Hello Kitty Town, Little Big Club & Legoland Trip (24-26Aug14)

We just came back from JB after 3 days 2 nites trip to Hello Kitty Town, Little Big Club & Legoland. It was a fun trip and we really enjoy the time spent together as a family.

Staying in LEGOLAND hotel was one of our option initially, however the hotel rate was too steep about S$300-500 per nite. After doing some research, staying at the Puteri Harbour Traders Hotel seems to be the best choice. It is just next to Hello Kitty Town with complimentary shuttle bus service to LEGOLAND which only takes 10mins drive. The room rate is cheaper than LEGOLAND hotel and very new as well. The Puteri Harbour Traders Hotel turns out to exceed our expectations. I shall post my review of the hotel on a separate post.

The travelling to Puteri Harbour is surprisingly not as straight forward considering it is so near to SG. The best option is to drive. But we do not have a car, therefore our choices are limited.

One of the options is to take a coach by WTS travel from Singapore Flyer. However the timing is not so ideal to us as the earliest departure timing is at 8.30am. By the time it reach Puteri Harbour will be around 10-11am. After time spent in checking in to hotel and other miscellaneous stuff like having breakfast, feeding baby and etc, half day gone. We intend to go to both Hello Kitty Town and Little Big club on the first day so the timing quite tight.

The other option which we took was the public bus. The timing is earlier and we could reach Puteri Harbour by 9.30am which is just nice to catch the Theme Park opening hour at 10am.

First, we need to take the Causeway link bus CW3/4 at Jurong East Bus Interchange. Now, the travelling from my house to JE is like East end to West end. As we need to catch the bus at 7.30am, we took a taxi to JE. We reached JE bus interchange around 7.05am and the queue for the CW bus was already quite long. We were carrying our baby stroller with a big backpack, hence we were quite worry that we might not get a seat on the bus plus carrying all the barangs.

The bus came at 7.15am and the fare was S$4 per adult (Just to reach the 2nd link CIQ at JB side). Infant is FOC. We were lucky to be able to get seats on the bus although the bus was quite crowded. Therefore the tip is to reach the bus interchange earlier and queue to guarantee a seat if you are bringing a baby or children along.

The bus departed at 7.20am sharp and reached Tuas 2nd link (SG side) at around 7.40am. We need to alight with all our stuff to clear the custom first before boarding the same bus by showing the bus ticket. However as we need to clear the custom at the counter due to having infant instead of the automated machine, the time taken to clear the custom took longer. Although the clearance was done in 5mins but the CW3 bus which we took earlier already left. We thought we were stuck and have to wait for another 20mins for the next CW3 bus to come. Luckily there was another CW4 bus came along in the next few minutes and we were able to board the bus with the bus ticket.

We reached the JB custom (2nd link CIQ) at 8am. We need to catch the earliest JPO2 bus departing at 8.30am, so we were on time. The bus station is located at the JB custom just a few steps walk after clearing the custom. The bus fare cost about 2RM per adult. The JPO2 bus departed on the dot at 8.30am and reached the Puteri Harbour bus stop at 9am.

The bus journey was smooth and the Causeway link buses run like clockwork, very efficient. I was expecting to reach by 9.30am but we managed to reach earlier.

The Puteri Harbour bus stop is located at the Little Red Cube building and right next to the Puteri Harbour Traders Hotel. It is just less than 3mins walking distance. The hotel location is very convenient, with all the restaurants right outside the hotel.



Restaurants & shops in Little Red Cube

Little Red Cube - Water Fountain

Hotel Lobby

We tried to check in but the room was not available yet due to weekend. So we left our backpack at the hotel concierge and tried to find some restaurant to have our breakfast. We realized that most of the restaurants opened at 10am except for Lat's Place which opened at 9am on weekend. So we have our breakfast at Lat's Place. Quite a fanciful restaurant with all the animation. It kept our little baby engaged by looking at the animation on the TV. The food was average only. 

Lat's Place

Inside Lat's Place

Our Breakfast

After breakfast we visited Hello Kitty Town & Little Big club. Both Theme parks are very kiddish and vey suitable for young children. Surprisingly as adults, we enjoyed both theme parks very much too. Check out my review on the theme parks.



Hello Kitty Town & Little Big Club - Ticketing booth

The next day we visited LEGOLAND. However LEGOLAND was not as enjoyable as Hello Kitty & Little Big Club cos it was very hot in the morning (with little shelter) and in the afternoon, it rained. So it sort of dampen our mood. But when the rain stopped in the late afternoon, we managed to enjoy some of the rides and we had a good time as the weather was more cooling and not so crowded. I shall review our LEGOLAND experience separately.

