#PokemonAtChangi - Get Ready to Catch Them All!

The boys are all into Pokémon these days.  And I believe many children are too, judging from the turnout at the Pokémon launch at Changi Airport yesterday.

The three new characters from Nintendo's new Sun and Moon series - Rowlet (left),  Litten (middle) and Popplio (right).

These not-so-little cuties have turned the world upside down, especially this year with the launch of Pokémon Go.

Whether you are travelling this holiday season or not, I bet Changi Airport will be one of your must-go place.  Not only because of Pokémon but also because of the pretty decorations, such as the Gingerbread House at Terminal 3 (T3) Departure Hall where one can catch a glimpse of Santa's workshop and Mrs Claus' Confectionery which are filled with children's toys and yummy goodies.

Also be treated to a light show with music and dancing trees amidst falling "snow" from now to 8 Jan 2017 (2pm, 6pm, 7pm and 8pm on weekdays.  An additional show at 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays) while taking photos with a 7-metre tall Pikachu, the largest character installation at Changi Airport.

Together with the giant Pikachu, Pokémon trainers, like you and I, can have more fun at the Airport by hunting for the 26 Pokémon at various locations across Changi Airport.  Take at least three photos at the Pokétrail sites and share them on social media platforms with hashtag #PokemonatChangi to stand a chance to win a premium.  More information can be found here.

Kicking off the launch of Pokémon at Changi yesterday were 10 life-sized dancing Pikachu.  With a Pikachu Parade, both kids and adults chased them like never before.  Although there will be no more such parades, there will be meet-and-greet sessions on all Saturdays and Sundays (except 3 December 2016) at 6pm and 8pm till 1 January 2017.  So, get your cameras ready!  They are too cute to resist.  Really!!!

Located at T2 and T3 Departure Halls and T1 Departure Transit Hall, visitors can have fun having their faces painted onscreen or show off some moves at the Z-Moves activity kiosks.  

As you can see, the boys really enjoyed themselves!  These motion sensor activities are of course motion sensitive.  Especially for Z-Moves, if your child is not the one playing, it will be much appreciated that he/she stand out of the range of the sensors so that the machines can recognise the correct pair of hands of the player's.

This is definitely going to bring on lots of smiles.  For both adults and kids.  The very cool thing is that videos of these moments can be shared with families and friends through social media platforms!

At T2's Departure Hall are three life-sized Snorlax lounging at the Snorlax Garden.  Of course, this is a photo opportunity not to be missed!

You know what the boys want?  The full set of the limited-edition Pokémon plush toys!  Available exclusively at Changi Airport, these eight characters and the Poké Ball can be purchased for S$9.90, with a minimum spend at Changi Airport.  Details can be found here.

So, time to catch them all at Changi Airport!  I think I will be there almost every weekend.  What about you?

Disclosure: We were invited to the launch.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photos and opinions are true to my own.

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{Media Invite} Puvay's Fruit Puree-based Collagen Drinks

Age is catching up.

Yes, it is just a number.  It is the mind, heart and the soul that matters.

Appearance matters too, no?  I am just human.  More specifically, a woman.  LOL

So, yes, maybe I should start taking collagen drinks.

When June invited me to the launch of Puvay's 2 new fruit puree-based collagen drink flavours, I was like hmmmm....  it's time to give it a try.  I have never really bothered looking into collagen drinks.  Lazy to make, lazy to buy, yucky taste, weird smell - whatever reasons you can think of, I might fit my reason into one of them.  Just put it that I was never attracted to them.

With the launch of its newly formulated range of 100% natural, fruit puree-based collagen drinks, Puvay redefines the taste of beauty supplement drinks.  With 800mg of "Korean Marine Collagen Peptides", which features specific shorter collagen molecules, they help the body better absorb the benefits more quickly as they are smaller in size.

Also to note is that Puvay is one of the few companies to use a high dosage of Korean Marine Collagen Peptides with fruit-juices.  With this 100% natural ingredients and fresh fruits, Puvay's collagen drinks are lower in calories and sugars (oh yesh!).

Drink it on its own, chilled which I did.  It was not very sweet in my opinion and I can taste the fruits.  My only problem with it was that it was capped very tightly.

Or use it in a fruit dessert which I did here!  What an awesome combination of fruits, nuts and collagen.  I especially like the nuts with it.  On shaved ice, no less.  A crunchy feel to the drink and you do know that most nuts are packed with tons of benefits, right?

Puvay's collagen drinks can be bought online (how convenient) at Wellness Hut.  You get to enjoy 10% storewide with any purchase when you enter "PuvayCynthia" upon checkout!  Maybe a Christmas gift to a girl friend?  Or that bird nest for the parents?  :)

Disclosure: I was invited to the media launch.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photos and opinions are true to my own.

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{Review} The Magic Paintbrush by I Theatre

To the Director, Composer, Cast and Crew and production team of The Magic Paintbrush, this has got to be one of the best production.  And I was telling hubby, I Theatre ended the year with a bang.

Why?

The play started with a very important message.  And ended with another important message too.  Not just a play for the children.  It is something for the adults, the parents too.

A Chinese folk tale transformed into a musical theatre show, it is about a youngster from present-day Singapore, Toni Lee.  Struggling with the pressures and stress of examinations and parental expectations, she wished to be Ma Liang, the character in the storybook, The Magic Paintbrush.

Photo Credit : I Theatre

Quite unexpectedly, she was granted her wish and was transported back in time to a Southern Province of China.  

Photo Credit : I Theatre

A series of magical adventures unfold.  Of Ma Liang helping the poor villagers.  Of the magic paintbrush that creates things. 

Photo Credit : I Theatre

With the use of puppet and lively music, the story of the greedy emperor and his comical guards kept us laughing.

Photo Credit : I Theatre

But also kept us thinking.  Thinking about family, friendship and if gold is more important than talent and creativity.

Photo Credit : I Theatre

D enjoyed it so much that he requested we buy the book for him.

If you are still thinking whether to go for this play, I will say YES!  Book your tickets at Sistic.  From now till 12 November 2016, it is a production not to be missed.

1 Nov - 12 Nov 16
Tue & Thu: 10.30am & 2.30pm
Wed & Fri: 10.30am
Sat: 11am, 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Sun: 11am & 5pm

Disclosure: We were invited to The Magic Paintbrush by I Theatre.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photos and opinions are true to my own.

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One-for-One Main Course at Morganfield's with the Entertainer App

We do dine out quite a bit.  On weekends usually.  With family and friends.  And with the year-end festivities coming, it meant more gatherings and more dining out.

We were introduced to the Entertainer App, which, many of our friends did not know about.  We did not know much about it too initially but realised so many of the F&B merchants that we love and / or going to try in their merchant partner listing.

The Entertainer is in fact a leading provider of buy-one-get-one-free incentives across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe and is full of offers for restaurants, beauty salons, health & fitness, leisure activities etc.

Find it on the App Store, Google Play and Samsung Apps

 

One of the F&B merchants on the Entertainer App

One of the F&B merchant offering one-for-one main courses at their Star Vista and Suntec City outlets is Morganfield's - the place for good old fashioned, prime pork ribs slowed-cooked and smoked to tender mouth-watering perfection. 

Called "Sticky Bones", their signature dishes of smoked ribs is sure to blow one away.  Both by it's size and tenderness.  A full slab ribs is definitely good for 2 persons (no kidding) and if you prefer something spicier, there is always the Spicy Asian BBQ Spare Ribs or the maybe the Smoked Peppercorn Spare Ribs.  I like the basic Hickory BBQ Sticky Bones.

 

Full Slab - Hickory BBQ Sticky Bones

 

(Left) Garlic BBQ Sticky Bones, (Right) Smoked Peppercorn Sticky Bones

I think my younger son can finish this Crayfish Mac & Cheese on his own.  Yup, it's good.  Creamy and delicious.

By becoming a member for S$85, I believe I would have easily saved half of that price paid in 1 meal just at Morganfield's.

If you think Morganfield's is only good with their ribs, the above Mac & Cheese and this Beer Battered Fish & Chips will prove you wrong.  Simple, non-pretentious, crispy fish & chips fried to a nice golden brown.

 
If burgers are your loves, here are 2 of the few options:  Smokehouse Bacon Cheeseburger and Chicken BLT.

 



 
Though desserts are not in the one-for-one offers for Morganfield's, do try their Chocolate Lava Cake and end a good meal with a happy tummy.

F&B merchants aside, I saw quite a few beauty and fitness merchants that I am very interested in : BBounce Studio, AsterSpring and how can I forget recreational attractions and leisure for children like Bounce Singapore and Kaboodle Kids.

If you would like to download the Entertainer App and give it a try for 2016, be sure to use the promo code SGBLOG2016 as it gives a S$10 off the retail price of the app.

Disclosure:  We were invited to the food tasting at Morganfield's by the Entertainer Singapore.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photographs, unless otherwise stated, and opinions are true to my own.

