South Korea (1) – Seoul Children’s Museum 어린이대공원 상상나라

I highly recommend this place to all kids out there. I spent the entire afternoon there to explore the four stories. Less than US$4 per person (above 36months) admission fee is so worth it!

B1: Sensitivity Development Play
1F: Space Play, Art Play and Nature Play
2F: Toddler playground, Imagination Play and Physical Play
3F: Science Play, Culture Play and Family Lounge (where we may sit down to have a drink or some snacks)

A picture is worth a thousand words. Let me show you some photos of mine, and I am sure you will want to visit this place too.

If you walk further in the Children's Grand Park, you will see a mini zoo with elephants, monkeys, bears and many other animals! I was there one and half year ago. So we decided to give it a miss this time round.

South Korea (Seoul) again – with a 10 month old baby and a 3.5 year old toddler

It’s my third time to Seoul, South Korea. This time, the trip was a pretty long one, (two weeks). We travelled from Seoul 서울 to Jeonju 전주 to Busan 부산 then back to Seoul from 31 May to 15 June. The trip was very child-friendly, filled with fun places for young kids. Though nothing much for my little brother, he was enjoying himself too. 

We started the trip with a red eye flight by Singapore Airline (SQ8). My first business class experience on a Boeing 777-300ER was amazing. Before boarding, we had the time to rest in the Business Class Lounge. 

Our seats were located on the first row but we didn’t board first. We took our time and strolled to the gate. The seats were wide and we could lie flat to sleep. I got a goodie bag from SQ too! I loved the available entertainment choices and watched The LEGO Movie.

Mummy chose “book a cook” as our inflight meal. Yummy! 

We arrived in the morning. I didn’t really sleep much. I might have enjoyed more if it was a day flight. But mummy said day flights were all A320 and business class was not as good. Lol. My 이모 came fetch us to our temporary home in Seoul and I had omelette rice as my first meal in Seoul. 

Family Trip to Taiwan – Alishan (2) – travel with a 9 months old baby and a 3.5 years old toddler

We booked a cottage for four at Alishan Youth Activity Centre where Erwanping station is located. 

Erwanping Station (Chinese: 二萬坪車站) is a railway station on the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) Alishan Forest Railway Line located in Alishan Township, Chiayi County. The station was opened on 1 October 1912. 

The daily mean temperature in April is only about 11 degree celcius here. Alishan is well known for its sunrises, sunsets, sea clouds, railways and forests. We were unable to wake up (not advisable too) for the sunrise, but we managed to capture the beautiful sunset at Erwanping Station and clouds on the other day. 

We walked along the railway tracks a few times as this part of the railway is temporarily not in use. 

The entrance fee is NT300 for a foreigner to enter Alishan National Scenic Area. I wanted to see cherry blossom so much but only had a glimpse of a few trees. Should have come earlier before the flower season is over. We took the red mini train and imagined pink and white petals raining down from the swaying tree. At least, we still managed to snap a few pretty shots. 

The next day, on our way back to the city, we stopped at Fenqihu (奮起湖), a small town of low wooden buildings built into the mountainside at 1,400 meters, midpoint of the Alishan Forest for its production of high altitude food products such as bamboo shoots and aiyu jelly (愛玉). We tried the rail lunch boxes (火車便當, Fenqihu bento) for lunch. 

Daddy is my hulk! He is so strong to carry both of us on him.

I saw wasabi plant for the first time!

Kuala Lumpur, here we come! (3)

Our time in Kuala Lumpur was like a short staycation in Singapore. Since we were overseas, it was indeed a vacation! 

Daddy drove straight to Grand Hyatt Hotel. The choice was made because of its location, 5 mins walk from the KLCC Petronas Twin Towers. We were upgraded to the supreme suite. Wow! Plenty of play spaces for me! 

  

It was the first time for me to see the Twin Towers. They looked better at night. We had dinner in a Japanese restaurant and then enjoyed ourselves along the hotel pool. 

  

The buffet breakfast in Grand Hyatt was really something worth mentioning. We checked out after breakfast and headed back home. Daddy drove 40 mins to take away some famous Char Siew to bring along with us on our way home. 

