The Petite Park (Indoor Playground)

There's a new shopping mall in the east, and it's Changi City Point which is just behind the Singapore Expo. Among the many new shops within the mall, there is a new place for us kids to hang out and chill while the adults go about their shopping errands. 

Located on the second floor, the Petite Park is an indoor playground designed to provide children (that's us!) under 7 years old (or less than 130cm in height) "an imaginative, challenging, and fun yet safe environment to play and explore".

Well, at least that was what its website claimed.

And with the owners of The Petite Park having invited us down one weekend ago,  di-di, mei-mei & I shall attempt to verify that for ourselves. Hee.

At first glance, the colourful play structures really caught our eyes. Mei-mei, for one, couldn't wait to get into the playground!

Compared to the likes of Amazonia, Polliwogs or Fidgets, the structures are much less intimidating and less challenging. So Daddy reckons it is best suited for kids aged 1 to 5 years old. 

And if parents just want to observe their young-lings from a distance, they can do so by getting a rest on the bar stools right outside the playground while sipping a kopi or reading a mag.

Since it was the Chinese New Year, the playground had organised a free craft workshop as part of the festive celebrations. Naturally, di-di & I jumped at the chance to make our very own angpow dragon!

We did our craft work at the Party Room area, where di-di harboured grand plans to hold his Birthday party there. Hahaha... I just told him to quit daydreaming and complete his craft quickly so that we can hit the playground soonest!

Because look who had already started without us!

Mei-mei was definitely only too eager to get her playtime underway, and one of her favourite play structure was this mini-slide.

She, too enjoyed crawling through this bubble tunnel.

Erm... that was until I came and plonked myself right inside it. :P

That's right. With our angpow dragons completed, it was time for some serious play!

And what better way to announce our arrival than to create a splash with all those colourful balls in the ball pit.

I think mei-mei found it to be a great idea too huh.

One can never go wrong with ball pits I say. Well, unless if there are bigger balls around for us to play... like these giant bouncing balloons!

I think di-di enjoyed this enclosed area lots, because he was squealing with delight as he tried in vain to wrap his arms around a giant balloon - and accidentally bursting one in the process. Oops.

As for my personal favourite, it was the spinning carousel with dangling balls for me to hop onto.

But if crazy dizzying fun isn't your cup of tea, you can go slow with the Ship which rocks gently from side to side.

And if you really force us to pick our most-est fave of the lot, we would go for this.

Bouncy Slide!

Obviously it was bouncy enough for us to literally bounce our way down.

And amid our crazy shrieks and laughter, mei-mei chose to have her own quiet moment at the Pretend Play area.

The area is very well-equipped with lots of play toys for toddlers; from train sets & tables, kitchen toys, make-believe food stalls, to music instruments and educational puzzle toys.

Definitely a welcome change from the perspiration-inducing play structures. Which di-di & me were still at it. Right until Daddy & Mummy said it was time to leave.

Judging from the perspiration dripping from our heads, I think you would know whether we had enjoyed ourselves.

The indoor playground is well-padded and the play structures & toys are clean and sanitized - so Daddy feels it is the perfect place to dump toddlers while the adults go shopping.

ESPECIALLY if there is an I.T. fair or Warehouse sale at the Singapore Expo next door!

Riiiight.

Actually, not that we would mind lah.


And right now, from 1 to 23 Feb, The Petite Park is having a one-for-one promotion! Details and terms below.

Oh, remember to bring your socks there too!


Useful Information:

Address: Changi City Point, 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, #02-15/16, S(486038)

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10.30 am to 8 pm; Sat - Sun  & PH: 10.30 am to 9 pm

Rates:
Weekday rate: $16 for unlimited playtime per visit.
Weekend / Public Holiday rate: $18 for 2 hours of playtime per visit. $6 for each hour thereafter.
Petite Value Pass: $84 for 6 visits (unlimited hours per visit).

Website: http://www.petitepark.com.sg/index.html or Facebook page

Happy Birthday, Everyone!

Today's the seventh day of the Chinese New Year and it is traditionally known as 人日 (Rénrì) where it is the Birthday of EVERYONE. Woohoo!

And since the first two days of the Chinese New Year weren't exactly enough for the adults to feast to their satisfaction, the first weekend of the Dragon Year would see di-di, mei-mei & me tagging along with Daddy & Mummy to their friends' homes.

