A CHILDREN’s Garden In Botanic

I was very tired yesterday. I did not get enough sleep the night before, and what welcomes at my work site me was intense task to be rushed. I intended to write about my Sunday trip to Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden with my kids, but my memory had failed me, that was why I am only writing it today. I learn about the garden only about a week back, and since my wife have a weekend assignment (road show), the trip would keep them occupied for the weekend and also give them a break before they settle down for their preparation of year-end examination.



As I was not familiar with this area, I parked at the car park near the Singapore Botanic Garden visitor center. Following the maps and the road signs, we walk about 20 minute to the garden within the park vicinity.



The greenery is something children cannot appreciate, while I enjoy my slow walk toward the garden, my kids would hassle me about the long walk and keep asking me, “我们到了吗?” So along the way I would talk to them about the plants, and took photos for them to kill their boredom.




The place is quite well planned for the children visitors. There is a controlled entrance which is guarded, the guard is meant to ensure that children in the garden are accompanied by adult since the entry is free. There are children’s toilets and drinking points, and the canteen is right outside the garden with little chairs and tables.






The garden is separated into many stations like water-play area, cave, suspension bridge, tree house, maze, etc. With its size and the variety of play area, it could easily keep the children busy for at least half a day, especially the water-play area. As I did not prepare extra clothing for the children, plus the weather was very sunny, we left the place after only 2 hours. Now, things got tough for me and the children, they were too exhausted to take the walk back to my car but there are not alternative, so the daddy (that’s me) has to lure, encourage, push and pull them along.



This is a picture of my youngest daughter learning how to drink from the water point on her own.



On the way back, we pass by the big pond where we had an encounter with the black swan.



When we reach the visitor center at last, we took a rest before we goes off. And we manage to spot and snap a picture of a squirrel hanging around our rest area.

Firework On 18 Aug 2007

We set off to Marine Square at 1900hrs to avoid traffic jam in this area. From previous experience, the only word to describe the human and car traffic in this area is PACKED.





We initially intent to view from our usual spot - the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, but this time round, the police have banned all public access. With the gallery covering almost the whole of Marina Walk, the next best place to watch show would be below the bridge. We reach the spot at 2020hrs, there will probably less than 50 other waiting before us. I guess many have actually got tickets to enjoy the show at the gallery, or at the Esplanade. The show started with the performance of remote control kite at 2100hrs which last for 15 minute follow by the firework. I took a video clip of the firework.








On our way back, we drop by Marina Square 7-11 for a drink. And I was approached by a Vietnamese tourist asking for help to catch a cab to their hotel. Apparently, our Call-A-Cab services here is not very user friendly for these group of people, the queue were long and they could not make oversea call for a cab with their mobile phone. Anyway, we managed to get them 2 cabs within 30 minutes and send them back to their hotel, Hope they enjoy their stay in Singapore.

Fishing Trip 11 Aug 2007

This time round, I join my wife where her company organise a boat trip on Nelayana. Along with 9 other staff and family, we board the boat at the yacht club near West Coast Park. The weather was good, a little breeze and not so sunny. We decided to bring only my elder daughter to be fair. The boatman brought us to the southern side of main land where we could see the skyline of Singapore.

This is my catch of the day, biggest so far for bottom fishing.

And of course, my wife also has a great time fighting this one.

This one was too heavy for my girl to handle, so I have to help her reel it up and hold it for her photo session. In fact, it is the second biggest among the trip.

And these are the effort of twelve anglers, including my family.

Fishing Trip 29 Jul 2007

Was looking forward to this trip since three weeks ago after booking with the boatman, and at last the day comes. This time round, my second daughter is with us. The catch is fairly good, me and my daughter got three each, while my wife got six.

The fishes were shared among 7 anglers on the boat.

Fishing Trip 23 Jun 2007

This is my first boat fishing trip with my OC. The fishes were shared by seven anglers at the end of the trip.