  

Our short getaway came to an end.

Melaka, here we come! (2)

Daddy and mummy decided to get up a bit earlier today. We had a buffet breakfast in the hotel and left for a walking tour around the Heritage Site at 10.30am.
A point to note: leave for walking tour earlier next time! 10.30am is too hot!

  
Anyway, I played with pigeons for a while and we strolled along the canal with a few wefies. There were not many people. I was excited to see a few sightseeing cruises in the canal. Then we walked through the famous Jonker Street. It was simple too scorching hot walking under the sun. Mummy regretted not bringing an umbrella or just a cap for me. Oops.. Sunblock might not do the work.

  
  
  
We brisk walked back to the hotel, in time for a quick shower, and checked out before noon. Daddy still wanted to bring us for Zi Char, so we came to the restaurant finally. 

We hit the road again after lunch. Kuala Lumpur, here we come!

Melaka, here we come! (1)

說走就走的旅行～
Daddy and mummy decided on Saturday to bring me for a short road trip in Malaysia. They booked the hotel in Melaka for 14/15th March on 13th March and the hotel in Kuala Lumpur for 15/16th March on 14th March. Mummy packed everything on Sunday night while daddy was looking for a decent hotel in KL. It was not easy packing even for a 3D2N getaway. The amount of things needed probably is the same as a longer trip. Luckily, we have the car. So we can afford to bring more things to put in the boot in case we may need them. 
These are what mummy prepared:

Bag 1: Clothes – including two days clothes, pajamas, swimming suits, underwear. (For the three of us)

Bag 2: Food – snacks for the car ride including seaweed, biscuits, chocopies, etc and drinks. I have my favourite packet grape flavor yoghurt drink and daddy mummy have their milo and lemon honey. The drinks are stored in a fridge-to-go to keep them cool. Mummy also prepared strawberries, grapes and cut dragonfruit in the fridge-to-go.

Bag 3: Daddy’s things – laptop and working related items

Bag 4: My things – plate, cups, utensils, a tin of milk powder, jacket etc

Bag 5: Important items – passports, cards and money

My diapers and the booster seat are going to be left in the boot. 

   
 We left Singapore at about 3pm. We cleared the custom quickly as there were really very few cars. We sang, we talked, we ate. 

Then I finally fell asleep at 5pm.

For a period of time, it rained heavily. Daddy was driving very steadily, keeping to the speed limit.
We arrived in Melaka shortly after 6pm. 

Though daddy and mummy had been to Melaka a few times but this was the first time that they spend a night here. We checked into The Sterling Hotel, a value-for-money place with good location, walkable distance to the Melaka Heritage City. It also provided us a simple complimentary baby cot and baby bath. 

  
After we settled down, we drove out to hunt for food. Daddy wanted to go to Teo Soon Loong Restaurant but it was closed on Monday. What a pity. We ended up in Hard Rock Cafe. Though the food tasted so so but there was nice night view of the main attraction and colouring material for me. 

   
   
We headed back to the hotel after dinner. 

Maldives – Kurumba (1)

This entry seems a bit late. But mummy only finds time to write now. Just forgive her and enjoy reading please. 🙂 
Maldives 15 June 2015
This trip to Maldives is not planned way before hand. Mummy spent 10 days to do research on island selection and made the reservation for us, especially for my grandparents. This is a family trip for the two elderly. She chose Kurumba Maldives for the following reasons:

1. It’s the nearest island to Male city. This means the shortest transfer time needed. (10 mins speedboat ride)
2. Since she has booked the Singapore airline flight which reaches in the evening, a seaplane ride is not really desired (can’t see anything anyway). We could save much cost by taking speed boat.
3. This island is very family friendly. There are two pools for children. There is a kid club though I am too young for that. 
4. This is one of the best snorkeling areas in Maldives. 
5. This place allows all of us to stay in one room. This is very important and some other resorts mummy enquired did not allow 3 adults + 1 infant to stay in a room and insisted us to book two rooms which added a lot to the cost.  