Legoland

In summary, we enjoyed our trip very much. The journey was smooth, hotel stay was fantastic, the theme parks were relaxing and some of the rides are enjoyable. Most importantly it is not very expensive and very near to SG. However I don't think we want to visit the theme parks again in the near future. Perhaps when our gal is older, we may bring her back again.

Here's our itinerary:

Day 1: SG to JB / Puteri Harbour / Hello Kitty Town / Little Big Club

• Took CW3 Causeway link bus at JE Bus interchange to 2nd link CIQ at 7.20am. S$4/Adult, Infant FOC.
• Took JPO2 Causeway link bus at 2nd link CIQ to Puteri Harbour at 8.30am. RM2/Adult, Infant FOC.
• Check in Puteri Harbour Traders Hotel at 9am. 
• Breakfast at Lat's Place.
• Visited Hello Kitty Town. RM 110 per adult for 2 theme parks (Hello Kitty Town & Little Big Club). 10% discount for NTUC member.
• After lunch visited Little Big Club
• Call it a day at 5.30pm
• Tabao food back to hotel and took turns to enjoy hotel facilities - gym & steam bath (very shiok)

Day 2: LEGOLAND

• Breakfast at hotel
• Took complimentary shuttle bus from hotel to LEGOLAND.
• Tour LEGOLAND. RM140 per adult.
• Call it a day at 6.30pm
• Took turns to enjoy hotel facilities again after dinner.

Day 3: Back to SG

• Swimming at the gorgeous infinity pool on the hotel rooftop
• Breakfast at hotel
• Check out from hotel at 12pm
• Took JPO2 bus back to CIQ 2nd link at 1.50pm. Paid RM4 / adult which also includes CW3/4 bus back to JE bus interchange (Just need to show the ticket).
• Tip: While waiting for the CW3/4 bus at CIQ 2nd link, the bus CW6 came first. Although CW6 goes to Boon Lay but it still needs to alight us at the 2nd link SG custom. Based on our 1st day experience, it is better to reach 2nd link SG custom earlier for clearance as the bus will leave very quickly. Therefore we boarded the CW6 bus to reach the SG custom first. Our reasoning paid off. We managed to catch the CW3 bus right after we cleared the SG custom.
• Reach JE bus interchange at 3.30pm
• Took MRT from JE back home. Reach home at 4.45pm.
• Journey ended.

bb typical healthy diet

consisting of fresh blueberry puree, rice cereal powder,  flaxseed and bananas mixed with baby milk and dha!

Junction 10 LRT

I took the MRT from my house to Choa Chu Kang and LRT to Junction 10 and guess what? The whole journey took me 2hrs and 15mins!!!

Before I travelled from my house to Choa Chu Kang, I did research on the transit link website of the duration from point to point MRT station. From my house to Bishan MRT, the duration is about 30-35mins travelling on North East / Circle line. So far North East / Circle Line have been quite reliable. From Bishan MRT to Choa Chu Kang MRT, it reflected as 33 mins duration. However in reality, it took me 50mins! The train was traveling at average 5-8mins per stop and it was moving so slowly.....

I had not took north south line for a long time and the service deteriorates! Travelling time lengthen instead of keeping to the standard. It is bad considering with the improvement of technology through the years and privatization of the company which supposedly would help to improve the train operations.

Finally when I reached Choa Chu Kang MRT, the LRT station is located at another site. The only connecting path from the Choa Chu Kang MRT to the LRT is via a long fleet of stairs. As I was pushing the stroller with my gal, I need to get out from the Choa Chu Kang control station and walk over to the LRT station.  Then I need to press the help button to speak to the operator to get into the LRT control station since I was transferring before taking the lift up to the LRT platform. The whole design creates inconvenience to commuters especially those with strollers or wheelchair bounded.

After finally making my way to the LRT platform, I was looking at the LRT map which indicated the Junction 10 station which was 1 station before Bukit Panjang station but was greyed out. I didn't know what it means but there's no other map or direction as well. I tried to ask one other commuter, but he was not sure too.

