Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Extension

The Sungei Buloh Wetland extension just opened a month ago (in Dec 2014) and we decided to check it out today. Blessed with good weather, we enjoyed an easy stroll along the coastal route. The route was mostly flat with paved or wooden plank paths. It is stroller friendly except for a section of gravel path, which might make for a slightly bumpy ride. Still, I'd recommend bringing a stroller along if you're bringing a baby / toddler who isn't capable of walking an almost 1.5km route independently.

We started at the Kranji Way entrance, which is a good starting point especially if you are taking the young ones along. The Junior Adventure Trial is right next to the Visitor Centre, and it is a good place to get the kids excited about the nature walk. The Visitor Centre houses the Mangrove Gallery which provides lots of information on what you might expect to see in a Wetland Reserve. It is a must visit before you embark on the trial, unless you plan on doubling back later.

Do visit the toilets located at the Visitor Centre before you embark on the trial, as you won't have access to one until the end of the trial.

We followed the Coastal Route (marked in red on the map below) all the way to the Wetland Reserve. It took us about 1h 15min to cover the 1.5km route at a leisurely pace. Thereafter, Dean walked thru Neo Tiew Carpark and down Neo Tiew Cresecent back to our car that was parked at the Kranji Way entrance, while we checked out the information boards at the Wetland Reserve while waiting for him to come and pick us up. It turned out to be a good arrangement as it took him just 10 minutes to get to our car, and I really doubt our boys would enjoy doubling back on the same coastal route nor walking along the road back to the car. It is recommended to visit during low tide, so do check tide timings when planning your visit.

1) Junior Adventure Trial

At the Junior Adventure Trial, kids can pretend to be mudskippers (or any mangrove creature they fancy) in a mangrove swamp. Adult supervision is recommended as some parts aren't exactly toddler friendly. The boys enjoyed riding on the pulley boat the most, and said that the Junior Adventure Trial was one of their favourite parts of the nature walk.

2) Observation Pods

There are four observation pods along the entire trial. The elevation allows visitors a bird's eye view of the Wetland Reserve. 

3) Mid Canopy Walk

A 120m long bridge takes you thru a mid canopy forest. We could hear birds, crickets and frogs as we made our way across the bridge.

4) Eagle Point

My personal favourite. Enjoy the breeze as you stroll along the board walk that takes you to the eagle point. 

5) Mud Flats

The boys liked the interactive display that tells us about the different creatures living at varying depths of the mud bed.

The mud experience involves walking across a rope bridge. Note that this is only possible during low tide. We spotted mudskippers and crabs on the mudflats. This was the other highlight for the boys.

The Sungei Buloh Wetland extension is worth a visit. Pick a day with fine weather, slap on the mosquito repellant and spend some time getting acquainted with nature. We'll be back!

Do check out the HSBC Tree Top walk as well. The Sungei Buloh Wetland reserve is more suitable for pre-schoolers though. 

KidsSTOP

KidsSTOP is an edutainment facility designed for kids 3 to 7 years old. It offers a range of hands-on activities for young children, where they get to learn about the four seasons, energy conversion, parts of the human body, gravity... in a fun way. Children also get to role play as pilots, construction workers, doctors and nurses. 

KidsSTOP operates two sessions per day for the general public. On weekdays, session 1 runs from 12pm to 3pm and session 2 runs from 4 to 7pm. On weekends, session 1 runs from 10 to 2pm and session 2 runs from 3 to 7pm. Tickets are valid for only one session. What this meant was that the place was not overly crowded, and the children did not have to wait for more than 5 minutes at each station. 

The boys enjoyed working with blocks, balls and a make-believe crane at the build zone.

Bob the Builder

Operating a "crane"

Bob at his work bench

Then they pretended to be pilots at the flight zone. The boys had a glimpse of what a cockpit looks like, though it probably doesn't look as complicated as an actual airplane's. 

Pilots wannabes

Pretending to fly a plane

Next we tried our hand at converting kinetic energy to light and sound energy. The children could either pedal with their legs or work a hand-crank wheel. 

I can generate wind and light energy!

Through shopping at a supermarket, the boys learnt about the different food groups, and the importance of eating healthily. They had fun filling their shopping baskets and couldn't resist "buying" their favorite chocolates.

Basketful!

Beep! Beep!

At the human body section, we got to measure our weight. Nathan, who weighs about 16kg, is as heavy as a bag containing 2,540 $1 coins.

As heavy as 2,540 $1 coins

We also saw the various part of the human body and understand the functions of some of our organs.

Dr Nathan at work

Nathan also experienced free falling and the effects of gravity. I was surprised he agreed to try, but he refused to go more than once. After being suited up, he was told to lie on a slide and hold on to a handlebar. The handlebar was raised to a height of 4 meters, and he was supposed to let go! Wheee!

Suited up an ready to go...

Hold on tight!

Higher!