All set and Go! 
Daddy sent us to the airport and we had a quick dinner at Sakae Sushi. The boarding gate was F60 and last one at the far end. Anyway, everything went on smoothly and we boarded the plane on time. The timing of this flight was just right and I soon fell asleep. The journey was quite short and we reached Male airport at 10pm local time (1am in Singapore, there is a 3-hour time difference). We got off the plane and walked straight to the hall.

   

I am longer than the bassinet now.

    
 

There were so many people clearing customs, most tourists were from China. The airport is simply furnished, small enough to have all the necessary things an airport should have, nothing more. The officers were working so hard and efficiently. Yet, we spent more than an hour to clear custom and get our luggage.

 

You have to walk from the aircraft to the arrival hall!

  

Visa free!

  

Every piece of luggage needs to go through security check.

 

OA representative from Kurumba Maldives waited for us and escorted us to a speed boat. I woke up for this part of the journey. Two other couples were in the same boat as us. We were served cold towels and a bottled water on board. It was a short 10-15mins boat ride and we arrived. Though it was dark, we could still see the clear sea water. While waiting for the check-in, we had coconut ice cream. 
Our room number was 155. It’s pretty cozy and very close to the sea. By the time I went to bed again, it was 1am local time (4am back home)! 

   
    
 

Taiwan Family Trip (8) – Sun Moon Lake

We left Cingjing Farm in the morning and headed to Sun Moon Lake on our way back to Taipei. I don’t know why this place is so famous (neither do my parents). Anyway, we took a lake cruise which stopped at two different piers for two attractions. One is the Temple. We ate THE 阿婆茶葉蛋 and took a photo with the stone which has the name ‘Sun Moon Lake’ written in Chinese. 

   
  

THE egg!

  

Sun Moon Lake

   
The other stop was better, a food street. We settled our lunch here. The journey from Sun Moon Lake to Taipei took 3.5 hours drive.    

Street Food

    

 

Taiwan Family Trip (7) – Cingjing Farm

Today was definitely the best day of this trip for me. We went to 青青農場 the Farm to watch a sheep performance 趕羊秀 and a horse show 馬術秀. 

Map of Cingjing

The show has yet started.

  

The horse riding show

It was my first time seeing the sheep and daddy even brought me for a short horseback ride. 

  
   
  
Daddy and mummy went to hike at the Main Peak of He Huan Mountain and I stayed in with grandma again. 🙂 They didn’t prepare well for this hiking trip to a point 3471m above sea level. They probably didn’t plan this at all. Daddy went up with a short sleeve tshirt and mummy had a thin cardigan outside of her tshirt. It seemed very cold at the peak, may be only 10 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, they spent about 1.5hours hiking up and down. Good for them.

   
  

  

  

Only 12 degrees at the car park.

It’s our last day here in the midst of the mountains with splendid views and comfortable weather.     

Koaladidi is always ready to go!

Dinner at Lumama. 

      

Taiwan Family Trip (5) – Kenting/Taichung

The weather in Kenting was so good these days. We packed our things and had a simple breakfast near the 民宿 where we stayed and continued our journey to Nanwan Beach. We reached there around noon time. Grandma thought it would be better for me to stay in the car instead of running around on the sand. Daddy flew his Drone to capture photos of the bird’s-eye view of the beach and the sea for me. Mummy wore her hat to the beach and came back in a short while. The sand was too scorching hot for her feet. Let me show you how beautiful it is.

 

Can you see my mummy?

  
     
We reached the south most point of Taiwan too! (Actually daddy did. :p) Then we drove north to Taichung. We detoured to Kaohsiung first before going to Taichung actually. The reason being Uncle Bruce left his bag in Sizihwan Bay yesterday while they were taking photos/selfies happily. Luckily, a kind soul found the bag and returned to the nearest police station and mummy’s good friend went to get the bag back for him. How honest Taiwan people are! I love Taiwan people! Lesson learnt: be careful with your belongings when traveling. Mummy thought she was unable to meet the friend but in the end they still managed to meet up, though for a few minutes only. 

  

We quickly moved on and reached Taichung at nightfall. A must-see-attraction of this city is the famous Fengjia Night Market. I didn’t go again this time as the place was probably not the most hygienic place for a toddler like me and it was too late. Daddy and mummy explored the night market with a daring try of many kinds of street food. They tried all the following foods: