Christmas at Kiztopia

This year, we spent Christmas at Kiztopia because they had such a great deal. We have been to Kiztopia (Marina Square) before and I can safely say this is probably the biggest indoor playground in Singapore. This is one place I always tend to lose the kids. Somehow they will hop on to the indoor slides and I can't seem to find them anywhere. 

I am most impressed by them not just by their sheer size but also by the effort to keep maintaining the space. The area still looks new and relevant. There are new games such as the "floor is lava" and similar sort of game. It is not just fun for the kids, but also for the adults. Even I look forward to a day out there.

Ideally, a 3-hours slot should let you enjoy every single area, but by 2 hours in, we were all exhausted. This place has very kids' dream under the sun - unlimited train rides, exciting slides, hinoki pits, ball pits, trampolines, foot-to-floor-rides, extensive pretend-plays and even floor is lava games. Because we were there during the holiday seasons, we ended up managing to redeem $10 off some of their merchandise. We ended up going home with a passport holder and wallet each for the kids. Super lovely!

F&B-wise, each ticket also allow parents to purchase cheap coffee from Kith. Very thoughtful gesture, but we already had our coffee fix. The ice fruit popsicles were also very reasonable priced such that we always get to schedule a treat during our session. Our overall damage was around S$80 for 4 pax with 4 merchandise. :D Super pleased with how the day was given how much fun it was. 

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Kiztopia (Super worth it when you are buying passes) : https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/31617-kiztopia-ticket-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.

Pacific Emporium - Festive High Tea

We have been to their high tea before and really enjoyed it. Usually, we would go in the weekdays because it is easier to get a "spaceship". This is the first time we tried a weekend slot and I really enjoyed the "buffet style". Unlike before where we will basically be served one of each item, there was no cake tower and we could more of the items we really liked. 

Because it was the Christmas season, we got to enjoy special treats such as the beef wellington, roasted turkey breast and pork roulade. To be quite frank, I never quite fancy these dishes. But maybe it is because I never tasted anything astonishing. The serving here was so good, I ended up having 2 plates of them. 

For those who are particular about presentation, you might be slightly disappointed because there is no fancy cake stand. But I think the quantity of food really make up for it. It is a high tea that fills you up. Also, I love that they had a stand that served prawn noodle soup to warm the tummy. It was actually a great way to chill, and catch up during the festive season. If you want an more affordable buffet, this is a nice place to check out. 

S$78++ per person

S$39++ per person

Wishing all my readers a very blessed and wonderful Christmas!

Day out of Bintan Resort

Bintan have truly changed quite a bit since we have last visited. There is now more man-made sites to visit, making the place more interesting. Here's our itinerary should you be considering a trip out!

1. Dharma Shanti Temple

Do not be deceived by the photos, but this area is really quite small. It is at the the top of a small, modest temple. But this area is pretty impressive. I don't see anyone possibly spending more than 30 minutes here. It is quite a hidden gem. 

2. Blue Lake

This was the highlight for me. If you have a budget, you can just walk around to take photos. As the weather was good (and the kids really wanted to take the ATV), we decided to take it here. For info, most places are stricter and won't allow toddlers as pillion riders. It is market rate - around S$50 per pax, but the ride was really long and scenic. The guide would also help to take photos and videos. His photos are ok, but video skills can be improved LOL!

The weather was seemingly cloudy that day but we still ended up sunburnt. Remember your sunblock guys! No worries about insects cos it is pretty sterile. Strongly recommend this place as a pitstop. After this, we had lunch at a kelong recommended by the driver. I feel it is just a convenient tourist stop, nothing much to rave about. 

3. 500 Lohan Temple

I saw so many photos about it, I was pretty excited. This is quite far-flung and also actually a small area with humble temples around it. If you are not into buddhism, I think you can finish the place within 45 minutes max. As it is a man-made attraction, it is pretty curated. But kudos to Bintan tourism, for making the island more interesting. 

