Happy like (a Jurong) Bird

Last weekend, Daddy & Mummy brought us to a place where we have not been for a very long time.

More than 3 years actually.

That's right. It's The Jurong Bird Park.

And for some reason, both di-di & I prefer the Bird Park more than the Zoo. So it was all thanks to the We Welcome Families 2011 promotion, that we finally got to visit the Land of the Birds once again. 

Yup, with a 50% discount off the admission charges for both adults & children, no wonder Daddy & Mummy brought us there. Hee. You can just download the coupon below onto your mobile phone, or print it out and present it to the counter.

Take note though - that the promotion is valid to 3rd November 2011.

So anyway, di-di & I were only too eager to get our Bird Park outing going. And our first visit of the day belonged to the ever-so-cute penguins!

Mei-mei was terribly fascinated by the moving creatures in the water. Her eyes kept darting around, in an attempt to follow the movement of the penguins.

It was also our favourite exhibit at the Bird Park by the way. Daddy thinks it's because the air-con.

As 10am loomed, we had to make our way to the Hawk Walk arena as di-di & I wanted to catch the 'Kings of the Skies' show.

But not before something pink made us pause for a brief moment.

I love the flamingos too, though I can never stand on one leg for such a long period.

We then made ourselves comfortable at the show arena, as we awaited for the Bird Kings to spread their wings.

The show was all about nature's most ferocious flying predators – eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures and owls - showcasing their might and prowess when hunting for their prey.

All these were a new experience for mei-mei, and she lapped it all up with relish.

As we made our way out after the show, we passed by an area which made di-di & I very excited.

It was the new Birdz Play area for kids, and it comes complete with water slides, water sprays, a giant tipping bucket, playground - much like the Rainforest Kidz at the Singapore Zoo.

It's still under construction though, but I already made Daddy & Mummy promise to bring us back when it was up and running. Woohoo!

More bird-watching then followed, as we made our way round the Bird Park.

We saw so many birds, but not all of the birds were real though. Heh.

We went to catch the 11am 'Birds N Buddies' show at the Pools Amphitheatre, which made di-di rather happy. 'Cos it meant that he could rest his legs!

And also nibble on some snacks! :P

The snacks made us even hungrier, and so after the show we went for an early lunch before moving onto our next highlight of the outing.

Feeding lories at the Lory Loft!

The last time when we were here, di-di was younger and he was quite afraid of the free flying lories. But now, I guess it's safe to say he treats them as good pals. Haha!

As for me, I have loved feeding them ever since our last trip to the Bird Park and fondly remember feeding them while they are perched on my shoulders. So it was good to see my old friends once again.

As for mei-mei, I think she was rather captivated by the sight of so many colourful birds whizzing past her. Either that, or it was because she was feeling drowsy after lunch.

She does look rather zoned out, doesn't she?

But anyway, di-di & I continued on our quest to fill more lories' tummies. And we were definitely enjoying it!

Our food for the lories dwindled soon enough, and we were all happy that they got their fill.

But our feeding experience were not over yet, as we flew over to the Ostrich enclosure next to feed some yummy bananas to the Ostriches!

That didn't make the a pelican very happy though.

So what to do? 

We had to feed them some fish too. Heh.

And I think it made them delirious!

As mid-afternoon approached, di-di & I were getting more tired as we had walked quite some distance while mei-mei just enjoyed sitting on her throne. We then decided to make the African Waterfall Aviary our last stop of the day before making our way home.

We definitely thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the Bird Park, and I guess it was also a new experience for mei-mei since she has grown to be more aware of her surroundings now. Perhaps we should go back again soon?

With the 50% discount promotion til 3rd Novemeber, we just might. :)

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The Pencil and the Eraser

(Daddy shares)

I came across this on Facebook, and thought that it was a nice short read regarding Parenthood.

Pencil: I'm sorry.

Eraser: For what? You didn't do anything wrong.

Pencil: I'm sorry that you get hurt because of me. Whenever I make a mistake, you're always there to erase it. But as you make my mistakes vanish, you lose a part of yourself. You get smaller and smaller each time.

Eraser: That's true. But I don't really mind. You see, I was made to do this. I was made to help you whenever you do something wrong. Even though one day, I know I'll be gone and you'll replace me with a new one, I'm actually happy with my job. So please, stop worrying. I hate seeing you sad.


I found this conversation between the pencil and the eraser very inspirational. Parents are like the eraser whereas their children are the pencil. They're always there for their children, cleaning up their mistakes. Sometimes along the way... they get hurt, and become smaller (older, and eventually pass on).

Though their children will eventually find someone new (spouse), but parents are still happy with what they do for their children, and will always hate seeing their precious ones worrying, or sad.

"All my life, I've been the pencil.. And it pains me to see the eraser that is my parents getting smaller and smaller each day. For I know that one day, all that I'm left with would be eraser shavings and memories of what I used to have..."

This is to all the parents out there...

***

How very true.

