Stylophone, Finally!

I was eyeing on the stylophone for the longest time, so I was so stoked to finally got it. And best of all, thanks to ecommerce, I don't have to fly to Europe/ US to get it and the price has fallen, making it affordable for the masses. Apart from trying out novelties, I also really enjoy collecting weird instruments. I still haven't master it. But I am so amused by it. The kids also had a great time fiddling around. 

For the older folks who love David Bowie, this is an instrument that is very familiar to them. If you have background in music, this is not too difficult to figure out. But to perform it with other instruments, that's a struggle for me (cos I am not musically inclined) >_< love its techno sound, here's how you could possibly perform it!

Night Safari Review

It has been a while since we went to Night Safari. I have always remembered it being a top-notch attraction and the tram ride was a true highlight. All the animals were roaming, some even up close. It was truly a night to remember. One of the fire shows was cancelled that day which was a bit of a bummer. We managed to catch "Creatures of the Night" which was pretty interesting, just that I wish the show was a little longer. 

For people who are uncomfortable in the dark, the whole Night Safari is pretty dimly lit. At certain pathway, it could be pretty spooky. Halloween Night potential spots. We started with the walking paths first. Can't really decide whether this was a good idea because the queue for the tram rides were crazy when the night was early. By the time we were done with the paths, we didn't have to queue for the tram rides. But the kids were exhausted, one fell asleep on the tram (thinking it ended). 

Photo-taking was also extremely difficult. Most of my photos were not sharp. It is really a place where you will remember with your eyes. For families with young kids, I wouldn't suggest coming here cos the park becomes alive when your kids are ready for their rest. Fortunately, we were staying within the park. But by the time, we headed back to the resort, the children were sound asleep. 

For someone who has been to the park previously, Night Safari isn't like the zoo whereby you can visit over and over again. It is those place which you would visit once every 10 years (LOL!). Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it. But even as an adult, I was drained after the visit and the dim lighting made me want to sleep. And I think it is extremely difficult to keep refreshing the park, given that it isn't huge. *

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Night Safari (for locals, please compare prices with at Mandai website): https://www.klook.com/en-SG/destination/p50057039-night-safari-of-singapore/

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5%  Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Mandai Rainforest Resort Review

After lots of hype, we decided to make our way to the Mandai Rainforest Resort too. It was located right in the heart of Mandai Zoo, with lots of greenery, away from the bustling city life. First impression wasn't too bad. We were welcome by random monkeys. Check-in was very prompt and service was top-notch. Kids amenities/ room slippers were provided. You could even loan a stroller from the concierge. 

Our room was the Family Sanctuary. It was well decorated and spacious, and could possibly sleep up to 4A + 2C comfortably. The children were particularly excited about the bunk bed. For me, it was about the thoughtful, tiny details in the room that made it memorable. Plus, the room was really new :)

Each night cost a whooping S$400+ and we could only afford 2D1N on staycation budget. The first place we checked out was the pool. I thought it was pretty disappointing. It has an infinity pool but there isn't much to see. There was a half-hearted lap pool and kids pool. At 5pm, there was free ice cream distributed. But that was pretty much all. The kids had fun, but I expected more. 

There was a good amount of eateries within walking distance, but the queue could be really long during dining hours. I thought there should be at least discount for hotel guests. But nope, the same went for Mandai tickets (apparently, Singaporean citizens could get better prices if you buy via the websites.) During our 2D1N, we visited the Night Safari (read our review here). By the time we were done, it was nearly 10pm+ and the kids were dead tired. I was so relief that we only lived nearby. 

There is a kids club within the resort, but I thought it was ridiculous that they were charging S$10 per child per day given the limited and quite off the mill activities they had for them to do. (This should really be a free service). The playground look great, but couldn't really entertain the kids more than an hour, half an hour if you are lucky.

For those who wonders what is the catch, I think it is the complimentary breakfast. It was super impressive. The variety was huge (and the biggest I have ever seen in all my vast hotel/ staycation stays), including machines for you to create your own juice concoction, pancakes etc. There was even alcohol. Apart from that, non-typical breakfast menu such as ice-cream, chocolate fondues were available. I was so stuffed by the end. S$400+ is still quite a stretch for me, and I didn't even went for the most extravagant treehouse. Great for an one-time experience, but my pocket just can't do it again. 

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Mandai Rainforest Resort: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/hotels/detail/1752819-mandai-rainforest-resort-by-banyan-tree/

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5%  Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.