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.

SG 60 at the Zoo

SG60 sure has many perks, one of which is discounted tickets to the local attractions - one of which is the zoo. The elderly in the family bought the discounted annual passes and we tapped on the discounts to make another trip in. By now, we are quite familiar with the offerings of the zoo. But it is still a great place to go because the area is pretty big and we can break the visits to focus on different areas. 

Also, the children really enjoy it. Apart from checking out the animals, they would spend most of the time at KidzWorld at the petting zone. They will be showing lotsa love to the rabbits, guinea pigs and grooming goats. Even for the adults, it is pretty enjoyable if you are a lover of furies - I was feeling all warm and fuzzy when a rabbit came to me to be petted. There is also a dry and wet playground within the area. 

This time round, we didn't managed to get any feeding sessions. Note: If you are going on a weekend or during the school holidays, be sure to book for these sessions ahead. Otherwise, they will be fully booked. One new event that caught my eye was the Hello from the Wild sessions. My friend went for it and it seems really cool. But it was definitely more expensive as compared to the feeding session. Each pax cost an additional ~$50 and a family of 4 would cost nearly $200. For me, this is more a special occasion than a normal day out. 

My daughter, being pretty excited also dressed herself as a ranger and attracted the attention of the real rangers. We went to some of the sharing sessions and learnt about the fossils/ bones of the animals. The whole Mandai experience has always been wholesome. Can't wait to check out the latest additions - Rainforest Wild Asia and to try out Colugo Camp and Mandai Rainforest Resort (both waiting for the price to drop and service to stabilise!)

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Zoo (For Singaporeans, please check Mandai site to compare prices): https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/141-singapore-zoo-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.

A day at the Bird Paradise

We have finally made our way to the newly revamped Bird Park and I am absolutely in awe by it. It is located at the newly built wing. At the entrance, there was this manmade waterfall that made the entrance more grand. Unlike its predecessor, this was more curated but not in a bad way. The layout was very thoughtful and deliberate which made the whole visit impactful. 

To a certain extent, birds are less interesting than animals which come in greater form and variety. So I felt it was quite a challenge to make an aviary interesting, but they did it. I love how the whole place was layered and connected. It was beautiful.  Most of the birds except the predators were no longer enclosed in cages and could fly freely in larger enclosures. 

The shows underwent quite a bit of revamped in a good way. Because the birds are so tiny in nature, I struggled my previous visits there to even see them. With the big screens, I could now fully appreciate their talent and performance. It is a shame that the videos are pre-loaded, thought it would better if it could be recorded live. My little girl was so inspired, she her arm out throughout, hoping to have a bird or 2 land. 

For those who like surprise elements, I had a bird or 2 fluttering pass my head. If you are lucky, some birds would even hop onto you or the railings near you for a shot or 2. Based on my observation, the birds were pretty gentle though the grip of their claws may be too tight for comfort. 

An experience not to be missed would be dining with the penguins at Penguin Cove Restaurant. My kids had so much fun looking at the penguins and so did I. While we were there, there were quite a few swimming around and we managed to golden seats and great photos! In my opinion, price-point it was a lot more affordable than Ocean Restaurant at Sea Aquarium. Food taste was reasonable. (Penguin bun was a little meh, but the rest of the food were good.) Can be a bit cold but great respite from the warm weather outside. 

Generally, I thought the prices of even the retail shops at Bird Park was very reasonable. We ended up grabbling a kids umbrella which was on 30% discount. I also like the design of each eating area. There will always be a play area tagged. It makes it easier for parents to take a break. My kids would play around an hour at each play slot. Can't wait for the water area to open :D

For the feeding sessions, you really need to book early. We managed to get one slot and due to the poor weather, it was cancelled (which was a first for us). So when a feeding session gets cancelled, you will get a refund which you can use at their retail outlets. My boy was so disappointed - he cried and the kind keepers let him threw a fish. I could understand why they cancelled it because the response from the birds were rather underwhelming. None was willing to brave the weather to feed. Guess Mandai goes by the motto of "No experience better than poor experience".

The keepers also gave the kids some pins and a front row train ride to make their day better and more special. A lot of people always claimed the Bird Park to be the less attractive cousins. But since young, I found the Bird Park to have more of a soul. Although I have spent a lot more time at the zoo, but most of my core memories were actually formed at the Bird Park. Always a special place in my heart <3

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Bird Park (for locals, please compare prices with at Mandai website): https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/123-bird-paradise-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.

Back at the zoo again for the Zoolympix

If you are badge collector like me, this is sure to be something that is up your alley. For clarity, we didn't go there because of the Zoolympix, it just happen to be going on while we were there. But it was a really great event because it always feels great when you get some extra goodies and it was a nice goal to work towards for the adults. (We went with the extended family so the adults may get bored when the little one hang around too long with the animals.)

When we registered, we also got a packet of Milo and Coco-crunch which made the kids really happy. The route for River Safari was quite straight forward. We actually completed it first and took our own sweet time. For the Zoo portion, there was a specific path to take. Because we had less than 2 hours there, we made a mad dash - my brother was eager to complete the Zoolympix so that we can get 3 badges instead of 1. (You get an extra 1 batch for completing both.)

While we were there, we also enjoyed the Champion meal. It was decently priced but very diabetic. LOL! Like most of the Mandai operated F&B, the food quality is pretty decent. If you are very competitive, you must make your way to the Champions Village at the Zoo. There is a bouncy castle (which deflated right before my #1 eyes. He was crushed.) and there are way more events there, which we all missed cos we landed there pretty late in the day. 

Since the kids arrived, we have been the Zoo/ River Safari for multiple times. River Safari if it is rainy and Zoo if we are game to walk. We try to avoid going for both in a day because honestly, the kids have their own opinions and they are more curious and patient to observe than the adults. Also, they can stop very, very long at play areas. Hehe. This was probably the first time we conquered both. 

We also finally managed to catch a show at the River Safari. I was so blown over by how interactive and cosy it was. Definitely the best Mandai show ever, somebody give the hosts a promotion please! I was a walk-in so don't give up if you didn't manage to book any slots. Many times, I give up too early. Truly, good things go to those who wait. *winks* 

Definitely worth a visit this June holidays! 

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Zoo (For Singaporeans, please check Mandai site to compare prices): https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/141-singapore-zoo-singapore/

River Wonders (For Singaporeans, please check Mandai site to compare prices): https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/124-river-wonders-singapore-tickets/

** 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.

Day out at the Zoo - New Kidzworld

There have been some poor reviews on the "new Kidzworld"...but my kids really enjoyed it. I think it might be because I never experienced the old Kidzworld before so to me everything is new. The reviews are true to describe the water play area to be basically sprinklers with very little structures. But I really like how clean the bathing/ changing areas were. 

The toddler did play at the dry playground which was more impressive in terms of structure but the weather was really warm and humid so he didn't last long there. (Sorry for the lack of photos cos I went to the petting area with the baby.) As for the petting area, we could only pet the animals at the end of the show. We spent really long at the free petting range with the goats :)

I really love petting animals. But it would be great if we could pet more than just the goats. This was probably the area we stayed the longest. It is true...when they say the kids will never leave it. My tip is save the Kidzworld as the last stop so that the children can enjoy other parts of the zoo. To set expectations realistic, my children don't really look at each animal for a really long time. 10 mins max at each animal with random babbling and questions. 

The longest arena we stayed was for the reptiles, maybe because it is air-con. Or my toddler really like the cold-blooded creatures...*shudders*. Another highlight would be the tram just for the ride experience. You can't really see much animals on the tram. I won't advise it to the mode of transport if you have a stroller because folding and unfolding the stroller to load on the stroller is exhausting. 

We did catch a show with the children. It was not amazing. The animals were really small so we could barely see anything and we are seated halfway away from the stage. And it was so hot :'( I am quite surprised the kids manage to sit through the whole show. For food, we chose to have it at Ah Meng Cafe. The food was very reasonably priced (20% off for Wildlife Reserves Members - free to sign up by the way) and the portions were huge!

The food at Kidzworld is more expensive by the way. Haha. But the reason why we chose Ah Meng was because it is on its way and I am quite tempted to give Breakfast it the Wild a try in future. Hope this review helps. You can read my past review here on other Zoo tip!

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Ticket to Zoo: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/141-singapore-zoo-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.

2022: Hello Bird Park!

Omg I feel so stupid, so the husband asked me if the Bird Park was still in Jurong and I am like duh no, it is in Mandai. Ah crap, it is still in Jurong (feel so stupid). I don't know if it is because I have low expectations, but there were some really pretty features at Bird Park that left a deep impression on me. The last time I went there was like a good decade back, there were quite a bit of changes. 

This time round, we went with the extended family because I wasn't feeling the best, so more help is always appreciated (tips for parents!) Unlike the previous family trips, we didn't last as long "in the wild". It was really because of me (sobs) more than my little boy. 

Now that Covid restrictions has been lifted, we even managed to get seats to the bird show and some nice, maskless photos at the end. I was pretty stoked because this is the first time after a long while (I just couldn't book any at the zoo). The parrots were so talented! But my son wasn't too impressed by the flying birds and cried to get out of the show halfway. Initially, we did consider purchasing some bird feeding tickets but because kiddo didn't react too well, we decided to give it a pass this time round. 

In terms of the toilet, I find that they are not as kid-friendly as those in the zoo. My kid ended up going to the ladies and standing at the side (with tons of other kids and Mummies) as we changed their diapers. Food options were slightly more varied, but stock supplies were low. I wanted a pasta but because it was OOS, I had to be satisfied with an ice-cream, which my kid unabashedly chomp off half. 

The cages at the Bird Park does make it really difficult to bird-watch. I have no idea why, but the cages are green in colour which camouflage with the leaves. The anatomy of birds are pretty much the same so I sort of got bored after a while. Our kiddo as usual miss the whole point and was more interested in the greenery, with occasional cries and points when he spots a bird. Basically, every bird he sees is called a bird apart from the cockerel which he correctly identified. 

The terrain is also filled with a lot more slopes. Thank god, tram ride is free! My kid thoroughly enjoyed those rides and call it the cho-cho train. Parents, do remember to bring your stroller. At areas where the strollers were not allowed, the kiddo had his doting uncle/ grandma who was always eager to carry him around. 

We didn't visit every place but some areas not to be missed include the penguin arena (there is aircon and you can see the penguins swimming around), my son love those little creatures. Also, at the Treetops cafe, there was this link bridge with lots of birds feeding activities. It is really awesome!

Presenting my favourite spot - the manmade waterfall. Initially, I thought it was just some lame photo spot. But it is an uncaged area with birds wandering and flying around. I somehow felt one with nature. I love how jungle-like and uncurated it is. I don't think the photos did any justice to the place, but this is truly a spot not to be missed. 

I can't remember if Bird Park was always like this or if this was a new addition along the years. But it truly blew me away and made the trip very worth. I would say that this spot beats the zoo hands-down. :) By the way, the children's play area is still closed :(

We went to the zoo (Covid Edition)

Decided to do this post because there are probably many parents out there who are contemplating to bring their kids out and are hesitant. Some tips from us to you so that there are at least some things to look forward to during this Covid.

Dressing our little one in the classy and simple Polo Bodysuit in Beige ($39.90) from The Baby Closet

1. To minimise the risk, go during a weekday. That's what we did, we took leave to do that (but oh wells so many days and nowhere to spent it on anyway) There was barely anyone, the most people we saw was during the feeding session and everyone was scattered around quite safely. 


2. Packing list: We brought a lot of food, snacks, milk and water for baby. (There is a water refill station near the Ah Meng Restaurant). For the adults, we only brought water and an umbrella haha, so much difference!


3. In terms of baby travelling tools, we used a stroller and and the carrier. On top of that, we just bring along our diaper bag (read our review here) and our food bag. We actually took a grab (for parents without car), that's how we travel "light".





4. Shows: To be honest, I have no idea how to book any of them. It is limited to 50 slots. Even though I was there trying to book 20 mins after the session opens, I still fail to book them. So no tips from me cos I am unsuccessful. 


5. Feeding time: I had a bit more success in that, maybe because you needa pay for the sessions. Still, you needa book ahead online. We failed to get any slots to feed the giant tortoises which were scary by the way. We ended up feeding the goats which were really fun (video is up on our IG)


6. Carousell ride: The rides were still available. We ended up taking it 3 times because it was 1 for $4 and 3 for $8. No brainer which one is better right? Haha. You even get your choice of animals because you have the carousell to yourself. Shiok. 





7. Don't be disappointed. Our little one didn't react to the bigger animals (which we thought were more fascinating) maybe because we never exposed him to them. He was only interested in the penguins, dogs etc.), basically on the animals he have seen in books.


8. Duration: We stayed from about 10am to 4pm (6 hours). Pretty long for a baby standards. Baby took a nap at around 11am (He needs 2 naps daily) and another after we left. So depending on your child, you can plan accordingly the items to do based on their nap time. Won't advise to stay too long if you have a fussy baby.


9. Things to pack: We packed an additional set of clothes and 2 diapers. Lots of wet wipes and a hand sanitiser! Psss...the toilet near Ah Seng Restaurant is the cleanest and most baby-friendly.

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Note: Laptop is down, so posts won't be as frequent!

Yawn Gai Gai: River Safari

I am quite a fan of cute stuff, so I literally jumped at the chance to visit River Safari cos there were Tsum Tsum being plastered around the area. Best of all, if you finished the Bingo, you will get a luggage bag tag. If I were a friend of the River Safari, I might have gone every week in December to collect all the luggage bag tags. 

In term of aesthetics, I think the Mickey and Minnie Tsum Tsum was the cutest, but we missed it. So I settled for my favourite Disney character of all time - Stitch :D. Pss, the other merchanise were sold at a pretty affordable price and the old tokidoki merch even had a nice discount. If my new house wasn't on its way, I might have just bought the store down. Hehe. 

Just to share a bit more, at most station you would have to take a photo doing specific poses. It is really difficult if you are coming by yourself. But, generally, everyone is pretty helpful and we got quite a few good photos. Some of the tsum tsum feature aren't actually Bingo points but they were so cute, I was like let's waste time on it. Hehe.

Being excessive as usual, I even wore a tsum tsum on my head. Some dressing advice, try to pack light and wear shorts/pants because there are quite a bit of motions if you wanna clear your bingo points (i.e. jump shots). It was raining that day, hence we had to lug around our umbrella cos I packed light using my Ecosusi Bag (Read more about it here!). River Safari is 90% sheltered, in retrospect, we could have taken a a risk and not bring the umbrella. 

Apart from the Tsum Tsum standees, there is not much additional attractions at the River Safari. The pandas and red pandas still holds our affection. In a desperate attempt, I tried to take a selfie with the red panda. I was a bit bummed that my camera choose to focus on me instead of the red panda. T.T

If haven't been to River Safari, one of the star attraction is also the river ride. Personally, I find the ride quite tranquil. It might be quite slow and boring for some people cos there isn't much animal action at the riverbank. But since you paid for it, you must as well go on the ride since it is free. Hehe. 

It has been quite a while since I last stepped into River Safari so everything seems pretty fresh. I was quite excited at this "new" arena where you get to catch monkeys and mousedeers? roaming around freely. We spotted a preggy one that is due for labour soon. But guess luck wasn't on my side and I didn't get to witness the birth for myself. T.T Overall, this was still a fun break with the Hubs. Can't wait for more fun times, although quite honestly sometimes going out too much drains me. Hehe. 

Updated: Singapore's Young Zoologist

We are going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo
How about you, you, you?
You can come too, too, toooooo
We are going to the Zoo, Zooo~~~~

If you are not a local reader, you may not know that the Singapore Zoo is one of the fanciest in the World. My friend got free tickets to the zoo and I really need a break from all the books. Guess that's where I am going too! She actually had tickets to all the other nature parks, but I have been there before.

I really wanted to go to the Bird Park though but it was during an exam day. Guess I will be going myself some time after. By the way, the Bird Park is undergoing a revamp. So soon, it will be congregated with the other parks. That's why I am going before this change happen. And you should too.

Do zoom in on the pictures, cos some of the animals are camouflaging with their little ones. It was a very hot day. So most of the animals are hiding in the shade. Although I act like a National Geographic photographer (waiting and staring for the moment), I don't have their camera equipment to zoom Hahaha.

Every part of the looks awesome by the way if you are hoping the zoo can boost your Instagram photos. But yea as a collage, it does lack colours, looking kinda of green, brown. I really enjoyed the shows so do get the map and plan your time wisely there. Sadly, I didn't manage to catch most of the shows.

If you are not into live animals, there is an exhibition are extinct dinosaurs too. I was kinda of overly excited by it and got chided by the BF for being more interested in the real attractions. Oops. I was also overly happy petting farm animals too. Haha, I really got my priorities wrong didn't I?

But if you were to visit, don't make the same mistake as me. The Singapore Zoo though not very huge contain a lot of animals. You can definitely finish the whole park (if you don't have kids) within a day and just in time for River Safari and the Night Safari. The price of the food in the Singapore Zoo is considered expensive even for a Local, so we went out for a late lunch after we were done.

Here's a video tour of the Singapore Zoo. Sorry but due to time constraints, the editing is grossly terrible. And the song is not very appropriate for the zoo. But it is nice to bop too. Do love our animals too. I manage to catch some footage of their feeding time. Yea! Lucky!