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Private Day Tour: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/127779-bintan-private-car-charter-driver/

Our driver was pretty good. We could negotiate on the day on the actual itinerary and make minor changes here and there. He even gave us an hour extra. 

** 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.

Great Christmas Village 2025

With the kids, Christmas is never really complete without a bit of carnival fun (like how the Caucasians celebrate it). And Great Christmas Village does it best. This year, Kiztopia is the main vendor. It was split between outside Ngee Ann City and Shaw House (like prior years). In terms of affordability, this year is much better priced at 6 credits per ride/ game. If you get it via the right platforms groupbuy, each credit is around $0.50

Even if you are not there to spend, there is quite a number of free photo areas which you can stop by to catch some photos and christmas spirit. My little girl was so impressed with the realistic fireplace, she almost tried to touch it. Haha. Both areas either have a tentage up or is within sheltered area. So it's a rain or shine event.

Every year, they would split the attractions between the areas. I prefer the selection at Ngee Ann City. The kids were crazy about the Bouncy Castle and the rides such as the Turbo Twister and Rudolf's Express were really more of my thing. I went around the early afternoon. There was a lesser crowd and because there wasn't anyone mending the rides (I thought they weren't open and went home empty handed).

There were also an area for food and lots of game booths. There were some obvious will-win booth (which are my favourite). I just can't bear going home empty-handed. At the other end, the jolly cruisers and the jolly jumps were favourites with my kids. For the claw machines fanatics, you will find them there. I had great fun and so did they, I might just hit another round there because I've got a great deal (and I will be sharing with you too!)

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Great Christmas Village 2025: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/182104-great-christmas-village-2025/

** 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.

Trying to be Cultured: All about Impressionism

In a bid to be more cultured, we made our way to the National Gallery to catch the largest French Impressionist Exhibition in collaboration with Museum of Fine Arts Boston. To be frank, before going, I don't even know what is Impressionism. Seeing it for myself up close, I realised I am not much of a fan. I prefer a lot more details in my art as compared to vagueness. I do agree with some art critics that some pieces look so much more like sketches than complete pieces.  

In the past, I have only heard of Monet. But interestingly, after seeing his works, I am a bigger admirer of Daubigny and his sea/ ship/ port pieces. I absolutely hated Renoir's masterpiece. Haha. I just didn't like the fused, unrealistic portraits. Though the style was distinct, I felt some were borderline sloppy. And the "anime" eyes just didn't sit well with me. 

If there is one thing I learn about art, it is that beauty truly lies in the eyes of the beholder. Comments by other attendees sometimes amuse me. There was a lady who was gushing over a piece of art which I totally hated. Lol. Apart from Monet, you will get to explore some of the iconic works by other artists such as Manet, Degas etc. Although I am in no way trained in art, you can still kinda realise that some "water", "peaches' and "roses' etc. are better drawn than the rest. 

A guided tour (or bringing a friend who is into art) isn't a bad idea if you are not into self-exploration/ self-realisation. A blind following the crowd, some of the appreciation techniques I have learnt include seeing the art up close, from the side and afar to notice the paint strokes and layering to create different effects. It is also interesting to notice the colour palette use to create different effects (i.e. some artist would use pink instead of white for water/ clouds).

Overall, I would still recommend making a trip down because it is not everyday we get to experience such masterpieces conveniently. For once, you don't have to travel to Europe etc. just to get to see these. Also, it is priced so affordably to encourage local attendance. It will only be in town from 14 Nov 25 to 1 Mar 26. Catch it while it is here!

National Gallery: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/1256-national-gallery-singapore/

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** 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.

Family-Friendly Trip at IHG Bintan

We did a 4D3N at Bintan. It was pretty long for Bintan's standards. We decided to take a longer trip because the ferry there is really expensive and we wanted a really good break. It was around S$60 for a one-way trip. To be quite frank, we were initially pretty worried because the reviews online about Bintan as a whole wasn't fantastic - mainly on how expensive it was. 

