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Guangzhou Travelogue – (Part 2): Baima Clothing Wholesale Market, Beijing Road, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Baiyun Mountain and Pearl River

January 8, 2020 katongkidsinc

Guangzhou is safe and suitable for family to travel. We visited the bustling Baima wholesale market and the items were, but not overly cheap.

Baima Clothing Wholesale Market

This wholesale market is located at the Guangzhou Railway Station. You will know it’s the right place when you see people lugging big plastic bags of clothing.

The whole place was made up of various buildings/malls and basically they are selling clothings and accessories at wholesale prices.

With such a big crowd, food stalls will inevitably exist to cater to the hunger pangs.

We felt the weather at 22 degree was warm but still, the locals were out in their thick coats.

Try shopping in the wholesale markets and find good bargains. New stock arrivals…a common sight.

The prices are marked up when quoted to you so spend your time bargaining in your shopping spree.

Address: No.16, Zhannan Road, Yuexiu District; close to Guangzhou Railway Station

Opening Hours: 8:30 – 17:30

How to Get There:

1. Take metro line 2 and line 5, and get off at Guangzhou Railway Station.

2. Take bus Business Line 1, 2, 3 and bus line 5, 238, 290, 301a, 518, 543, Gaofeng Rapid line 25, Night 88, and get off at Zhannan Road Station. Then walk to the north for about 250 meters (260 yd).

Beijing Lu Pedestrian Street

Beijing Road is located in the center of Guangzhou and is probably the busiest street. The whole stretch is about 1.5km so can imagine there are so many attractions to explore.

Not even peak hour but look at the crowd!

Big and Small M trying out the Christmas special soft-serve.

Eating is an important part of Chinese culture. The street foods sold by the operators were better than we expected. Not only they are clean, super yummy as well!

But street food is the way to go and to satisfy the taste buds.

1. Take metro line 6, and get off at Beijing Road Station. Leave from Exit B.

2. Take metro line 1 or line 2, and get off at Gongyuanqian Station, and leave from Exit D and then walk to east for about 800 meters (880 yd).

3. Take City Sightseeing Bus Ancient City Line and Xiguan Style Line and get off at Beijing Road Station.

4. Take bus line 10, 183, 190, 1, 219, 3, 541, 544, 66, B8, Night 1, Night 32, Night 36, Night 39, Night 69, Night 8, and get off at Beijing Road Intersection Station.

Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall or Chen Clan Academy is an academic temple in Guangzhou, China, built by the 72 Chen clans for their juniors’ accommodation and preparation for the imperial examinations in 1894 in Qing Dynasty.

It is situated near to our Airbnb so it is a must-go attraction. We are not big fans of museums so didn’t spend much time there. However, the wood carvings and paintings are examples of super workmanship and certainly present an eye-opener to tourists.

But it does offer good spots for photo-taking.

Had our lunch here at this restaurant near to the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall.

While the rest of the dishes were so-so, the steamed fish was fantastic.

Guangzhou Baiyun Mountain

Baiyun Mountain (also known as “white cloud mountain”) offers spectacular views.

You can either choose to walk/hike, take a buggy ride or cable car. We chose the latter.

We spent half a day at Baiyun Mountain not because of enjoying ourselves but time wasted in taking the buggy rides at different points to reach the cable car station. You have to alight from the buggy at one point and queue up again to buy tickets to hop onto another buggy.

Our advice is to take the cable car from the ground instead of going up the Baiyun Mountain to find the cable car station.

Opposite the Baiyun Cableway is a food street.

Freshly made Guangzhou-style rice rolls.

Chee cheong fun or rice noodle roll. The stuffing of the salty rice noodle roll mainly includes pork, beef, shrimp meat and pork liver.

A walk in the neighbourhood after our dinner.

Guangzhou Pearl River

One can not be considered to have visited Guangzhou if he hasn’t cruised the scenic Pearl River. We wanted to try the river cruise where during the ride we could catch attractions such as Haiyin Bridge, Canton Tower and such but too bad we didn’t make it in time.

But still, walking around the Pearl River wasn’t that bad either.

What a beautiful Guangzhou.

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Road Safety Community Park at East Coast

November 22, 2019December 15, 2019 katongkidsinc

The Road Safety Community Park is open to the public. Apart from imparting traffic rules and safety through role play to children, it also brings fond memories to those from earlier generations.

Since its early beginnings in the 1950s and then after its refurbishment in 1981, the Road Safety Park has taught us how to be safe road users.

The Road Safety Community Park has has lost much of its lustre but still, it exudes charm from the yesteryear.

This is the place where we were taught the importance of following traffic rules in Singapore and what precautions to take before crossing the roads.

And what follows are the mini SHELL service station..

Bike Air Pump station where cyclists can take a breather and pump their bicycles’ tyres.

Reading road signs and knowing the rights of a pedestrian are inevitably one of the important lessons of life.

The VICOM Inspection Centre.

A beautiful weather and what a way to relive our childhood!

