June Holiday in Phuket - 2 June 2015

Day 2 in Phuket started with heavy downpour as early at before 7am.. we were rather disappointed in the morning so we took a long time to have our breakfast in the hotel. Thereafter, we moved to the hotel's bowling house and had a game. Both Ethan and Elliot opted out from bowling game because we couldn't find any bowling balls which are light enough for them (they were happily playing phone games while we played). It was good fun though. We paid THB420 for 1 game, rental of shoes and socks, for 3 pax.









By the time we finished our bowling game, we went out to have a Thai lunch near our hotel (only THB600) and then moved to the swimming pool for a swim (finally the rain stopped near 3pm!). We then crossed over to Patong Beach (it's just opposite the hotel) to have a good tan. The boys had a lot of fun playing with the waves from the sea so I just sat at the beach (to jagar their belongings).

eyeing on the Mango shake

he ate the entire pizza!

We then head back to the pool again to have a game of volleyball (in the pool) and played till 6pm..

Ethan trying to swim for a short lap

 

mister Elliot joined in the shot!

 

 

We went to Junceylon for dinner again and check out their movie list (to keep ourselves occupied on our last day).

Dinner at Manhattan Fish

During our night at Junceylon, we came across a booth that sells day trips to Phi Phi Island and Phang Nya Bay island. The lady recommended 2 companies that organised these day trips to us which have the same itinerary but different charges per pax. After a few rounds of negotiation, we managed to secure a deal of THB1600 per adult and THB1000 per child. I guess this is a really good deal for us as we benefited from the fact that we are a group of 8. So we booked this deal to occupy ourselves for Day 3.

After we had confirmed our day trip for Day 3, we then passed by this Fish Spa booth on level 1. The kids asked to try and we paid THB100 for 10 minutes per child. Both Ethan and Caden enjoyed thoroughly but Aidan was in agony!

Cleaning up their feet

Ethan said it was ticklish

Mister Aidan seemed to be in torture!

he thoroughly enjoyed it!

Their feet turned out silky smooth after this spa.. both this feeling only lasted 1 night.

Back in hotel, the boys went to soak in bath tub again!

 

 The boys slept so well each night after their hot bath!

 

June Holiday in Phuket - 1 June 2015

This June, we set off to Phuket for a 4D3N short trip to the Patong Beach! It was quite a last minute decision to go to Phuket for a holiday which we made only in early May. We were discussing with Brian's family if they were keen with Malacca first and finally we decided Phuket as our holiday destination.

The air tickets were rather reasonable - we have booked Jetstar and I think it cost less than $700 (inclusive tax and booking fees) for a family of 4. We also got quite a good deal in Agoda for our accommodation in Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa (their 5-star category) at less than $120 per room per night, with breakfast for all.

Before this trip, I tried doing some research on the internet and couldn't quite find any entries made for recommendations / attractions to cover which will be suitable for kids. So I was rather worried that we may not be able to keep them occupied.. but I was wrong! (read on!)

Ethan loved the luggage trolley!

Cheaper air tickets = not so ideal departure and arrival timings. We had to check in before 7am at the airport on the first day to catch the 8.20am flight.

As we touched down Phuket early on our first day at 9am, we decided to do Go-Kart and Archery before heading towards our hotel in Patong Beach. At the Phuket airport, we just went to one of the taxi companies to book a ride back to our hotel. The taxi trip to Patong cost THB1400 (for 2 families) for a mini-van and they added on THB500 for 1 hour waiting time and stopover at the Go-Kart venue.

Our drvier sent us to Phuket Shooting Range, where there's Go-Kart and Archery points to spend our morning (at Patak Road, Phuket Town). For 15 minutes, we paid THB1200 for 2 seater Go-Kart (father and Caden went) so it was quite pricey. After the Go-Kart, we moved over to the shooting range nearby and paid THB 900 each for Cross-bow (10 arrows) and BB shooter (smaller gun for the younger boys). It's really pricey but the boys had good fun.




At Phuket Racing Kart



with BB shooter

Papa giving tips to E on how to aim

With their final target boards.. so who has better marksmanship?



Caden with the Cross-bow

he struggled to aim at the targets

Final results

Waiting to check in at the hotel lobby.. the boys were occupied playing with their card games.

our room with 1 king and 1 double bed

We rested in the hotel in the afternoon after our lunch at a nearby café and the boys played monopoly and Uno games while the adults tried to catch a short nap. We decided to pop over to Junceylon mall for dinner on our first night.

We saw this shabu shabu buffet dinner and decided to give it a try. Dinner for 4 of us cost THB1,200 which was rather reasonable for a buffet dinner. The pork slices were nice, but I find the rest of the selection fairly limited. Green tea served by this restaurant was rather unique and really nice. My boys had their good share of sushi here but I think the quality is so-so only.



In Junceylon, there is an arcade on level 4. The boys (including the fathers) spent good time and fun playing for almost half an hour.. while I go to the supermarket to hunt for my conditioner!

We took a tuk-tuk ride back to the hotel and managed to get a THB 150 deal for this first night (subsequently, we paid about THB180-200 per trip from the mall back to the hotel) which fit 8 of us. It was the first time the boys ride on such a vehicle and they had good fun!

The boys then spent their next half an hour soaking in the bath tub before they sleep for the day! 

School Trip to Peranakan Museum Singapore

A few weeks back, Caden came back home with a consent form asking if he can join his class for a school excursion to Peranakan Museum. I said okay and he then asked if I can be the parent volunteer for this event. Given that this venue is air-conditioned, I agreed to sign up without much consideration.

Somehow, I became so lucky again, and got selected to be the ONLY 1 Parent volunteer (PV) for his class. So on the last day of this semester, I tagged along with his class to the museum =)

The class was divided into 2 groups and I got paired up with their co-form teacher. She has to brief the students as we moved from gallery to gallery in the Peranakan Museum. We covered all 9 galleries within an hour and a half. I particularly loved the Food & Feasting and Weddings galleries, as they have the exhibits of the nyonyaware porcelain and collection of Peranakan beadwork (which was an essential element of their weddings).

The P4 students are very independent so my role as a PV  on that day was rather simple. I just have to be the last person in the group and ensure that no one got lost from the pack. Caden didn't want to stick to me at all throughout the trip (unlike Ethan) and he was working, chatting with his friends in the group. So I felt that I was like a sole visitor to the museum, admiring the artifacts.

at the food and feasting gallery

super candid shot

Student asking questions along the way

this class is so obedient and earnest!

Although we finished the entire tour in 1.5 hours, I was dead tired after the event because we had to climb up and down the stairs in the museum as we moved from gallery to gallery!

Will I sign up as a Parent Volunteer again next time?? Will only consider if the venue is air-conditioned! Tsk..