Peach Blossoms @ Marina Mandarin Hotel

28 April 2013

Spinach in shark cartilage broth.

Very delicious ee-fu noodles.

Melt-in-your-mouth beef (according to the rest as I don't eat beef)

The Peking Duck here is a must-try. They make their own wraps and not those supermarket bought egg wraps.

I had written here about Peking Ducks that we had tried in various places. We had good reviews about Jade Room at Hotel Royal but the recent time that we went back, the duck was still nice but the sauce was overly salty and they are now using those supermarket bought egg wraps instead of their own in-house wraps. I think they must have changed chef as definitely standard dropped.

The food here is rather pricey but the food's good and the service's good too.

I read some reviews that the food's not good but those that we had ordered was very good.

Peach Blossoms 鸿桃轩
6 Raffles Boulevard, Level 5 Marina Mandarin, Singapore 039594 (nearest MRT City Hall), 
Tel: +65 6845 1118
Opening Hours: Lunch 12pm to 2.30pm (Weekday), 11am to 2.30pm (Weekend)
Dinner: 6.30pm to 10.30pm (Daily)

Astronomy @ Bishan Park

30 April 2013


We follow the tweets of Gary who is a very enthusiastic astronomer in Singapore.

He tweeted that he will will bringing a very big telescope to view Saturn.

We drove to Bishan Park opposite the McDonalds and located him.

There were other enthusiasts like him there with their telescopes. I saw thru one telescopes - clusters of stars.


Anyway, we looked thru Gary's telescope (it was indeed a big telescope) and this time I had a good look at Saturn unlike the last time where it was really small as it was a small telescope.



Yes, this is what I saw thru the telescope(picture courtesy of Gary). Amazing isn't it? That you're actually seeing a planet so so far away.

And now...... drum roll please............... the highlight of the night....................

We were sitting around when suddenly there was an uproar. I turned my head and saw a bluish-green bright light streaking across the sky. What's that, fireworks? can't be, somebody lit a flare?

I asked one of the guys and he said it's a meteorite! What! you mean I saw a meteorite?!!!

We were definitely very, very lucky to see it.

Of cos, we didn't get a pic of it. Who would have expected it but it looked like the pic below.

Wow!!!!!!!! oops and I forgot to make a wish.


Follow Gary on his blog or tweeter if you're interested to see side-walk astronomy.

http://www.astro.sg/

Swimming 2 - Breathing Out

27 April 2013


Today's lesson was how to breathe out underwater.

After his lesson, the kid came to us and proudly told us that he'll teach us how to breathe out thru the mouth underwater.

So we went, oh yes, please teach us, how do you do it?

Daddy said, let's go underwater and open and close our fingers.


You'll notice that the kid have one hand on the edge of the pool. He's still a bit scared to be underwater for a longer time and have his hand there to haul himself out of the water fast.

Swimming 1 - First swimming lesson

13 April 2013


Eugene had taken swimming lessons before but after 3 months of lessons, he still did not get over his fear of water and just didn't like going for lessons.

I attribute this to the swimming coach.

Firstly, the coach talked so soft that even I have a hard time trying to make out what he's saying.

Secondly, I feel that the coach did not make an attempt to bond with the kids. Yes, his technique of swimming is good but what's the point if the kids don't trust you or don't like you.

So we stopped his swimming.



When the SAFRA Toa Payoh opened and there is a swim school, I immediately signed Eugene up for it.

 On the 1st lesson, I can see that Eugene was a bit apprehensive.

The kids were sitting on the edge of the pool and the coach was carrying the kids individually into the water. No underwater or anything like that, just dipping the kids to let them get used to be in the water.

I saw Eugene took one leg out of the water, then 2 legs out and then slowly turning his body sideways (like he want to run away). When it came to his turn, he started crying! Oh dear ! The coach consoled him and did not dip him in the water but put him back sitting on the edge of the pool.

I didn't carry on to see the rest of the lesson so I don't know what happened next.

Oh oh dear. I was prepared that if he has to repeat his basic swimming lessons, so be it. I rather he do it in his own time and not to push him as it might have the opposite effect that he would just hate swimming.

After the lessons, we stayed on to just play in the pool. To my surprise, Eugene wanted to jump into the waters. He told me to 'catch' him(carry him out of the water). He kept jumping and jumping that I have to ask hubby to take over.

