining down on us, sending the fish into a feeding frenzy and turning the tank into a swirling rainbow pillar. The adults took the opportunity to sit down on a bench while the kids entertained themselves swiping the interactive displays. There was a staircase to a raised terrace for visitors who wanted view the exhibit from it.

Next up was the mangrove exhibit...

Here we observed mock ups of plants with their aerial roots...

... and typical mangrove critters such as tree climbing crabs, mud crabs, and brackish water fishes such as the Archer fish.

Next up, there were some smaller tanks showcasing creatures from the deep, dark, cold depths of the ocean. Among them, large Spider Crabs that came quite up close to the viewing glass so we got a chance to observe them closeup...

An odd looking creature found up to 700 m below the ocean's surface is the Nautilus. This animal belongs to the Phylum Mollusca along with other animals such as snails, slugs, squids, and octopuses. The spiral shell of the Nautilis resembles that of a snail, but the tentacles and large eyes seem to correlate better with an octopus or cuttlefish. These are often scavengers that feed on carrion and other dead animals that fall to the ocean's floor as they decompose.

At the jellyfish section (ahem... they are not fish), smaller tanks allowed us to observe smaller ones up close. One has to wonder how these primitive creatures survive without a brain or central nervous system!

In other tanks, the jellies got rather large. Just looking at them makes the little hairs on your arms stand.

We spent quite a bit of time getting good pictures of these creatures, pulsating regularly like a beating heart as they gracefully glide around the tank.

But just as the walking was about to make our legs weary, we stumble upon the centre-piece of the park, none other than the world's largest reef tank! Borrowing a term from my brother-in-law, I'd like to refer to it as the 'Underwater Omnimax Theatre'.

At top-centre of the photograph you see a majestic Manta Ray. The giant is dwarfed by the size of the viewing gallery. Three tiers of viewing platforms were crowded with people standing around, sitting around, lying around, even on picnic mats and bean bags (provided) snacking on tidbits. Snacks can be bought at the nearby snack shops, but many people seemed to whip out their own home-prepared snacks and drinks.

And what kinds of marine life plough the giant screen? We saw large nurse sharks, rays of all kinds, pelagic and schooling fish, large Shovel-Nosed Rays at the reef floor, Napoleon Wrasse, sea turtles... if you've ever watched the National Geographic Channel, you can imagine.

As for us, we found some bean bags, huddled down, whipped out our little packets of Honey Stars and CoCo Crunch, sat back, and simply enjoyed the show while we rested our weary little legs...

If you walk to the right of the lowest platform you enter what I'd refer to as the 'Oval Office', an all round viewing gallery with viewing panels even on top of you.

Which made a perfect place to just sit (again) and hang out while you enjoy the view...

We finally decided to leave our comfy little corner(s) and head for the exit. We were hungry for some food (fish maybe?) as it was lunch time. Along the way out were even more exhibits, but what were these compared to what we just saw? Still, we gave some attention to the touch pool. Unlike that at UWS, this one had no volunteers to assist and explain (except during the stipulated 'touch' time), and to ensure clean hands before touching to prevent disease and infection, and many of the kids were not even aware that they were allowed to put their hands in. Still, it was an opportunity for more close up encounters.

On our stroll out we bumped into a friendly cleaner. He didn't say much (thankfully), but did give us a friendly wave...

Another honarable mention was a tank crowded with mean looking Moray Eels. Here, the kids (and those of you who are kid-sized) get to enter a small entrance which led into a room sized viewing gallery to see the enclosure from below.

At the exit there's a booth to have photos taken which you can buy, and a small conservation corner with informative posters and some activity tables for kids.

However, at this point, we were to tired and hungry and breezed out. Every aquarium needs to have a souvenir shop at the end and this was no exception. The world's biggest fish tank had a shop that matched its size resulting in much browsing, but we did not manage to find something unique to add to our fridge magnet collection here.

Finally, we say goodbye and make our way out in search of something to eat...

We found that while there were many dining options, many were pricey restaurants, and during the school holidays, the place was so packed many of these restaurants were fully booked. We settled for local fare at Toast Box and guess what we ordered? Perhaps MLP inspired... FISHballs swimming in noodle soup!

Even though there are currently no shows like those featuring dolphins and seals at UWS, and the touch pool at RWS has much smaller rays as compared to the ones at UWS...and not forgetting the shark feeding that the kids were so crazy about in UWS. Entry fees at both are comparable, so if choosing which one to visit is too hard for you, why not do both? 

