The Shaver for the Modern Man

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(Daddy reviews)

Shaving can be a chore - especially if you have to wake up at 5.30am every morning to prepare the boys for school! I admit, I rather spend a few minutes more lazing in bed than attempt to slash the stubby foliage covering my chin with my shaver. So yes, I don't shave everyday if I can help it.

But you know how the world operates - a clean-shaven man projects an image of professionalism and tidiness. Not to mention my 3 monkies would have no reason to reject a kiss from me if I'm clean-shaven! The wifey still hasn't shown any signs of rejection (yet) but I don't think I will be taking any chances. So I am always game for any sort of help which would drastically lighten my shaving load.

And thankfully, it came in the form of the Philips AquaTouch Electric Shaver.

For the most part of my life, I have been using a manual cartridge shaver. And I always hated the stinging irritation that almost always accompanied the shaving. Oh, and who can forget the occasional razor mishaps where nicks and cuts form part of my shaving routine... especially since I am the bleary eyed one in the mornings!

Not cool at all.

So I was intrigued when I saw from the packaging of the Philips AquaTouch that it boasts either a comfortable dry shave or refreshing wet shave, without worrying about damaging one's skin. Ah, that last bit is definitely music to my ears.

Actually, I think my 2 boys were more eager than me to try out the shaver as they happily unboxed the package on my behalf... without my asking.

Well, the standard items are there: shaver, protection cover cap, charger and a cleaning brush. What I liked was the travel pouch, which will serve as a nifty storage bag especially on my travels.

As for the shaver itself, it has a TripleTrack cutting system with dual blades, with three shaving tracks that provide 50% more shaving surface while the blades lift and cut hairs. What this means is you are able to shave even the shortest stubble, which results in a far smoother shave and doesn't damage the skin unlike the manual ones.

Oh, and did I mention that the shaver is 100% waterproof??? It is absolutely safe to shave while in the shower - saving even much more time for busy fathers like me!

Not only that, the Philips AquaTouch also has an attached Pop-up Trimmer which is perfect for grooming moustaches & sideburns.

All well and good, but how did it perform when I put it to the test?

I had a nice little stubble growing prior to my first shave with the Philips AquaTouch and I always detest shaving short stubbles with a manual shaver because I always get the inevitable irritation after that. So to be honest, I wasn't exactly sure whether the same irritation will follow after using the Philips AquaTouch.

A few small circular motions across my chin later, I was done. And the result? My chin was smooth and clean. And the best part was I didn't get any stinging sensation in the aftermath even though I didn't use any shaving gel or foam.

With shaving comes cleaning too, and with my previous manual shaver I had to practically keep knocking it against my sink to get all those stubborn hairs out. Very frustrating indeed. But for the Philips AquaTouch, cleaning is as easy as it can get.

Just press a button below the blades and the entire shaver head will flip open. And since it is totally waterproof, just pop the shaver head under running water and give it a good rinse.

For the first time ever, I have both Ash & Ayd clamouring to wash my shaver for me. Yes, it is that simple (and fun).

Ayd even lamented that he couldn't get a chance to try out the shaver due his apparent lack of facial hair. LOL!

And if you are worrying about the cost and maintenance of an electric shaver - I know I did - you would be glad to know that the Philips AquaTouch comes in three different models, with prices starting from just S$79. To make it even more economical, there is no need to replace the self-sharpening shaver blades for up to three years, including a three-year warranty for the shaver. You can do the math, but I am sure the Philips AquaTouch offers a cheaper alternative in the long run than the frequent-blades-changing manual shaver!

Overall, I love how the partial rubberized contour-shaped body of the Philips AquaTouch AT890 allows me to have good grip and be in  full control of my shaving. Not forgetting the fact that I can enjoy up to 50+ minutes of cordless shaving on one charge. That's good enough for up to 17 shaves and adequate for me to head off for a 2-week holiday without the need to bring along my charger.

Hop over to www.philips.com.sg/aquatouch to see the entire range of Philips AquaTouch electric shaver models on offer. It'll make the perfect gift for the man in your life (for the ladies) or simply yourself (for the gentlemen)!

Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park: Hello Kitty Town Review

Media Invite

(Daddy reviews)

"WHAT??!?!?!!"

That was the response I got from both Ash & Ayd in unison when I told them that we were going to Hello Kitty Land and The Little Big Club over the weekend. I reckon they found them to be a tad childish but hey - it isn't always about them and it is about time that Ale - and the wifey too - got to visit some place that is geared towards their liking.

