Cheekiemonkies

30/08/2024

Kids then, teens today, adults tomorrow.

Time really flies even when I'm keeping track. This will be our final overseas adventure together as a family of 5 at least for the next 2 years. That's because the eldest starts his 5-month internship after this and both boys enlist in NS next year. 😔

But until then, we'll continue to make memories. LFG!

28/08/2024

Planning a winter trip to Seoul and/or Jeju with the family at the end of this year? I’ve finally put our itinerary together so I hope that some portions of it will be useful! 😁

23/08/2024

See how I compiled the Top Picks of Singapore Night Festival 2024 here?

Very considerate.
Very mindful.
Very demure.

20/08/2024

[FIRST LOOK!]

Get the cam ready 'cos Donald Duck lights up VivoCity’s Sky Park with a quack-tacular display of lights and fun! Just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival, there are 6 IG-worthy spots for you to jazz up your social media feed. And yes, it's FREE to enter!

From The Tunnel of Joy and a magnificent 7.5m tall Donald-themed boat to various photo spots consisting of giant frames & birthday cake and a beach bar, there'll be lots to snap! Past, go after sunset for best results. 😁

DETAILS
VivoCity Sky Park, Level 3
Dates: Now to 22 Sep 2024
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Free Admission)
Light Up: 6pm – 10pm

10/08/2024

Ayd turns 18, and it's all happening too fast.

Kelvin Ang is a top Daddy Blogger, author of 'Got Kids, Go Where?' & speaker, and one of Singapore's 10 Most Popular Lifestyle Blogs.

08/08/2024

Wonderland opens in cinemas TODAY, just in time for the National Day long weekend!

Attended the Gala Premiere of Wonderland last week so got excuse to dress nice nice 😁 And what an emotional rollercoaster ride the movie was!

I wouldn't say it is the type of cry-a-minute kind of sad movie. Rather, it was touching for most parts - especially for the wifey who was tearing for close to half of the movie. I think what got to her were the several moments within the set-in-the-80s film - like the Kallang Wonderland that her late Pa used to bring her, like the old Kampung house that she used to visit frequently, to even the colloquial Hokkien that she missed hearing.

For me, it was the several emotional layers within the film that resonated with me:

Tough love parenting, where 80's parents love their kids but they will never show it outright. They will try to give the best their kids ask for but they will first scold or they will say no first but get it secretly. Right right???

The white lies that we tell our loved ones, because we don't want them to feel sad. It's like how parent and child usually 报喜不报忧 (tell only the good news) you know?

Friendship between men because men never like to share their feelings right? 😁 So how do men bond over in their senior years, when they don't talk about women, cars, property or stocks anymore? I think the film explores an interesting facet of life of how we can still find support (& joy) when our kids have left the nest.

And the acting was definitely top-notch! Mark Lee, you're totally deserving of the Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival's Best Actor award. And Peter Yu, your Best Supporting Actor award for the same Film Festival is totally yours too. The way you portrayed a Dad who is yearning for a second chance and the need to help others as a way of redemption was just too good.

Bring the kids to catch the movie too - the many scenes in the movie make for great conversation starters.

06/08/2024

8 years ago in August, Ayd started his Ortho-K journey with Eye Braces Clinic to curb his increasing myopia. So it is perhaps apt that he decided to bid farewell to it in the same month.

For those unfamiliar with Ortho-K, it's a non-surgical, reversible process that uses therapeutic lenses to shape the cornea while the wearer sleeps. So what Ayd had been doing these past 8 years was to wear specially-designed cornea moulds to sleep every night. The lenses reshape the corneas and by the time he removes them in the morning, he can see clearly without glasses. That is one obvious benefit but the other benefit is his myopia was kept under control all these years.

Why did he stop? Well, he will be enlisting for NS next year so it'll will be near impossible to continue wearing the lenses - imagine having to tell his sergeant that he needs to put on his lenses when out in the jungle 😅. The other reason is because he is getting less disciplined in wearing them every night. Due to his heavier school workload, there are many times he falls asleep before putting them on so wearing them irregularly actually makes things worse.