Thinking it is only logical for the LRT to stop at Junction 10 station since only one station before Bukit Panjang and no other directions too, I got on the LRT. But I was wrong, the LRT from Choa Chu Kang never stopped at J10 station. It turns out that to travel to the J10 station, I need to alight at the Bukit Panjang LRT station, go to the opposite platform and wait for every 20mins for the one and only service C which is the only LRT service to J10! My gosh! The whole process is so cumbersome! Luckily one kind soul told me about this when I was lost.

I was not the only one encountering this problem. On my way back, while waiting for the LRT from J10 station (yes, 20 mins wait for 1 LRT), one guy asked me how to take the LRT to Choa Chu Kang station. When I told him he needs to get off at Bukit Panjang first and take another LRT to Choa Chu Kang, he was looking at me unbelievably.

When I took the LRT from Bukit Panjang station to Choa Chu Kang, the LRT stopped at the Bukit Panjang station for close to 10mins before moving off. It seems like they are trying to get as many commuters onto the train before moving off. A cost cutting measure?

You can imagine a train full of commuters squeezed and stuffy. Furthermore, the LRT aircon seems to be lacking and I was perspiring all the way. The whole travelling process is so frustrating!

Comparing the Sengkang / Punggol LRT system, I think SK/Punggol LRT are managed so much better. The LRT frequency is good, max waiting time for a LRT is about 5mins during off peak. The LRT moves off quickly, aircon is strong, connectivity between MRT and LRT is seamless with lift or escalator without having to exit from the control station. There are clear signs with colored routes to indicate to people which LRT / route to take. There are also staff at the platform maintaining order. I never really appreciate how well SK/Punggol LRT is managed until today after experiencing this Choa Chu Kang LRT system. I don't think I will want to take this again unless no choice.

The policy makers or the train operator should come down and take the train and LRT personally to experience themselves what the common people are facing everyday. If the government wants people to give up car and take public transport, the public transport at the minimal should be made efficient, easy for people to travel, redesign routes which are illogical (like the J10 route) and always on the dot.




Arrival Timing to J10



Departure timing from J10



LRT map from J10 station. Isn't it illogical that it doesn't goes to Choa Chu Kang? Not even a sign to indicate transfer @ Bukit Panjang to Choa Chu Kang?

Shichida Review Part 1

I attended the Shichida lesson at Junction 10 for the first time today. The centre near my house do not have any vacancies until Oct14. So when Shichida informed me of this new centre setup which can commence the class in Aug14, I quickly sign up for it till end of Sep14 even though it is very far from my home. But I will be transferring back to the centre near my house in Oct14.

The travelling to Junction 10 is a nightmare. I shall relate this on a separate post.

Prior to signing up, I have done some research through some website and blogs reviews. Comparing other teaching method like Heguru, I prefer Shichida method as it emphasize more on the bonding between the parent and the child.

The methods which they will be teaching in class can be teach at home as well according to their brochure / introduction. I like the idea of putting the responsibility on the parent to teach the child.

My objective of sending my gal to the class besides exposing her to new learning and development, I am also keen to learn the teaching methods as well so I can teach her at home too. To be frank, once a week an hour program is too short for her to learn anything. The parent has to follow up with the learning at home to be effective.

We were late for the class so we only join in halfway. Within half an hour, the teacher taught shapes, phonics, singing, numbers, counting, flash cards, imagination and grouping. The teacher will teach once first, then hand over the tools to the parent and give instructions to the parent how to teach the child. After 1 to 2 mins, the teacher will collect back the tools and start the next activity.

I felt that the pace was quite fast for a first timer. The activities were done in a flash and I'm not sure if my gal has absorbed the learning. It is true that the activities which they taught in class can be teach at home but with the tools. The tools which they used are colourful and interesting so it keeps the kids alert. Unfortunately they don't give away the tools considering the fees are so expensive.

I notice in the class, there are other kids who are much younger even though they are born in the same year as my gal. Some are still babies below 1 year old. Actually I'm not sure if enrolling babies at such young age really help cos they tend to wander around the class. I felt that enrolling them between 15-18 months is the best time as they are starting to be aware of their surrounding and able to better relate to the things they learnt. Just my 2 cents worth.

I observed my gal at first was quite taken aback with the lesson. But after some activities to warm up, she started to get the hang out of it. I noticed she liked the singing part and the grouping/matching activities. She also tried to dance to the music too. However she don't really like the imagination part (Imagining the ball is a juicy citrus fruit, smell nice and taste good) and returned the tool back to the teacher even before the teacher asked for it. I think it is also because I didn't teach her this at home before so she was not used to it. So this is also something new I have learnt today too.