Hanoi, Vietnam Part 2

When we first started our exploration of the Old Quarters, we were very lost. First, where should we go? Each alley has a 'theme' as in they sell different things. You have the alley of fried products, alley of children's clothes, fruits, food, ladies' clothes, men's clothes...so many different alleys! The alleys are named accordingly to the products they sell but everything is in Vietnamese. We decided to just walk and explore. Afterall, that is the whole thrill about travelling - travelling into the unknown.

Second, the traffic. I have only one word for the traffic - Chaos. There are just so, so many motorcycles, risksaws, cars, bicycles, vans...all sharing the stretches of narrow alleys. There is hardly any left and right of the road. Everyone just ...drives and interlocks one another. Should any vehicle need to do a right or left turn, they just do it. No waiting or signalling! They simply horned at one another. So can you imagine the volume the many horns created? Quite a symphony.  We did not see any traffic lights and when we finally did find a few, they were not even working. We took a while to absorb the madness. We saw how the locals cross the road - they, like the vehicles, just cross the road as if they are taking a stroll. To survive, we needed to do as the locals do. Daddy had no problem with the traffic while I was hesitant at first. However, after a few crossings, it really wasn't that big a deal. Somehow the traffic would make space for pedestrians. Traffic harmony...or pure survival instinct.

Here, pedestrians pavements are largely for the stores' goods. The stores would display their goods all the way to the roads as well. We did witness a few times, everyone scrambling to clear their goods into their stores when the police came by. Even the street side hawkers disappeared in a flash. The irony is that after the police left, goods started to inch out of the stores and soon, everything was bad to normal. It was very interesting for us, first timers, to take in such a sight. Rather an amusing irony, I must admit, which adds to the colors of Hanoi. And because there was no space for pedestrians on the pavement, we shared the road with the many vehicles. With 2 kids in hand, we sure take up quite a fair bit of the width. Still, it was alright as we began to relax amidst the chaos. The kids were also able to avoid puddles of water and potholes very skillfully. It was impossible to talk much when we were on the road because it was just so noisy (remember the horns?) We were able to use our hands to direct the kids' hands, by mere means of push and pull. I must admit that I am still very impressed with our 'communication'.

We spent the 5 days in Hanoi, navigating through the alleys but we couldn't finish all that we want to see. Old Quarters is just so huge and because it is so interesting, we would spend a day exploring just a few alleys. Yummy fruits, which we couldn't get enough of, were our favourite. Soursops, custard apples, rambutans and even durians. I am not a fan of durians but everyone in my family loves it. I did try one after Daddy bought one whole durian and now, I am a fan. Vietnamese durians for now. The taste was so intense and so sweet that we returned the next day to the same stall and bought 2 whole durians. We had a fruits galore in Hanoi. On top of that, we tried a lot of the street food. I do not know what they are called but we did try their spring rolls and sprimp cakes, amongst other stuff. The food is often left in the open for a while before some customers come by and buy them. I suppose because the weather was cool when we went, there were no flies. However, we were careful not to let the kids eat too much of the street food. Their main meals were taken at the hotel, which is still very cheap, while we would buy dishes from the alleys and let them try some. Good thing is the kids took to the street food very well. Everyone remained healthy throughout the trip which was a blessing.

We explored the market and it was quite a sight to see all sorts of fruits, vegetables, fish and meat on display on the floor. We had the opportunity to see a lady prepare skinned frogs. Now, how many of you have seen it live? The kids were so fascinated that they stood in front of the lady for a long time. I, too, was deeply captivated.

Shopping was also very enjoyable. We were told by the hotel staff to bargain if buying from stores, at least 30-40% lower than asking price. We learnt 'How Much?' in Vietnamese from the staff and it helped. However, the store owners would start rattering in Vietnamese and we were bounced back to confusion again. We ended up bargaining using hand gestures and the store owners would fight the price battle with their calculators. If it doesn't work, just walk away. Of the few times I walked away, only one did not call me back. (Grin, grin) . However, we were careful not to ruffle their feather with a too ridiculous price. These people still need to earn a living and we felt that we should respect that. Still, I got my bargains and loved every moment of it.
 

Conquering the streets of Hanoi Old Quarters

We also explored the Hoan Kiem Lake but only went up to the red bridge. We did find the 'tuk-tuk' ( Thailand's open air vehicles "with no doors and windows" - from the kids' perspective) that the kids were so excited about since day one. We finally found out what it was when we went to Hoan Kiem Lake. It is an electric tourist car which brings you around the Old Quarters for 150,000 VND for 30 minutes or 250,000VND for an hour. We opted for the half an hour ride and it was very nice. Except for my younger daughter, all of us prefer the electric tourist bus to the ricksaw, which we sat on during the day of our private tour. It moves a lot faster so we could cover more and see more.