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California Travelogue – (Part 4): Golden Gate Park, California Academy of Sciences, Facebook, Googleplex, Stanford University, Big Sur and Solvang Village

September 21, 2019 katongkidsinc

Time passes so fast, it would have been a year before we complete our US travelogue. We had a magical experience visiting the Golden Gate Bridge the day before.

And we were ready to leave San Francisco, but not before collecting our rental car.

We had 5 pieces of luggage and were told that we had to take a Buick Enclave to fit our family inside..

Wasting no time after the car collection, we hit the Golden Gate Park.

The San Francisco Botanical Garden is a living museum within Golden Gate Park where it houses landscaped gardens containing over 8,500 different kinds of plants from around the world.

A short distance away is the California Academy of Sciences. We heard that it’s a must to check out this discovery centre as by far, it’s an educational experience that every kid will never forget.

The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park has three combined attractions where we could explore the aquarium, planetarium, and a natural history museum.

Our first time seeing a white alligator, one of the rarest in the world!

There was a school excursion and many curious kids are here at the rainforest exhibit.

The building just offers endless fun! We spent about 2 hours here which was rather short before hitting the road.

We drove along the Pacific Coast Highland where there are 13 incredible stops on your visit to California. Well, we tried our best but it was challenging to visit every single attractions.

We stopped by Silicon Valley to visit Facebook Headquarters and Googleplex.

Continue our journey and checked Stanford University.

Hit the road again..

We passed by Santa Cruz, Monterey and on our way to Big Sur, cattle feeding on the hills.

Taking a breather and had our lunch before moving to our next accommodation.

Finally arrived at our Airbnb!

The landlord provided instruction how to retrieve the keys.

A big house where we stayed together with the landlord.

The next day, we hit the road again (as usual) where we covered about 450km per day.

Stopped at rest points to have our meals.

After driving about 300km, we finally reached Denmark. Did we hear correctly? More than a 100 years ago, a group of Danes settled in a corner of this idyllic place.

The beautiful Solvang is a city in Santa Barbara County, California. This charming Danish village is nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley that looks and smells like Christmas year-round.

Every spot is so tempting for us to pause by to take photos.

Yummy! We were seized by the delicious scent of freshly-baked pastries.

Small M was thrilled to see the famous windmill!

Solvang town where visitors will see all kinds of shops and bakeries, as well as windmills, which everyone loves.

Just one of their growing up years.

It was a perfect day to sit out and map out our Solvang plans for the day.

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Harbin Family Travel – What to do in Winter?

August 28, 2019December 18, 2019 katongkidsinc

Our visit to Harbin, the renowned ‘Ice City’, located in the south of Heilongjiang Province. This city is favored with beautiful natural scenery and re-living the fond memories of our stay with little ones.

We tried the northeastern Chinese dish, otherwise known as Tie Guo Dun 铁锅顿 at Zhongyang Pedestian Street.

The ingredients of the stew are simmered to its best in this deep metal pot.

It will take a while but the finished product is rewarding.

Zhongyang Pedestrian Street is about 1.5km long and is always filled with festive atmosphere all year round. This is the main street where tourists would never fail to check off their bucket list.

Harbin means snow, and abundance of it!

Everywhere is considered a playground for the kids!

Street food at its best. Don’t forget to try the red sausage (hong chang), bingtang hulu (fruits on a stick, covered in toffee), and the ice cream which never melt during winter.

The Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God or Saint Sophia Cathedral in Harbin is a former Russian Orthodox church located in the central district of Daoli, Harbin City, Heilongjiang, China.

Harbin cuisine..

The average night temperature is -20°C and the kids were just loving it. What a rare opportunity to be soaked in such weather.

We blogged our Harbin trip here.

Harbin 哈尔滨 Travelogue – (Part 1): Holiday Inn Harbin City Centre, Zhongyang Dajie 中央大街, Euro Plaza, Mykal Mall and Saint Sophia Cathedral 圣索菲亚教堂

Harbin 哈尔滨 Travelogue – (Part 2): Jiuzhan Park 九站公园, Stalin Park 斯大林公园, Sun Island (Tai Yang Dao) 太阳岛, Harbin Polar Land, Siberian Tiger Park 哈尔滨东北虎林园, Harbin Flood Control Memorial Tower 哈尔滨防洪纪念塔 and Zhongyang Dajie 中央大街

Harbin 哈尔滨 Travelogue – (Part 3): Russian Town, Harbin 哈尔滨植物園, Ji Le Temple 极乐寺, Confucius Temple 哈尔滨文庙 and Teresa Teng Music Restaurant

Harbin 哈尔滨 Travelogue – (Part 3): Scoot Off to The Wintriest Harbin with Kids!

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Okinawa Travelogue – (Part 3): Tsuboya Pottery District, Shuri Castle, Umikaji Terrace and American Village

August 14, 2019 katongkidsinc

It is more convenient to travel around Okinawa by driving. It was raining most of the time but we didn’t forgo visiting Tsuboya Pottery District.

Tsuboya Pottery District

Traditional houses with red earthenware roof tiles, accompanied by ceramic studios and stores.

Cute little huts showcasing one-of-a-kind mugs, plates, and pitchers.

Shuri Castle

We visited Shuri Castle on our next stop. Shuri is the name of the former capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Shuri Castle (首里城, Shurijō) served as the residence of the Ryukyu kings for several centuries until Okinawa became a Japanese prefecture in 1879.

The place was huge and expect lots of walking.

The castle interior is very clean and visitors are required to take off their shoes (carriers are provided). Interiors of the Hokuden and Nanden are constructed like modern museums.

A replica of the king’s throne and crown are among the exhibits.

Traditional Japanese dance by the boys.

And we tried the traditional snacks!

The most famous and popular dessert in Okinawa is the Blue Seal Ice Cream.

Big and Small M satisfied their cravings after completing the tour of Shuri castle.

Umikaji Terrace

The Umikaji terrace is situated on a hill below the Senagajima onsen Hotel. This place has the romantic feel as planes flew above us while we sight the beautiful sea view right in front of us.

A tiring climb up the flights of stairs to the peak and discover the beautiful views.

The terrace is close to the beach and the sea waters are generally mild and peaceful for one to explore the area.

The waters of Okinawa are so clear!

Tacos restaurants, ice cream shops and cafes literally packed the terrace.

Greece and Mediterranean vibes, that’s what everyone acclaimed after a visit to the Umikaji Terrace.

Umikaji Terrace

We drove further up north and reached the Mihama American Village, which is a large entertainment complex located in central Okinawa. Actually the American Village is not so fantastic but we supposed it is still a need-to-check-out attraction.

There is this Ramen shop outside the American Village and many diners flock to eat here.

Their ramen was one of the best we ever tried!

Our tasty orders, look at the thick broth.

The most recognizable feature of the American Village is the large Ferris wheel.

The shopping mall is not huge but there is this 100 Yen shop which is a nice store to find good items.

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Okinawa Travelogue – (Part 2): Aeon Naha, Kokusaidori Night Street, Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, Kaigungo Park Playground and Tomari Iyumachi Fish Market

August 3, 2019August 3, 2019 katongkidsinc

Still on the first day. After a rest, we visited AEON Naha during the evening. The shopping mall is directly-connected to Monorail Koroku Station and this is the view from the monorail station.

What was fascinating was that the residential buildings beside the monorail station looked exactly like Singapore’s HDB flats!

A closer look.

Aeon Naha

A big fan of Aeon malls wouldn’t want to miss exploring them.

We were here to have our dinner at the foodcourt.

The foodcourt was filled with students hanging out here after their school.

The prices were reasonable and the quality of food wasn’t compromise in terms of quality.

This is our favorite section in the Okinawa shopping malls. At certain hours, they may have discounts off the racks, some as much as 50%!

Kokusaidori Night Street

We thought spending one full day in Naha city would be enough. A meaningful visit to Okinawa should involve driving out to discover the attractions which travelling along monorail would not be possible.

When night falls, Kokusaidōri comes alive. Restaurants, cafes, supermarkets and shopping malls will be packed with people.

People thronging the streets and traffic is slow moving, sometimes coming to a complete halt. And it’s good to take a pause and admire the city of Naha.

Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters

On our second day, we picked up our rental car (Toyota Sienta) from the hotel and drove to the Former Japanese Navy Underground HQ, which is about 3km from Mercure Naha. This hybrid car is fuel-efficient and we only filled the petrol twice (~SGD100) throughout 5 days of usage which allowed us to cover about 650km.

The Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, a 450 meter tunnel complex which was served as an underground headquarters during the Battle of Okinawa was established in 1944.

Best part of our visit here was the underground tunnel.

A reminder of the tragedy of the Battle of Okinawa.

The Chief Commanding Officer’s room.

Kaigungo Park Playground

At the exit of the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, we get to see the Kaigungo Park playground. Sob sob, it was raining most of the time in Okinawa and the kids were unable to play the slides.

However, we must say Okinawa definitely bring their playgrounds up to another level. Imagine this is where kids can slide for more than a minute and enjoy excitement to the fullest.

Tomari Iyumachi Fish Market

The Tomari Iyumachi Fish Market located at Tomari Fishing Port. It is a medium-sized seafood market with shops selling fresh tuna, salmon, grilled lobster, scallop, unagi, squid and many more.

There is a processing plant screened with glass for viewing. Workers are working hard to bring the freshest catch out for sale.

This is the best and biggest fish market in Okinawa where you can get same-day-fresh seafood and other marine products.

We had our breakfast here.

Freshly grilled and juicy lobsters.

She must be very happy!

Visitors come here for a taste of great Okinawa seafood!

Highly recommended to come here as the prices are reasonable.

As there are lack of sitting places, most of the time people would need to stand eating.

Tomari Iyumachi is the direct sales fish market in Naha with tuna specialty vendors from the Okinawa Fishing Cooperative and mozuku vendors in addition to wholesalers. The best time to visit Tomari Fish Market is in the morning.

Our gripe was the frequent rain but this has been a great trip so far!

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WEIL Hotel Ipoh – Beautiful Hotel, Memorable Stay

July 16, 2019December 15, 2019 katongkidsinc

It was our first time visiting Ipoh and apart from enjoying everything what this lovely town has to offer, our trip was made even more memorable by the hotel we stayed.

Welcome to the WEIL Hotel, Ipoh.

When it comes to scouting on the best leisure and family accommodation, refreshing swimming pools and delectable food to indulge in, WEIL Hotel could very well be the answer to your travel needs.

Upon arriving at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport after an hour flight, our next destination would typically be the hotel. All thanks to its close proximity to the airport, we hardly had time to warm our seats before realising that we had arrived at the hotel after only less than 10 mins (6km)!

We arrived happily and left happily. There are many reasons why we would return to WEIL Hotel again.

Beautiful Lobby – Where You Find Space to Chill

If our short, magical stay were to mean anything, the best takeaway from this stay would be the warm customer service we experienced. The hotel had it nailed and we felt safe and comfortable the moment we stepped into this place.

The lobby looked very new, spacious and guests would be pleased to see there were many armchairs placed for them to chill.

Superior Suite

The Superior Room comes with a size of between 32 sqm to 39 sqm. “WOW” is the magic word to describe when one enters the superior suite.

The room was equipped with a king-sized bed, a study desk and chair, armoire, safe, and a fine stand for luggage.

With crisp linens and soft pillows, it would not be hard to have a comfortable night’s sleep!

The hotel also provides a smart phone for traveler to use.

I loved the large well-equipped bathroom where large fluffy towels and face cloths were supplied sufficiently.

Ipoh Parade Shopping Centre – Adjoined to WEIL Hotel

Being inter-connected to Ipoh Parade Shopping Centre was a big plus to staying at the WEIL Hotel. During our stay, it was so convenient to dine and shop at the shopping centre at the same time.

With such a big mall, it was inevitable not to eye the all of the shops, kiosks, and food outlets!

Departmental Store – Parkson

Entertainment – Golden Screen Cinema (GSC), K Box Karaoke, Laser Battle

Pharmacy – Watson’s, Guardian, Caring Pharmacy

Apparels & Jewellery – Hush Puppies, Uniqlo, FOS, Voir Gallery, Minoshe, Lazo Diamond, City Time

Books & Stationery – Popular

Food & Beverage – Sushi Tei, Dave’s Deli, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Chicken Rice Shop, Marrybrown, Subway, Starbucks Coffee, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Shihlin Taiwan Street Snack, Kopitiam Avenue, Llaollao

Services – Pahlawan Money Changer, Rosemary Floral & Gift, Imax Internet Cafe

Convenience Store – Qbiz

Grocery Store – Jaya Grocer

Breakfast @ The TIFFIN

TIFFIN offers a relaxed ambience where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Known for its popular Nasi Lemak and Roti Canai, it is no surprising that TIFFIN is a favourite among the hotel guests.

A hearty breakfast!

Take a Dip in the Pool!

Where kids would go crazy over this huge infinity pool. Your vacation would not be completed without dipping into the refreshing water.

No matter whether it is day or night, the pool offers beautiful panoramic view of the town of Ipoh.

How about chilling out here in an al fresco dining concept at the Cabana?

The Rooftop Gastro Bar Restaurant

The Deck Gastrobar is a rooftop bar at WEIL Hotel.

Situated at level 13, we can choose al fresco dining or chill out here. On the weekends, this place will come with a live band to keep guests entertained! They have also introduced the Live@The Deck serie, which highlights entertainment by live bands on Thursday & Friday and DJs from KL on Saturdays.

How true is that!

Yuk Sou Hin – A Favorite for Locals & Tourists Alike

We were recommended to the food at Yuk Sou Hin, a pork free Chinese restaurant, where we could also experience the authentic dishes of Ipoh. Their signature Smoked Duck with lychee wood is a must-try dish 🙂

Food lovers, especially Malays who enjoy Chinese food, will definitely love this.

When it comes to a delicious Chinese cuisine and dim sum, Yuk Sou Hin certainly delivers one of the best authentic dishes in Ipoh. We had dim sum breakfast here and these orders relished our mouthful of happiness!

Yoga @ The Lawn

To engage the guests, the hotel also held Community Yoga Session at its rooftop area – The Lawn.

The busyness of life can cause a ton of anxiety and take a toll on your health, and yoga can be the perfect workout for loosening up and destressing. The participants were up here early in the morning working out and practicing their moves.

Nearby Attractions

An accommodation like no other, WEIL Hotel is located close to many attractions which you can read in Ipoh Travelogue here.

Concubine Lane, where we experience the charm of Ipoh old town.

Kong Heng Square, where hipster cafes and boutique shops gave modern trendy feel to the surroundings.

Tong Sui Kai (Dessert Street), where it becomes one of the most happening places in Ipoh when the sun sets.

Memory Lane, where it is the best place to go to for rare and secondhand items at reasonable prices.

Kelle’s Castle, where it offers one of the most instagram-worthy spots in Ipoh!