Then he said, mommy look at this. What did he do? He held onto the edge of the pool and dipped his head underwater! Wah! that's a first.

See now what happens after just his 2nd swimming lessons.



The children have to do warm-up followed by a quick shower before going to their respective swimming coaches.

 Eugene wasn't really doing the warming up exercises. He said the sun was too glary.

 Start of lesson and absolutely enjoying himself.

Here I come !

He jumped into the water before hubby grabbed him out of the water.

Change your youtube quality setting to HQ (on bottom right corner after you press the play icon), as it seemed to auto the quality at 360p which is rather blurry.

Playing around with daddy after his swimming lessons.

I am so happy and proud of the kid.

From a water-phobic kid to a water-loving kid in just two lessons is just absolutely awesome 'cos the kid was really scared of water - he's even scared of the water running down his face in the shower.

Again, I attribute this to the fantastic job that his current coach is doing.

Eugene said that he likes his present coach but not the previous one. And I think liking your coach and trusting him goes a long way in getting a kid to swim.

Thanks Coach Edmund !

And which swim school is this ? It's 'The Fins Swim School'.

Jia You Eugene ! 

Looks like the kid will master his swimming way before me. Yes lah, I cannot swim! I almost drowned and that was it, really phobia.

But I am trying to now, slowly.... slowly ........ overcome my fear.

Sew Rabbit

12 April 2013


Eugene got this handicraft in a goodie bag given to him by a birthday boy in class.

I showed him what he has to do and helped a little with the sewing.

A child-safe needle - actually a plastic needle with a knob at the end instead of a pointed sharp end.

There are perforated holes which you poke into.

Stick the googly eyes, whiskers, nose, dress and not forgetting to decorate the dress.

Wala! my completed little bunny.

Salt Grill & Sky Bar @ ION

06 April 2013


This was a treat for our group from FJ.

Wow ! Impressive view !

Day view

Ooh, you can zoom in 'live'.

Main dining area

Isn't it lovely! Would be lovely to have the window table and see such incredible view.

 The other dining area

There's a ramp that goes up to the bar area above.

Great views all around.

Our gracious and generous host FJ (V-sign)

So romantic at night.

Roast mushrooms with garlic butter (sides)

Our fav.

Roasted carrots and dukkah (sides)

I thought it was pumpkin lol... Very sweet.

Salt and Pepper Squid (Tapas)

We enjoyed this very much though I didn't taste any salt and pepper.

Prawn toast, corn salsa, chipotle (Tapas)

Er... what is this exactly? Ain't no prawn there or maybe the prawn was grounded into paste?

Baramundi(Main) 

(don't know the full description as the menu on their website was slightly different from what we got at the restaurant)

Very small portion.

Char grilled baby chicken, endive and pickled onion salad, cauliflower and preserved lemon puree (Main)

phew, that was a mouthful of description and what do we get?

You're expecting a full chicken but instead you get 2 dry chicken thighs.

Very, very small drrryyyy thighs.

Dessert of the Day

Not very interesting. Expected a more sophisticated dessert.

Thanks C for this nice shot :)

The mains comes in really small portions, so you definitely have to order some side dishes (maybe this is the whole idea).

The food is passable not wow. I guess we expected more as their website's description of their chefs was rather stellar.
 

We got a table at 'the other dining area' as we didn't want to wait till 9pm for our dinner.
There are 2 seatings, 6-8pm and at 9pm.
We got the reservation at 9pm as some are working and won't be able to make it at 6pm and also we didn't want to have to hurry thru our dinner to finish by 8pm.

We went there earlier hoping that we could have a table if some of the guests finished earlier but it was not to be. So we asked them to set up the table at the other dining area. Too bad lor, no view.
But it's ok. 
The important thing is the great company and the great friendship that we all have.

Thank you FJ from all of us.

May you be more more lucky next time (wink...)

Salt Grill & Sky Bar

Restaurant	Sky bar
Lunch	18.00 - 23.30
11.30 - 14.00 (Last Order)	(Drink last order at 23.00)
Dinner
18.00 - 22.00 (Last Order)
Brunch (Weekend)
11:30-14:00 (Last order)

Dress Code: Smart Casual
http://www.saltgrill.com/

LEGOLAND Malaysia

01 April 2013


We finally visited Legoland after promising the kid since last year.

We did try in February but the queue to the car-park was so sooooo long and thus ended up at 'The Little Big Club @Puteri Harbour".