Now that we have been there done that, I would say that the resort you choose is very important. We picked IHG Bintan and we absolutely love it and had a great time there. There were lots of things to do there to keep you busy. Price-point was rather reasonable at ~S$150 per night.

IHG Bintan allows guest access to their private beach and also to their sister hotel - Hotel Indigo. You probably can't do any sea sports within the compound. But the kids had lots of fun building sandcastles, hunting seashells and chasing waves. For the adventurous, you can even visit a mini island when the tide is low. Insider tip, this is really the best time to catch interesting marine creatures in the sand and collect the pretty shells. 

Apart from the beach, we enjoyed the complimentary scenic boat ride within the hotel. The children also enjoyed the buggy rides when they were too lazy to work. Within the hotel, there was also the very popular Sunjivva Spa. My only mistake was not booking early and we ended up having to split up the sessions (with me not having any). While waiting, we will play foosball, playstation etc. at the games road. Wake up early enough and you will get to join the fish-feeding sessions.

IHG Bintan is extremely great for young families because of the Mangrove House Kids Club which allows drop-off. There is a daily activities schedule and should the kids choose not to join, they can also enjoy the indoor and outdoor play facilities.  No photos of the external play area, but I can ensure you they were extremely fancy with flying fox, climbing structures and kids bike etc. !

Another favourite of the kids was the pool. IHG Bintan is filled with pools, but we kept going back to the same area because of the lazy pool and its proximity to the kids waterplay area. We picked the pool access room near the Kids Club and it was so convenient for them to run in and out. Don't worry about the sound of screaming kids, soundproofing was awesome! Check out our next post for a full itinerary on a trip out to their city area. 

IHG Bintan: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/hotels/detail/1431586-holiday-inn-resort-bintan-lagoi-beach-by-ihg/

IHG Indigo Hotel: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/hotels/detail/1431598-hotel-indigo-bintan-lagoi-beach-by-ihg/

** 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.

Surviving JB during the school holidays

Back to JB again with the kids this time round so that it gives a better bang for our bucks. Don't be surprised but being novice we went during the school holiday...and survived it. Much to contrary beliefs, you SHOULD NEVER TAKE A CAR in. We took public transport and the wait was actually within acceptable standards. By the 5th bus (with 2 coming together), we were up and going. 

If you taking the train in, you would need to book way in advance. I heard it is at least 2 months. But for us, it was really a spontaneous decision. Although there were still train tickets, the timing just wasn't desirable. We decided to check out something off the beaten track - Eco Palladium. 

Lunch at The Courtyard Place

Though not fully occupied by tenants yet, Eco Palladium has lotsa of eateries. We settled on this because it seems to have more options for the kids. I really enjoyed this place because it serve a very healthy take on everything and some of the food was not something I could find outside. There was a kids menu available and also a mini play area to entertain the children as the adults have their own meals/ conversations. It is not very expensive too!

2. Work in Progress Studio

Next up, we went to get some crafts done! At Work in Progress Studio, you could make a moru doll or a silver ring. For the kids, we decided to go for the former because it was just easier for them. At Rm 88 (~S$30), you can make a doll with 10 tokens, a mystery accessory and unlimited beads. There was a lot of variety of apparels and accessories to pick from. My son being quite decisive, didn't use his full 10 tokens for his more simplistic doll. 

My daughter used his remainder to bring home cute little mini charm accessories to place in our mini house display (not all has to be attached to your doll). I really love their accessories cos some were really relatable like starbucks coffee and chagee bubble tea. The children had a lot of fun and it took around 1.5 hours in total to fully complete their moru doll. 

