Recently, I noticed that whenever Lil Pumpkin does something related to Science, she would write "JJ" on the cover.
At first I was a little puzzled over it... then I remembered that she has a set of science-based comic books, JJ's Science Adventures, where JJ is the acronym of the main protagonists' names, Joyce and Jonathan, who go on exciting quests to discover the secrets of science.
Did the comic books have such a great impact on Lil Pumpkin that she channels her inner "JJ" to help her complete her Science work??! haha
From Aurelia Tan, the same local author that brought us Science Made Easy with Doodles {a unique pictorial companion guide to the current MOE Science syllabus}, JJ's Science Adventure is a series of educational comic books designed to help readers master key learning objectives stated in the Singapore Ministry of Education’s Primary School Science syllabus.
The story goes that after receiving their birthday presents from their grandfather, Joyce and Jonathon {JJ} find themselves in possession of two bags which transform into Robo, a talking robot, and a teleportation portal. With a set of keys from Robo, the kids open the portal into sub-dimensional world created by the ‘World Maker’, an incredible invention by their grandfather to help them learn science.
Each comic book is based on a specific unit {e.g. Forces, Magnets, Heat & Light} and converts the learning objectives for that unit into a sci-fi adventure story that captures the interest of students through the use of engaging narratives and fully-coloured Japanese manga graphics.
In the adventure for Heat & Light, the twins journey into the World of Heat and Light where they solve challenging puzzle traps laid by their grandfather. Will they survive the constant sabotage by a minion sent by Mr Sinister and win the prize that helps them unlock yet another Science secret?
Like I mentioned before, Lil Pumpkin is a visual learner so enjoyed learning and remembering new bite-sized Science concepts via the cute drawings in the comic books.
And through the adventures in the comic books, she sees that Science isn't boring. On the contrary, Science is fascinating yet very relatable to the world we live in!! Definitely something she wants to explore more and dig into deeper!
The storyline is simple enough to follow, even for young Science learners like Lil Pumpkin. She particularly liked the "Did You Know" interesting trivia sections and "Challenge Yourself" sections where she could test herself on specific new concepts learnt.
As a parent, I liked that key learning points are highlighted to ensure that we can easily identify them as learning points to emphasize to our children. I reckon that the comic books are easy-to-digest for those in lower Primary, and is a fun revision companion for those in upper Primary that want to take their minds off all the "heavy textbook" reading. The book is also small and light enough to carry about and keep Lil Pumpkin entertained on the train or during waiting times.
If you're interested, JJ's Science Adventure {Heat & Light} comic book costs S$18.90 and is sold online here, in Elm Tree shop at Paragon & Downtown East, and in Junior Page bookstore at Alexandra Retail Centre {ARC} & KK Hospital. More information about the series can be found on Harvest Edutainment website.
For my own special friends & blog readers, I've TWO JJ's Science Adventure {Heat & Light} Educational Comic Book {worth S$18.90} to give away!! A perfect Science enrichment book for P2 - P6 students, or even for younger children if you'd like to introduce Science concepts to them.
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TWO random winners will be chosen. Just complete all 4 simple steps + bonus entry {if you like}!
Details: * Open to Singapore residents only. * Ends Sunday, 2 Sep 2018 2359hrs {Singapore time} * Incomplete or inappropriate entries will be deemed invalid and will not be included. * Winners will be announced by Wednesday 5 Sep 2018 on this blog post and notified via email with further instructions on how to collect prize. Winners have 2 days to reply, or the prize will be redrawn.
P.S. To date, there are 3 titles in the series: Magnets, Heat & Light, and Forces. Stay tuned for another giveaway next month for JJ's Science Adventure {Forces}!!
I had my first taste of rock-climbing back in University while the boy and I were studying in Australia. That was about 15 years ago?? Wow.
Back then, one of our friends, Felix, found a nice indoor rock-climbing place at Northbridge and introduced the sport to us. Sometimes we went as a group, other times the boy and I went just as a couple thing. We both found it fun and went pretty regularly. The boy was so into it that he soon bought his own shoes, harness, chalk bag etc haha...
At that rock-climbing gym, we didn't need to have any certification to help belay one another - just had to learn how to do it with the easy-to-use safety set-ups, much like the ones you see in Climb Central.
However, when we came back to Singapore, we realised that in most rock-climbing gyms, you need to have at least Singapore National Climbing Standards {SNCS} Level 1 Certificate to belay and climb. Especially if you want to climb outdoors.
Since we didn't do it regularly anymore, and also since the boy injured his shoulders which meant that he doesn't do it at all for now, we made do with just going to those gyms like Climb Central or Clip 'N Climb where there was auto-belay walls where Lil Pumpkin & I could climb on our own, and set-ups where I could help Lil Pumpkin belay even if I didn't have the SNCS L1 Cert.