People say you can't fully understand the true intentions of your parents until you are one yourself. I used to be the pencil, but now I am the eraser as well. And it is a responsibility that I will do my utmost to do it well.

Cherish both your precious erasers and pencils. :)

More Genting & Melaka photos

Daddy has uploaded MORE photos (131, in fact!) of our recent Genting and Melaka rampage trip on Facebook. And you can view them all HERE.

And while you are at it, why not 'like' our Facebook page too? Hee.

All that she wants

(Daddy withers)

When she woke up late in the morning light

And the day had just begun

She opened up her eyes and thought

Oh what a morning

It's not a day for work

It's a day for catching tan (& ice cream)

Just laying on the beach and having fun (eating some ice cream)

She's going to get you

And yes, not only did this Ace of Base song get to me, Ale got me as well.

We were at the supermarket over the weekend, and this little diva gestured wildly at this packet of ice cream. I put the box in her hands, and this is what I saw next.

Hmmm... that facial expression looked kind of familiar. Where have I seen that before???

A-HA! 

Don't they look similar? I mean the expression of course, not the short fur/hair that both possess.

So how can anyone say no in this kind of situation?

I certainly can't.

And look how happy it made her.

Pity the iPhone wasn't fast enough to capture such a wonderful Kodak moment.

And to further fuel the belief that how Daddies can often be twirled round their daughters' fingers, her look of smugness after that was the ultimate killer blow.

Oh yes, she knows what she wants alright.

And if it's all that she wants, she's going to get me. Not always, hopefully.

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Good luck!

5 kiddos rampage in Melaka

(Daddy reports)

After saying our farewells to the wonderfully cool weather of Genting, we made our way to our pit stop for the night - the city of chendol, kueh-kueh and all things nyonya. 

Hello, big(ger) tummy.

We stayed at this very beautiful and quaint boutique hotel when we were in Melaka about 1.5 years ago, and we absolutely loved it. 

So this time around, we had to make the Courtyard @ Heeren our stay for the night once again.

Location-wise, it is just situated behind the famed Jonker Street so it makes all the shopping and eating so much more accessible. And with only 14 rooms and suites, the whole place really felt cosy. Not to mention that the wifey is thoroughly in love with the hotel's furnishings and decor.

There was even an disused well in the hotel's compound, together with many mortar pounders. Which at least kept the kiddos busy for a while.

All rooms in the hotel are designed differently, each in it's own specific style, infusing the Peranakan style with modern elements. 

I would have love to show our room in its original state. 

But I had severely underestimated the ability for the kiddos to mess up the room. In record quick time no less.

Enough of the hotel. Melaka is all about food, and we of course wasted no time in gorging ourselves silly.

What else but chicken rice balls right? But this stall isn't exactly that good though. There's an even better one - one with long snaking queues - housed in a very old coffeeshop directly opposite the San Shu Gong shop. We didn't get to try that, but it's definitely on the top of my to-eat list the next time we are back in Melaka.

And after experiencing the cool air of Genting for 2 days, I guess we all needed some time to re-adjust back to the warm temperature.

Errr.... especially Ale?

She can really perspire. A LOT. 

I pray that her head doesn't stink when long hair beckons.

Anyway, the sweltering heat made for a perfect excuse to have some ice cream!

Cute little egg-shaped ice cream that came with legs - which were perfect for the kiddos 'cos it was drip-free and hence, mess-free.

And as we walked along Jonker Street, it was beginning to burst to life with many street stalls setting up shop.

And when shopping was concerned, the kiddos' enthusiasm is more often than not inversely proportional to that of the adults.

So it was probably a good idea to plonk them all somewhere and pile them with drinks & snacks, while the rest of the adults went along with their bargain hunting.

Well, at least they had live entertainment in the form of some senior citizens' Karaoke competition.

As night fell, and tummies rumbled, the shopping exercise was cut as we made our way to our makan place.

That was until we got waylaid by some cheap lelong.

Plants vs Zombies plush toys! Yah, Angry Birds soft toys are so yesterday.

Well, that certainly perked up the kiddos. And we rounded up the night with a hearty meal at Nancy's Kitchen.

Aunty Nancy is a family relative, so we always make it a point to eat there whenever we are in Melaka. The chendol is heavenly by the way! :)

And as with all holidays, the final day is always the most painful where the sense of reality of going home really starts to sink in.

Luckily, there was still the scrumptious hotel buffet breakfast to gloss over the pain somewhat.

And I, too wasted no time in huddling the kiddos together and using them as my photo models.

Luckily for me, they were all in a very obliging mood.

Even the tiniest one of them all. :)

The adults still had some shopping to take care of after breakfast.

So a bribe was in order.

I guess it worked.

A cheap price to pay, in return for more shopping time I say.

And so, that too signaled the end of yet another road trip holiday with our friends.

And the one thing I noticed on this trip? That it was getting easier to travel with the kiddos - they were actually more well-behaved compared to the previous times.

So.... more travelling on the cards? Soon?