8 Tips to Enjoy Art Zoo 2017

8 Tips to Enjoy Art Zoo 2017

 

Tip 1: Decide the time slot you want to visit

We recommend (i) 5.30pm to 7.30pm or (ii) 7pm to 9pm.

We feel that 1.5hrs is quite sufficient for kids as frankly, too much of the jumping and playing is actually not gonna be too good for the night's rest. Imagine over-hyper kids right before bed time!!

For (i), you will get to see Art Zoo both in the day and when it is lit up. After playing, you can just head out for dinner at Makansutra Gluttons Bay for local delights or Esplanade for restaurants (expensive ones, other than Toast Box). THEN take a walk around the area to search for iLight at Marina Bay displays.

 

For (ii), try to have dinner before 6.30pm and something that is not over filling. If not you will not only see Merlion spitting water opposite the zoo, you will also see your kid vomiting inside the zoo. 

For us, we went in about 7pm and came out at 8.30pm so we took a stroll along Esplanade, bought a drink and some popcorn and just look look see see. Left Marina at about 9.30pm. :)

 

Tip 2: Clear your bowels before entering the zoo

I know this tip sounds totally weird but you better follow and make sure your kiddo squeeze out the last drop of pee in his/her bladder because THERE IS NO TOILET IN THE ART ZOO! AND once you exit the zoo, YOU CANNOT RE-ENTER!

 

Tip 3: Bring a good backpack

In some of our LIVE videos, you would see my kids holding bottles -> mama took over the bottles -> bottles disappearing because all went into papa's back pack!

The kids are jumping and having any loose item is just super dangerous. Having a good backpack means all these loose items go into the bag. 

For the one carrying, just tighten the straps and you can still hang around in the enclosure with your kiddo!

BUT GENERALLY, TRAVEL LIGHT.

Tip 4: There is NO wet weather plan.

If it rains, no refund! Because you can just happily turn your experience into a wet one! WATER PLAYYYYY!

However, if there is lightning alert, of course, it is indoors for everyone. :))

Bring along a small towel and change of clothes if you already know the weather isn't great. If you wanna be even more hardcore, just dress your kids in wet suit then! 

Word of caution: it gets really slippery when it is wet. Every jump may means falling. You will not be injured because inflatables are bouncy and there are no sharp edges but be prepared for muscle aches like what we are experiencing now.

Tip 5: Don't be a Cinderella! You need the correct shoes for play!

Tapered slip-ons are the best shoes for best experience at Art Zoo.

• If the weather is dry, jumping bare footed is shiok, so you will need to put on and take off your shoes very often. 
• If the weather is wet, you will be wearing your shoes most of the time and you will not want wet, soaked socks in your shoes.

I strongly discourage slippers. It is dangerous to jump in slippers. You either cut yourself or end up spraining your ankle. Just take them off when you are on the inflatables.

Tip 6: Read the information board at each zone

We love to make everything educational. *obsessed with teachable moments* at each zone, there is an information board that will give you the name of the zone and also what animals or plants or insect you can find in that particular inflatable. 

We recommend that you

(1) point at each animal on the board and read it to your kid. If you child is older, have them take note of the spelling; 

(2) ask your child to explore the whole inflatable and search for the animals in this display.

 

 

If not, you can also just let the kiddo jump jump jump then go to the next one then jump jump jump again then onto the next one. :)

Tip 7: We are Drivers too!

If you're driving to Art Zoo, you can either park at the Esplanade or at Marina Square. Personally, I would advise that you park at Marina Square BUT enter the carpark from the Raffles Avenue entrance (just before Mandarin Oriental). That way, you park literally opposite the event location! Also, Marina Square will help to fulfil your toilet/dinner needs (food at the Esplanade is just generally a lot more expensive too). There's a traffic junction there too, so you don't have to worry about jaywalking (both illegal AND dangerous!).

Tip 8: Cheap cheap tickets please!

There are many famous (more famous than us for sure!) bloggers who offer discount codes for their readers.

I found 2 so I'm just gonna share the love!

For 20% off online purchase of tickets, just type '20AZCHLOE' or '20AZJAYNE'.

I feel a bit bad... because I don't even follow them... :p

*updated: Mother Care also has discount code! '20AZMC'.

**updated: Passion Card holders and Safra members also get 20% off!

This 20% off is actually cheaper than the 4 tickets package offered by ART ZOO. 

You can purchase 4 tickets for $50 online or $54 onsite.

Single tickets are at $15 be it online or onsite but with promo code, ONLY $12!

