.: B a l i :.

It's been long time we wanted to go to Bali. So we decided to go there this holiday.

In Bali, we stayed near Kuta beach, but we also went to other beaches like Sanur and Nusa Dua. At Nusa Dua, we went to a place where the wave was very strong so when it was broken by the rocks, it went up and made a very big splash. We watched it from high up on the rocks, but the splash still went higher than us. It was very nice view. Sometimes we saw a rainbow after the splash.

We went to Orchid Garden, Bird Park, and Reptile Park. The Orchid Garden was quite small and didn't have lots of orchids, but the orchids were very nice. I really enjoyed the Bird Park. Some of the birds were very tame that they came to us and let us feed them. There were some bird shows, too.

We visited some famous temples like Tanah Lot and Uluwatu. The tide was a bit high at Tanah Lot so we couldn't go very near to the temple, but I enjoyed the splash of the waves by the rocks. At Uluwatu, the sunset was nice and there were some monkeys around.

We also visited Monkey Forest. Mum bought some peanuts and we fed the monkeys. It was fun to feed them at first, but when more came, it became a bit scary as the monkeys started to snatch and quarrel.

We also went to Kintamani. It was a looong drive from Kuta and it was very cooold. But the view of the mountain and the lake were very nice.

And I had my hair kepang-ed (braided). I kept swishing the braids around. There were 31 braids in all and there were 2 beads on each braid.

Science Centre

During last week holiday, Mum took Kate to Science Centre. Kate had so much fun and enjoying all the exhibition there, especially the things related to human being. We also watched the magic show, twice :D

JW Swimming Complex

Yesterday, my parents and I went to Jurong West Swimming Complex. It is just across the road from our house. But yesterday, we did not go straight there because we wanted to have lunch at Kofu foodcourt at Pioneer Mall. After having our lunch, we went to the swimming complex.

First, we went to the lazy river. My father and I went in first. Later on, my mother joined in. We spent a lot of time there.

After that, my father and I went to the water-slide. It is 10.2m in height, so we needed to climb 3 storeys high to reach the top of the slide. It was my first time taking a water-slide that high. I was a bit nervous so I wanted to slide together with my father, but the sign said that we were only allowed to slide one at a time. As my father let me slide first, I had to reach the bottom of the slide before he could do his turn. I enjoyed sliding at the water-slide so I wanted to do it over and over again, but the queue was getting longer and longer so I only had 5 turns to go.

Then we went to the jacuzzi pool. The water was very warm, but the water sprayed very strongly so I only spent a little time there and played at the kids-fun-pool while waiting for my parents to come out.

Later on, we went back to the lazy river. After a while, my parents went out of the lazy river but I kept swimming around. It was very fun.

it glows

Kate used about 2 dozens of sticks and spent hours playing with it.

birthday celebration

Last Saturday, we had Kate's 8th birthday celebration, combined with her friend, Annisa's 7th birthday. We had it at Annisa's place at Regent Ville, Hougang. We invited some of our Indonesian friends who stay in Singapore like us. We are sorry couldn't invite all of our friends because of the space matter.

Some of the pictures can be seen at multiply site of
Mum's, Annisa's Mum, Tante Ari's, and Tante Ellen's

horse riding

Kate went to Vivo City with her youngest Aunt, and enjoyed this horse riding :)

walk in the city

Last month Kate's youngest Aunt came to visit us on her way to Taipei. She is taking master degree at NTU, Taipei. Wish it was NTU Singapore :D

Here is some of the pictures when we took an evening walk. The weather that time was cool ... just nice for a walk.

Playtime

Today is sports day for P3-P6 pupils. So P1 and P2 pupils have an extra one-day holiday.

I invited four of my classmates (Jing Wei, Nicole, Kelly and Wan Yong) to come over to my place. Jing Wei and Nicole did not come. So only Kelly and Wan Yong came to play today.

Wan Yong came first. My mother ordered pizza for lunch, but it took long time for the delivery. So Wan Yong and I had some snacks while waiting for the pizza. Then Kelly came. After the pizza came, we had our lunch. Kelly did not want the pizza so she ate chicken wings. Wan Yong and I ate pizza.

My mother put up a small tent. We played shopping. I was the shopkeeper. Kelly and Wan Yong bought lots of thing from my shop. I also lent them money to buy things from the shops.

Then, we did some crafts. After that, Wan Yong's grandmother came to fetch her. Kelly and I played some more until Kelly's mother came to fetch her. We had a great playtime.

that's mine

Kate was very happy when she saw her poem, which she made as part of library reading bear programme last year, was on display at Central Lending Library.

The poem was on display since last month. May be it will be there for another few weeks.


The "Ready, Set, Read ... and Laugh" book by Joanna Cole can be found at nearest library at children collection area. If Mum is not mistaken, Kate borrowed this book four times and read the whole book over and over again. She must be enjoying it so much.

Asian Civilisation Museum

For a change (and while the admission was free for linkpoints members and their family :D), we went to visit Asian Civilisation Museum last Saturday.

Though none of us really fond on museum/history kind of things, we spent almost 5 hours visiting the galleries.