よーし！I get an immense sense of satisfaction from overcoming the challenges of scaling the tall walls ( ᐛ )و
It's not just challenging physically, but also mentally as well as you need the mental endurance to not give up even when you're tired and stuck, and mental alertness to problem-solve and plan your best route to get to the top.
As a sport, it also promotes muscular strength and aerobic endurance too so it complements my gym training as well. Superman says it's a good activity for me to burn more calories and if I do it more often, my grip strength will definitely get better haha..
Last month, I finally got off my arse and went for the SNCS L1 Certificate course so that I could belay and climb more independently in more of the local rock-climbing gyms with some other friends who are interested in rock-climbing as well °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°
Here's what to expect in case you're interested in doing it yourself...
SNCS Level 1 is a beginner’s introduction to climbing. No prior climbing experience is required, but it is of course good to have climbed before so that you have a better understanding of what the instructor's are saying.
This is a top-rope certification course {7hrs full day session with 1 lunch break, or 2 x 3.5hrs half-day sessions}. It will introduce you to the basics of the sport - such as equipment, checking procedures, and climbing calls, but the main objective is to teach you how to:
safely use a harness, rope and belay device,
tie a figure-of-8 knot, and
belay a climber using the 5-step belay technique
As you can see from the syllabus, the course will go through 7 sections of basic climbing where participants will learn:
what sport-climbing {top-rope and bouldering} is,
the correct usage, proper care & limitations of climbing safety equipment,
basic climbing safety knots,
how to safely belay a climber using the 5-step belay technique,
basic climbing techniques,
practical top-rope climbing, and
final assessment and course review
Note: You need to be 13 years or older to take the course, so unfortunately Lil Pumpkin couldn't do it with me now. She'll have to wait a few more years, and participants under 21 must have a guardian of over 21 to sign on their behalf.
The SNCS Level 1 Certificate Course is standardised and conducted by most of the popular rock-climbing gyms in Singapore e.g. Kinetics, Onsight Climbing, Gorilla Gym, The Rock School etc. by Singapore Mountaineering Federation certified instructors. You can go over to their websites to have a look at their course schedules but they are usually conducted every month over the weekends.
The course costs about S$65-75 and is usually cheaper if you are a gym member.
If you pass the course, you would be issued with the life-long SNCS Sport Climbing Level 1 certificate {card-sized}, accredited by the Singapore Mountaineering Federation.
There's no need for any renewal and after that, you can go on to take the Level 2 {learn how to lead climb and lead belay} and Level 3 {learn techniques of climbing bolted multi-pitch routes safely}.
But that's not the end though...
Some gyms also require you to be further verified to use their premises even if you do have a SNCS Level 1 certificate. Maybe they don't trust it?? haha..
During the SNCS Level 1 course, you will learn how to belay using an ATC {Air Traffic Controller} belay device. However, if you wish to belay using a belay device attached to your harness and climb at Ground Up, Climb Central & Onsight Climbing premises, you need to know how to belay using an ABD {Assisted Breaking Device} belay device as they only allow those belay devices there.
Sooooo... if you wish to climb at those 3 popular gyms, you will need to be ABD verified after you receive your SNCS Level 1 cert. This requires further assessment and costs S$10/pax. After passing verification, you will receive a Verification tag that is recognised at Ground Up, Climb Central & Onsight Climbing as the test requirements are the same.
In Gorilla Gym, you can use either an ATC or ABD belay device, but you still need to be verified that you have the skills and competency to climb & belay and pass to be issued the Verification tag. The verification assessment is free and can be done on-the-spot though.
If you pay attention to what's taught during the course day, it should be easy to pass (*＾▽＾)／
I won't say exactly where I took my SNCS Level 1 course as I reckon it could have been conducted better so won't recommend it to others. Although the instructors were friendly and we had adequate practice time, instructions on how to tie the figure-of-8 knot was a little sketchy and they didn't touch on different types of climbing and basic climbing techniques.
I mean, I already kinda knew how to rock-climb {albeit inefficiently?? haha} and had also tried bouldering before, but there were people in my class who had no rock-climbing experience. Since it's in the syllabus {but not tested}, would have been good to have been taught about the effective use of handholds & footholds, and perhaps tips on how to overcome different wall configurations.
Also, although the cost of the course was supposed to cover equipment rental cost, we were only loaned the harness and belay devices and we didn't get to climb with proper climbing shoes - just our own covered shoes. I think courses conducted at other gyms let you use their harnesses, belay devices and climbing shoes.
I would have also liked if they touched on where you can find rock-climbing equipment, what brands they personally like, how to choose your equipment, and introduce community groups on how we can meet other like-minded and experienced climbers. Would have been good to share to beginner climbers like myself, no?
I did ask, but their answers were too general and inadequate. I didn't want to probe further due to lack of time and perhaps they didn't want to "sell" anything or show favoritism to any shops?
