Science Centre Singapore - Transformers 30th Anniversary Exhibition

We brought the boys to Science Centre on the 23rd December with the objective to visit the Transformers 30th Anniversary Exhibition as well as covering the main exhibitions within the centre. 

Given that it was a Tuesday late morning, we were surprised to see the long queue lined up towards the ticketing counters. Thankfully, one customer service officer approached us and asked if we are Singaporeans and only need to get the entrance tickets. So we sorta got a fast pass at the Visitors Office to purchase our tickets.

We bought the combo tickets comprising of Science Centre + Transformers Exhibition which costs $32 per adult and $22.80 per child (as we have the NETS Flashpay card). I had a planned agenda to do some shopping around JEMs, Jcube so I have only gotten myself an admission ticket to the Science Centre.

The Mind's Eye

We first covered the Science Centre and spent quite a fair bit of time in The Mind's Eye section. This place demonstrated how eyes can play tricks on our vision. When our brain is tricked into seeing something that is not really there, or it interprets an image wrongly, that's what we call an optical illusion. The ‘Mind’s Eye’ exhibition reveals some of the secrets behind the illusions. 

Here's one both boys loved playing - Head on a Platter (effect is achieved through use of mirrors!):

He went for a second round

At the Atrium:

The power of electrical waves

I can't remember what this represents but there are smoke transmitting out from the hole once we pressed on it..

We spent some time in the Sounds section as well but I was so amazed with all the exhibits till I forgot to snap pictures!

Climate Change, Climate Challenge

Source: Science Centre Singapore

This Climate Machine represented the natural carbon cycle and the human-added carbon inputs. Red balls representing carbon dioxide, are raised from a reservoir at its base, up into a transparent sphere with a globe within: the space between represents our atmosphere.

The boys were trying to use the air cannons to hit the Carbon Targets to speed up the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Typhoon simulator:

Trying to experience the impact of Typhoon

The wind sounds are loud!

The Cloud Maker:

Caden attempting to shape his clouds

In the Climate Change Climate Challenge section, there are many other simulating rooms - e.g earthquakes, etc. We didn't try them out as we wanted to make our way for our late lunch.

After lunch, the boys moved on to start their tour in the Transformers Exhibition and they had a great time! The boys loved the indoor laser maze and they went for 2 rounds (each ticket limits only 2 rounds of entry into the Indoor laser Maze)

Transformers Exhibition

Size in relative to each Transformer 

Their all time favorite Ball-pit

Playing in Action

I met up with the boys after my 3-hour shopping and had to take over from PaPa as they wanted to re-enter into the Climate Change and Mind's Eye again. Thereafter, we popped over to JEMs for our dinner (so crowded, probably it was only 2 day before Xmas!)

They had lots of fun, and made a few discovery. Caden was able to understand some logic behind those exhibits which made me felt so amazed...

We will try to make it an attempt to revisit the Science Centre next year!

Punggol Waterway Park - Cycling trip

We planned a cycling trip to Punggol Waterway Park on Saturday morning (20th December) right after our staycation. This initiative was so ambitious given that we had not fully rested after our high-energy activities in the past days..

We set off the morning ride from our home, and cycled towards the park. It took us about 15 minutes to reach there (given that there are many traffic junctions to pass, coupled with Ethan's speed). We reach Punggol Recreational Complex and the boys got so interested with the Prawn Fishing venue. It then took us another 30 minutes to pass through Punggol Promenade and finally ended up in Punggol Point park.

After 45 minutes ride, the boys still looked energetic!

Super nice view!

As the sun starts to hit us, we decided to make our way back home. During the journey, I noticed a lot of dead caterpillars on our lanes and suddenly had to brake as there was a live one crawling on the cycling track.

The boys stopped to take a look at the biggest caterpillar they ever seen...

To save it, Ethan was brave enough to pick up this caterpillar with a twig:

Super big caterpillar

The brother was quite reluctant to hold it for a shot

The father joined in the fun (I decided to stay out!)

We released the caterpillar back to the greens so it won't be run over by other cyclists who may not be observant..

Well done!

By the time we reached home, we had cycled for almost 2 hours and all of us are really exhausted with this morning activity... and I got burnt by the hot sun! It was a good exercise for all of us, and perhaps we can do this again if we can all set off earlier in the morning from home to avoid the scorching sun...