And it doesn't come any bigger than a white kitten with a red bow and no mouth.

Located in Nusajaya Johor and less than 10 minutes away from LEGOLAND Malaysia, the Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park houses popular global children’s characters from Sanrio Hello Kitty Town, The Little Big Club - think Barney, Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder - and LAT. And the best part?  Everything is located indoors!

No prizes for guessing which area we ventured to first then.

Hello Kitty Town Map

As we walked through the entrance of Hello Kitty Town, a whimsical spinning Tea Cup Ride caught the 2 ladies' eyes.

Compared to the usual tea cup rides at other theme parks, I spied MORE adults than kids on this particular tea cup ride. Perhaps the reason being that it is the only ride in Hello Kitty Town?

But that's not to say there are nothing else to do at Hello Kitty Town. If you a huge fan of everything Hello Kitty and love Hello Kitty merchandise, the Hello Kitty House is a must-visit place. And if you are lucky, you might even bump into its home owners!

Ale couldn't resist planting a kiss on Miss Kitty.

EVERYTHING - from the living room, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, walk-in wardrobe and kitchen, they are all decorated in Kitty-style. Definitely enough to satisfy every single Hello Kitty fan I'm sure.

I think we all agreed that the Bathroom was our favourite of the lot. Yes, me included.

And for the first time, Ale was the one who kept bugging me to snap photos of her while she pose ever so sweetly beside the numerous cute figurines.

Well, the boys were craving for some action and luckily, the Hello Kitty Black Wonder provided just that.

Conceptualised as a hi-tech interactive themed experience, we had to solve a series of puzzles in order to rescue Hello Kitty who is held captive in a castle. We were handed a Hello Kitty-shaped lamp and then sent packing to hunt for our clues.

This activity definitely perked the boys up... and you can tell that they were dead serious in wanting to free Hello Kitty. Heh.

There were 5 areas, and each contained an alphabet which we had to search for. Then, we had to piece the 5 letters together to form a word in order to complete our mission. One area had us trying to make out the letter in the barrel using our hands, while another area saw us trying to spot the differences between 2 identical rooms. The final piece to the jigsaw laid within a huge map, which we had to place our lamp over it and shine over the hidden letter.

And with that, it was mission accomplished!

The monkies even had a certificate to show for all their efforts!

I would say the boys certainly enjoyed this sleuthing bit of Hello Kitty Town the most. Coming in a close second was the 'Happy Carnival' Street Parade, which happens at 4pm on weekdays and 11.30am & 4pm on weekends.

DO NOT miss this parade because it is just so fun and colourful to watch. Try to plonk yourself near the Purrfect Stage so that you would not miss out on all of Dear Daniel's, Great Batz Maru's, My Melody's and Hello Kitty's dance steps.

During the second half of the show, kids will be taught some of the dance steps and invited to join in the fun in front of the stage. Some adults couldn't resist and actually joined in the dancing too! Heh.

And when the parade approached its end, there were plenty of opportunities for handshakes and hi-fives as well.

Though Ale appeared to be rather intimidated by the Great Batz Maru.

 I found him to be quite endearing actually.

Here's a useful schedule for all the showtimes and meet-and-greet sessions at Hello Kitty Town:

If hands-on activities are what you are yearning for, you would be glad to know that there are lots of Hello Kitty-related activities to keep you busy!

At the Wishful Studio, one can make and take home their very own Hello Kitty bracelet,play dress-up by donning Sanrio characters costumes at the photo studio as well as visit the nail salon where they can decorate their nails with Sanrio characters nail art.

There's even a cookie studio, where we had the chance to decorate our very own Hello Kitty shaped cookies with colours and sprinkles.

Adults may find this to be boring though, because all we were given was one Hello Kitty cookie, strawberry jam and chocolate sprinkles. And we had to finish decorating our cookie in under 5 minutes - which is good actually because it meant that the queue waiting time is kept short.

But what isn't fun for us adults can be very different from a child's perspective... because Ayd said he thoroughly enjoyed decorating his own cookie, even though the end result was a convoluted lump of sprinkles.

But at least the cookie tasted really good! Very buttery and oh-so-yummy.

Oh, and do note that each person is only allowed to tackle each hands-on activities at the Wishful Studio once. Ditto for the Black Wonder experience. We were each handed an activity card when we entered the theme park and for every activity we completed, we would get a stamp.