3. Kacha Kacha Studio (S$28)

Next up, we went to take some prints because the children were always badgering me about it and it is just way cheaper to do this in Malaysia. We only had 20 minutes to take our unlimited shots and 10 minutes to make the selection. It was pretty intense, given the toddlers had to be carried and dictated. We got to bring home some prints and digital prints for memories. It is a very popular place and some people travel to Eco Palladium just for it. 

4. Cuddle Co

The children needed a place to exhaust their energy so we decided to pop by Cuddle Co. Given its more outskirt location, I expected to be cheaper than the indoor playgrounds near the causeway malls. It turned out to be slightly more expensive. The staff, whom I initially thought to dislike children, turned up to be just anti-Singaporeans. They refused to speak to me in English and were basically very cold to us. The next family who popped by were Malaysians and they were absolutely charming. 

The indoor playground is very new and well-maintained. The kids had lots of good fun in an hour. There were cars for rent, photobooths services and also a top floor which sells overpriced kids clothings. You could also order food and drinks while you wait for the kids. However, the service was so deplorable and unwelcoming, I would 100% never step in again. 

After which, we headed back to the causeway malls for a quick meal and a pet cafe visit before we headed back home. No jam once again :D

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** 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.

Steak & U.S. Poultry Buffet at Entrepot

For those are curious, a steak & U.S. Poultry buffet is basically a buffet without seafood. For me, I am more of a red meat person, so this is right up my alley. Apart from steaks, chicken and turkey, you get to enjoy flavourful pasta, salad and an array of desserts. Compared to many other buffets, the variety isn't as wide. But...every dish was top-notch. 

Maybe it is because Entrepot is helmed by Chef Nixon, the chicken served was extremely tender and delicious. To be quite frank, I am more of a beef than chicken person. Usually, I just take a tiny serving of chicken at buffets just to try. This is one of the rare occasions, I went for a second helping. Apart from the chicken, the pumpkin (yes shocking since it doesn't form my usual palette) was another show stealer. 

For the children, they indulged in the pasta (one of the best I have ever tasted to be honest) and the chicken. They tried a bit of turkey and rounded up their meal with lots of desserts and a delicious white rabbit ice-cream (original is better tasting in my opinion). Generally, the flavour profile at this buffet is richer. 

The meats taste better when paired with reds. For non-alcoholic options, you must try the exclusive The Robertson House Curated Teas and The Robertson Brew. To find the recommendations in their drink menus, simply look for the word Robertson, and you will find the Robertson Gin & Tonic (S$24 per glass), Dr. Robertson's Lager ($12 half pint/ $17 full pint), Dr Robertson's Chai Tea Lemonade ($12 per glass)

The Christmas buffets happens only from 24th to 28th December 2025. Children under 6 yo gets to dine free. It is priced pretty affordably too, especially the top-up for the alcoholic beverages. 

• Adults: S$78++
• Children: S$48++
• Unlimited Wine: S$28++ (Add an additional S$10 for Robertson Lager and Gin & Tonic, including House Spirits)

I can't wait for X'mas already and all its merry feasting. Entrepot is located at the fancy Robertson House. It is really new and gorgeous, perfect place for a staycation to wind down for the year. :)

Review of Oceanarium

Oceanarium rebranded and opened and we finally made our way there. To be quite frank, apart from the jelly fish exhibition, I didn't find the whole Oceanarium to be particularly impressive. The design of the whole area was a little like a maze. Halfway in, with the dim lights and all, I was feeling rather lethargic pretty eager to get out. 

Overall, it looks quite the same. I pretty much enjoyed the peep into the aquarist lab. There is the option of an insider experience, where you can have behind-the-scene visits and one-to-one with certain aquatic creatures. The additional price varies, but when you are coming as a family - it can add up to being pretty pricey. And at this stage, I just can't bear paying it and some just merely guided tours which feels like a rip-off. 

