Unlimited Fun @ Marina Barrage

Fun is doubled when it is free!

One definite perks of working full time in church is to have mondays off. And usually the places are not so crowded, it’s like we booked the entire place just for our family.

 

We have been to Marina Barrage for a number of times, but every visit is still so fun for the girls and they were able to find new ways to entertain themselves. This time was to splash water on the walls and check their own reflections. Creative!

 

While the girls were having their fun, I was happy taking photos of my beautiful wife.

 

Marina Barrage is indeed a nice place to relax, just bring your own picnic snacks and you can spend a cheap and fun day with your family.

 

Cooling Day @ Marina Barrage

My dear brother promised the 2 girls to bring them out on Monday. Both the girls were so excited and were talking about it for almost the entire week, listing down the things they want to eat, buy and play. BUT…

人算不如天算

He cannot make it due to reasons unknown (yes, I am a bit angry). So I got to think of what to do to pacify the girls. Sentosa was one idea (but quite expensive), Zoo was another thought (but done that too often), so finally settled on Marina Barrage for water playground, cycling and flying kite (best of all, its all free except for the cab fee to and fro).

The best time to visit Marina Barrage has to be evening time, the sun is setting and the water is not too cold. Bring a ball along, or maybe a pail for collecting water, and the girls enjoyed forever.

With Joey around, Jayne is less fearful of the waters, see how she is willing to lie down in the water and practicing her swimming strokes.

This is so cute, Jayne ran through the splashing waters and couldn’t open her eyes for an instant.

Kids make friends just like bees attracted to honey. Within seconds of this little girl who came later, all 3 of them were playing like BFF. At least I can’t complain that my girls are quite socialable.

One moment they were just lying around enjoying the cool weather, the next moment my girls are “attacking” their new found friend. I think the other girl quite enjoyed the attention too.

Part 2 of the fun – scooter-ing around the park. With the ample space available here, even the adults (me) would love to have my bicycle or skates.

The dearest wife/mother, prepared fried rice for all of us. We ate from cups… Just to continue on the being fun part.

Finally a photo of Klessis & Jayne.

Everyone has something to do @ Marina Barrage. For photographers, just bring along a camera and don’t miss the night lights only viewable from here.

How do you know an outing has been successful?
When both your kids repeatedly said, they want to come back again in future.
Mission Accomplished!

Where To Bring Your Kids

The June holidays are coming up, that means Joey will have no school. That would also mean we need to think of activities to keep both my girls occupied. Staying in this little island of Singapura, it’s not always easy to plan where to go. But with some though and research, nothing is impossible.

Here are some survival guide for all parents:

Play & Learn
Miniature Golf @ Lilli Putt
Located at Play @ Big Splash, this is the perfect time to groom the next Tiger Woods or Yani Tseng.
Child under 12 ($12.80), Adult ($19.20), Family of 2 Adults & 2 Children ($57.80)
Golf through the 18 mini golf holes – all modelled after familiar Singapore landmarks like Changi Airport.

Skating @ SkateSports
Located @ East Coast Park Area F1 or Tampines St 82, this is a more strenuous exercise which includes inline skating, caster boarding, skateboarding, ice skating and skorpion skating.
Imagine inline skating together with your kids along East Coast Park, that will be my personal dream!

Creativity
DIY Art Projects @ Impressions Art Studio
Located at Cluny Court (next to Serene Centre), the studio offers DIY art activities such as ceramic painting, batik, canvas painting and scrapbooking.
This is a perfect activity for bonding time with your children and also if its a rainy day. Or gather a minimum of 6 children to book their Party Packages.

Water Play
Port of Lost Wonder
Located at the Palawan Beach, this is the ultimate pirate ship water playground, and also the first ever “form party” pool for children.
Weekdays ($8/child), Weekends ($15/child)

Marina Barrage
Located at the mouth of the Marina Channel, this is a huge area for kids and adults alike to have a time either at the water area or at the grass field for kite-flying.
Best of all, it’s FOC.

Outdoor Adventures
Jurong Bird Park
Located at the far far west, this is a must visit for the younger children. Besides the educational tour around the park, the best part is the interactive Lory Loft where over thousand of uncaged lories fly just near enough for you to feed it and take photos.
More than just the birds, there is also a huge water playground to keep the heat down and the fun up.
Adult ($18) and Child ($12)

Riding @ Singapore Polo Club
Located at Mount Pleasant Road, this has to be one of the more atas activity for your child or even for parents to relive a childhood dream.
Besides the fun, this is an activity that will establish their basic posture and balance.
Enjoy lunch at the beautiful Verandah Restaurant overlooking the polo field, they serves both local and western delights such as soup, fish & chips and lasagna.

Indoor Fun
Night Out @ JWT Kids Gym
This is totally COOL! A night out for the kids while the parents can have their own romantic getaway.
Located at UE Square, the kids gym provides a special theme event for kids from 3-9 years old. Basically, you provide the sleeping bag and kids, they provide the pizzas and fun. It’s going to be 4 non-stop hours of fun from 5-9pm for the children, which includes art and crafts, pizza party, movie and other activities.
Some of the themes coming up for the holidays – Occupations, Arabian Night, Asian Culture and Traditions.

Junior Chef @ Expat Kitchen
Have you heard about Australia’s Junior Chef? This is the Singaporean version (my way of seeing it).
Located at Little India, the cooking school offers a variety of classes, while mastering mixing, measuring, kneading and tasting.
Available on every Tuesday, for 9-13 years old, $55 per child.
Bring out that chef in your children, who knows, maybe this year’s thanksgiving you can just sit back and relax.

Overseas Holiday
Do I need to say more for this category?
As long as its an overseas trip, its FUN for everyone including children.
For relaxation, go Bali.
For adventurous, go Darwin.
For cultural, go Ho Chi Minh City.
For shopping, go Bangkok.

Marina Barrage (Heaven for Child Photography)

Seriously I can’t remember the real purpose for Marina Barrage. It has become a place for kite-flying and water fun for kids & adults alike. Also one of the best place I can think of for child photography, my girls definitely enjoyed the trip. Pretty sure that is not the main intention, right?

Both Joey and Jayne are definitely more used to playing at water parks like this. Look at how Joey dares to step into the waterfall and opens her eyes.

Joey

I was so intrigued by her excitement, I nearly wanted to jump in too.

Jayne

Joey & Jayne

Cold Water @ Marina Barrage

To celebrate Father’s Day, I brought my kids out for a fun day at Marina Barrage. I’m waiting for the day they can bring me out for dinner or maybe an overseas trip for Father’s Day, but I guess it would be a while longer.

We arrived there around 1pm and thank God for the good weather.

So cool that Jayne actually fell asleep walking from the car park to the water play area.

Another chance for me to test my camera and try out different modes (S/A/M).

Every time I look at Joey, I can’t help but feel that time flies. She is already 5 years old and slowly turning into a young girl instead of a baby girl. I really got to treasure the times we can be together before she starts to make new friends from school and prefers to hang out with them instead.

I also want to lie down to enjoy the cool water leh..

One hour later…..

Jayne has woken up! Test water first..

Jayne is more adventurous than Joey. At her same age, Joey will never step into such play area and don’t mind getting wet. Is it true that 2nd child is usually more garang than the 1st child? My younger brother is definitely more gung-ho than me.

Looks like she didn’t really want to take photo with me. But it’s not easy to do 自拍 with a DSLR camera, 703g heavy.

So blessed to have 2 beautiful girls. They will always bring a smile to Papa Isaiah.