Anyway, I joined some online community groups who were eager to spread their knowledge, and I did a fair bit of research on what I should get, and where I should get them.
It's been pretty cold and wet lately, and the weatherman says that we can expect even more rainy days ahead these few weeks.
The rainy weather certainly makes us want to cuddle under our covers and crave for comfort food that can warm our tummies and souls. Food like the wholesome Japanese Beef Curry that I made over the weekend and served with the new Mission Supersoft Original Wraps.
Kinda like Indian curry and prata??! hehe..
Actually I wanted to serve it over lettuce in tortilla bowls that were baked crispy, but then the wraps taste sooooo good even on it's own! The new Supersoft formula makes the wraps softer, more flexible and more buttery-flavoured so I figured it's best to just eat it just slightly toasted on its own.
The new Supersoft Original Wraps is an upgraded version of the Original Wrap that we all love. It's made from wheat and one piece has about 138 calories & 4g of protein. Not too bad if you're on a low-carb nutritional plan like me.
For one meal, I'd usually take 2 pieces while Lil Pumpkin eats 1-1.5 pieces, depending on what I make it with. One pack comes with 8 pieces.
There are other flavours in the Mission wraps range - 6-Grain, Wholegrain, Onion & Chives, Garlic and Potato.. but they haven't been "upgraded" to the Supersoft formula yet. Soon, I reckon.
Japanese curry if one of our family's all-time favourite and even Lil Pumpkin loves to eat it! She can kinda take medium-hot spicy level, but I usually choose mild spicy {which is practically non-spicy for us haha} for her. We eat it with rice, udon noodles or wraps like this.
It is also super easy and quick for me to make because I just use store-bought curry sauce mix {usually from S&B Foods range} and throw in lots of meat and vegetables in one wok.
Stir-fry meat and onions in wok until the onions are lightly browned {about 3-5 mins}.
Add in the carrots, celery and konnyaku.
Add water and bring to boil.
Lower heat, cover and simmer until meat is tender {about 10 mins}.
Break the Curry Sauce Mix blocks into pieces and add them in.
Stir until completely melted and curry consistency is thick and smooth.
Add in tomato chunks, cover and switch off fire. Let it sit while you prepare the wraps.
Warm the wraps in the microwave for 20s. You can also warm them in a dry {no oil} pan over medium heat for 30s.
Cut wraps into triangles, if you like.
Serve hot immediately.
Feel free to use other types of curry sauce mix. There's about 5-6 in the market now and can be easily found in the Japanese section of major supermarkets, and even Daiso.
Lots of people like to add white potatoes to their Japanese curry too but since it's higher calories, I leave them out or switch to just sweet potato or pumpkin for extra sweetness sometimes. Japanese curry goes well with melted cheese topping *drools* and hard-boiled eggs too (/^▽^)/
Yup, Lil Pumpkin can finish that whole bowl of Japanese curry all by herself!!
It's always a joy watching Lil Pumpkin eat the food I cook. Even if it's not the yummiest or prettiest, my sweet child would still grin and compliment me on my cooking... makes me feel like I'm the best darn chef ever hehe ( ᐛ )و
In the world of household appliances, there's a new superstar - the Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Plus Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. It is Dyson's latest powerful stick vacuum.
I'm sure you've seen the ads everywhere on social media, TV and print. Or maybe it's just me? But it seems that everywhere I look, the Dyson Cyclone V10 vacuum cleaner seems to be calling out to me, shouting out how absolutely fabulous and powerful it is as a vacuum cleaner.
If the Dyson Cyclone V10 was a celebrity, I think it'd be a Joseph Schooling haha.. he seems to be everywhere nowadays too since he's the newest Hugo Boss & Milo ambassador, signed a 3-year partnership with DBS in April and just last month, was also named ambassador of One Championship {Asian MMA promoter} so has been going around on a series of community activities and social media engagements as part of their campaigns. Oh, and this week he just opened his own swimming school!!
Anyway, I was getting all hyped up over the Dyson Cyclone V10 because it seems like my dream vacuum cleaner as one machine for the whole home!
I've mentioned a few times, vacuuming is my fave household chore.
Some people like doing dishes, some like folding laundry but me.. I really don't mind vacuuming all day long!! :P There's something about the droning sound and watching all the dirt get sucked up that makes it very therapeutic to me. Even after a hard day's work, it is the first cleaning task I'm willing to tackle because it actually helps me to relax.
So imagine my delight when I received Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Plus Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for Mother's Day this year!! Hurray!!
1 x crevice tool {for precise cleaning around edges & narrow gaps}
1 x mini motorised tool {tackles hair & ground in dirt in tight spaces}
1 x mini soft dusting brush {has soft nylon bristles to clean delicate surfaces & fabrics}
1 x flexi crevice tool {extends & bends for hard-to-reach places}
1 x extension hose {combines with other tools for longer reach}
1x tool bag
So many useful tools! With the push of a few "quick release" red buttons, you can easily snap on and reconfigure the stick vacuum with the different tools. There is a 2-years warranty for the product.