There was still an area for the guests to touch the marine creatures. I am not sure whether it is fixed - but touching the cleaner shrimps are just pretty meh. I have them in my tank at home too. So tell me, what's so special?!? Still, my kids went for the experience twice since the queue was non-existent. We got our basic tickets via klook so there was some slight discount, but it was really hard to utilize the complimentary food and retail vouchers. The food kiosk lacks mains and basically serve light snacks, while the minimum spending for the retail voucher was set too high in my opinion. 

Nonetheless, I think everyone should go to the Oceanarium at least once. There are some sea creatures which i don't really think is featured elsewhere such as the axolotl (a crowd favourite), skeleton fishes and deep sea creatures etc.  The sharks, dolphins and manta ray arena, honestly were not featured as prominently as it should given how much the public loves them. Much to improve...maybe wait for a while before you visit. (shrugs)

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Oceanarium: https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity/119-singapore-oceanarium/

** 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.

ULTi Flex Premium Monitor Arm

It has been a while since we did any key upgrade to the house. The husband finally decided to do some key change to the work desk because I was making such a big mess out of it. Introducing the ULTi adjustable monitor arm (S$80 after discount) which help because we are currently sharing the table. So now we can adjust accordingly to suit our respective heights. Heard it was best in the market and it is probably so, given how sleek it looks, hiding all my unsightly wires!

For those who have followed me for a while, you may know that my desk was upcycled from my grandmother-in-law old sewing machine (read post here.) It is very precious such that I would rather die than allow damages to it. A very nice solution was this Steel Reinforcement Mount Plate (~$20). All within S$100. Now that it looks great, I hope I keep it that way. 

Best Food/ Snacks of Hanoi, Vietnam

Vietnam was a quick stopover for me. But boy did I enjoy some of the food and snacks I bought there!

Breakfast at pho ga nguyet and egg coffee at Cafe Giang

Generally, I am not much of a fan of chicken breast even if it is teared. But pho ga nguyet does it so well. It is so tender that I can understand why they got their Michelin star. It is a must-go, I have never tasted anything similar. Egg Coffee is really not for everyone. I love the taste, but I got a feeling my stomach is not very accepting of it. Cos after, my tummy felt rather queasy. Good to try on the last day :D

Pizza 4P's

If you have a little budget, this is a place to go. I have tasted pizza and pasta, but 4P's is great at enhancing the familiar flavours. Four Cheese has always been my favourite flavour, but do you know it taste better with honey (as per 4P's recommendation)? If I had a bit more budget/ time in Hanoi, I might have tried more on their menu. It is definitely a place I wouldn't mind visiting twice. 

Banh Mi 25

My friends forgot to send me the photos for these. But I absolutely love the Banh Mi here. I can come here twice just to try the different items on their menu! Easy on the pockets too, you cannot miss this place.

Top 3 Must Buy Snacks (ranked accordingly):

The snacks are quite easily available and can be found in all leading supermarket. Nearly half my luggage was packed with snacks. My only grouse was I should have had a bigger luggage and more cash at hand to purchase all the snacks I wanted. 

1. Cha Bong: Is like Wang Wang with pork floss. It was a huge hit with both my kids and the people I bought back for. 


2. Vinamit Jackfruit Chips: I am absolutely obssessed with it. And so is my mother, but I think it is for people who absolutely love Jackfruit. 


3. Top Coco: If you like coconut, this is something you should really buy back. 

There are a few decent coffee brands - G7 and Legend. They are cheaper in Vietnam, but no longer exclusive there, so I am not sure if they make as good souvenirs. I was so shock when I saw Legend at Fairprice haha. I bought chocolates from Maison Marou. Personally, I don't find everything being good - only some. It is also very expensive for Vietnam standards and ok for Singapore standards. It is local, so I decided to get some home.  

If you like pate (the spread you find in their banh mi), you can try cot den hai phong. I feel it taste better with lots of butter. To end my trip, I had a nice coffee from Gau. Ended up buying their beans back too. If I had another day, I would probably hang around their cafe to enjoy their pastries. 