 

The Old Quarters is really an amazing maze of discoveries. We can't wait to return and expand our territory.

 

Hanoi, Vietnam Part 1

We just came back from a 5 days trip to Hanoi. It was our first time there and needless to say, we asked friends who had been there before for their advise. Not many of my friends like it though. They couldn't pin point the reason for it...just no feel for it. This made us even more confused. This would be the first time we 'rough it out' with the kids (no typical Kids Resorts or English speaking countries) so we were both excited and nervous at the same time. Afterall, we wanted this trip to be educational. We wanted the children to look beyond the comfort and conveniences they have back at home. We wanted them to be thankful for their blessings and bless others. The world is not all about what they want. We live in a world with many differences, whether it be social, educational, or even political. The bottom line is we want them to accept and respect the differences and bless in whatever way they can.

We managed to get a super sale deal on Silkair so it was great. Not much difference from budget airline tickets so we chose Silkair, obviously. We booked Hanoi Moment hotel based on the reviews on Tripadvisor and we were all set to go. Our flight is 3 plus in the afternoon and because it was Silkair, we were able to check in at 1030 - 11am. A good 5 hours before the take off. We sure took it slow -  a slow walk around the terminal, a slow lunch and a lot of time for drawing (at the Art Corner) and play (at the Family Zone) By the time we were on the plane, girls were so tired they dozed off immediately. It was all part of the plan (evil grin).
 

Lotsa fun at the Family Zone

 



All ready to take off

Airport transfer was arranged prior to departure so we were able to weave through the airport. For those travelling to Vietnam, do note that there have been a lot of taxi scams going on. We were informed by the hotel and we, too, read about it on forums. Taxis would start off with a very attractive price before raising it to a ridiculous amount upon arriving at the destinations. 'Drivers' would pose as taxi-drivers and before you know it, the dollars would fly out of your pockets.  Apparently, the situation is also beyond the control of the local police. Or so we heard. I rather be safe than sorry.

The hotel we booked was simply fantastic. It is located right in the middle of the Old Quarters (perfect for bargain buys and interesting sights and sounds) and it is very clean and modern. The staff is of exceptional quality and we were all very pleasantly surprised to find such value in a small hotel. A laptop, with free wifi, was also provided, which was great as we like to travel light. What helped ace the hotel stay is the impeccable service. When we arrived, the doorman and the manager rushed across the road to help us with our luggages, all with big smiles. Check in was swift and we were brought up to our family suite by the Customer Service Manager, Tom, who made sure we were well settled in and that we had everything we needed. Should we need anything, all we had to do is to call the reception and it would be attended to immediately. Maybe it is because it is a small hotel and messages get around really quickly. Whatever it is, we are impressed. Daily room cleaning was done by 3 staff and they were very thorough in their work. I am very picky with the cleanliness and presentation of toilets and Hanoi Moment and its staff did not disappoint. It was so clean and beautifully decorated with flowers on the shower floor that I took longer than usual in the showers. There was also no mold in between the tiles. Yes, I am that picky especially since that was my precious 'me' time.

Breakfast is buffet styled, even though you can only choose from the breakfast menu and the kitchen staff will cook it for you upon ordering. Nonetheless, we are not complaining. Food was served very quickly and everything on the menu was so delicious. My 2 daughters ended up ordering their favourites every morning - chocolate pancake, honey pancake, noodle soup and fresh milk. The fresh milk came in really handy because my younger daughter is a big lover of fresh milk. More importantly, it can be served warm. All the more better for my girl. My favourite would have to be the beef noodle soup. I simply couldn't have enough of it. What topped up the wonderful food was their service. Everyone was so happy, friendly and warm in the morning that it helped to brighten up my day too. Everyone was greeted by name and even the Sales Manager and Customer Service Managers would help in the serving of tables. One can really see the team work in the Hanoi Moment family. The staff would go around the tables and initiate friendly chats with the guests. The breakfast room is very small, only 5 tables, with each table accommodating 4 guests. But because the staff was so friendly and warm, all the guests started making friendly conversations with one another too. When we were taking photos, someone from another table even offered to help us take a family shot. Breakfast became very enjoyable throughout the days we were there. The breakfast staff would also try their best to accede to our requests should we want something outside the breakfast menu. My husband ordered soup with just beef and chicken, without the noodles, and they were more than happy to see to that. They found out that my husband loves their oranges and they offered to send more to our room. You should see the delighted faces when we returned to our room to find that promise fulfilled.