I've had cordless vacuum cleaners {stick & handheld} before and they are certainly very easy to use compared to traditional corded vacuum cleaners that tend to be bulkier and heavier.
Without a cord dragging behind it, cordless vacuum cleaners can be used just about anywhere and doesn't get tangled with any furniture or toy behind! It's definitely less heavy and cumbersome, and I don't need to go searching for a power point all the time which makes it unbelievably easy and fast to go from room to room.
They are also a space saver when it comes to storage.
Trust me when I say that once you've had a cordless vacuum cleaner, you NEVER want to use a corded vacuum cleaner ever again.
The Dyson V10 is more than just a typical cordless vacuum cleaner though.
Yes, there is no doubt that is is light {2.6kg} and compact enough to be easily maneuvered and stored, but it is also really, really powerful unlike a typical cordless vacuum cleaner.
Note: Actual comments from my friends when I posted some pics of me using the vacuum. They love it too! haha
One common complaint that some people have for cordless vacuum cleaners is that it lacks the suction power of corded vacuum cleaners and runs out of charge pretty quickly.
I find not so for the Dyson Cyclone V10 though, as especially at the upper settings {there are 3 modes}, it can clean very thoroughly thanks to its latest motor which Dyson claims is the smallest, lightest, yet strongest that they have ever produced.
It also has a 7-cell, energy dense battery to run at higher voltage and create more power. At its lowest mode {which is still pretty strong}, battery life is about 1 hour and that's more than enough time I want to spend vacuuming at a go (✌ﾟ∀ﾟ)☞
An interesting feature is that it uses a "trigger system" to switch on/off i.e. you'd need to hold down the power button continuously with your index & middle fingers whenever in use. Your fingers might cramp / get tired after a while, but at least it preserves the battery life and ensures that you're not wasting its energy when not in use.
You can read all about Dyson V10's technology here but all in all, it can generate powerful suction and capture really small particles like our gym chalk powder or even bigger gravel pebbles easily.
It is even more powerful than the previous model, Dyson V8 as there has been an upgrade in terms of design.
It still uses Dyson's patented cyclone cleaning system for powerful suction, but now the motor, dust canister and cyclone are streamlined, so air is drawn into the cyclones in a straight line - creating 20% more suction power than the Dyson V8 vacuum cleaner, which had its cyclones & canister perpendicular to the extension wand and cleaner head {like a "T-shape"}.
What makes it seem even more powerful in sucking up dirt are the motorised cleaner heads too I reckon.
The Dyson V10 Absolute Plus comes with 2 cleaner heads with a motor located inside the brush bars for extra power! The soft roller cleaner head for hard floors is covered in soft woven nylon to capture large debris, while anti-static carbon fibre filaments simultaneously remove fine dust.
I used it on our floors to clean up cereal, rice, protein powder etc. and it did and excellent job of cleaning everything up nicely. And yes, it is light enough for me to clean and vacuum our walls too.. I love this function and no, it's not that crazy to want to vacuum your walls. I mean, don't you get cobwebs and dust patches on them too?? You can really deep-clean anywhere with Dyson V10.
We don't use carpets at home but if you do, the direct-drive cleaner head works better as it has stiff nylon bristles to dig deep, spin and help remove ground-in dirt and debris. The boy likes to use this cleaner on our home gym mats though as it is porous and traps our chalk powder and dirt easy.
These cleaning heads are interchangeable and with the push of a single button you can easily snap the alternate cleaning head in.
There are a few other features that attracted me to the Dyson Cyclone V10.
For one, it can easily convert into a powerful handheld vacuum cleaner in just one click, something which my previous cordless vacuum cleaner could not do so before the Dyson Cyclone V10, we actually had a stick vacuum cleaner and a separate handheld vacuum cleaner at home.
This was appealing to me because for the price of one machine, I basically get TWO which is such a sweet deal! Also, it saves me the space of storing two machines too.
You can attach the various tools directly to the handheld vacuum cleaner too to reach every nook and cranny at home or even the car.
Lil Pumpkin likes to use the handheld more and I love that she enjoys using it to clean up her own toy and study areas haha... #lessworkformummy ( ᐛ )و
Another thing is, the dust canister capacity is also pretty large.
It is actually 40% bigger than the previous Dyson V8 vacuum {0.77L compared to 0.54L}, which means less stopping to empty the canister and you can clean more of your home or car in one go.
The long, slim canister has a 'point and shoot' mechanism.
It hygienically ejects all the dust and debris deep into the canister, in one action - so there's no need to touch the dirt... which suits me fine because even though I like to suck up all the dirt in a vacuum, I hate to actually empty it because I don't like to touch the gunk inside o(≧∇≦o)
If there's anything that I find annoying, it's that the stick vacuum cleaner is not self-standing because it is top-heavy.