All in all, it was an afternoon well spent. Recommended for families with kids aged 3 to 7 years old.

See you there!

For details on tickets, opening hours and latest maintenance schedules, check out KidsSTOP's official website.

Fish @ Big Splash

Nathan has read books and seen pictures of people fishing and he asked if we could go fishing together. The first and only time I went fishing was some 15 years back... I remembered that we boarded a boat off changi jetty and spent many hours under the hot sun. After a long day, we caught a few cat fish. I didn't think he'd enjoy such an experience. As such, I said we'd go when he is older.

Sometime later, he told me, "mommy, do you know that if we bought a fishing rod, we'd never have to buy fish ever again?" I was quite tickled by that statement, but I knew exactly what was going on in his head.

I chanced upon Fish @ Big Splash on the web, and thought it'd be a good idea to check it out. We went last week, and had a great time.

For $22, we were provided with a fishing rod and bait, and taught how to cast our line in the salt water pond. Nathan was thrilled. It was his first attempt at fishing. 

Within 5 minutes, he caught his very first fish! According to Gordan (the person who runs the place), $22 guarantees that you'd be able to bring a fish home. If you fail to catch one that day, you can return to try again the next day... and the next... Until you catch a fish. But he's sure that you won't return empty handed the first time round. Since Nathan's maiden attempt at fishing ended in last then 5 minutes, Gordon was so nice to let him have another go at no additional charge, provided we threw the second fish that we caught back into the pond. It took us a while longer to catch the second fish and Nathan was getting rather bored. I suppose we didn't give him an accurate experience of how fishing was actually like, but at least, he got to use a fishing rod. :P

Noah wasn't too interested in fishing and asked to feed the rabbits instead. It was his first time feeding rabbits and it was nice having the rabbits chomp down eagerly on the greens that he was holding.

Next, we proceeded to feed fish. As we approached the pond, the fish started swimming near the edge as if they knew that breakfast was about to be served. What a sight!

Fish @ Big Splash also offers prawning, fish spa and longkang fishing.

We saw a good number of people catching prawns when we were there. I heard that there are lobsters in the same pond, and you'd get to bring the lobsters home if you manage to catch them!

Longkang fishing is popular with kids and adults who want to relive their childhood days. You are allowed to take off your shoes and wade in the ankle deep water to catch your fish. For $12, you'd get a net and given an hour to fish. It looks so much fun and we'll probably be back to try this out.

We had a great time at Fish @ Big Splash and recommend that you check it out someday! As we prepared to leave, Gordan packed the two fish that Nathan caught for dinner that night. It was a pleasant surprise that he decided to gift us the second fish as well. :)

Happy 49th Birthday Singapore!

About a year ago, we watched the National Day Parade from Benjamin Sheares bridge. We had a good view of the fireworks from where we were, but the boys weren't too happy about not having a seat.

Nathan: Can we go nearer, and sit with the people over there?

Me: Only people with tickets can get a seat.

Nathan: Can we buy tickets?

Me: The national day parade tickets are not for sale. We have to ballot...

A conversation about what balloting means, and why it's hard getting tickets ensued. Finally, I said... maybe we can pray and ask God to give us tickets next year. Then we can all watch the parade from the floating platform.

This year, we submitted our names for the ballot, prayed hard and were blessed with 4 tickets to the preview last week. The boys were thrilled!

Yay! We got tickets!

We packed a picnic dinner and made our way to the floating platform. The coloured sector that we were allocated is indicated on our tickets, and there are clear instructions on the entry point allocated to us to facilitate crowd control. We followed the directions given and it was a breeze getting to our seats.

Walking towards the floating platform via the helix bridge

The NDP fun packs were filled with a wide array of items... button badges, visors, banner clappers, mini flag, LED bracelets, Singapore scarf, biscuits, packet drinks... The boys had fun just rummaging thru their goody bags.

The parade started off with the red lions making their descend. This was followed by the fighter jets and the state flag fly past.

Red Lion

Looking at the fighter jets

F15 jets flying in formation

Majulah Singapura!

I enjoyed the parade segment, where various contingents marched to the beat of familiar national songs. Singing along with fellow Singaporeans, I once again felt thankful for this place that we call home.

The evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display...

This song pretty much sums up my feelings about Singapore... This is home, truly! Happy birthday Singapore!

Home

Whenever I am feeling low
I look around me and I know
There's a place that will stay within me
Wherever I may choose to go
I will always recall the city
Know every street and shore
Sail down the river which brings us life
Winding through my Singapore 

 Chorus: 
This is home truly, where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me, where the river always flows
This is home surely, as my senses tell me
This is where I won't be alone, for this is where I know it's home

When there are troubles to go through
We'll find a way to start anew
There is comfort in the knowledge
That home's about its people too
So we'll build our dreams together
Just like we've done before
Just like the river which brings us life
There'll always be Singapore