The staff always greeted us warmly whenever we walked past the lobby. The doorman would also give my daughters high-fives whenever they walked through the door. My girls loved it! He is also always cleaning the door and the lobby. No wonder, the lobby is always so clean and neat. The Sales Manager, Ms Ching Nguyen and her team of friendly receptionists, are always at the lobby, ready to help us with any requests. They loved the kids and hence my daughters always looked forward to playing with them. It sure helped to set the mood especially after a long walk out in the crazy traffic. We felt so safe once we entered the hotel. So much so that we had no qualms sending our elder daughter down to the lobby to get some materials from the receptionists. We wouldn't do that in other hotels.  

We ordered room service a lot because the girls needed to take their afternoon naps and they sleep early at night. Ordering is simple, just tell them the item number and quantity. They always said that food would be served in 30 minutes and they were always on time, which is very important when we have 2 hungry children. We would bathe the kids while waiting for the food and by the time they are done, food would have arrived. Perfect timing. In short, we love our choice of accommodation.
 



Marriott Vacation Club Phuket

It was the Sept school holiday break so we decided to steal away to somewhere near. We settled for Marriott Vacation Club Phuket on W's colleague's recommendation and were not disappointed. The pick up from airport was swift and because it was located so near the airport, just 20 minutes away, the kids were able to tolerate the journey well. We walked past the Kids Club upon check in and the children couldn't wait to start their engines at the Kids Club.

The Kids Club has many activities for the kids. It helps that both our kids are a little bit older now so they could do more craft activities. I signed them up for a few activities each day and W and I could take turns to hit the gym. The staff at the Kids Club was so friendly and helpful. They would help the kids feel comfortable and made the effort to interact with them. For the adults, hourly activities are also arranged so I signed myself up for a few too, morning stretch, tennis... knowing full well that the kids would be well taken care of at the Kids Club. My precious 'Me' time.

What I loved the most was the room. A 2 bedroom apartment, with everything you need. Kitchen, washing machine, dryer and 2 bathrooms which come in really handy since the 2 kids always have the urge to want to visit the toilet at the same time. I attribute that to sisters' telepathy. From our apartment, we could see the swimming pool and the playground, which the girls frequented and enjoyed thoroughly. The apartment was kept clean daily and the beds were so comfortable. I later found out that they were from Simmons. The girls slept so well too...it was indeed a must needed restful holiday.

We ate at the in house restaurant most of the time because that was the most convenient. If you rather, you can always take the free shutter bus to Marriott which is just a 5 minutes drive away. W and I decided to be more adventurous and rented bicycles from the Activity Center (for free) and went all the way to Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa for dinner. It was an easy ride and it took us only 20 minutes to get there. In the end, we opted for the small roadside store along one of the sliproad just outside Renaissance, for the authentic experience of eating local food.

The 4 days stay was indeed a good rest where both children and parents could be kept entertained and happy.

Raffles Museum: "National Treasures"

We had a dinner appointment in the west a couple of weeks back and decided to swing by the National University of Singapore to visit one of my favourite hangouts as a student: the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity. It was my honour to be the unofficial tour guide for my family as it was their first time at the museum.

You need to make a trip there to understand why I call it the 'National Treasures'. The block is a five minute walk through a carpark away from the main road (Lower Kent Ridge Road), and upon reaching the floor, you would realise that the 5 room flat sized public gallery is tucked away in a quiet corner. We were the only visitors there at that time. The gallery was quiet, relatively dimely lit with spot lights on the exhibits.

And what an amazing time we had. The children were intrigued by almost everything they saw, so much so that they went about 5 rounds and we spent about an hour in that small space. They were asking questions about the different animals, from why they were here, to what they ate, to where they lived. There was a small section on fossils and dinosaurs with some informative posters and some bones, which presented a brief preview of the arrival of the three sauropod skeletons to be housed in the new Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, which will open in 2014. The girls were also especially interested in the insect and mollusk display cabinets.

Aside from our personal encounter with the exhibits, I will refrain from going into the facts and figures, and stories behind them. These I'll have to leave you to find out for yourself during your next visit. I must add, however, that the exhibits placed in the public gallery are only a small representation of the tens of thousands of rare, unique and valuable specimens, some of which date back to the time of Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore himself, who was an avid collector of specimens throughout his expeditions into the 'unknown realm' of South East Asia. Many of these specimens are often only viewed upon request by visiting researchers, but the collections are occasionally open to guided public tours, such as on International Museum Day. Needless to say, rapid development in Singapore has reduced the species count to about a quarter of that during the days of Sir Stamford Raffles, and it is indeed sad that the only records of some of these animals lie in the cabinets of this museum.

You should be able to find more information on this interesting enclave with a simple Google search, but here are two sites to start you off.

1. The official RMBR website: http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/

2. The RMBR news blog: http://rafflesmuseum.wordpress.com/about/