It does come with a wall-mounted dock to hold the vacuum and tools, but you need to screw it into the wall, and I don't particularly like to create holes in our walls unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, you need to just lay it on the floor or rest it against the wall. There's a rubber strip on the underside of the dust canister handle so you don't have to worry about it slipping down though.
Oh, another thing is that although it claims to be "acoustically engineered" to reduce noisy turbulence and volume, the Dyson V10 vacuum cleaner is loud. Nothing like the Dyson bladeless fans.
It's music to your ears if you want to hear how powerful it is, but you do not want to use it if the baby is sleeping hehe
Overall, I think having a trustworthy and powerful vacuum cleaner is essential for any household. If you live in a place full of toys, books, furniture, clothes... basically things which make a house a home, and space is a premium, then surely you need a compact & cordless vacuum cleaner.
And if you are getting a compact & cordless vacuum cleaner, then the Dyson Cyclone V10 is the way to go. It is not cheap {prices start from S$899, buy on Dyson Singapore website with free shipping}, but you are paying for quality from a trusted international brand, and it will definitely give you a bang for your buck plus make you feel good about cleaning the house.
Tested, confirm, guarantee plus chop by the boy, Lil Pumpkin and me (*^▽^*)
*****
P.S. Giving away TWO of these Science Made Easy with Doodles Pictorial Guidebook! A perfect Science study companion for P3 - P6 students, or even for
younger children if you'd like to introduce Science concepts to them... so pop by to take part if interested. Ends tomorrow, Fri 29 Jun 2018.
* Disclosure: This is a review for Dyson Singapore. All opinions are my own.
It's easy to tell when Lil Pumpkin likes a book because she will go read it all by herself again, and again, and again... without any prompting by me. Like this Science Made Easy with Doodles book that's co-authored by local writers, Aurelia Tan and Dr. Koh Siak Meng.
It's not even a fictional storybook, but actually a unique pictorial companion guide to the current MOE Science syllabus that extrapolates all the important core concepts and condenses them into colourful & cute little drawings that make it easy for young students, like Lil Pumpkin, to understand.
Lil Pumpkin is a visual learner and has always been interested in arts and doodles, so this was exactly what she needed to introduce her to the key scientific facts, concepts and principles that she is/ will be learning in school, and help her to remember them better.
Wordy textbooks with little or no pictures just doesn't cut it for her at the moment (ી(΄◞ิ౪◟ิ‵)ʃ)
“Science Made Easy with Doodles” is a complete set of 18 doodles, for the nine Lower Primary and nine Upper Primary Science units in the Ministry of Education {MOE} Science curriculum. It covers Diversity, Cycles, Systems, Interactions & Energy in both Lower Block {P3 & P4) and Upper Block {P5 & P6}.
The book itself is A4-sized and wire-bound. Every page is fully colour-printed on a hardy artcard and laminated, so we don't have to worry about the pages getting crumpled or tearing if water is accidentally spilled on it.
It happened before though, as since it's so light and provides a quick and easy revision of Science topics, we like to bring the book out for Lil Pumpkin to read while waiting, and she accidentally knocked a cup of water over it during dinner. We quickly wiped it dry with tissue and there wasn't any damage or need to dry it much further.
Here are some examples of the cute doodles, which Lil Pumpkin likes to copy out sometimes and that's good I reckon because it helps her to remember better haha.
Each page highlights and summarises key teaching points of 1 unit. Just the fundamental information, nothing too in-depth or confusing. I love that all the abstract science concepts in this new school subject are broken down step-by-step, and presented clearly & succinctly for Lil Pumpkin.
Actually, I heard that quite a number of schools have also used the illustrations found in the book as learning walls for the students!!
If you're interested, "Science Made Easy with Doodles" book costs S$32 and is sold online here and in Junior Page bookstore at Alexandra Retail Centre {ARC} & KK Hospital. Check out Harvest Edutainment website for more information on the A2-sized wall posters and customised wallpaper that are available too.
For my own special friends & blog readers, I've TWO Science Made Easy with Doodles Pictorial Guidebook {worth S$32} to give away!! A perfect Science study companion for P3 - P6 students, or even for younger children if you'd like to introduce Science concepts to them.
2.Subscribe to my upcoming newsletter. Make sure the email add you used to subscribe is working as I'll be using that to contact the winner. Remember to confirm the subscription and check your junk folder in case the confirmation email goes there.
3. Like & Share this Facebook photo and tag 3 friends. Make sure your post is public!
4. Leave me a blog comment telling me your best Science tip + FB name you used to like the page + name you used to subscribe to the newsletter. For those unsure of how to comment, choose "Name/URL" option then add your name and comment.
Bonus entry:
1. Follow @AiSakuraHaruka on Instagram
2. Repost this photo on IG & tag @AiSakuraHaruka #ASHxScienceDoodlesGiveaway + your FB name + 3 friends. Make sure your post is public!