And that was why we decided to stop now and go back to wearing his glasses. And did Ortho-K successfully curb his myopia? A definite yes. Before Ortho-K, his myopia was 200+ degrees. Now, his myopia is 300+ after he is off the lenses. If he didn't start 8 years ago, his myopia would probably have been more than 500 degrees now. In fact, his myopia would have held steady at 200+ if he had been more disciplined in wearing the lenses for the past 6 months. But I guess we are already very happy with the results.

My heartfelt thanks to Titus, who has been taking care of Ayd's (& the other monkies') eyesight all these years! 🙏 Swipe to see how much Ayd has grown! 😁

I've previously written 2 posts on Ayd's Ortho-K journey on my blog so do read them if you wish to know more:

1. Managing Ayd's Myopia with Ortho-K - http://www.cheekiemonkie.net/2017/01/managing-kids-myopia-with-ortho-k-review.html

2. After 1.5 Years on Ortho-K, did Ayd's Myopia Stabilise? - http://www.cheekiemonkie.net/2018/02/ortho-k-year-review-singapore.html

P.S. Titus told me that if Ayd wants to restart his Ortho-K after NS, he can! We just have to keep his lenses dry in a casing and store it in a cool place. Before restarting, the lenses need to be checked. If all's good, he can be specs-free again!

31/07/2024

[𝐓𝐎𝐇𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐒]
𝐃𝐀𝐘 10

Our final full day of our J*pan trip, and the 2 places we visited near were both affected by the 2011 Tsunami catastrophe.

[Sendai Arahama Elementary School]
On 11 March 2011, the Arahama region was hit by a 10m-high tsunami. What once was home to 800 houses, only the school remained standing today.

320 students, staff, and residents evacuated to the rooftop of the school and survived. Today, it is preserved and re-opened to the public as a memorial and to remind future generations about the massive destruction and lessons learnt.

For me, the scale of the destuction caused by the tsunami really hit home when I saw the ripped ceilings and battered structures in the first-floor classrooms. You can swipe through the photos to see them but I guess it’s something that you have to be there to fully feel the severity.

If you’re visiting Sendai, this is a must-visit. It’s surrel yet sobering to see such terrifying power of nature firsthand and get a sense of just how destructive a tsunami can be. In fact, all my teens were extremely engrossed in the info panels and found the visit very educational!

[Mount Hiyori]
This was a mountain hike like no other cos it only took us 5 seconds to ascend the summit! 🤣 Peaking at just 3 metres above sea level, Mt Hyori is the lowest mountain in J*pan!

Originally 6m-tall, its height was halved due to the tsunami. It was a fun visit - we may not have scaled Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in J*pan but we have climbed the lowest one… just for the quirky thrill of it. 😄

*Admission is free for both places.

And that concludes our Osaka & Tohoku trip in June. I’ll be compiling a detailed itinerary soon so I hope it’ll be useful if you’re planning a trip there!

30/07/2024

[𝐓𝐎𝐇𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐒]
𝐃𝐀𝐘 9

Two AMAZING places in on the itinerary!

[TASHIROJIMA] Photos 1-9

If you love cats, you’ve got to visit Tashirojima or informally known as “Cat Island”. Inhabited by several hundred cats, the island is famed for having a cat population that outnumbers residents and visitors!

In fact, the main activities to do on Tashirojima are simply:
1. Stroke cats
2. Take photos of cats
3. Say “Oh this one’s so cuuuute!” way too many times!

🤣🤣🤣

To get to the island, take a ferry from either one of two ports in Ishinomaki - Chuou (terminal) and Kadonowaki (first stop). It’s better to take the ferry from Chuou since it’s the starting point. A return trip costs ¥2,500/pax and takes 1 hr.

The ferry stops at 2 ports on the island - Odomari to the north and Nitoda to the south. Odomari - smaller town with not much going on. If time
permits, visitors usually disembark here and walk the 2km route south to Nitoda. Nitoda is the bigger of the two towns with cafes, as well as the island’s main shop. This is also the main fishing port. Swipe to pics 8 & 9 for the island map and ferry timings.

One can even stay Tashirojima... in adorable cat-themed accommodation named Manga Island! It’s open from April to October, and has five cat-shaped cabins for rent.

[MATSUSHIMA BAY] Photos 10-15

Matsushima Bay is known as one of J*pan’s top three scenic views with the other two being Amanohashidate in Kyoto and Miyajima in Hiroshima. The bay is dotted with 260 islands of various sizes.

Some popular ways to explore the bay include a sightseeing cruise or to hike. We didn’t do either cos I found an off-the-beaten place to explore along the bay - & it’s free! We headed to Matsushima Umanose (Horse’s Back), a natural land formation due to wave erosion.

Jutting out 250m into the sea, one can access it via the mainland and walk all the way to the end of the “back”! We simply had to do a 8-min trek though the forest and the view at the end was amazing! I guess a part of me loving this placeis cos it’s neither crowded nor touristy. 😆

Google Map location for entry point to Matsushima Umanose: https://maps.app.goo.gl/E83EeQGhkrcVK1ZX7?g_st=ic

22/07/2024

[𝐓𝐎𝐇𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐒]
𝐃𝐀𝐘 8

From Morioka to Sendai - where we would spend our final 3 nights of our Tohoku trip. And having spent a few days there, I feel Sendai is an extremely underrated destination. It has all the major shopping malls and restaurants that Osaka & Tokyo have… in fact, Sendai Station is basically the hub of where the action is but yet, it doesn’t feel crowded and claustrophobic as the other main cities. Plus, there’s plenty of nature and sights surrounding the main city too (will share them in the remaining posts).

ANA Holiday Inn Sendai was our home for the next 3 nights. Conveniently located within Sendai City, it is a 500m-walk away from Sendai Station and has 3 convenience stores in the vicinity (very important to satisfy late night hunger pangs! 😆).

The teens had a triple room (S$110/night) while we parents enjoyed some privacy with the king-bed double room(S$90/night). Both rooms were clean and pretty spacious. But what excited the teens most were the daily buffet breakfast at the hotel! Swipe to the last pic to see the evidence.

We know by now that buffet breakfasts in J*pan are awesome, cos they feature J*panese cuisine too BUT the one at ANA Holiday Inn Sendai includes the BiG 3 food of Sendai - Gyutan, Zunda & Sasa-kamaboko.

Gyutan is grilled beef tongue (believe me, it tastes way better than it sounds), Zunda is sweetened crushed edamame paste which can be enjoyed with mochi or as a shake and Sass-kamaboko, or just sasakama is fish cake shaped like a bamboo leaf. So there was no need for us to hunt for them as our hotel’s breakfast had them all!

Btw, Sendai has 2 outlet malls - Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port and Sendai Izumi Premium Outlets - and we visited them before we checked into our next accommodation. Both have rather similar shops though the Mitsui one is closer to the city.

20/07/2024

I survived the week.

Signed up for a 3-day intense course.
The wifey copied me.
We became course mates.
Skipped an afternoon to attend MOE's COMPASS meeting at LinkedIn SG HQ.
Returned to course.
Did lots of role-play & facilitation.
But lucky lecturer didn't put wifey & I in the same role-play groups.
Kena assessed.
Now we're both Certified Mental Wellness Coaches & Facilitators.
Returned to my regular Specialist Diploma course.
Co-facilitated a Love Language workshop for parents at Huayi Sec Sch.

Now I just lying on the sofa.

Happy weekend ppl!

19/07/2024

[NEW & FREE ATTRACTION]

How would you react if you heard a “Shsssh!” or cough while you were looking at an artwork in a gallery?

Well, that’s what one artist wants to find out because people may interpret and react these sounds differently, depending on their cultural background, experiences and knowledge.

Opening tomorrow (20 July 2024), the Learning Gallery at Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is a space designed to spark curious and authentic encounters with contemporary art for visitors of all ages.

Tbh, this gallery isn’t your typical art space targeted solely at kids. Just like the “Shsssh!” Exhibit I mentioned above - there isn’t even a physical art piece… just sounds to be heard.

The idea is to approach the Gallery’s 5 artworks with a childlike perspective and embrace a spirit of exploration, imagination and spontaneity - just like a child. Like the ‘Black Forest’ exhibit, an installation of destroyed “forest” of charcoal logs to show the impact of human activities, and the harmful effects of deforestation.

Oh, and there’re kid-friendly activities too! Kids can enjoy some reading at the Cloud Library, write a letter to themselves, have a hands-on experience with some of the exhibits’ replicas and even interact with a giant screen - which comes with no play instructions! 😁 Be sure to let the kids pick up a free copy of the gallery’s guide before you begin!

SAM’s Learning Gallery will open to the public at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark from 20 July 2024 onwards, with an Opening Carnival event on 20 July 2024 from 10am to 4pm where visitors can enjoy traditional games, art activities and free childhood snacks. Admission is free for all!

17/07/2024

Both of us are now Certified Mental Wellness Coaches & Facilitators!

Well, newbie versions at best actually. 😄

This 3-day certification course is different from the 1-year Specialist Diploma I’m currently studying. But when I saw online that it was open for registration, I signed up… cos no harm equipping myself with more knowledge right? Then the wifey became my course mate when she decided to sign up too!

We learnt so much over the past 3 days, role-played as a coach and facilitator (lucky we weren't put in the same group 🤣) and now after assessments, we are certified! Now who wants to be our guinea pigs? 😆😆😆

12/07/2024

[𝐓𝐎𝐇𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐒]
𝐃𝐀𝐘 7

Also known as the day we had our first onsen experience together!

After arriving in Morioka from Naruko the day before, we checked into Aishinkan, a hot springs resort. The plan was to take things slow and easy for 2 nights here as the resort has 6 different types of hot springs baths to relax in.

We stayed in a ryokan and at S$380/night for 5 pax, this was the priciest stay of our trip… which probably had us lazing in the room most of the stay. 😂 But the rate includes buffet breakfast AND dinner for 5 pax, including free use of the resort’s hot springs baths. So it’s not too bad actually.

Speaking of the buffet meals, they were awesome - plenty of variety, especially J*panese cuisine so they were obviously a hit with the teens(& wifey)! I think the DIY Waffle station during breakfast definitely sealed the deal.

After breakfast, we visited Koiwai Farm, a short drive away from Aishinkan, and is one of J*pan’s oldest and most famous dairy farms. Founded in 1891 during the Meiji Period, Koiwai Farm spans about 3000 hectares, including historic structures which showcase the development of the industry. There’re animals like cows, sheep and horses too, as well as playgrounds for kids. So I think the farm is more suited for kids aged 12 & below. As for my teens, they preferred the fresh milk, yogurt and pudding 😆 I read that the milk ramen here is good too but we were still too full from breakfast. (Admission fee is Y800/pax and ¥300 for kids aged 6 & below)

We then headed back to our ryokan to laze the afternoon away - told ya it was a take-it-easy day. In the evening, we went for our family onsen! Naturally, the teens were not too keen on the public J*panese onsen as it requires total nudity (gender separated).

But there’re 2 private onsen baths that can be booked at Aishinkan, at ¥1,500 for 6omin. And the private onsen comes with 2 hot baths, 1 cold bath & 1 sauna room - with a 20pax capacity so it’s huge! Another core memory made and stored then ☺️

10/07/2024

[𝐓𝐎𝐇𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐒]
𝐃𝐀𝐘 6

Day 6 was a day of delightful discoveries as we bade farewell to our Naruko homestay and journeyed northward.

[Photos 2-4]
Naruko town surprised us with its charm and popularity among the locals, earning its title as the Onsen Headquarters. This hot spring haven boasts a 1,000-year history and around 400 springs throughout the Naruko area!

