Staycation Bliss

Ever since Joey started formal schooling, staycation has become one of our favourite (more frequent) form of holiday. No hassle of traveling for long hours, and yet allow the family to enjoy a short break in a nice hotel room, great food and pool activities.

Thanks to wife’s contact, we were invited for a 2D1N staycation at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa.

This is truly the best place outside Club Med for a family holiday. The spacious room is big enough for a double bed for parents and a double sofa bed for the kids.

And the view outside the balcony is amazing. Almost 80% of the rooms here has a sea view.

Even the night view is not too bad.

What truly enticed us was the pool activities. Though we are stay near a public pool at home, we seldom bring the girls out for a dip. So trips like this is an absolute treat for everyone. What more the water is warm, perfect for people like me who is totally afraid of the cold.

Bathing Beauty (translation from 出水芙蓉).

Beside the pool, it’s an ingenious idea to have play areas for both children and adults. Secretly, Kless and I have a informal table-tennis competition going on whenever we see a table available. Current standing is me leading 2-1 (I think).

 

Another selling point for families is the sea/land sports available from the resort. Cycling along the beach or canoeing in the sea.

For me, the best thing is the private beach open only for hotel guests, with multiple beach chairs for suntanning. The best way to enjoy the afternoon, relaxing and the occasional dip in the cool sea. It was almost empty when we were there on a weekday.

Relaxation completed with the occasional passing peacock and its babies.

 

Night time, the children’s playhouse is opened until 9pm. So the girls can enjoy their art & craft work and some TV time while the couple fight it out at another round of table-tennis.

Day 2, breakfast was at the buffet spread located at level 3 – Dine on 3.

There was also a Kids Corner for the children to enjoy their breakfast, catered to their height, the kids can easily pick up the food they like.

One extra advantage of having a staycation on Sentosa Island was the opportunity to visit some of the attractions since we are just so near.

The Butterfly Park & Insect Kindgom

The stay was one of the best we had over the past 2 years. To have more info on our staycation, read about it on my wife’s blog post.

Looking forward to our next staycation!

DBS Marina Regatta 2014

Received a surprise message from one of my Instagram friend and was invited to cover this year’s DBS Marina Regatta @ Marina Bay. It was quite an honor to be involved in such a huge event and truly a rare chance for me to try out photography on various theme – Dragon Boat, Cosplay, Drum Challenge, Carnival, Social Enterprises and Food Festival.

DBS Marina Regatte is the biggest water sports festival in Singapore, and was first introduced in 2012 as DBS supports the Asian sport of dragon boating and brought international dragon boat races back to Singapore after a 12-years hiatus. Over 10,000 people took part in the DBD Marina Regatta as athletes, spectators, volunteers, etc each year.

This year, besides the usual local and international dragon boat teams paddling, there were also many other interesting programmes such as the Asian Cosplay Meet and Asian Drum Challenge.

 

This is the first time I shoot for a cosplay event and was pleasantly surprised that our local cosplayers are quite good.

  

   

 

  

The international representative team from Singapore.

The international representative team from Taiwan.

My favourites from the entire group.

 

 

#selfiesforgood, this is a chance for charity. As we hashtag our selfies taken at DBS Marina Regatta 2014, DBS will provide a free lunch to a primary school student of Student Advisory Centre.

 

I did my part too with Spiderman and Kaname-san who is a world cosplayer celebrity.

 

Check out the number of photographers focusing on just one cosplayer. Amazing!

Just besides the Asian Cosplay Meet, was the Asian Food Festival featuring cuisine from 6 Asian countries and 2 social enterprises.

Malaysia – Roti John

The team from Indonesia.

Thailand – Phat Thai

Bamboobee, a social enterprise which employs ex-offenders, at-risk youths, single mothers, people with disability to make bicycles related products using bamboo, set up stall to provide free cycling experience around Marina Bay.

DBS Family Day with exciting fun for all ages of children.

 

The event won’t be complete without the most anticipated Dragon Boat race.

One of the fiercest competition grouping. The guys are all ready and very focused.

For the teams waiting, it’s the moment for the coaches or captains to inspire the team one last time.

Put on your vests and take up your paddle. The race is on!

The crowd were also highly anticipating a close race.

Before the men’s team go out, the women’s team just finished their race and the British team was in high spirit.

 

Rowing with all their might straight off from the starting point.

And the winners were …

After a long day of fun and competition, it doesn’t matter who won or lost, everyone had fun and basked in the sportsmanship shown.

Till next year, it’s the closing of DBS Marina Regatta 2014.