Luckily for us, one of the homes was that of Benji's & Sarah's. 

And together with Clara, when you put us all in proximity, you are ensured of ear-popping shrieks and laughter from the 5 of us!

Erm well... only 4 for now, because Sarah was busy treating mei-mei like her beloved doll.

Not that mei-mei minded of course.

In fact, I think she loved being fussed over by her Sarah jie-jie. Hee.

That was until Sarah had TWO dolls to fuss over!

And while we kids were busy playing, the adults decided to play too - with food (again!).

But they had (wisely) left us kids out of this food-tossing event.

I wonder why?

龙众 huat arh!

No matter, we kids got our share of share later when it was time to cut the Birthday cake!

No, it wasn't because of 人日. Though I wished it was because that would mean ALL of us would get a present!

Rather, it was to celebrate both the birthdays of Benji & Sarah as their special days also fall in the month of January.

I know what Benji wished for - more trips to Disneyland!

Hahaha...

Happy Birthday everyone! May all your wishes come true in the Year of the Dragon!

Chingay 2012: Sprinkle Splash Splosh

(Daddy previews)

Chingay.

Just one word to conjure up colourful images of festivity & conviviality. 

When I was a little boy, my parents used to bring me and my sister to brave the crowds along Orchard Road to catch a glimpse of those magnificent floats and performances. How I vividly remember those times, especially as I remained perched on my dad's shoulders. Until I ballooned in size during my later years that is.

Being Chingay's 40th anniversary this year, Chingay 2012 celebrates love in all its guises, flowing with passion, romance, harmony and community spirit, with the theme of "Love, Care and Kindness Everywhere".

I was kindly invited to its media conference and full dress rehearsal about 2 weeks back, and it was really an eye-opener to see how everything is put together.

Since this year is the Year of the Water Dragon, it is fitting that the whole Chingay parade takes place ON water. Yup, a 360-metres waterway has been specially constructed behind the F1 Pit Building where performers will literally make a splash with their performances.

As everyone waited for nightfall, the whole area was gradually transformed into an illuminating and magical platform right before my eyes.

And that was the perfect cue for the parade to get underway!

The grand opening segment features a whole array of - what else - dragons; from a LED Hip Hop dragon dance, straw dragons, water dragons, a human dragon from Zhangjiang, a dazzling dragon float to two magnificent dragon and phoenix from Xi'an, Shaanxi of China with 36m-long bodies and 16m-wing!

Coupled with the enthusiastic participation of the performers, it was truly a spectacle of colours, lights and sounds.

International cultures were also displayed in their fullest vibrancy, with various performances and floats from China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and even Egypt!

One particular segment was the showcase of Chinese Culture featuring "踏歌" (Ta Ge)  - a Chinese Classical Dance of Han Dynasty accompanied by a towering float.

The grandeur of the floats were replicated in the other culture segments too, with each being a performance in its own right.

2 float representatives from the NUS Rag Day (an annual float competition) even took part in the parade, with one coming from the Kent Ridge Hall & Sheares Hall while the other was a joint effort from Eusoff & Temasek Halls.

To me, these floats are the highlights as I used to have a hand in constructing this kind of floats every year during my NUS days. The floats are entirely made up of recycled materials, like newspapers, tetra paks, drink cans, etc, so it is a really Herculean task to construct one of these.

The next half of the show shifts its focus to the Community, featuring a multitude of dance forms from line dancing, folk dancing, Samba dancing to a synchronized symphony of 600 'dikir barat' singers and dancers and a tai chi fan dance, and even spectacular bicycle stunts on water.

Oh, and a point to note - be prepared to get REALLY WET if you are seated among the first few rows. The performers really know how to make full use of the water!

Barring the inevitable hiccups (since it was only a rehearsal), Chingay 2012 looks set to be a truly splashing good time for all! And I think Andy (of sengkangbabies) will attest to that too.

There are 2 parade shows on 3 and 4 Feb, but tickets are already sold out for the 4 Feb show. Limited tickets are still available for the 3 Feb one, so do hurry if you want to catch the the parade! You can purchase the tickets via Sistic HERE.


Venue: F1 Pit Building
Dates: 3 & 4 Feb 2012 (4 Feb SOLD OUT)
Time: 8.30pm
For prices & location, please click here: http://www.chingay.org.sg/2012/ticketing.asp
For more information on Chingay 2012, visit here: http://www.chingay.org.sg/