So I got 4 tickets for $48!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now with these 8 tips, I hope you can enjoy the Art Zoo thoroughly and make your $12 sooooooo worth while! 

Frankly, I won't even mind going again with the kiddos! Maybe The Foong Family will see you there!

HAVE FUN, FOLKS! :)

 

P/S: our Favourite zone is the WHALE! Make sure you visit that!

 

Other general information:

1. ART ZOO IS FOR ALL AGES! Ah Mah and Ah Gong also can! :)
2. FREE admission for children below two years old BUT accompanied by two paying adults
3. Opening hours: 5pm to 11pm on WEEKDAYS and 2pm to 11pm on WEEKENDS

River Safari: everything is just right!

I was trying to give this review a title but the one phrase that came to mind is: Just Right.

It was a very comfortable trip with everything just right. The walking is just right, the excitement is just right, the engagement is just right, the environment is just right and the whole experience is just right!

Just right is a state that all parents with young kids try to achieve as we always worry about the tipping point when kids are over tired and hyper and it can affect the remaining part of the day and if worse, the entire night. 

So for River Safari, it is JUST RIGHT. :)

This was the last excursion about 1month back before I ended my maternity. We were blessed with an awesome weather, slightly sunny but nice breeze. Thank God for MOE privileges, we have four adult tickets complimentary with boat rides!

Nathan was briefed about the pandas before that so he was really excited!

Family portrait at the entrance!

(Disclaimer: Phoebe was playing with the foam fan, she was not injured. She pulled out the whole blade. The fan was the one who was injured.)

What greeted us was tranquility! 

Never knew Singapore could still have space for a sight like this. :)

River safari is structured by major rivers and the entire walk to the pandas and passing through all the rivers is only 30min. It is fully covered and there is not much terrain. We had our girl in the stroller and there was no problem moving about. 

This crocodile is a monster. It is so huge that I was traumatized!

If your child likes the underwater world and SEA aquarium, he is bound to like river safari! This place is a combination of those two and the zoo! :)

The red pandas were really close to us. I love how the panda enclosures were. Up close and they were really tame and also showy.

As kids below 1.3m is not allowed on the boat ride, we had to stagger our turns to take it. What was impressive was they had a corner for parents to wait near the queue and do the exchange! 

Ok, the ride!

I LOVE IT! It is like night safari kinda experience which you sail through the animals homes. They are just right beside you! Only thing is, it is not very sheltered so be sure to have a cap on or slab on some SPF 1000000 sun screen. :)

This was how near the jaguars were from our boat.

The boat ride is located just at the half mark of the whole trail. It is about 30-40min from entrance, based on casual walking. 

Pls save some energy as the second part of the trail is as fun or more fun!

These monkeys totally freaked us out. My mother in law RAN out cos the monkeys were following the stroller she was pushing and trying to grab my hand bag. So please be very careful and alert when u enter this area and DO NOT BE COMPLACENT.

Then we went on to this beautiful and mysterious underwater ecosystem, aquatic animals swim and live amidst the trees and plants until the waters recede. 

We arrived just in time for the feeding and it was so interesting! It was about 1pm if I remember correctly. :)

The whole trail will take you about 1.5 hours with a casual stroll speed and stopping at all the exhibits and animals. But we stopped for lunch and had to do swapping for baby sitting and diaper changing etc, it was about 3+hours being out and learning something.

When we left at 1+pm, Nathan was tired but still not grouchy and the timing was just right for a long afternoon nap! :)

That's why I said from the beginning, this place is JUST RIGHT! :)

Ok, shall end with a unique selfie shot.

(Disclaimer again: I did not teach him that.)

For Phoebe: let's make a mobile mobile!

If you have the baby centre app, around 6-7weeks, it will share with you an activity for your baby called Leaf Peeping.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_lets-play-leaf-peeping-roll-over-plan_1498438.bc 

However, I find this very messy as dried leaves will crack and shatter. So during Nathan's time, I made another similar version that is not messy and yet colorful and long lasting. :) today I'm gonna share with all the new mummies! :)

This is how the end product looks like.

Basically you just have to get some felt and foam paper to cut out your desired shapes and paste them on the ribbon. 

However, felt and foam paper are super difficult to handle because the edges are not easy to cut them smoothly. You may end up trimming and trimming until it becomes so small and have to discard and start all over again. So I just grab ready cut ones from Popular or Daiso or even SKP! 

Some tips for making this are:

1) put one of the foam set on the bottom most so it will not fly or flapper too much in the wind but sway just nicely. 