The next time you’re in Ipoh, be sure that WEIL Hotel will make your stay memorable in every possible ways!

WEIL Hotel

Website / Bookings: http://www.weilhotel.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weilhotel/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weilhotel/

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Ipoh Travelogue – (Part 1): WEIL Hotel, Concubine Lane, Ipoh Booth Cart, Thean Chun Coffee Shop (天津茶室), Kong Heng Square, Burps and Giggles, Yum Cha Tea Bar and Tong Sui Kai 糖水街

June 20, 2019December 15, 2019 katongkidsinc

Think of Malaysia, think of Ipoh. Located within the state of Perak, Ipoh took our breath away and we were just drawn by its slower pace of life as we took a short break away from Singapore.

This trip was so impromptu that we only had a couple of days to come up with the itinerary and we thought the trip went pretty well! In this blog series, we will cover some of the best cuisines in Ipoh, well-preserved historical landmarks and quaint cafes that make you fall in love with this town.

Instead of hopping into a dreaded 8 hours journey by coach, we took the budget airline and arrived at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport after an hour flight.

The airport was relatively small and you would probably be visiting these two booths – Car Rental and Purchase of SIM Card.

I bought a 6GB plan for RM35, which was more than sufficient for a 3-day use.

We rented a MPV which cost about SGD100/day. The car park was just in front of the airport so picking up the car was a breeze.

We would be staying at the WEIL Hotel. Apart from just 6km from the airport, this beautiful hotel is adjoined to the Ipoh Parade Shopping Centre and had so many reasons why visitors should be staying there.

Concubine Lane

Our first stop was exploring the Concubine Lane, which was along Lorong Panglima and is the busiest among the three lanes today with shops and restaurants. As cliche as it may sound, one of the must-do activities in Ipoh is the heritage walk around the old town area.

It was no surprising that the street was packed with tourists since it was a weekend.

Brightly colored umbrellas.

It might sound sinful, but what a shame it would be if a visit to Ipoh was completed without trying some of their unique desserts!

We sampled the Honey Ice Ball (RM5 per ball); an ice ball bigger than the size of a fist shaped with shaved ice then drizzled generously with gula melaka (palm sugar syrup).

Kuma Brand‘s rainbow cheese toast (RM13 per toast) certainly captured our hearts! Brushed with butter on the surface, the bread was being toasted to golden yellow.

The fun part of it? Stretching the cheese to your heart’s delight.

We tried the cold dessert at Tau Fu Fa, which was a great respite from the sweltering heat. To create the traditional atmosphere, long and squatting stools were set up for dine-in customers.

Their bean curd literally melts when you eat it. A must-try dessert shop at Concubine Lane.

Panglima Dua Lima, a charming little cafe housed in an old shophouse serving freshly prepare Ipoh white coffee.

The cafe was coated with attractive interiors. Old wall, wooden furnishing and displays of old school items added a rustic charm to this place.

Address:

30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Ipoh Booth Cart

Situated on the upper floor of the corner shop lot Restoran Sun Yoon Wah was Ipoh Booth Cart. We wouldn’t know of this place (opposite Concubine Lane) if not for the banners placed outside.

This place catered to a few booths or kiosks selling souvenirs and drinks.

Hey, admission is free!

Thean Chun Coffee Shop (天津茶室)

Thean Chun Restoran is highly recommended in the media and they are famous for their “Kai See Hor Fun” aka Chicken Kuey Teow Soup, egg caramel custard, chee cheong fun and satay.

We were very full but capturing pictures is a must!

Address:
73, Jalan Market, Ipoh, 30000,
Ipoh, Perak, 30000, Malaysia

Kong Heng Square

Nestled amidst Ipoh Old Town colonial buildings is Kong Heng Square Artisan Market (KHSAM).

An area rejuvenated with rustic blend of old and new architecture and shady trees, has been given a new “life” with burgeoning local arts, crafts and eateries. It is a hub where passion meets creativity.

I fell in love with photography few years ago and felt that Kong Heng Square actually was a good spot for photo-taking.

Previously a decrepit and abandoned space, Kong Heng Square has been rejuvenated into one of the cool hangouts in town.

Can you believe on top of this building is actually a hotel?

New Star Salon, an old school barbershop that have stood the test of time.

We heard much about Burps and Giggles and glad that it was conveniently located at Kong Heng Square.

Customers are greeted with great ambience and the cafe is furnished with eclectic decorations.

Address:

93 & 95 Jalan Sultan Yussuf | beside Container Hotel., Ipoh 30000, Malaysia

Yum Cha Tea Bar

The Bubble Tea world is on a rage. We heard that Yum Cha Tea Bar is selling White Rabbit Bubble Tea here.

Traditional Tea House / Wood Craft Workshop

As evening beckoned, we chanced upon this interesting tea house as we went to collect our car.

The friendly owner invited us to tour his premises.

Every bit of the interior was lovely and filled with charm.

According to the owner, this place was used to host wood craft workshop and corporate sharing sessions.