Goodbye Hanoi, I had fun. Feel free to let me know where are some nice food haunts and coffee place. I am definitely coming back. I love Vietnam!

Science Centre: Cheap, Good and Educational

It has been a while since we had gone to Science Centre and boy, we were so impressed with the changes. When I was a kid, I had always enjoyed the mirror maze. I am happy to say a facelift has been given and it is so much more confusing and fun than before. Even as an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Some of familiar exhibitions remained unchanged and were not too exciting for me, but the kids still enjoyed them. Others had a facelift like the Mirror Maze. There were also new exhibitions that made science centre feels fresh and snazzy. I also like how all the exhibits involved hands-on activities or were gamified to be more more engaging and interactive, instead of a pure boring read.

The new exhibits involved the Savage Garden which my kids absolutely loved. Apart the musical intro which felt like a live theatre show, there was a mini slide within. There was a also a mechanised venus flytrap photo area. My kids might have thought this was a minature indoor playground. My only grouse was that some exhibitions were not functioning/ spoilt but there was no notification on it. Having said that, that's probably like 1-2 out of hundreds of exhibtions. 

For the first time, I also caught the Fire Tornado Show. In the past, I have only seen the lightning show which is always impressive. Only problem was that I watched it since I was a kid, I could basically anticipate the whole flow. So having another show to look forward to was a great change. Apart from these 2 demonstrations, I thought it would have been nice if they could do live experiments involving the children. 

Just to caveat, Science Centre was huge and we didn't finish the whole place. This was because my kids spent most of the time at their favourite place - Waterworks. This was literally like a mini water play area. I like how safe it is - the only issues maybe just rowdy kids. But you could just let the kids round around with no fear of them falling/ drowning etc. There was also a changing and bathing area. 

I would recommend this being the last exhibition. Once the children go in, they are never going to come out. You don't necessarily need to change into swimwear but be sure to bring at least spare clothes and towels. Otherwise, you would need to get it from their retail which is still pretty affordably priced. For any one with kids, I would suggest going to Science Centre. It is a great place and not to be missed. 

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Science Centre: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/destination/p50057063-science-centre-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.

Tastes of the Australian Outback: How can Australia be so yummy!

They always say food taste better when shared. So we decided to bring the taste of Australia to the men at home. So Edge launched its "Tastes of the Australian Outback’ Dinner Buffet Experience" as at 14 October until 9 November 2025. Apart from the usual delight, they got to enjoy Tasmanian Oysters, Poached Rainbow Strout and also the Giant Australian Queensland Group, steamed Teochew-style. 

If you love your meats, the carving station included a slow-roasted Angus Beef, slow-roasted Kangaroo Leg marinated in Taylor Port Wine (like what!) and Australian Duck Bourguignon with Nashi Pear. The first thing we had to know after they enjoy their spread was how does a kangaroo leg taste, "delicious" apparently!

At the charcoal Barbecue Grill, you will find aromatic Grilled Olive-marinated Spatchcock with roasted parsnips and pacific mussels in Chardonnay Sauce. It was an excellent place to catch-up with old friends or gather with loved ones over endless feasting and drinks to pair. The men had a roaring good time and learnt a lot more about the parts of the cow. 

Tastes of the Australian Outback is only available during dinner (from 6pm to 10pm) It is priced a little cheaper than the usual buffet price: 

• $120++ per adult | Inclusive of free flow of soft drinks
• $60++ per child (6 to 12 years old) | Inclusive of free flow of soft drinks

So if you haven't given Edge a try before, this is the time to try!