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Where Your Children can Learn to Handle the DSLR

Have your kids ever said, "Dad, Mum, can I take photos with your camera?"

I get that all the time.  From both boys.

It is apparently a growing up thingy.  They love to explore, they want to try.  Sometimes, they are fascinated with it.

But parents are very beware of it, as some cameras are not cheap!  Some parents pass the older version, or a cheaper version of a compact, snap-away camera for the child to explore.  My boys sometimes use my iPhone, sometimes we give them the older compact camera.  Much often than not initially, we had to try to teach them how to use, where the object of interest should be etc.  And of course, many will agree that sometimes parents are not the perfect people for this job.  :D

So, was I glad when one of the activities at Kidzania Singapore is to be a photojournalist!

Waiting patiently in line for their turn.

Brought to us by Canon, in the 20 minutes, they were taught how to handle a DSLR, where the viewfinder is and what some of those buttons are.  Basically, it is about learning proper camera techniques.

Like a professional!

In the Imaging Academy, there were different backgrounds and objects for them to try taking photographs of.  

They were then brought outdoors, around Kidzania to take some monuments.  Look at how at ease E is handling that DSLR.  And how proud he was, showing me the photos he took on screen everytime he took a shot.

Definitely a good place for the children to learn about handling the camera.  What's more, they were paid (KidZos) and given a certificate each!

Disclosure:  3 of us were invited to check out the Canon Imaging Academy in Kidzania by Canon.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photographs and opinions are true to my own.

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{Giveaway} The Magic Paintbrush by I Theatre

Catch I Theatre's last production for 2016, The Magic Paintbrush from 27 October 2016 to 12 November 2016!  Do you even need a reason to catch it?  As a post-exam treat?  Or maybe a pre-holiday activity.  But no, catching theatre plays need no reason, right?

The Magic Paintbrush is a story about a youngster from present-day Singapore, Toni Lee.  He, who has been struggling with the stress of today's schoolwork and parental expectations, meets a magical paintbrush unexpectedly.  He is then transported back in time to a Southern Province of China, where he becomes Ma Liang.

Are you interested to know what his adventures are when he is Ma Liang?

Join me and we shall watch Ma Liang's story unfolds through fun and laughter.  Learning about a moral or two at the same time in this family show suitable for 3 to 103 years old.

Tickets to the production is available now at Sistic so get yours today.

With the generous sponsorship by I Theatre, we have 3 pairs of tickets to giveaway!  Just for 3 pairs of you to catch the play on 29 October 2016, 11.00am.

To enter:

1. Be a B.C.D.E. That's US Facebook page fan.

2. Be a I Theatre Facebook page fan.

3. Like and share the corresponding Facebook post and tag 3 friends.

Giveaway ends 18 October 2016, 8pm.

Please note:

- Winner will be chosen at random.

- Tickets are not exchangeable for cash or for other showtimes, unless otherwise notified by the sponsor.

- As the play takes place in Singapore, the giveaway is open to Singapore residents only.

- Winners will be announced on blog, Facebook and notified by email.  Please respond within 48 hours, failing which, a new winner will be chosen. 
 
- Tickets are to be self-collected.  Location of collection will be stated in the email.

Good Luck! 



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{Media Invite} A Paw-Some Time this September Holidays at City Square Mall

Do you have any idea who these guys are?  Well, I did not.  Until probably a year or 2 ago, when the boys started talking to me about Chase and "no job is too big, no pup is too small!".

And so, it began our journey of learning a new cartoon called Paw Patrol.

Fairly new to many, their first 'Live' Show in Asia at City Square Mall is a hit!  I see so many friends bringing their children to catch it.  If you had not watched it, it is still ongoing till 11 September 16.

Sometimes I wonder if D will outgrow watching such live shows.  Even if he does, I should not deprive E of it since we had been to live shows with D when he was 5 years old.  Just so glad that D enjoyed it too.

Come get a photo with Marshall, Chase and Ryder with a minimum spend of S$50 (terms and conditions apply).  Meet and Greet passes redemption is at the Level 2 Customer Service Counter, one hour prior to each live show.  Limited to 50 passes per session, it is something not to be missed, especially if you are already there for the show.

It seems like Paw Patrol is the favourite cartoon show for children these days.  The crowd at City Square Mall is simply unbelievable.  