Hubby took the day off and Eugene got no lesson for that day too.

Yay, no queue !

 

TECHNIC TWISTER

Seems that there are classes for older kids to do robotics - around 40mins and it's free!

DRAGON'S APPRENTICE
The kid cannot go on some of the rides as he's too short.

THE DRAGON

ROYAL JOUST
Only a couple of kids and we didn't even have to wait for the ride.
In fact, the handler was asking all the kids if they want to go on the ride again cos nobody was queueing for it.
Well, Eugene didn't want to as it was too hot.

The kid was so excited that he hopped onto the horse before I could pass him his cap and sunglasses.

Hey, wait Eugene, you forgot to put on the cap!

It was so so hot and glary. The kid's expression said it all.

MERLIN'S CHALLENGE
No way was I going on this going round and round. I get dizzy already just sitting in a car going round and round up a carpark.

It started spinning faster and faster !
Hubby got dizzy after that but not the kid.

I spy some little rabbits.

Eugene loves dinosaurs and he kept looking at it.
Then he sat down and started vegging out - I think he was thinking about dinosaurs and pretending to be one cos he was doing his dino claws.

DUPLO PLAYTOWN















Duplo Express

The kid usually don't like to take pics but he asked me to take him with the lion - wonder why.

LEGO STUDIOS

I enjoyed this the most. Maybe because it's air-con ha ha ha.

Shots taken from the Lego Tower.

LAND OF ADVENTURE

Hubby thought that it was so silly posing with the parrots becos it's fake. But that's exactly the point - I thought it was quite funny

DINO ISLAND

Again height restriction - the kid's too short.

Sure win game ! lol
So long as you can hook a fish, you'll get a prize.

Which do you want? The kid chose the snake.

LOST KINGDOM ADVENTURE

We went on a ride inside (got aircon). In front of your seat, you have a gun which you are suppose to use it to 'shoot' the figures inside and get points.
The kid was ok in the beginning but towards the end, he started crying saying that he was scared cos it was dark - there were some lego skeletons and certain parts of the tunnel was in darkness.

 PHARAOH'S REVENGE

The kid enjoyed this very much - shooting foam balls!

LEGOLAND EXPRESS
A lego train, even the connectors connecting the cabins are lego (ok, a lego cover).
The train goes round the perimeter of Miniland, Boating School and Driving School.

JUNIOR DRIVING SCHOOL
For kids up to 5 years old. Darn, the kid preferred the other driving school but it's for the older kids.

DRIVING SCHOOL - for older kids.
This looks more fun as it replicates roads with traffic lights and all.

BOATING SCHOOL
No need to paddle - it's motorised!
The kid wanted to go on this but it was just too hot!

LEGO CITY STAGE

A magic show.

LEGO RESCUE ACADEMY
You have to pump the handles in the fire engine to move it along the track (top pic).
Then you have to pump the water pump for the water to spray out to put out the imaginary fire on the houses (bottom pic)

Eugene, you have to pump the handle to move the fire engine but it was a bit tough but the kid tried and it moved very slowly.

Then I have to pump the water pump - you can't see the water coming out cos I was trying to get a pic.

The assistant have to push our fire truck back to the starting point 'cos it ain't moving as it need 2 persons pumping on either side of the handle to move the fire engine. 

What happened to the kid? he didn't want to pump 'cos the handle was too hot for his hand.

And where is daddy? Hiding from the heat in the air-con restaurant next door.

MINILAND
I did not see all of Miniland. It was too darn hot and glary. 
I couldn't even see what I'm shooting as my camera do not have a viewfinder and I couldn't really see what was on my camera's back screen as the sun was so bright.

THE BRICK SHOP
You get to choose the different parts to construct your own mini lego person.

'L'  for LegoLand.

Some pointers :
Go on a weekday if you can. It's not crowded and you don't have to queue for your rides. Even if you do queue, it's just a short wait.

There are restaurants all around so get in there for some brief respite before you venture out in the blazing sun again.

Definitely have hats and sunglasses and drinks when you're walking around.

But in spite of all that, the heat still got to us and we have to call it a day. There are no shelters walking from one attraction to the other. The sun that day was so hot that my skin hurts.


The kid of cos wanted to go back, especially to take the boat ride. But I don't think we'll be going back anytime soon.

Maybe towards the end of the year when it's not so hot?