By this time, if the kids still have energy to expend, there is the Friendship Land - a padded Indoor Playgym - for them to wreck havoc in.

The good thing about this particular playgym is that the maximum entry age is 3 years old, which makes it a safe haven for toddlers as they would not get older rowdy kids like Ash & Ayd bumping into them.

There is also a Cinnamoroll Café directly opposite, and that makes it ideal for parents to keep a watchful eye over their young-lings while enjoying a Hello Kitty-shaped waffle or hot coffee.

We didn't enter the playgym though as Ale fell asleep after all the above exertions. So we did the next best thing.

We paid the Sanrio Shop on the Ground Floor a visit first. And guess who was the happiest of the lot?

I guess there isn't any need for me to elaborate what kind of merchandise the shop stocked... stuff which can make ladies hyperventilate.

My thoughts on Hello Kitty Town? It's definitely a place for kids aged 6 and below.  But obviously, the age doesn't matter at all if you are a huge fan of any of the Sanrio characters. Both Ash & Ayd had mixed feelings about it - they loved the clue-collecting Black Wonder attraction and enjoyed the Parade too, but they probably grew bored with the overly-pink decor and hands-on activities. As for Ale, needless to say she totally enjoyed it! Most importantly, we were there on a Saturday and it wasn't too crowded.

Of course, we were not done as yet. There was still The Little Big Club to be conquered, where Barney, Thomas, Pingu, Angelina and Bob awaited. Again, both Ash & Ayd had the notion that they were not going to enjoy it... but they would soon to be proven wrong!

Thanks to Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park for the kind invitation. Stay tuned for Part 2!

View MORE photos of our time at Hello Kitty Town at our Facebook page HERE!

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Useful Details

Ticket prices:
Sanrio Hello Kitty Town
Regular : RM65 - Adult and children.
Malaysian ID : RM50 - Adult and children

The Little Big Club
Regular : RM65 - Adult and children.
Malaysian ID : RM50 - Adult and children

2 Park passes
Regular : RM85 - Adult and children.
Malaysian ID : RM65 - Adult and children

To purchase tickets online, please visit www.playtime.com.my

Operating Hours*: Monday to Sunday - 10am to 6pm
*Closed every Tuesday except for Malaysian and Singaporean public holidays / school holidays.

Address: Persiaran Puteri Selatan, Puteri Harbour, 79000, Nusajaya, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

Directions:
From Singapore via the TUAS Second Link
Proceed to Nusajaya Look out for EXIT 312 (E3). Follow signs to Kota Iskandar/Puteri Harbour. At roundabout take 2nd exit onto Persiaran Laksamana At Bulatan Laksamana, take 1st exit onto Lebuh Laksamana. Look out for Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park.

How much is too much?

(Daddy blogs)

 According to a 2010 study by Internet security firm AVG, 81 percent of children around the world have an online presence before the age of two. So it was apt that the week-long Social Media Week Singapore had organised an event titled 'Growing Up on Facebook' last week which sought to uncover the impact on children who have been and who will be immersed in social media for their whole lifetime. And alongside with 4 other speakers, I was invited as a panel speaker at the discussion forum.

Photo courtesy of Social Media Week Singapore

Why do parents like to share information of their children online?

I think in many ways, we are biologically wired to promote our children, and this behaviour could perhaps to attributed to evolution. Putting one's child's photos on Facebook is just simply the modern-day version of pulling out the wallet photos.

Or is it? Social media may have triggered an onslaught of parental insecurities. We see our friends on Facebook posting photos of their gorgeous kids, or raving about their latest milestones and achievements. So in a way, even if we parents are fairly secure with our parenting and children’s successes, social media has become the official second opinion - I think I'm doing a good job at raising my kids but hang on... let me find out for certain on Facebook.

So I think it is important that we as parents take a step back sometimes and think if certain things that we upload online will have a detrimental effect on our kids at a later part in their lives. As I have shared with the audience during the event, the reason for the existence of this blog has always been for one purpose.

@3cheekiemonkies uses his blog as an online diary to capture memories for his children #smwsggrowingup #smwsg
— SMW Singapore (@SMW_SG) February 19, 2013

My blog is to document the growing up years of my 3 wonderful kids, as well as to share the interesting places or activities to do in Singapore. In the process, we also hope to inspire other parents to embark on an exploring and bonding journey with their kids too.