Naruko Onsen is also famed for its traditional wooden kokeshi dolls, symbols of hope for abundant harvests and good fortune. Naturally, we picked up a tiny one as a keepsake.

[Photos 1, 5-8]
The first of our two unexpected gems was Katanuma Lake, one of my wife’s favorite spots of our trip. Formed about 1,200 years ago by volcanic activity, this caldera lake is acidic, so no creatures inhabit it, but it’s perfect for kayaking and boating.

However, the highlight is simply relaxing by the tranquil lake, enhanced by a charming resthouse. This eatery offers soba, udon, desserts, and even gas stoves for grilling meat during lunch. Kudos to our homestay’s owner for recommending this hidden gem, off the typical tourist path. (Google Maps: ‘潟沼レストハウス’)

[Photo 9]
We made a brief stop at Naruko Gorge, one of Tohoku’s most picturesque spots. Although most visitors flock here in Autumn for the vibrant foliage, we enjoyed scratching this attraction off our checklist, even during the off-season.

[Photos 10-12]
Our second serendipitous find was a cozy kokeshi doll-themed café, which I’ll proudly take credit for discovering. Junkissa Kagamoku offers delectable cakes and pastries, served with adorable kokeshi doll cutlery. This charming café seemed to appear out of nowhere and I earned extra brownie points when my wife expressed her love for it! ☺️ (Google Maps: ‘準喫茶カガモク’)

Unearthing such unexpected treasures is what makes family holidays so memorable. We then continued our journey to Morioka, our base for the next two nights!

09/07/2024

[𝐓𝐎𝐇𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐒]
𝐃𝐀𝐘 5 (Part 2)

After Yamadera, we hung out at a nearby AEON mall before heading to our last stop for the day - GINZAN ONSEN, a small hot spring town located in Yamagata prefecture.

Famed for not just its visual connection to the world of Studio Ghibli’s Sprited Away animation, Ginzan Onsen also served as a filming location for the beloved 1980s TV drama, Oshin… if you’re old enough to remember.

There’s an old world charm to this place. The beautiful scenery, coupled with traditional inns lining the river evoke scenes from a Taisho period (1912-26) novel rather than a modern onsen resort. And the cobblestone paths and gas lamps further enhance the nostalgic feels.

Ginzan literally means “silver mountain” and refers to the mining industry that flourished here in the premodern era. Walk to the end of the street to reach Shirogane Falls, a 22m-high waterfall and you’ll find a historic silver mine that was built here over 500 years ago. One can enter the lit up tunnel, though it is only accessible for about 20m.

There’s another nature trail up into the valley about 10-15 min past the waterfall, where there’s a slightly longer section of the former mine for people to enter. But do note that the nature trail is not passable in winter and early spring due to snow.

Ginzan Onsen is most popular in winter, when snow blanket the roofs of the buildings and ground - perfect ingredients for that social media post. But it can get really crowded too, and the journey there may get more challenging due to the snow.

If you ask me, Ginzan Onsen is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year. TIP: I recommend reaching slightly before evening, so that you can enjoy Ginzan Onsen in its day and dusk splendour.

Our accommodation for the night was at NAARU, a homestay in Naruko town that only opened last year (last photo). Cosy place with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, and just nice for us.

08/07/2024

[𝐓𝐎𝐇𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐒]
𝐃𝐀𝐘 5 (Part 1)

This day will forever be remembered as LEG DAY by the teens, cos we walked up 1,000+ steps to reach the top of Yamadera!

Yamadera (山寺) is a scenic temple located in the mountains, so that meant that in order to reach it, we had to climb up steps… all 1,015 of them to be exact. You should have seen my teens’ faces when they heard that 🤣

Anyway, being the great sport that they are (OR maybe it’s cos they don’t have a choice? 🤷‍♂️), we scaled the steps on a compound that was founded over a thousand years ago in 860.

Formally known Risshakuji, it’s more popularly known as Yamadera, meaning “mountain temple” in J*panese. The entire hike up took about 40min, with one break in between but the views were totally worth it.

The 2 buildings behind us in the first photo are probably the most photographed ones at Yamadera. On the right is Kaisando Hall, dedicated to the temple’s founder, Jikaku Daishi while the smaller Nokyodo building was used for copying sutra. But walk past those buildings and head up the stairs that lead to the Godaido Hall (Photo 3). This observation deck dates back to the early 1700s and extends out over the cliff, offering the best views onto the valley below.

Swipe through the rest of the photos to see the awesome views but I guess Photo 10 shows the moment when the teens were truly overjoyed - having ice cream when we were back on ground level. Btw, the cherry & edamame ice cream flavours are famous there.

[Photos 11&12] Playing with snow in summer!!! We made a brief stop at Mt. Gassan Ski Resort before Yamadera. This ski resort only opens in April after the winter ski season in J*pan because there is so much snow during winter that Mt. Gassan has to be closed! We didn’t come here to ski or snowboard though - just the thrill of playing with snow while in tees & shorts 😆❄️☃️🌨️

05/07/2024

[𝐓𝐎𝐇𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐒]
𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟒

From OSAKA to SENDAI! On Day 4, we took a morning domestic flight from Osaka to Sendai, which is the biggest city in the Tohoku region. This region comprises of the northern portion of Honshu, and includes the prefectures of Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima [Photo 6].

We were going to spend 7 nights in Tohoku so that meant it would be too rushed to visit every prefecture. So we eventually narrowed to 3 of them and after collecting our rental car at Sendai Airport, off we went!

[Photos 1-5] After a 75min-drive, we reached Mt. Zao, one of Tohoku’s most prominent mountains on the border of Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures. Mt. Zao is an active volcano, even though it hasn’t erupted in centuries.

The main attraction here during the non-winter months is the Okama Crater, a breathtaking caldera lake famous for its colour changes in different seasons. 27 meters deep with a circumference of 1km, the high acidity of the water in the crater means no life can live in or drink the water. But it is GORGEOUS!

There is an easy 10-min trail from Okama Crater to the top of Mount Kattadake where the Kattamine Shrine stands worshipping the incarnation of Zao. Okama is accessible via a scenic drive along Zao Echo Line - search ‘Okama Sancho Parking Lot’ on Google Maps. It’s an easy 5-min walk to the crater viewing area from there. There’s also a cafe & gift shop at the parking area. Do note that the roads are open from late Apr to early Nov, and closed during winter.

[Photos 7&8] Yamagata Grand Hotel in Yamagata City was our accommodation. The hotel is pretty old but everything was functional plus it was only for 1 night, before moving off early in the morning the next day. So for S$60/room, can’t complain much! And the city is quaint & totally uncrowded.

[Photos 9&10] Our hotel recommended a ramen store (Maedaya), a 500m-walk away. And it had one of the most delish Tsukemen I’ve had! In fact, everything was GOOD cos of 2 green flags - it was packed with locals & menu was only in J*p!

And that was the best part of travelling with the fam actually - discovering nondescript eateries that aren’t shared to death on social media 🤣

03/07/2024

[NEW & FREE!]

This is one Play:Date that both parents & kids can enjoy!

Centering on the theme of toys, Play:Date - Unlocking Cabinets of Play is National Museum of Singapore’s new experiential pop-up, inviting all to relive and connect over nostalgic memories.

Think retro toys like Game & Watch games, Happy Meal toys, vintage Hot Wheels cars & Barbie dolls from 1980s to present day - over 250 toys!

The experience begins at the entrance, a tunnel housing a digital parade of toy figurines by local artist Lioncolony. Then comes the vast toy collection that comprises 3 sections:

IT'S A SMALL WORLD:
Tell me your memories won't come flooding back when you set your eyes on these McDonald’s Happy Meal toys of yesteryears - including the popular Mr Kiasu figurines! Kids can try their hand at transforming a McNugget or Hotcakes robot, while parents can get all nolstagic by hopping onto the iconic ‘Fillet o Fish’ ride from the 1980s! Rounding up the collection are Barbie dolls, including unique collaborations with local brands and figurines from ActionCity.

DRIVE-THROUGH TIME:
It's all about cars with Hot Wheels, Tamiya & Matchbox! Don't miss The Original 16, the first-ever collection of cars released by Hot Wheels in 1968 and a remodelled Tamiya Rover Mini Cooper that was personally autographed by Tamiya’s CEO Mr Shunsaku Tamiya.

BATTRIES INCLUDED:
Personally, this section was my fave! Featuring retro game consoles - no touchscreen technology back then! - like Nintendo's Game & Watch and arcade-style series. Oh, & who remembers Casio's Western Bar too? On display are iconic past digital games like Tamagotchi which includes various rare designs. See if you can find Casio's unique calculator that allows students to play a boxing games during class (I remember that)!

Level up your experience by getting a Starter Pack for S$5. It includes one digital avatar and three game credits, which can be used to accumulate points via three digital games within the showcase. Use the points to customise a Play:Mate digital toy avatar.

Play:Date is open from 5 July 2024 to 5 Jan 2025 at National Museum of Singapore, and is FREE for all.

28/06/2024

[𝗢𝗦𝗔𝗞𝗔 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗦]
𝗗𝗔𝗬 3

USJ Day! I was probably more hyped than my teens, all because of Super Nintendo World! It was like stepping into a giant video game—minus the “game over” and extra lives. 😅

Everything was an explosion of colors and fun, especially the Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge ride. Seriously, no matter how long the line is, DO NOT miss it. We rode it twice! If my teens are willing to wait in line, you know it’s basically the holy grail of rides.

We ended spending more than half the day at Super Nintendo World, but we had to make a pit stop at two of our all-time faves: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Minion Mayhem. Swipe to the last two photos to see how much the monkies have grown since 2019. Time flies when you’re having fun - just not when you’re queuing for rides!

Stay tuned for my next post where I’ll spill the beans on some tips we learned, especially for conquering Super Nintendo World. First up, download the USJ app before you go and scan your tickets into it. Why? Because entry to SNW is timed, and you need to pre-book a slot. The second you step into USJ, turn on your location, launch the app, and channel your inner Koopa to book those slots ASAP. They disappear faster than you can say “It’s-a me, Mario!”, or like those K-Pop concert tickets.

27/06/2024

[𝗢𝗦𝗔𝗞𝗔 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗦]
𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝟭 & 𝟮

If you don’t recognise the 2 mascots in the first photo, I don’t blame you… cos neither do I 😂😂😂

But that didn’t matter. What mattered was this was taken at a theme park in Osaka and we never had to queue for any rides for more than 10min! Read on for all the fun we had during our first 2 days in Osaka:

[Photo 2] Our accommodation in Osaka for 3 nights - WELLSTAY Osaka Shin-Imamiya. Our room came with 1 queen & 3 single beds, together with amenities like stove, fridge, microwave, washing machine and a heater in the bathroom for drying clothes. It’s a 3min walk to Shin-Imamiya station so all in, S$110/night is a bargain imo!

[Photos 3&4] After dinner, we visited teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka which uses the outdoor park as a canvas for a magical light & sound experience. I still prefer the Tokyo one but this one is much cheaper so it’s still worth a visit with the kids. Ticket details: https://tinyurl.com/3dker99a

[Photos 5-7] Day2 and after a hearty breakfast, we visited Hirakata Park - an underrated theme park with old school rides. But my teens totally enjoyed it, especially the rollercoasters and cos there were no queues! Totally recommend this. Ticket details: https://tinyurl.com/4eyyn989

[Photos 8&9] Lunch & dinner. The former was at a family-run udon/soba shop near Hirakata Park and everything was so good! Dinner was at Yappari Steak, a steakhouse where the teens got to cook their beef on hot lava stones. SG has a beach at Vivo & prices start from $19.90++ but here, it’s ¥990 so no-brainer lah.

[Photo 10] What it looks like after we return to our accommodation every night 😝