TWO random winners will be chosen. Just complete all 4 simple steps + bonus entry {if you like}!
UPDATE: The giveaway has ended. The winner is Petrina Pang & Katherine Ke. Stay tuned for more blog giveaways on Sakura Haruka! Check out my current readers promos too. Thanks for your support!
Details: * Open to Singapore residents only. * Ends Friday, 29 Jun 2018 2359hrs {Singapore time} * Incomplete or inappropriate entries will be deemed invalid and will not be included. * Winners will be announced by Tuesday 3 July 2018 on this blog post and notified via email with further instructions on how to collect prize. Winners have 2 days to reply, or the prize will be redrawn.
Mention "Sentosa" and you'd likely think of the beaches or theme parks like Universal Studios Singapore, Adventure Cove, KidZania or indoor attractions like S.E.A. Aquarium, Trick Eye Museum or Madame Tussaud...
All these are wonderful places to visit, and we've been to them uncountable times, but honestly, Sentosa offers soooo many more impressive attractions and these are just the tip of the iceberg. There's a long list of attractions we've yet to explore and play at!!
Since Lil Pumpkin has been bugging us to sit in the cable cars whenever we passed by the area, earlier this month we finally made her wish come true and I planned a whole day out at Sentosa like a local tourist!! And my criteria for visiting attractions that day? Well, it has to be some place at least one of us hasn't been to or experienced before!!
Oh yes, it was a thrilling day for the whole family as we sat the Singapore Cable Cars {first time for Lil Pumpkin}, climbed Sentosa Merlion {first time for Lil Pumpkin}, sped on the Skyline Luge {first time for all of us}, rode on the Skyride {first time for all of us}, cruised on the Gogreen Segways {first time for the boy & me} and watched Wings of Time at Sentosa {first time for all of us}!!
Note: Unless otherwise stated, the current attraction promotions I listed below are valid until Fri 31 Aug 2018. Terms & conditions apply.
Lil Pumpkin has been to cable car rides in Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong but funnily enough, it took us 9 years to bring Lil Pumpkin to her first cable car ride here in Singapore!!
I guess it's because we usually drive into Sentosa or take the tram in from Vivocity. To sit the cable cars here to Sentosa, I always thought that we could only go in from the main island via Mt Faber, which is quite out of the way, especially if we didn't plan to eat there.
However, I realised that there is a Singapore Cable Car station at Harbourfront Tower 2, which is just next to Vivocity... and that makes it much more convenient {for us anyway} to sit on the cable cars! ( ᐛ )و
We got to enjoy rides on the entire cable car network - both Mount Faber & Sentosa Cable lines. You can get unlimited cable car rides when you apply for the Faber Licence membership.
It proved to be really useful as we traveled between Sentosa and Mt Faber a few times since our car was parked there & to lunch at Spuds & Aprons {a restaurant in Faber Peak Singapore}, and to go to various attractions on Sentosa.
Mount Faber line: From highest point of Mt Faber, the Mount Faber Line Cable Car takes off from Faber Peak and crosses the harbour to Sentosa island, giving you breathtaking sights of southern Singapore.
Sentosa line: Crossing over jungle, sand and sea, this Line which will take you to various attractions including USS {nearest stop: Imbiah Lookout}, Sentosa Merlion {nearest stop: Merlion} and Fort Siloso {nearest stop: Siloso Point} on Sentosa.
Sitting in the cable car with Lil Pumpkin brought back my own fond childhood memories of sitting in the cable car with my parents (*^▽^*)
Children nowadays are spoilt with choices on the many exciting attractions we have in Singapore, but back in the old days *cough cough*, Singapore Cable Car was among the early tourist icons and going for a ride was always a real treat as there was no other way {I reckon?} for you to be up so high in the sky like you are "flying" and catch such beautiful aerial views of Singapore...
I thoroughly enjoyed my cable car rides that day like a giddy schoolkid and was happy to go on it again, and again. Lil Pumpkin, on the other hand, enjoyed the breathtaking views from the cable car but honestly, wasn't too impressed. "It's too slow, Mummy!!". Fine, my little daredevil, I'm glad your need for speed was satisfied when we went to play with the Skyline Luges haha.
Singapore Cable Car
Operating hours: Daily, 8.45am - 10pm {last boarding @ 9.30pm} Current promo: 25% OFF Singapore Cable Car tickets
Website: https://www.onefabergroup.com/singapore-cable-car-sky-network/
Completed in 1995, the majestic Sentosa Merlion is Singapore's largest Merlion standing at 37m tall. It is at the heart of Sentosa and stands on a base that resembles the 八卦 {bagua, an auspicious Chinese fengshui tool used to analyse energy of a space} which is believed to bring about prosperity and affluence. Each of the majestic creature’s 320 scales is shaped like the 八卦 too.