I  reached at about 11.45am for the 1pm show and yes, I was already sitting around the imaginary third row.  At 1pm, every little gap was filled up and I see people standing on the second level.  It is how interesting to note what children can do to watch their favourite cartoon characters.  Of course, tablets help.  Thus, if you want a good view, be early!  Very very early.  Don't say I never tell you.  :D

And once the show starts at 1pm, I hear the screams and shouts when Marshall and Chase appear.  And many children gamely stood up and danced when asked to.  D and E did not and sometimes I wonder if it is because they are shy.  

There is a furry fun carnival at the outdoor park.  Till 9 October, bring your cameras for photos with life-size Paw Patrol's vehicles.  There are other activities like the inflatable Dog Pirate Ship and other fun-filled activities.  We did not get a chance to have fun at the carnival as B was not feeling too well.  But I am glad that at least, we manage to catch the live show and had photos taken with the Paw-Some pals!  

Time to make a date with the outdoor park before 9 October.

Paw Patrol Ready for Action 'Live' show
Date: 3 to 11 September
Time: 2pm & 7pm (Tue - Fri); 1pm, 4pm & 7pm (Sat & Sun)
Venue: Level 1 Atrium


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Trip to Zenxin Organic Farm with an Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II

It is September?!  And it is the school holidays again?!  Oh my, where did all those time go.

Last school holidays, we went for a road trip to Melaka with friends.  Some 240km drive using the North South Highway, we decided we shall break the journey into 2, by stopping at Zenxin Organic Park.

Starting our journey at around 8.00am, the boys self-entertained by drawing on large Sketch Books from Daiso.

Once we exited from the Air Hitam exit, this is what we saw.  Turning right and driving for a few minutes, we reached Zenxin.

We were there to join the Farm Tour!

Not before we have a family shot!

Entrance tickets seem reasonable for the range of activities.  Additional activities such as archery are charged separately.

The tour starts with an educational video, followed by walks through the park.  A very hot day, little shade so we were all sweating at the end of the tour.  I cannot imagine joining the 2.30pm tour.

That is dragon fruit!

Some of the plants, fruits and herbs we saw.

One of the highlight was this.  Harvesting their own vegetables.  The boys pulled out vegetables and we are allowed to fill up one bag each.  If we were heading straight home, I will fill it up and bring home to cook.  It's organic!

Feeding the pets at the Happy Farm.  Surprisingly, E was pretty enthusiastic and willingly fed and pet them.  

Part of the tour includes milk bottle fish feeding.  Initially, when I read the title on the brochure, I was wondering how it is.  So this is it.  Holding the bottle that has a large hole in the teat, fish feed is slowly being poured / sucked out.  

One of the activity includes a hand-on workshop.  The boys had a try at making curry puffs.  The curry puff dough and ingredients were pre-done and all we had to do is wrap them up and cooking them in the oil.

Now they know it is not easy.  Even folding the curry puffs require some skill and lots of practice.

We had lunch at the Chef Garden Restaurant since it was near lunch time.  They serve set lunch and what interests us was the hotpot.  

It was alot of food although we ordered for 2 pax.  Organic greens are good, yea?

My only issue is the number of houseflies.  Although they provide some repellent, there were still many houseflies!  The boys could not "tahan" aka tolerate it.  I guess we are all used to air-conditioned food courts and our hawkers and coffeeshops are not "swarmed" with flies around.

My friends at some tables (nearer to the inside of the open space, al-fresco concept dining area) had fewer flies visiting them and their food.  So, if you have children or even yourself who cannot eat at ease with such flies, then I suggest either sitting nearer to the cashier area or skip having lunch there.

We ended with a round of archery.  For RM10 for I think 10 arrows, not something we can get here in Singapore.

Zenxin Organic Park

Jalan Batu Pahat, Kampung Melayu Batu Lima

86000 Kluang, Johor, Malaysia

The photos for my Melaka trip are mostly shot using the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II.  I do not exactly need to say the specifications of this camera as Google will tell you everything - the reviews from professional photographers.

As it is a compact with interchangeable lens, I used mostly a prime lens (M. Zuiko Digital 17mm F1.8) this time and I really love my photos.  Especially of close ups.  Colours are vibrant too.  My only rant is that it is a tad heavy with the lens.

Another note is that, with prime lens, I got to make sure that my focus is correct.  Sometimes, when I asked someone to take a photo for me, the focus is on the wrong person, wrong place.  This I believe needs some understanding and of course, checking of the photos after each shot, if unused to it.

Disclosure: We had the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II on loan to us for 2 weeks for the purpose of this trip.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photographs and opinions are true to my own.

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