Resorts World Staycation 3D2N - 17th to 19th December

We booked a 3D2N staycation with Resorts World again this December as we were not able to coordinate a perfect timing with Brian and Winnie to do other longer holiday plans this year. For my boys, going to Resorts world with Aidan and Elliot is exciting enough for them to count down to this staycation since 1st December.

Day 1 - 17th December (Wednesday)

On our first day, we bought 1 day Fun Pass to play 3 attractions in Sentosa, and here's our choice:

1) Skyline Luge

I love to do Luge rides but what is dreadful for me is to take the skyline chairlifts to the top of the land as that is the starting point for the ride. Auntie Winnie is brave enough to turn back and help us take a family picture while she's on the chairlift in front of us!

this is terrifying for Mummy!

Excited with the upcoming Luge ride!

This time round, Caden and Ethan rode on their own and their speed was so fast that I can't even catch up with them through the whole course! Luge is so fun and we would love to do it many times again!

Happy faces after the ride

2) Sentosa 4-D adventureland

We opted to watch a show in this 4-D adventureland, as the tickets are very expensive if you do it on its own. Brian and Winnie took off to do outdoor Flying Trapeze and park their boys with us. The kids enjoyed this 20 minutes show thoroughly but to me, I felt that it's like the 4-D show in Universal Studios (USS) and also the Transformers Ride in USS.

It rained whole afternoon so we took the Sentosa bus while hoping from attraction to attraction.

3) Combat Skirmish Live
http://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/attractions/siloso-point/combat-skirmish-live/

We played the indoor laser tag and it was really fun (can't take pictures in the venue so wasn't able to share). Although its only a 15 to 20 minutes battle between 2 teams (we split ourselves up into 2 teams of 5 - 2 other kids joined us in the battle), it was tiring after all the running towards and dodging away from our opponents. Overall experience was good but it will be better if the maze area is bigger (but this will mean we have to run more!).


We checked into our hotel in the late afternoon after completing all 3 attractions and had NamNam Noodle Bar (Viet) noodles for dinner. It was so comforting to have their soup in a rainy night and we were glad that there was no queue in this newly opened outlet in Resorts World :)

Day 2 - 18th December (Thursday)

After our morning breakfast in McD's, we moved to USS to check out the queue. Caden was anxious and wanted to start queuing so he doesn't need to wait for long to get on to his long-awaited Transformers ride.

And when we reach there near 930am, we got ourselves to be 1st in the queue on one of the gantries :) (for the first time). Surprisingly, the park was opened 15 minutes earlier than the official 10am timing and we got into the park without having to wait for too long.

Caden planning which ride to do first..

Because we got in so early, we managed to achieve the following by 2pm:
1) Transformers x 3 rounds
2) Canopy Flyer x 3 rounds
3) Enchanted Airways x 4 rounds
4) Shrek 4-D adventure x 1
5) Madagascar boat ride x 1
6) Sesame Street Spaghetti chase x 2 rounds
7) Revenge of the Mummy x 1 *(only done by Papa)

Canopy Flyer

2 terrified mummies queuing for Enchanted Airways (trying to look calm)

 stroking a make-believe dinosaur

the queue with the live minions were so long, we took a pic with this statue!

With big presents giving us the Christmas mood

At 2plus pm, leaving USS for lunch

After our late lunch, we went back to hotel for a swim and beach volleyball game (Hard Rock Hotel has a man-made beach volleyball court). At about 6plus, we headed to Chillis for our dinner. The pizza (5-cheese) was our all-time favourite! As one of our kids meal came out really late, they served us a bowl of nachos which was so yummy! Thumbs up for their service...

By the time we got back into Universal Studio, they were performing the last show for the night. Luckily we managed to catch some parts of it, and witness their snow fall.. Guess what, because Transformers ride is still not closed at 9pm, the boys asked for another ride to end this visit!

The night show in Universal Studios

beautiful light-ups

Best Friends

Ethan was so happy with the snow fall!

Santa!

Bye to USS!

Day 3 - 19th December (Friday)

As it started raining since the wee hours of the morning, we could not go anywhere on Day 3 and stayed in our hotel to watch movies till check-out time. 

It was a good and enjoyable stay, as always, and we know that we can't be doing this again next year for the 3rd time in a row!