Tong Sui Kai 糖水街 or “Dessert Street”

Tong Sui Kai 糖水街 or literally “Dessert Street” is one of local’s famous food spot with many stalls selling local delicacies such as rojak, cockles, noodles and many others.

Chicken Wings at RM2.70 per piece.

Wanton Noodle (Stall 44) at RM10 and Ice Kacang at RM5.

Memories of Ipoh on our first day.

Why not try Ipoh when planning your getaway? I am in love with Malaysia. Looking forward to explore this beautiful country again.

Address:

Jln Sultan Ekram, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

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California Travelogue – (Part 2): San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, Maritime Museum, Ghirardelli Square, Lombard Street and Chinatown

June 12, 2019 katongkidsinc

Soak into the sights, sounds and smells of San Francisco. We did a tour of the Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. The Park includes a magnificent fleet of historic ships, a Visitor Center, Maritime Museum, Maritime Research Center, and Aquatic Park Historic District.

It was an easy tour as the place wasn’t huge.

A short walk further down was the Maritime Museum which was located in the Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building.

Ghirardelli Square is a convenient stop for chocolate and ice cream while already visiting at Fisherman’s Wharf.

No trip to San Francisco is complete without tasting sweet chocolate from those chocolate dream-makers at Ghirardelli. Ghirardelli’s sundaes are real special.

We did not drive during our stay in San Francisco. Instead, we walked, walked and walked.

As you can see, the roads here were steep and it was a test of endurance and good form of exercise.

This picture is a good example to get a sense of how steep the streets were.

We did have the chance to see the splendor of the West Coast, here was what San Francisco looked and felt like.

Strolling down one of America’s crookedest streets in the form of Lombard Street is a blessing! The steep, hilly street was created with sharp curves to switchback down the one-way hill past beautiful Victorian mansions.

Lombard Street is definitely one of the most photographed spot in San Francisco. Tourists just couldn’t resist its charm and uniqueness.

This street has eight tight hairpin turns through the neighborhood where guests can either drive, or walk, down for an interesting adventure.

After exploring Lombard Street, we walked to the Chinatown.

San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest one in North America (surprisingly well maintained) and covers 24 city blocks.

Trying out the delicious and yummy dim sum!

We finally found the the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory after getting lost! Located in Ross Alley, formerly called the “Street of the Gamblers”; the little factory here makes fortune cookies.

We had no idea why it was so popular among tourists. In fact, we don’t think there is anything special about fortune cookies. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant sight watching the lady sitting at the assembly line, folding and filling the cookies by hand.

Big and Small M at the Dragon Gate, the official entrance into Chinatown on Bush Street, where Grant Avenue takes you into the heart of Chinatown.

Another Macy’s in San Francisco 🙂

Just travel and such. Click here to follow Katong Kids Inc Facebook Page to stay tune on the next travel post.

Air Zone, Aquarius Cove, Asia, Buds by Shangri-La, Busy Tables, Clip 'n Climb, Cool De Sac, Education, Fun N Laughter, Future World Exhibition, Go go bambini, Growing Up, Happy Castle, Houbii Spot, Kaboodle Kids, Katapult Trampoline Park, Kids Activities, Kids Amaze @ SAFRA Jurong, Kids Amaze @ SAFRA Toa Payoh, KidsSTOP, KidZania, Kidzland, Let 'Em Play, Little Planet Playland, My Little Climb Room, Parenting, Playeum @ Gilman Barracks, Playground, Pororo Park, Splash @ Kids Amaze (SAFRA Punggol), T-Play, The Artground, The City, The Joy of Toys, The Polliwogs, Waka Waka

Top 30 Places in Singapore to Bring Your Kids During the Holidays!

June 7, 2019 katongkidsinc

It’s the time of the year where school-going children unwind from the highs of the examinations,
and parents are able to take a break from the mad rush of time juggling between work, school and
extracurricular activities.

While some of us make plans for travel, many of us still spend a fair amount of time staying put in our
sunny island, where there is much to do. But whether you are travelling or staying, kids will be kids, and
they are energizer bunnies bursting with excitement on what their next activity will be.

We can imagine many starting to Google on where is the nearest and most convenient places to bring these
rugrats. If this stresses you out, no fret! Here we provide you a location based breakdown of the top 30
places to bring your kids (to burn off their seemingly endless bouts of energy).

North

#1 Katapult Trampoline Park

Where

81 Lorong Chencharu

#01-11

Singapore 769198

Opening Hours

Monday: 12pm – 9pm

Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 9pm

Saturday, Sunday & Public Holiday (PH): 9am – 9pm

Tickets

Weekday: From $15/hr

Weekend: From $19/hr

#2 Kidzland

Where

81 Lorong Chencharu

#01-11

Singapore 769198

Opening Hours

Monday: 12pm – 9pm

Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 9pm

Saturday, Sunday & PH: 9am – 9pm

Tickets

Toddler (1-3 yo): From $16

Child (3yo & above): From $20

1 Accompanying Adult: Free

#3 Kids Amaze @ SAFRA Toa Payoh

Where

293 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh

SAFRA Toa Payoh

Singapore 319387

Opening Hours

Monday – Thursday: 1pm – 7pm

Friday: 1pm – 9pm

Saturday, Sunday & PH: 10am – 7pm

Tickets

Child (18 months – 18 years): From $7.50 (Member); From $12.70 (Non Member)

Adult: $2.15

#4 My Little Climb Room

Where

183 Jln Pelikat

#B1-101

Singapore 537643

Opening Hours

Thursday, Friday: 2pm – 7:30pm

Saturday – Sunday, PH: 10am – 7:30pm

Tickets

3 and above: $22

Below 3 years old: $11

Additional adults: $5

North East

#5 Air Zone

Where

180 Kitchener Road

Level 2, City Square Mall

Singapore 208539

Opening Hours

Daily

11am – 9pm

Tickets

$20.00 (1 hour session)

There is no age restriction but all guests must be able to climb and walk on the nets unassisted. Children who are below 7 years old must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

#6 Fun N Laughter

Where

180 Kitchener Road

#B2-32, City Square Mall

Singapore 208539

Opening Hours

Daily

1030am – 930pm

Tickets

Toddler (Under 2yo): From $12

Child (2yo & above): From $18

#7 Happy Castle

Where

Seletar Mall

33 Sengkang East West Ave

#03-K1/2/3

Singapore 797653

Opening Hours

Daily

10am – 10pm

Tickets

$22 for 3hrs

$78 for 10hrs

$140 for 20hrs

#8 Splash @ Kids Amaze (SAFRA Punggol)

Where

9 Sentul Crescent

SAFRA Punggol

Singapore 828654

Opening Hours

Monday – Thursday: 10pm – 8pm

Friday – Sunday, PH: 10am – 9pm

Tickets

Baby (Below 18 months): Free

Child (18 months – 13 years): From $8 (Member); From $16 (Non Member)

Adult: $2 (Member); $5 (Non Member)

East

#9 Clip ‘n Climb

Where

HomeTeamNS Tampines

1 Tampines Walk

#03-03 Our Tampines Hub

Singapore 528523

Opening Hours

Monday – Thursday: 12pm – 9pm

Every first Monday of the Month (i.e. 4 March 2019): 2pm – 9pm

Friday, Saturday, School Holidays and Eve of PH: 10am – 11pm

Sunday and PH: 10am – 9pm

Tickets

HomeTeamNS Member: $18

PA/SAFRA: $22

Guest: $25

#10 Kaboodle Kids

Where

88 East Coast Road

#02-05 Katong Square

Singapore 423371

Opening Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday: 10am – 6pm

Friday, Saturday: 9am – 730pm

Closed on Tuesdays

Open on Public Holidays

Tickets

Toddler (Below 3yo): From $15

Child (3yo & above): From $20

#11 The Artground – A Curious Place To Be

Where

90 Goodman Road

#01-40 Block J

Singapore 439053

Opening Hours

Wednesday & Thursday: 930am – 5pm

Friday – Sunday & PH: 930am – 6pm

Tickets

Free

#12 The Polliwogs

Where

3 Simei Street 6

#04-07 Eastpoint Mall

Singapore 528833

Opening Hours

Sunday – Thursday: 10am – 830pm

Friday & Saturday: 10am – 9pm

Tickets

Toddler (Below 2yo): From $13

Child (2yo & above): From $20

#13 The City

Where

112 East Coast Road

#03-31 i12 Katong Mall

Singapore 428802

Opening Hours

Daily

10am – 7pm

Tickets

Under 12 months (with accompanied paying sibling): Free

Under 24 months: $18

25 months & above: $22

Adults: Free

West

#14 Let ‘Em Play

Where

18 Boon Lay Way

#01-100 Trade Hub 21

Singapore 609966

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday: 10am – 730pm

Saturday, Sunday & PH: 10am – 830pm

Tickets

Child: $25

Adult: $29

Parent/Child Bundle: $48

#15 Kids Amaze @ SAFRA Jurong

Where

333 Boon Lay Way

SAFRA Jurong

Singapore 649848

Opening Hours

Monday – Thursday: 1pm – 7pm

Friday: 1pm – 9pm

Saturday, Sunday & PH: 10am – 7pm

Tickets

Child (18 months – 18 years): From $7.50 (Member); From $12.70 (Non Member)

Adult: $2.15

#16 T-Play

Where

2 Bukit Batok West Ave 7

Level 2 HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok

Singapore 659003

Opening Hours

Monday – Thursday: 1pm – 7pm

Friday: 1pm – 9pm

Saturday, Sunday, School & PH: 10am – 9pm

Tickets

Below 18 months: From $2

Above 18 months: From $4

Adult: From $2

#17 Go go bambini

Where

Blk 8 Dempsey Road

#01-15 Dempsey Hill

Singapore 247696

Opening Hours

Daily

9am – 7pm

Tickets

Monday – Thursday: Unlimited Playtime

Babies (below 6 months): Free

Toddlers (6 – 23 months): From $10

Children (2 – 12 years): From $20

#18 Houbii Spot

Where

80 Mandai Lake Road

Singapore Zoo

Singapore 729826

Opening Hours

Daily

10am – 6pm

Tickets

Mini Course (Kids below 110cm): $20

The Real Thing (Kids above 110cm): $25

Central

#19 Playeum @ Gilman Barracks

Where

Block 47 Malan Road

#01-23 Gillman Barracks

Singapore 109444

Opening Hours

Tuesday – Sunday: 10am – 6pm

Closed on Monday

Tickets

Child (1 – 12yo): $22

1 Accompanying Adult: Free

Additional Accompanying Adult: $10

#20 Buds by Shangri-La

Where

Shangri-La Hotel Singapore

22 Orange Grove Road

Lower Lobby, Tower Wing

Singapore 258350

Opening Hours

Daily

9am – 9pm

Tickets

Toddler (Under 4yo): From $28

Child (4-12yo): $48

#21 Cool De Sac

Where

3 Temasek Boulevard

#02-379/80, Suntec Convention Centre

Singapore 038983

(West Wing, above H&M and Uniqlo )

Opening Hours

Sunday – Thursday: 10am – 8pm

Friday & Saturday: 10am – 9pm

Tickets

Monday – Friday

Under 6 months: Free

Under 3yo: $12.80

3-12yo: $22.80

Saturday, Sunday & PH

Under 6 months: Free*

Under 3yo: $14.90

3-12yo: $28.70

*Adult rates apply for children under 6 months for Weekends and Public Holidays

#22 Future World Exhibition

Where

ArtScience Museum

Marina Bay Sands

6 Bayfront Avenue

Singapore 018974

Opening Hours

10am – 7pm

(Last admission at 6pm)

Tickets

Enquire at Counter

#23 KidsSTOP

Where

Science Centre Singapore

15 Science Centre Road

Singapore 609081

Opening Hours

Daily

930am – 130pm (1st session)

2pm – 6pm (2nd session)

Tickets

Child: From $10

Adult: From $5 per adult

#24 The Joy of Toys

Where

6 Eu Tong Seng Street

#03-51 Clarke Quay Central (Yellow Zone)

Singapore 059817

Opening Hours

Sunday – Thursday: 10am – 8pm

Friday – Saturday: 10am – 9pm

Tickets

Child: From $10

Adult: From $5

#25 Busy Tables

Where

35 Rochester Drive

#03-22 Rochester Mall

Singapore

Opening Hours

Daily

10am – 730pm

Tickets

Single Entry: $10 (Less than 1 yo); $18 (1yo & above)

Drop off: $18 per hr

Playgroups: $35 per session

#26 Waka Waka

Where

407 Havelock Road

#05-01

Singapore 169634

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday: 930am – 7pm

Sat, Sun & PH: 930am – 8pm

Tickets

Starter (6 visit pass): $158

Explorer (12 visit pass): $248

#27 Aquarius Cove

Where

29 Carpenter Street

Level 5

Singapore 059923

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday: 1130am – 6pm

Sat, Sun & PH: 1030am – 630pm

Tickets

11 mths & Below: Free ($5 per adult)

12 mths – 29 mths: $10 (2 accompanying adult per paying child)

2.5 yrs & above: $18 (2 accompanying adult per paying child)

Weekdays (excl. PH & School Holidays) – Unlimited Playtime

Weekends, PH & School Holidays – 2 hrs playtime

#28 Little Planet Playland

Where

176 Orchard Road, #02-21

The Centrepoint

Singapore 238843

Opening Hours

Sunday to Friday: 10am – 7pm

Saturday & PH: 10am – 8pm

Tickets

11 mths & Below: Free (per accompanying paying child)

12 mths & Above: $25

Weekdays – Unlimited play

Weekends & PH – 2hr play

#29 Pororo Park

Where

6 Raffles Boulevard

#02-29 Marina Square

Singapore 039594

Opening Hours

Sunday to Friday: 1030am – 8pm

aturday: 1030am – 9pm

Unlimited Playtime on School Holidays

Tickets

Child

Non Members: From $24.50

Partners: From $23.50

Annual Members: From $19.50

Adult

Non Members: $6

Partners: $4.50

Annual Members: $2.50

Weekdays: 3hr playtime

Weekends: 2hr playtime

#30 Kidzania

Where

31 Beach View

#01-01/02 Palawan Kidz City

Singapore 098008

Opening Hours

Daily

10am – 6pm

Tickets

Toddler (under 3yo): Free

Child (3-17yo): From $58.90

Adult (18-59yo): From $33.25

Senior (60yo & above): From $23.75

A month worth of activities is a lot of energy, and a hole in parents’ pockets. Why not earn back some savings with cashback cards like American Express True Cashback Credit Card, Standard Chartered Unlimited Cashback Credit Card or Citi Cash Back Card? Many little savings equate to another round of activities for free!

Finty provides you an array of cashback cards to choose from, drop them a note if you require more personalised recommendations!

Happy Holidays Everyone! 🙂

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