** To get additional discounts, you can 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.

Dinosaurs Extinctions Us Review

We finally made it to the must-raved Dinosaur Exhibition at Science Centre - Dinosaurs Extinctions Us. Honestly, it was pretty disappointing mainly because of the inaccurate hype (via influencers etc.). The dinosaurs bones are NOT REAL- Only a few are. The whole exhibition is made up of bones 3D-printed from the real bones. I felt really cheat cos I paid nearly S$100 for the whole family to be there. :'(

I felt pretty stupid too because when I first saw the bones, I was thinking they looked pretty pristine. 3D-prinitng didn't really cross my mind. In fact, I might have left the exhibition thinking they were real if not for an ardent staff who were sharing stories about the bones - pointing out teeth marks in the real bone (which look a lot more rugged by the way). Kudos to him, because the rest of the staff were just acting like CCTVs, staring at us. 

The whole exhibition was also pretty small. There was a station at the end, for the kids to colour and design their own dinosaurs. There were also some paid activities - which seemed like a rip-off (because kidstop has it for free). The souvenir store was also half-hearted attempt selling taobao dinosaurs merchandise. Unless you are a die-hard dino-fan (like my kids), you probably would find it to be an utter waste of time. Lee Kong Chian  Natural History Museum would have been a better and more afforable place to visit. 

The only silver lining was that the tickets came with complimentary entrance to Science Centre (which was complimentary to begin with because we went on a non-peak). In comparison the affordable Science Centre was so much more fun and educational (even for the adults). Please read my next post on the review! 

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Dinosaurs Extinction Us (Pls book from Klook as it provides non-bundled deal which may not available from the main website): https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/178294-science-centre-dinosaurs-extinctions-us-exhibition/

Alternative Dinosaur Experiences

Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/1680-lee-kong-chian-natural-history-museum-singapore/

Jurassic World The Experience: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/127-gardens-by-the-bay-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.

Best Food of Sa Pa

 During my trip at Sa Pa, I had some of the best food. To be frank, I really enjoyed all my meals there. 

O Quy Ho Restaurant, Sapa

The Hmong Black Chicken Pumpkin Soup was a must-try. In most reviews, people enjoy it. I absolutely love it. To be honest, I don't really remember what the names of the other dishes are. But show these photos to the staff. The food were all good, but the steamed and fried bamboo rice were not really our thing. We prefer our sticky rice better. The vegetables were divine (caveat: I love vegetables). It was a close second after the soup and it is something I can't find at home. I would really come back for the soup if I could :'( 

Món Ngon Tây Bắc

Took me a while before I found what this place was called as it was a recommendation from our driver. We love this restaurant so much we came back twice. The first time we had the sturgeon steamboat because it was rainy and cold. I love their pork and banana blossom salad (not for all). We had a portion of the Ca-Nach pork here and it was delicious. you have to book in advance for some of the whole banquet (which we probably can't finish). 

Best of all, this place came with a flute player who serenaded us with pop songs throughout. <3 So much love for him, we tipped him heavily. Also the waiters here could speak both English and Mandarin which made ordering a lot easier. 

Chusu Kitchen

If you would like to try Sa pa's fine dining, you got to check this place out. We chance upon this restaurant and the food was so good. I think it is fusion but the taste is something we don't really find on the streets and back at home. I wouldn't deem this to be cheap (nearly SG restaurant prices, but not fine-dining price), but it was definitely worth the money. I can't wait to be back with my husband so I can show this off to him :P

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Cafe Spots

Viettrekking Cafe

This is quite a tourist-known place and it has great view. The drinks are really good too and it serves decent food upstairs. I would have hung out here everyday cos it is so near our hotel. You can just sit at their al-fresco seating and watch the funicular railway go up and down. 

De Mong

Sa Pa has quite a bit of nice cafes - cheap with awesome view. The only problem is that there is just that much coffee I can drink a day without getting insomnia at night. Sa Pa is a great place to take a more relaxing pace and just do some cafe-hopping. Apart from De Mong, there are many similar cafes with breathtaking views or themed photo-areas. The only problem is that it is crowded by domestic tourists, dressing in a specific style, taking countless photos. 

** Travel Hacks: 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.