Oasia Hotel Novena Staycation

My very privileged kids got another staycation with their grands at Oasia Hotel Novena. Because my mother fell sick, I got lucky too haha and earned myself an overnight stay. For a staycation option, this place was awesome. It was convenient located above Novena MRT station and was surrounded by lots of malls. It also gave me a really good opportunity to explore this area. 

The hotel room isn't fantastically big (without a sofa), but there was enough space to dump our stuff. As we don't intend to spend much time indoors so that didn't bother us too much. The high-rise view was spectacular. For its price range, this place provided one of the most beautiful views. 

As usual, my kids were wild about the pool and just chilling around it was all they wanted to do. I really liked the fact that they had a shallow pool for the children to play in. I doubt the adult pool was a full lap pool, but my kids sure enjoyed floating (with assistance). Oasia Hotel Novena is not entirely branded to be family friendly, so don't expect floats/ indoor playrooms etc. My kids brought their own water gun and was shooting around the shallow pool (which they were the only kids.)

But what really surprised me about this place, was the club lounge, which was exclusive for the Club members. If you were staying on the club floor or suite, you would automatically gain access to it. Otherwise, you could pay an additional S$300 to enjoy the privacy and facilities. That's pretty steep in my opinion because you could actually stay another night there with that amount. 

Sheltered from rain, the jacuzzi was warm and the infinity pool's was alright. But you had to be really prim and proper here. My kids struggled with that. There was also an exclusive dining area for the breakfast buffet. But for families with young toddlers, such luxuries were difficult to be enjoyed. We ended up having a great time at the places for the masses. 

Novena is undergoing some constructions so it can be pretty difficult to travel on foot with a stroller. But there is United Square nearby which had lots of children-friendly stores. Lots to do and shop. It was a great recharge. Would really recommend it for any parents!

** 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.

Check this out - Korea Art Past, Present, Future

Being committed to the arts in Singapore, I decided to do a post about the exhibition - Korea Art Past, Present, Future because I think the organiser of this did a terrible marketing job. This exhibition is in place to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Korea-Singapore Diplomatic Relations and it takes place at The Arts House. The only reason I knew about it was because my kids were randomly exploring and barged into it. 

It is completely free for public viewing and consists of artworks from Korean painters. The artwork were a sight behold and it incorporated Korean elements (either in the use of their materials or expression) within. The exhibition is not huge and is probably not something you will make your way there for (because The Arts House isn't well utilised, pardon my honesty.) But if you are in the vicinity (which is not hard), you should make a detour to check it out. 

Sharing some of my favourite pieces here but to be quite frank, photos don't do them justice because it cannot capture the vibrancy and texture that give life to the pictures. All artwork are for sale and all proceeds go to charity! They are not particularly pricey, but I don't have space in my house to display them :'(

Please go check them out ok, I just feel bad for the translator who is here to share more but have no one to share to!

Kidsfest 2025: The Lion Inside

We are back again for Kidsfest and I have to say that the line-up was awesome (as always). There was a rerun of The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Read our review here) which had started out our #2 successfully on her theatre appreciation journey when she was 15MO. This time round, we decided to watch "The Lion Inside" which explored the concept of courage and loneliness. I loved how wholesome and interactive it was. 

We were a lot closer to the stage and the dark savannah backdrop initially scared our #2. She was hiding in my chest. But once she heard the chirpy and familiar intro, we observed her slowly turn her head to embrace the stage. It was wonderful to see her clapping along, engaged with the crew. 

Some parents/readers have asked me if theatre for children generates returns given that the price to go as a family is "not cheap". For me, I think it would be great for a child go at least once in a lifetime, if the family can afford it. Going for every production would numb the wow factor and cost a huge hole in the pocket. One Kidsfest production yearly sounds about reasonable. So choose a good production and save it for a special occasion (birthday celebration)/ reward. Also, always keep a lookout for discount codes or go during the weekdays to get better value!

From my experience of my children with the productions, the first show is always uneventful. The child will tend to be fussy and you seem to be spending more time pacifying the child than really bonding and enjoying the production. It is 2nd one onwards which you can see the glow and fascination in the face. Watching how the backdrops/ props transform from one scene to another does also encourage the mind to be more innovative and resourceful. Even as an adult, sometimes I am impressed how a story is brought to life on stage either through the use of deliberate music, lighting projection or smart use of props. 

Harry Potter - Visions of Magic

Visions of Magic is an exhibition people probably in the late 20s to early 40s should not miss because Harry Potter is a literature which we basically grew up with. I remember being so engrossed I missed 3 buses in a row. :'( The closest we ever got to the magic visually was through the theatre but this time we could actually immersed in it. This was mind-blowingly good even though I didn't watch the Fantastic Beast. 

We went with the whole family (i.e. including the young and the old). I was initially doubtful how much my parents and kids (who are not entirely PotterHeads) would enjoy the experience. It was marketed for families and I have to say it did live up to its expectations. Magic is truly wonderous and the whole exhibition was extremely visually engaging. 

Every one who entered the exhibition was given a magical wand (except the very yound). It does feel like a rite of passage to wizarding and my boy who has been an aspiring wizard (favourite costume every year is to be a witch) went wild. It doesn't take much for magic to happen. So the children did feel it was them that was the source of marvel. You could only go forward and some specific sites (which was the single source of specific events) had a tiny queue. 

Even though we went on a weekend, the crowd was very well controlled and it didn't feel claustrophobic or overly packed. There was enough space for photo opportunities. My only grouse is that my own phone camera isn't that good in capturing in the dim lights. The actual experience is a lot more impressive than what you see in my photos for sure!

Apart from the exhibition, the store was also a place of marvel. The items were quite well-priced and could even be exhibits. If you had gotten your tickets via Klook (here), you can get an additional S$10 off your loots. I spent quite a bit of time just choosing and browsing. Finally settled on a magnet. The wands, jewelry and cardigan almost came home with me, just that some didn't have my sizing. :'(

There was also Butterbeer available (safe for children)! In total, I spent 2 hours in the exhibition. It feels like a tick off a bucket list because now I am part of the magic. I was initially a bit worried my parents and children might be bored, but was pleased to know that they left eager to know more about the wizarding world. They couldn't stop chattering about it. A must go for families while they are still here in 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.

Rendezvous Hotel - Review

 

The other day, the kids tagged along my parents for a staycation. Generally, I don't really bother to review these because I don't stay overnight. But for this one, we decided to upgrade to the family suite which came with an extra bed. So, I slept overnight. Personally, I thought the location was really good. There was a lot of good food / things to see in the district. 

Rendezvous Hotel though a little on the older side, I thought had a character. No photos on the lobby, but it left an impression because of the interesting art pieces. The building had a little of the Great Gatsby vibe. Glad that we grabbed a stay before it was refurbished, cos otherwise I doubt the $ per night would be as attractive for 3A + 2C.

Around the hotel, there was Chjimes, Raffles City, Capitol and Funan, just to name a few malls. In terms of food selection, there were plentiful too. The buffet breakfast despite its gorgeous-looking restaurant was horrendous. (Usually, I would never say that so you can totally imagine how bad it is.) My kids actually spat out the food and refused to eat. My suggestion would be to skip the breakfast and just try out all the nice eateries outside. 

In terms of play area, if you are Singaporean, you should check out the Children's Museum which is free and well within walking distance. You can read my review here. For foreigners you can purchase tickets. Overall, I really liked the hotel spacious room and its location. Would really recommend it for those who is just looking for a quick respite within 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.