At the other end of the spectrum though, I am also mindful of sharing their entire lives online for all to gawk. Like how Meiling Wong (http://www.universalscribbles.com) - the Mummy Blogger who was with me on this panel discussion - put it: "I find myself more aware that they are young individuals with a clean slate. And it is not my prerogative to put THEIR lives online for the whole world to see. Privacy, it seems, is going to be a remote commodity for this generation of kids."

So it is often a thin line to thread when it comes to sharing our photos and status updates on the various social media platforms. But when it comes to technology, one thing is for certain.

Our children can't afford to fear technology says @3cheekiemonkies#smwsggrowingup #smwsg
— SMW Singapore (@SMW_SG) February 19, 2013

Banning social media from children until they are deemed old enough, or even parents shunning the use of such platforms can be counter-productive to a child’s development. Like it or not, the ways that people interact and make friends are changing. It is here to stay.

We cannot simply afford to pull a blanket over our children's heads and hope that they will suddenly become savvy social networkers, nor can they be thrown in to the likes of Facebook or Twitter. Education is the key, and they should not merely be told that. They need to be gradually introduced to social networks and trained on how to use them safely.

For Ash & Ayd, they are now old enough to understand the simple concepts behind an online blog as well as  the notion of how the entire world can read whatever I publish on my blog. So now, I usually include them when I am in the middle of drafting a blog entry and let them read whatever I post. In this way, I hope to inculcate in them in taking responsibility of what one posts online, and also the amount of information shared.

As I have shared with the audience as well, I would rather be the one who exposes them to the world of social media and guide them along as they grow older, than let them learn about the workings of social media through their friends.

So hopefully, with the right nurturing, guidance and practice, my kids will have the best possible preparation when they are deemed old enough to tackle social media on their own and at the same time, I have been involved long enough so as to be constantly aware of their actions online.

Book Review: Sherlock Sam & the Missing Heirloom in Katong

Book Review

(Daddy reviews)

When I was a kid, I grew up reading a staple of investigative and mystery books - think Enid Blyton's The Secret Seven and Famous Five. The wifey also loved those titles, along with a healthy dose of Nancy Drew as well. 

Though deeply intriguing, the problem with these detective-mystery books was that all the books were written by foreign authors with the stories being set against a foreign land. So it was often a challenge to identify with some of the places that the stories had described, not to mention some of the lingo which the books sometimes use.

I haven't introduced Ash & Ayd to the books that the wifey and I used to love while growing up, but I suspect they would always love a good detective novel or two. So it was a good thing that the kind people at Epigram Books sent us their first book of a new children's series titled Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong.

And here is the synopsis.

Meet Sherlock Sam, Singapore’s greatest kid detective. With his trusty robot Watson, Sherlock Sam will stop at nothing to solve the case, no matter how big or small!  In Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong, Auntie Kim Lian’s precious Peranakan cookbook disappears, and Sherlock Sam cannot eat her delicious ayam buah keluak anymore! Will Sherlock Sam be able to use his super detective powers to find this lost treasure?

Katong, Peranakan, ayam buah keluak... How Singaporean can you get?

The intrigue of Cher Lock - but he would rather be known as Sherlock - begins when Auntie Kim Lian, an elder Peranakan, lost her one family heirloom - a precious book of Nonya dish recipes. Sherlock then jumps at the chance to prove his sleuth skills: "This was a mystery I was determined to solve!" he proclaims.

And what is a mystery novel without a sidekick? Enter Watson, a clever robot invention created by Sherlock who seems to derive great joy in reminding everyone how much Sherlock loves to eat and fart. Oh and in case you are wondering, Watson’s name wasn't named after the character from Sherlock Holmes. In fact, his name was a result of a hilarious accident - which made both my boys laugh out loud - but I’ll leave that for you to find out of course.

The original idea was to have either Ash or Ayd read the book first, with the other one then having his turn after the first one was done with the book. What happened in the end was BOTH boys were clamouring to read the book first, so I was left with no choice but to read the book TOGETHER with the both of them. Yes, the three of us sharing one book.

But it was a good thing I did that.

Because I found it to be utterly captivating enough to make me want to complete the book in one sitting. Unfortunately though, it was the boys' bedtime book of the week so they forbade me to finish reading it without them. We eventually finished the book over 4 nights, with the pace of the boys' reading quickening during the last few chapters... all because they were extremely eager to find out the whodunnit ending.

