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.