There are many other interesting trivia about the Merlion icon and Sentosa Merlion is the only one {yes, there are more than 1 Merlion statues dotted around Singapore!} where you can enter within to discover its origins and story, and climb all the way to the Merlion's head to have a magnificent view of Sentosa and its surroundings.
Fun Fact: The Japanese really love the Merlion {マーライオン}! (/^▽^)/ It has appeared in Japanese commercials, various anime, and there are even Merlion statues in Japan {Hakodate, Hokkaido in particular}. The Merlion is a must-visit for any Japanese to Singapore and it comes no wonder that there's Japanese subtitles & signs at Sentosa Merlion. One of the rare attractions I've seen that made it a point to do so.
The last time I went into Sentosa Merlion was when Chimari visited Singapore in 2006?? The exhibition area was recently refreshed with new content on the Merlion's origin and with engaging virtual reality interactives. It only reopened in May 2018 so even though I'd been there before, everything seemed like new to me too.
Lil Pumpkin loved the interactive exhibits where she could catch a 3D-animated story on how Prince Sang Nila Utama discovered Singapore, play a VR game on the symbolic design elements that make up the Sentosa Merlion, collect a limited edition Prosperity Coin from the Tree of Prosperity etc.
Right at the top in the Merlion Head Gallery {60m above sea level}, there's 360° of unobstructed view of the surroundings and it is a sight not to be missed!
I really think all Singaporeans and visitors to Sentosa must visit the Sentosa Merlion at least once.
To commemorate Lil Pumpkin's first visit there, I even did the "touristy" thing and bought the attraction photos taken by the staff haha... 2x 6R digital prints with one Sentosa Merlion photo frame for S$30 {no soft copy unfortunately}.
Sentosa Merlion
Nearest cable car station: Merlion
Operating hours: Daily, 10am - 8pm {last entry @ 7.30pm} Current promo: 25% OFF Sentosa Merlion tickets
Website: https://www.onefabergroup.com/sentosa-merlion
After lunch in Spuds & Aprons back at Faber Peak, we took the cable car again to Sentosa and headed straight to Skyline Luge - a unique wheeled gravity sled ride that provides riders full control over their descent on a purpose-built track.
Kids must be 6 years old & at least 110cm to ride the Luge alone, or they can ride in tandem with an adult. Lil Pumpkin was ecstatic that she could ride it alone and enjoyed this attraction tremendously!! Both the boy and I did too as well!! (⌒▽⌒)☆
At first I was afraid that Lil Pumpkin would find it hard to steer the luge alone but it's really straightforward, actually. You just need to pull back on the handlebars to slow down / stop, and release them slightly to accelerate. Before your first ride, instructors will give a short briefing on how to Luge and on subsequent rides, they will give reminders too.
We went on the Luge twice and for our first ride down the hill, we were a bit hesitant and confused as we didn't realise that the tracks diverged after the beginning section and there are in fact 4 thrilling Luge tracks with specially designed features including hairpin corners, exhilarating tunnels and exciting downhill slopes.
Thankfully we all ended up at the same finish point.. o(≧∇≦o)
For our second ride, all of us zipped down faster and tried out different routes from our first ride. The boy rode behind Lil Pumpkin and said that she was very brave and didn't pull on the brakes at all へ__(‾◡◝ )>
Personally, I found the Dragon Trail to be more interesting {and perhaps steeper??} than the Jungle Trail that most would usually take at the first diversion. It is the longest track there.
I think what makes Skyline Luge even more appealing is that each Luge ride comes with a Skyride on a 4-seater chairlift that connects between the 2 Skyline Luge ticket offices at Imbiah Lookout and Siloso Beach. Players can choose which ride to take first.
Even if you don't feel like playing on the Luge, you really should take the opportunity when here to sit on the Skyride as it gives you a bird's eye view of the Singapore skyline, South China Sea and Sentosa as it goes up from Siloso Beach to Imbiah Lookout.
Tickets for the Skyride can be purchased separately.
We rode it once during the day between our two Luge rides, and again at night on the way home, and both experiences were pretty different and mesmerising in their own special ways...
Skyline Luge Sentosa
Nearest cable car stations: Sentosa, Imbiah Lookout and Siloso Point
Operating hours: Daily, 10am - 9.30pm {last ride @ 9.15pm} Current promo: 4 Luge & Skyrides for S$25/pax {valid until Sat 30 Jun 2018}
Website: https://www.skylineluge.com/en/sentosa/
The end point for Skyline Luge is at Siloso Beach so after our second ride, we went for our Gogreen Segway Fun Ride. Lil Pumpkin chose this attraction herself as she had rode on a Segway in J-World Tokyo theme park and enjoyed the experience tremendously.
The boy and I had never maneuvered a Segway before. The boy is a natural at learning new things but if you know me, you'd know that I have a terrible sense of balance and I only learnt how to ride a bike when I was 32 years old haha. Surprisingly enough, I managed to balance and mastered the Segway within minutes, thanks to the friendly trainers {shout-out to Rohsayyidi for being so helpful!}. Woohoo!! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°
After getting our safety gear {helmets for adults, helmets & elbow/ knee pads for kids}, we went for a 800m ride to the end of Siloso beach on the roads. I didn't know that they had child sizes for Segways and it was soooooo cute to see Lil Pumpkin on one!!
Fun Fact: Speed limit on Sentosa roads is 40km/hr but as elsewhere in Singapore, speed limit on footpaths is 15 km/hr so the Gogreen Segways in Sentosa have a speed restriction of 12 km/hr, since they go on the footpaths sometimes. Kinda slow, but it's still an entertaining way to cruise along and take in the sights at Siloso beach.
Segway Fun Ride & Eco Adventure
Nearest cable car stations: Sentosa and Imbiah Lookout
Operating hours: Daily, 10am - 7.30pm {last ride @ 7.15pm} Current promo: 15-20% OFF ticket prices if purchased online
Website: http://www.segwaytours.com.sg/tours/fun-ride
By evening time, we were already quite pooped from being out since morning and were glad to pop into Good Old Days Restaurant for a simple buffet dinner.
It is really affordable & good value-for-money!! Food in Sentosa can get pretty expensive so this was a welcome change. I'm surprised that we never discovered this gem before, despite our numerous visits to the State of Fun..
Starting from 5pm, the first floor of Good Old Days provides a buffet service offering a variety of scrumptious Halal local dishes like laksa, vegetarian bee hoon, Hainanese roast chicken, chap chye {mixed vegetable stew}, herbal chicken soup etc. Dishes are subject to change from day to day.
I suggest dining there from about 5+pm as the restaurant starts to get crowded with tour groups from about 6+pm.
It is just a stone's throw away from the award-winning multi-sensory show, Wings of Time, thus it's very convenient to have a relaxing dinner there in air-conditioned bliss before going to the outdoors show at 7.40pm... which was exactly what we did.
Good Old Days Restaurant
Nearest cable car stations: Sentosa and Imbiah Lookout
Operating hours: Daily, 11am - 10pm {buffet from 5pm - 10pm} Current promo: S$12+ for Taste of Singapore Platter {U.P. S$15+}
Website: https://www.onefabergroup.com/good-old-days
Wings of Time is an outdoor night show set against the majestic open sea. Do note that it is a rain or shine event.
The 20mins presentation contains spectacular 3D projection mapping, water displays, state-of-the-art lasers, fire effects and music as we soar through time and space in a magical adventure with the characters.
It reminded us of the multi-media segments of NDP celebrations and although we found some parts of the dialogue & music cheesy, the visual effects were no doubt outstanding as the show brought us through artistic interpretations of the British Industrial Revolution, the Silk Road era, Mayan Pyramids, Underwater World and African Savanna (☆▽☆)
Have a sneak peek of Wings of Time in my video above of my fave show segment, Underwater World. If you aren't able to watch it, view it on my YouTube channel here.
Wings of Time Sentosa
Nearest cable car stations: Sentosa and Imbiah Lookout
Showtimes: Daily, 7.40pm & 8.40pm Current promo: 25% OFF Wings of Time {Standard & Premium} tickets
Website: https://www.onefabergroup.com/wings-of-time/
By the time the show ended at 8pm, we were completely spent but definitely happy with our fun-filled day out. I'm really pleased that we could try so many new things for the first time, and I'd gladly do it all over again with my family ❤
I took many, many short clips and photos which I obviously can't post all here. Check out more of them on my Instagram story highlights {look for folder: OneFaber 2/6/18} and the above short video.
If you're thinking of going for any of these attractions, do take advantage of the promos I listed above & the current campaign by One Faber Group, which manages the Singapore Cable Car, Wings of Time, Sentosa Merlion, Faber Peak Singapore, Spuds & Aprons, Dusk Restaurant & Bar, Good Old Days, Show Bites, FUN Shops, and Cable Car Gift Shops.
From now until 31 Aug 2018, One Faber Group is offering “53-themed” promotions across their myriad of offerings from Faber Peak to Sentosa Island to celebrate Singapore's 53rd birthday. These include the One Great Escapade Lucky Draw where visitors spend a minimum of S$53 at any One Faber Group attraction, restaurant or shop and stand a chance to win the grand prize of a 6D5N trip for two to Switzerland worth more than S$7,000!
Other than that, Singapore citizens, PRs and residents who are 53 years old this year get to enjoy FREE admissions to Singapore Cable Car, Sentosa Merlion and Wings of Time! For more information on all the promotions, go to onefabergroup.com/onegreatescapade
*Disclosure: This is a review for One Faber Group. All opinions are my own.