2) allow the other end to be longer so you can use it at other places. You can tie or clip or pin! Or just hold it and dangle in front of baby! 

3) for the end that is with baby, to prevent the ribbon from fraying, you can burn the ends or tie a knot or double sew. I wasn't thinking when I taped the first set so the ribbon isn't long enough for me to tie a knot, so I burnt it. I actually think knots are good for more sensory experience. :) 

I think this best work with a pram. The baby can look at it as the wind blows and attempt to bat it. I have used it in my car during Nathan's time. I just stuck it in front of him from the car ceiling and he played with them like a kitten! Hahahah

Hope mummies find this beneficial! :)

Cheers!

Esther the mama 

HEALING! :)

THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

today is the 7th day Phoebe hasn't pooped. The PD said his highest record is 13days while his professor had a case of 21 days. It is apparently common for breastfed babies but I'm not gonna settle for "COMMON". 

Similarly, this lil one has caught mild bronchilitis from Nathan and is quite chocked up. Doc prescribed ventolin nebulizer and we had to rent the machine home. And doctor said could only let her recover on her own which can usually take a few days to weeks. Again, I'm not gonna settle for "USUALLY".

So last night my in laws came and prayed. As parents, Elvin and I also prayed and we claimed healing for the cough and flu and purging for the poop!

Praise The Lord that my little phoebe did not cough at all today AND she pooped one whole almost leaking diaper full of golden yellow grade breast fed baby poopie! :)

(After poop cuteness)

If today you are a parent and you are in a situation that you cannot handle, or cannot understand, call upon the name of The Lord! He heals and He restores! :)

Next miracle in line is my sore throat! Come onnnnnnn!!!!! :)

Preparation for Phoebe's thanksgiving party

If you know the Tan family, you will know how we LOVE events planning and running. Having no more weddings to plan and execute in the family made us so sad! Hahaha we need excel spread sheets! Programme rundown! Job description for everyone! Walkie-talkies! Briefings! So now we shift our focus to birthday celebration for family members!

Elvin had his Star Wars theme party when he was thirty! Boy both Nathan and Elvin got their Jedi costume and light saber. Everyone had a mask of the different characters in the show and we had games! My sister was yoda and she spoke with the inverted sentence structure the whole night! 

Ok, And also the yearly graduation ceremony for our family's Childcare centre. :)

For Phoebe's full month celebration, we have been thinking of a theme and we decided on a crown. A princess crown. 

Firstly, a song that spoke with our hearts the most and saw us through the whole delivery process as well as when I had to be re-admitted for another surgery, is called Victor's crown. God will rule and reign over every situation because He wears the victor's crown! :)

Also, Phoebe's Chinese name is 玺恩. 玺 (Xi) means the imperial seal, also royalty. :) 

With this in mind, we had the invitation card! 

**Tip: just print the card with any photo printing shop! Only $0.25 per piece and 4R is a good size, paper also not so flimsy. :) I am a member with Harvey Norman photo centre so it's only $0.18 per piece!

Next is door gifts!

Previously at Nathan's 1st birthday, we had keychain making station using shrinking paper. This time we decided to give something useful!

Shower lilies!

Preparing these was surprisingly manageable even though we prepared 140pcs.

We got the shower lilies from Japan home. Man.. Digging for the preferred colours were TEDIOUS. 

The tag and crown were all easily cut out using paper punches. Best invention ever. :)

Love the words: from Phoebe's shower to yours!

(Baby shower!)

For the photo, we did a mini photo shoot for phoebe. Hahaha she was so uncomfortable because the lilies were slightly scratchy on her delicate skin. 

NG 片段

I used meitu to edit the colours and add in the words as the app has my favorite Chinese font and fuzel to collage.

Then again, head down to photo centre and print!!! 

We also prepared bubbles bottle for every kid at the party! :)

As, we didn't want to have a big cake and have to cut for everyone, so we ordered muffins. To add some personalize touches, we did these!

My circle punch comes with the stamp so when you punch the paper, it stamps at the same time! But for 80 pieces, the more time efficient way is punch all the circles you need, THEN stamp on it separate. 

Lastly, we did a guest wish card! :) got the idea from Pinterest.com

 We got the funniest responses from the guests! Of course some are really heartwarming. Nonsense ones too, from our most beloved friend, Jason Oon! :)

These are just some ideas for your party! I have another friend who is really good with craft and I love her blog!

Visit http://flowerinthewilderness.blogspot.sg for more vintage and interesting craft ideas! 

Cheers!

Esther the mama