I'm still trying to remember what I have learnt today too. In the next lesson, I need to be more focus during the lesson to keep up the pace. I will try to record what we have learned during the lessons and my gal progress. This is also part of the learning process and if this is effective for my gal as well.

First kiss

I will always remember this day on 8 July 2014 night, my little gal kissed me on my lip. It was such a sweet little first kiss.

I was leaning over her playpen singing lullaby and trying to get her to sleep. As usual, I asked her to give me a good nite kiss which she would usually turn her head away and ignored me. I asked for it every day thinking maybe one day she will kiss her mommy. She would kissed her doggie soft toy but not me lolx.

On that special nite, she tiptoed on her little toes and kissed me on my lips. It was the first time she kissed me and my heart immediately melted away. She's such a darling.

Ever since I stayed at home to take care of her, our bonding improved tremendously. All these small little things really warmed my heart. It was worth it.

SAHM

Since I made the decision to quit and be a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) temporarily, I have more free time for my little gal and this really helps to improve our bonding. She can now call me "Ma Ma" and will come look for me to play with her. This may sounds a very simple thing that every child will do with their mother, but for me, it was not. When I was still working, whenever I came home from work, she would look past me blankly and refused to let me hug her. I felt so sad and guilty at the same time that I did not spend time with her and neglected her.

I am also in dilemma making this decision. I have received comments that I should continue to work to earn income to support family. It is all about money in this society now and becomes a norm. We are expected by the society to multitask: care for the family, take care of the kids, and work to earn an income to support the family. However in reality, it is difficult to multitask to do all well. By having both parents working, it means lesser time to look after the kids. The job of looking after the kids becomes other people's business (e.g. caregiver, maid, grandparents, childcare teacher). It is like we give birth to the child but not the one nurturing the child due to the need to work to support the family. But as parents, we are responsible for our child.

Work nowadays is very hectic as well. Work life balance can only happen if the culture of the company truly believe in it and work on it. Sadly, this kinda companies are very limited here. So you need to work long hours at work and when you come home, it's already late night and the child already sleep. The next day morning, you need to wake up and go to work again but the child may still be sleeping or just manage to catch a glimpse of you only. It is sad, very sad. You spent more time with your work then your child.

If we do up some sums, the cost of getting a maid / caregiver could cost a lot too. Furthermore, you are letting someone who you are not familiar with to take care of your child. It will really depends on luck that you find a good maid / caregiver.

For me I do wish to go back to work in the future when she is older and more independent cos we are not really well to do. But for now, I just wish to be there when she is growing up. The joy of seeing her grow everyday is priceless.

The new sports hub

We visited the new Sports Hub last Sun. The place is huge. The major draw to us is the Kallang Wave shopping mall and the new National Stadium. The Kallang Wave mall was not fully operationally. Most of the shops are still under renovation and we are not able to access to the 2nd story. So there are limited restaurants or food options. Nothing much inside the mall except the main centrepiece of the rock climbing which is quite impressive but I don't see a lot of people participating. It reminds me of the one at Orchard Central. 

One thing to note is that to get to the National Stadium, we have to climb the long fleet of stairs up. The escalators and lifts are not functional yet. So we have to carry our baby stroller all the way to climb the fleet of stairs. It was very tiring. Not stroller or wheelchair friendly at all. It was most inconvenient for those with kids and old folks. I saw many old folks were struggling to climb up and down the stairs. The sports hub management should have been more thoughtful about this especially it is new opening. Maybe when the lifts or escalators are functional, it could relieve the situation. However one design flaw is that there are limited shelter to the national stadium. Imagine having to climb the fleet of stairs under the hot sun. 

The National Stadium was quite amazing though. It was huge and with a powerful ventilation system I think. We are walking around the stadium and we could feel the breeze from the stadium. It was linked to 3 MRT stations: Stadium, Kallang and Mountbatten and within short walking distance. 

Our googie was happily exploring the place running around. There is also a playground near to the indoor stadium on the 2nd level and she was having loads of fun. 

Verdict

There is not much reason for us to go there again unless we have participated some events at the Sports Hub which I think very unlikely. The place looks nice with lots of walking area. However there are limited shelter and not stroller friendly. Most of the people are hiding inside the shopping mall cos the heat was too unbearable. So it defeats the purpose of having those facilities too. Such design might be feasible in those temperate countries but not here. In Chinese it means 好看不好吃。 

Googie exploring under the hot sun