Monday, March 31, 2014

Punggol Ranch - Gallop Stables

With no particular agenda in mind, we drove to the far northeast, into the region of Punggol Road, so far out that there were not much car in sight.

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And we found an interesting place to bookmark for future exploration. Punggol Ranch – Gallop Stables.

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Riding lessons are available in group or private. Here’s a glimpse of the horses in their stables. Eating well!

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Besides the riding, there are some other activities available too.

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To my surprise, there are actually chalets available here! I am already planning in my mind to book one for a “cowboy night” BBQ session with my family & friends! Check out the rooms housed in wagons.

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Even the door-knob is a horse figure, so apt right?

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Kids will surely be entertained too.

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Such peaceful place is really a rare thing in Singapore. Learning to enjoy life and be happy!

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Gallop Stables
A: 900 Punggol Road, S(829168)
T: +65 6690 0900
E:
enquiry@punggolranch.com
W: www.gallopstable.com

Friday, March 28, 2014

Good Coffee @ Cafe Melba

Looking for a cafe that is opened on Mondays is becoming a challenge. Looking for a cafe that serves good coffee is even harder. Our latest search brought us to a place near Mountbatten, a relatively secluded place to find without car.

Cafe Melba is nested among Mountbatten, Tanjong Rhu and Katong area. Good news to pet owners, this place is dog friendly too. For kids, the bouncy castle is only available during weekends.

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What I like about such cafes, not only because of the space, but more importantly the feel of being away from the usual bustling work life.

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You get my meaning..

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Now for the food we ordered.

Full Melba Cooked Breakfast
Choice of Eggs (poached, scrambled or sunny side up) with pork sausages, home-cured bacon, roasted cherry vine tomatoes, baked beans, mushrooms, hash brown and home made toast

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Linguine Aglio Olio

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Long Black

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Truly appreciate such days to refresh the soul and body. Best of all, I have my darling with me too.

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Cafe Melba
A: 90 Goodman Road, Goodman Arts Centre, Block N #01-56, S(439053)
T: +65 6440 6068
E:
info@cafemelba.com.sg
W: www.cafemelba.com.sg

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm (weekdays); 8:30am to 10pm (weekends & PH)

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Date Your Partner @ Romancing U

Many of us are so busy working that we seldom have time for the special one who matters more than anything. This coming April 19 organised by NTUC – U Family, Romancing U is back to help couples to reconnect with their partners, renew the passion and relive their blissful courting days.

Romancing

Exciting programmes and events are prepared for everyone to enjoy a romantic night by the scenic Marina Bay Waterfront. There will be a romantic movie screening under the stars with free flow of Nescafe coffee and snacks!

Movie

Event Highlights
Cruise along the Singapore River in a Love Boat
Live performance of songs and ballads by local acoustic band, Paraphase
Dance away to the tunes of beautiful love songs led by professional instructors
Have your couple shots taken at the unique Photo Studio booths
Be crowned the Most Charming Couple and The Best Dance Chemistry Couple to win attractive prizes worth S$3,500

Book early to avoid disappointment. Create another romantic memory with your partner!

Date: 19 April 2014 (Saturday)
Time: 6pm to 10pm (Registration starts at 5pm)
Venue: The Promontory @ Marina Bay
Ticket Fees: $15 per couple (NTUC member); $30 per couple (Public)

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Movement is Happiness

Following on from the global commitments to help fight obesity, Coca-Cola Singapore once again takes up active steps to get Singaporeans to get up and move. The Company launches the Movement is Happiness™ initiative, aimed to educate Singaporeans about the emotional benefits of physical activity. Simply say, it is targeting to show us that daily movement can pave the way for a release in our emotional happiness. Move and be happy, thus the slogan: The More You Move, The Happier You Feel!

Kicking off this series of activities, Coca-Cola set up activity stations just outside Wisma Atria, promoting some fun and easy activities such as hula hoops, skipping ropes, flying discs and beach balls.

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Helpful Coco-Cola Ambassadors are around to teach the kids how to play the right way.

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After just a short explanation, Joey & Jayne were able to throw the frisbee with much better control.

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Mother and Daughter trying out the hula hoops.

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Is it a myth or is it true that hula hoops can help slimming? If true, I better start the training for my girls now. They will thank me in future.

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I was quite surprised that Joey was able to skip so well, the last time I saw her skipping, she couldn’t even swing the ropes properly.

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Gym balls were available for the crowd too.

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Who says gym balls can only be thrown around? These guys totally changed the rules with their amazing juggling skills.

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From now till end of April, Coca-Cola will set up more activity stations at various locations across Singapore. Next up will be at CityLink from 29 to 30 Mar, make sure you don’t miss it.

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Nice family photo to end the day =)

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Monday, March 24, 2014

A Night’s Out at Marina Bay

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If you have not visited this year’s i Light Marina Bay 2014 event, then I strongly recommend that you do so before it ends on 30 Mar.

If you have the time and your children are well rested for the night, then I would recommend you to start the walk from Esplanade. Enjoy the beautiful night with beautiful performances at the Outdoor Theatre.

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Both my girls loved the music and were actually dancing along with the flute’s beautiful sound. A great lesson for the young ones to exercise freedom and encourage creativity. I envy them for I have never had such opportunities when I was young.

I can only dream…

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One of the first light installation you will get to see from here is the Giant Dandelion, designed by a French-Filipino artist, Olivia d’ Aboville. It’s a huge forest of 90 larger-than-life light flowers of varying heights.

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On a close look, you will then realise that the lights are actually made of recycled plastic water bottles we see in our everyday life. How creative! Coincidentally, both the girls did a similar pose.

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Some of the installations are just for viewing more than interactive, I will skip those but if you are interested, do check out on the i Light website or my earlier post here.

For children, there prefer those that they can touch and play, like the Cloud installation.

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Along the way, look out for interesting Uncle bikers who sportingly contributed to the lights around the Marina Bay area.

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As we reached the half way point of the 28 light installations, let me recommend you to stop for a while and indulge in the super nice gelato from Au Chocolat, situated at level 1 MBS. You get to choose 4 flavours for the price of $9.20. The children will love you for it, even the wife will love you more!

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Continue on towards The Promotory and you will find the next route of light arts.

Beat, done by Singapore designers, the translucent “balls” responds to touch and the colours changes and glows as a single beat. Not too sure if it responds to the shoes, but please don’t spoil the lights Joey.

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An installation that will definitely consume much time is The Wishing! Tree. Get a free wishing strip and write down your wishes, make sure you drop well and land on the furthest top. A word of caution, it’s not as easy as it seems.

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As you pass by the Marina Bay City Gallery, don’t miss out this interactive installation that is inside the hall. Mimosa – an interactive artwork that mimics the “touch-me-not” plant all kids are quite familiar with in the gardens. It was quite fun for Joey as she is tall enough to enjoy the fun, but for Jayne she is slightly short to see the artwork properly, she left with a loud “boring”. Hahaha..

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This is really more for the photographers, nothing that interest the girls, but just the idea of watering cans known as “The Guardian Angels”. This is done by two artists from Greece and France, echoing the preservation of the garden and plants and by extension, nature.

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I wouldn’t mind having something so beautiful and colourful in my house. Getting ideas for future renovations?

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Last but not least, as we walked towards the end of the route, we found the light installations that everyone (both children and adults) loves. It was a good plan to walk through the rest of the installations first, if not, I cannot guarantee that we will finish the entire route.

The Pool – is a group of giant, concentric circles created from interactive circular pads. By entering The Pool, visitors enter a world where play and collaborative movement create swirling effects of light and colour.

Ready – Go!

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As mentioned in my earlier post on i Light Marina Bay, if you can catch the right timing, be sure to head towards the Helix Bridge to watch the 3-min long Celebration of Life, a light projection on the ArtScience Museum exterior walls.

i Light Marina Bay, daebak!