Kate was not much interested on the display objects but she enjoyed so much reading some books about the displays and watching videos at touch screen displays :D

Jurong East Swimming Complex

School holiday last week was full of rain and strong, cold wind. When finally the sun shone brightly on Friday, Mum took Kate for an outing. The choice fell on Jurong East Swimming Complex with IMM's indoor playground as back up plan in case the weather suddenly change. Kate didn't have a single swim since we discontinued her swimming lesson last month so she looked forward to have one.

This was the first time we went to this swimming complex which was located in walking distance from Chinese Garden MRT. The weekday admission was $1.50 for adult and $0.80 for child. There were bubble jet station for toddler, a fun pool for kids, 0.8 m depth lazy river, wave pool, 3 water slides, jacuzzi pool, and a competition pool. There was also a cafetaria inside the complex. Well, you know how kids get hungry after playing with water. If this was not enough, the KFC cum Pizza Hut restaurant was just outside the entrance to the swimming complex.

As we arrived around 3 p.m. (Kate had skipping rope CCA at school in the morning and Chinese lesson afterwards), we 'only' had about 3 hours to spend there. Kate fell in love with the lazy river and wave pool, and didn't bother at all to play at the kids fun pool. :)

Jacob Ballas

Kate and her friends had so much fun playing at this garden.

KidsASIA

Last weekend we went to The Plaza of National Library Building. We went there to visit KidsASIA, part of Asian Children's Festival 2007. Kate had so much fun there. There were so many activities for children such as games, crafts, stories, and performances. And it was the first time Kate went to library without reading any book :D

Sandcastle @ Sentosa Island

It has been a year we became islander member. But we decided not to renew the membership, to give us a little break from visiting the So Expensive Nothing TO See at All Island. We had fun at the island, though. Our favourite is Palawan Beach, where we enjoy playing with the sand.

end of term 3

Just a story about the holiday last week...

One day on holiday, Mum and Kate went to Plasa Singapura. Mum wanted to buy something at Daiso (the $2 shop). At the atrium, there was a dance competition (with High School Musical song). Kate really enjoyed watching it, eventhough she didn't know what High School Musical is. And it made us went back there for 3 days, just to watch the dance :)

The other days, we went to visit and meet up with some old friends. Kate was very happy playing with her old (and new) friends - thank you, guys. At one of visiting, Kate made some of the children cried - sorry, girls - because of the High School Musical bookmark which Kate got at Plasa Singapura. The reason is simple: it was not enough for everyone.

One thing that Kate must not forgot to do on her holiday was doing her homeworks. Here is one of them (using bits of this and that that we found at home)

Today Kate is back to school, ready for Term 4.

(not) zoo animal

Kate needed to make a scrapbook about animal at the zoo.

Well, we haven't been to the zoo in Singapore, except Kate on school trip few months ago. But we had been to zoo in other countries few times. Strangely, we couldn't find any photographs of them, nor in our computer, neither in our photo albums.

After searching all our photo collections, Kate got several animals photographs. None of them was taken at the zoo, though. :)

Since Kate never sees any scrapbook, here is her idea:

another long weekend

Thursday

After Chinese tuition, Kate and Mum went to Botanic Garden for a picnic. Not many people there, so we found it quiet enough for some relaxing.

The fish ponds (near Tanglin Gate) were nice again. Now visitors who wish to feed the fish, are encouraged to give only fish food, which could be bought ($1) at dispensing machine at visitor centre nearby. It's a good idea considering usually visitors would give any kind of food (from bread crumbs to green leafy vegetables), which easily makes the ponds dirty. Now the ponds are back nice and clean, and the fishes look healthy, too.

Friday

Kate's bad habit during holiday is waking up late. Today, she woke up at noon!

Daddy had a day long meeting, which ended with a dinner feast. Mum and Kate were planning to join for the feast. But about the time to leave, Mum changed her mind. So Mum and Kate stayed at home instead, to give Kate time to do her homeworks.

While Kate was doing her homeworks, we heard loud noise ... Ooops, we totally forgot about it ... FIREWORKS FESTIVAL :(

Saturday

Usually after swimming lesson, Kate would ask to play water a little while more (which could end up another one hour). But not today, because Mum promised her to watch fireworks. Yesterday she was dissappointed by hearing the noise only.

After preparing some snacks and drinks, off we go. We planned to watch the fireworks from around Fullerton One. Somehow, we ended up at Esplanade Bay. The place was better though, closer from the main view at Marina Bay floating platform. Since we arrived "late" (an hour early), we couldn't get a nice place to get some good snaps.

Sunday

Today was library day! We went to Library@Orchard and Central Lending Library.

Kate has just finished her silver stage from her reading-bear-record. She would need to make the activity to get her silver badge.

... after this 2 consecutive long weekends (Thu-Sun),
Kate will only have 2 weeks to finish her term 3
then another holiday for 1 week...

garden

Since Kate was having a long weekend (Thu-Sun), the teacher gave lots of homework. Here is one of them:

garden collage

let's fold

When Kate wants to learn paper folding,

star, cube, cootie-catcher

round and round and round we go

Daddy was not feeling well. So while he took a rest, Mum and Kate went to playground.

Kate's highest record is 12'11" in November 2006