In the end, the shenanigans sounded innocent enough, but the localized dialogue is hilariously tongue-in-cheek and the book's subtle appeal to a child's instinct for the mysterious proved to be just what kept both Ash and Ayd deeply intrigued.

But don't just take my word for it.

Ash was feeling lazy so he declined to pen something down. But he did mention to me that his favourite part of the book was when Jimmy, a friend of Sherlock's, went berserk when he lost his hamster and how Sherlock managed to locate the furry creature by means of logical deduction.

As for me, I found Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloon in Katong to be a rather clever and funny read. It's nothing too tedious for young readers, while exposing them to the Peranakan culture (and yummy food!) at the same time. Now, all the boys (and me) are waiting is for Book 2, titled Sherlock Sam and the Ghostly Moans in Fort Canning, to be out in March!


Sherlock Sam & the Missing Heirloom in Katong is retailing at local bookstores for S$10.59. For more information, you can check out Sherlock Sam's website at http://www.epigrambooks.sg/?p=6012 or his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SherlockSamSeries

Chingay 2013

Media Invite

(Daddy previews)


Having attended last year's sneak preview of Chingay, I was kindly invited back for yet another sneak peek at this year's edition of Asia's Grandest Street Parade.

Last year's Chingay boasted a 360-metre waterway, so what new tricks will this year bring? As it turned out, this year's Chingay will attempt to up the ante by combining 2 contrasting elements - Fire and Snow.

Themed 'Fire in Snow', Chingay 2013 promises a a dazzling spectacle of fire as a symbol of resilience, bravery, perseverance, passion and determination against a backdrop of the coldest snow which symbolises challenges and hardships, and are eventually overcome by the fire’s lights of hope. Together, Chingay 2013 hopes to celebrate the strength of the human spirit in the face of life’s challenges.

41 years ago, Chingay had started out as a Chinese street procession. Today, it has morphed into a highly anticipated uniquely Singapore event with various injections of performances by different cultural groups and international troupes, making a truly multi-cultural affair.

I had the chance to go really up close to where the action was at the full dress rehearsal. And although the spectator stands were empty, all the performers really gave it their all and their enthusiasm was absolutely infectious.

The parade opened with a majestic showpiece titled 'Song of Righteousness' (正气歌) as serene music filled the night air with 3,000 performers lighting up firepots, transforming the entire 360-metre parade route into a breathtaking ocean of fire.

450 tai-chi sword performers then complete the opening act by putting on a mesmerising choreographic display around the flickering words “正气”. All these while master calligraphy artistes led by Mr Tan Khim Ser will attempt to finish a calligraphy masterpiece before the music ends.

The next act was quite a refreshing change - think Western Opera infused with traditional Chinese Opera - as 900 members from the PA Youth Movement dressed in Western Opera costumes and masks danced among the more senior Chinese Opera group.

And what would Chingay be without its huge and bright floats?

All the usual suspects were there; ranging from phoenixes, dragons, lions, even a centipede, and all complete with firecrackers too. So cover those ears if you are seated among the first few rows!

The second part of the show then shifted to the Community, with members from 15 Group Representation Constituencies, Community Development Councils, PA Councils and community organisations joining forces to produce a stunning parade of community spirit expressed through different interest groups. What interest groups? Something to do with FOOD and EXERCISE!

The Finale was then signalled by a dim of the lights, with 1,000 performers moving forward, each carrying a fire torch and transforming the entire parade route into an Ocean of Fire. And all these culminated in the emergence of three majestic floats - the Strong Man, Lion and Condor floats -  as the strongest of all men, the king of beasts and the largest of birds signify collectively courage, bravery and the resilience spirit of mankind!

Chingay 2013 is happening TODAY (22 Feb) and TOMORROW (23 Feb) at 8pm! So grab your tickets through SISTIC soon!

And if you are unable to go down to soak in the Chingay atmosphere, fret not. The Chingay experience is coming to a heartland town near you!


Useful Details:

Venue: F1 Pit Building
Dates: 22 & 23 Feb 2012
Time: 8pm
Prices: 22 Feb - Cat 1 $50 | Cat 2 $40 | Cat 3 $28.50
23 Feb - Cat 1 $60 | Cat 2 $50 | Cat 3 $28.50
Click HERE to purchase Tickets. *Passion Cardmembers enjoy 20% off.
Website: http://www.chingay.org.sg/
Getting there: