Is Singapore handicapped friendly?

Recently have been seeing this "handicapped ready" sign at a lot of our Singapore buses.  So, last week, I decided to give this new facility a try.  I  brought my baby girl in a stroller for a medical appointment at a clinic which is 2 bus-stop away.  After visiting the clinic, we took a bus home.  As the bus we took indicated that it's handicapped ready, I decided that instead of keeping the stroller and carrying my girl, I will just push the stroller up the bus.  Here's my experience with it:

As I tried pushing my stroller up the bus, I realised that the gap between the bus and the pavement was too wide, so I have to carry the stroller up the bus together with my baby girl. According to the bus guide, I think the bus driver is suppose to come down and help me with it, but I waited for a while and the bus driver just look at me and smile and show no indication that he is getting up.  Well, managed to get myself through one hurdle.  Then I tried pushing the stroller to the designated handicapped lot and realised that a group of Filipino maids was standing there talking and ignoring me.  So I have no choice but to parked my stroller at the middle of the bus.  Luckily, the journey is only 2 bus-stops away and the bus was not very crowded, otherwise, I will have a hard time keeping the stroller steady and making space for people to walk pass me so that they can get to their seats.  Finally, I reached my destination and again, the gap between the bus and the pavement was too wide again for me to push the stroller down, so I have to carry the whole stroller again. 

Here's my verdict on the whole experience.  Basically Singapore is building more and more facilities to accomodate people who are less abled but our people is not ready to support them.  Just like this trip, I think the bus driver is not probably trained or they have not get the right attitude yet to help the less abled people. I recalled when I last visited Australia, we took a bus and the bus driver was ever so ready to get out of their seat and help who ever in need, an old lady carrying lots of baggages,  a man with a stroller etc.  Secondly, our citizens or rather maybe our foreign friends (in my case the Filipino maids), I think Singaporean are generally well educated about the need to give up our seats for the elderly, to help out our fellow citizens in need but I don't think our government has yet to reach out in educating our foreign friends like the maids, construction workers etc about these basic courtesy.

Well, I think we have yet a long way to go in being a nation that is really handicapped friendly or elderly friendly.

A day at Lower Pierce Reservior

This was a really fun trips, the kids enjoy themselves looking at fishes and seeing other kids fishing.  However, what was really enjoyable was the playground there, they have the really old type, those that we played in our younger days. Still felt that the old playground are more fun, the newer one somehow not as exciting.

Kids catching fishes at the reservior.












Baby FAN taking a peep at the catch of the day.












SMALL FAN trying to fish with a stick.

Ang Mo fishing with his kid.

The 3 FAN enjoying themselves at the merry go round.

A day at the Upper Pierce Reservior

SMALL FAN was on MC for a full 2 weeks due to lung infection.  So, instead of our usual marketing at the supermarket on Sunday, we decided to bring him to the Upper Pierce Reservior to look for monkeys. It was a nice leisure walk.  And we saw lots and lots of Monkeys, the kids were really excited.

Monkeys eating MacDonald Pancakes that they steal from the visitor having a picnic there.

Kids taking a water break.

SSO Babies' Prom

Manage to get the last 3 tickets available for the SSO Babies' Prom and was full of enthusiam when we brought the kids there today.  The place was indeed crowded with kids. Before the show starts, the compere was entertaining the kids by engaging them in some dancing and singing...so I thought this looks promising.

Then the conductor came and the performance started.  The first few songs was quite entertaining and my Baby FAN was dancing and clapping to the tune.  But as we were sitting really far behind we can't really hear what the conductor is saying and the music sounds reallly far away.  I think they notice it and the usherers started asking us (all the parents sitting behind) to bring our kids to the front to sit so they can hear and see better.  SMALL FAN refuse to go, so I brought Baby FAN to the front.  As I sit her down, the usherer asked me to leave as the front was reserved for the kids only, no parents allowed.  As Baby FAN was too small to stay there alone, I have to squeeze my way all the way back.  Luckily, I'm not the only one, a lot of the parents have to drag their kids back to their seats as well.  This is so poorly organised.  At the end of the event, I even hear a woman scolding the usherers who were suppose to look after the kids that are sitting near the stage (since the probid the parents to be there) as the mother can't find her kid after the event.

After the 2nd songs, they started slowing down the pace of the music and the conductor started focusing and engaging the kids sitting near the stage only.  So both the kids started to get really bored.  Baby FAN fell asleep while SMALL FAN kept asking to go home.

All in all, a very disappointing event as I was expecting more from them due to the high price and the popular demand.  Both hubby and I felt that is money wasted...Still prefer The Hungry Caterpillar by ACT3.

Ducktour, Hippo Bus and Singapore with Kids - Part II

The Sky

After a short 10 minutes ride on the Hippo Bus, we arrive at the Singapore Flyers.  Maybe it was a rainy day, so there isn't much crowd there.  We get to have the whole cubicle all to ourselves.  The kids really love it as they get to run around in the cubicle and noone will stop them.  As for us (the daddy and mommy), it was a really good break for us from all the chasing and carrying.  I finally get to sit down and enjoy the view of Singapore quietly.  As the cubicle was air-conditioned, the whole journey was really cooling and nice as I frantically taking pictures of the view.  I don't mind coming back again for the flyer definitely more worth it then the ducktour.  Maybe, can come here for the night view again next time.
  
On board the Singapore Flyer

Baby FAN listening to the Audio Guid 

View from the top 

F1 tracks


Fish feeding at the Man-made Garden at Singapore flyer

After the trip, we took a bus back home, Baby FAN was really tire and was sleeping in the bus while SMALL FAN was figeting around, trying not to fall asleep as he still needs to go home and open his birthday present.  We reach home tire but happy, it was a nice and pleasant trip, thanks to the rainy day, it makes the  whole environment cooling and peaceful and also, this time round we told ourselves to just take things easy and relax and enjoy the whole experience.  Really glad we decided to spend SMALL FAN's birthday this way as compared to a birthday party and I think SMALL FAN enjoy it too....

Ducktour, Hippo Bus and Singapore with Kids - Part I

It's SMALL FAN's birthday and we decided to celebrate it in a unique way this year.  We brought him on a Ducktour follow by a Hippo Bus ride to the Singapore Flyer.  The kids really enjoy themselves, running around, playing hide and seek with daddy and basically get a good view of Singapore from the sea, the land and the sky.  Here's an account.

We took a MRT to CityHall MRT and had lunch at Citylink Mall, Xin Wang Cafe.  Big FAN and I each ordered a crispy chicken set and the chicken pieces was so big that we skip our dinner that night and was feeling really bloated for the whole day. After a good lunch, we headed to Suntec City to purchase the tickets for Ducktour and Singapore Flyer.  The Ducktour itself cost $33/adult, $17/child, $2/toddler but they have a package deal which we brought costing $49 adult, $28/child and $2/toddler for both Ducktour and Singapore Flyers plus a complimentary Hippo Bus Shuttle Service from Suntec to Singapore Flyers.

The SEA

 

We took the 3pm trip on the Ducktour which lasted for about 1 hour.  The ducktour was quite crowded that day, the whole boat was fully seated, as we were the last few to get seated, we ended up seating at separate rows. SMALL FAN was a little scared, he was worried he will fall into the water and daddy has to hold his hand. The tour bring us around the Marina Bay.  Personally, felt that the tour was quite boring, maybe because I'm a Singaporean and many of the story the tour guide mention about calling Esplanade, Durian etc, we already knew.  SMALL FAN was almost falling asleep as the boat was a little stuffy and with the sound of the boat engine luing him to sleep. Baby FAN also got a little cranky nearer the end of the trip and I have to bring out my Special Weapon (sweets) to keep them happy.  Luckily, it started to rain half way thru and this sort of created some excitment and with wind from the rain blowing at us, it makes the ride more enjoying as it's so cooling.

On board the Ducktour

View from the boat

SMALL FAN getting really sleepy....

The LAND

After the Ducktour, as it was raining, we decided to take a rest at Suntec City.  Settle for some quiche, gingerbread cookie and coffee at Gloria Jeans while waiting for the rain to stop so that we can take the Hippo Bus to the Singapore Flyers.

Active little girl,roaming around Gloria Jeans

I want the pink colour bread....

SMALL FAN ate the whole Gingerbread Cookie, was surprised he likes it as the ginger taste was quite strong.

Boarding the Hippo Bus

Next Destination, the Singapore Flyer....to be continued....

A Staycation at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel

Been planning to bring the kids for some holiday vacation but with Baby FAN still so young, we find it really tough to bring the kids for a good nice oversea holiday. So decided that instead of going oversea, let's try bring the kids to a hotel in Singapore to stay. So, made used of the Staycation promotion at Crowne Plaza a booked a deluxe room for S$166++. So last saturday, the whole family went there for a nice weekend stay. The hotel was pretty new, only one year old so everything in the room was nice and new. The kids love it and was jumping and running around the room the whole afternoon. My boy got the kick looking at aeroplane flying up and down as our room was facing the T2 runway. But it's a pity that part of the runway was blocked by buildings, so we only manage to see part of the take off. In the evening, we visited T3 & T2 and had our dinner there before heading back to the hotel for a good night sleep. Planned to do some swimming the next morning after a pretty good buffet breakfast (the kids get to eat for free as the hotel package was only for 2 adults), but it started drizzling, we wanted to wait for the rain to stop but got lazy after that and just 'nua' at the hotel before we check out at 2pm. All in all and nice and pleasant weekend, don't mind going back there to stay again.





View from our window


Visit to T3 - SMALL FAN fascinated over the automatic water dispenser

Sand and Water Play

Brought the kids to a quiet part of Kallang River for some sand play which is SMALL FAN's favourite activities. To our surprise, Baby FAN loves it as well. The place was relatively quiet place at this part of the river although we can see activities at the other end of the river like people canoeing and Fillipinos having picnic. We also saw a lot of little fishes just at the edge of the water, cool. The kids really enjoy themselves looking at the fish and dipping their body into the water. Here's some vid and pic of the day:

Qian Hu Fish Farm

Brought the kids to Qian Hu Fish Farm. Told SMALL FAN that we will be bringing him fishing and he got really excited. We went there with SMALL FAN's grandparents and cousins and I must say, this is a place for the entire family to go to. I was expecting SMALL FAN to have a great time, but was pleasantly surprise when I see that Baby FAN was enjoying herself too, kicking her leg at the fish spa. It's the first outing that we went that I don't really need to chase after SMALL FAN as the activity area was all contain in one area, so while Big FAN and I was happily feeding the fish with our legs at the fish spa, SMALL FAN was busy catching fish and looking at turtles. All in all a really fun day for all of us and will definitely bring SMALL FAN and Baby FAN there again.

Oh, I forgot to mention, the price for the fish spa was $10 per person for half an hour while the long kang fishing was $5 for half an hour and they provide you with a net and give you a fish tank which you can bring home. The kids manage to catch quite a lot of fish, I think about 20 and the staff there help us to package the fish back home, but by the time we get home, most of the fish was dead and by the next morning, it's all into the drain. They have weekdays package that is cheaper, so do visit their website to check it out http://www.qianhu.com.

Oh and one more thing, Big FAN really enjoys the fish spa and felt that his legs feel so smooth and clean after that. So maybe we can make it a monthly visit to clean up our legs and feet...hi hi..

Here's some pics and vid of the day:






























Here's the kid's catch of the day, or rather the remains of their catch of the day and the fish tank that was given as part of the fishing package:

Outdoor Concert in the Singapore Botanic Garden

Brought the kids to the annual NAC-ExxonMobil Concert-In-The-Park at the Singapore Botanic Garden with some good friends. Luckily, the weather was really good, in fact, it's a little too sunny and hot. The kids seems to enjoy themselves, especially SMALL FAN, he loves feeding the fish at the pond. Baby FAN was also dancing to the music. All-in-all, a great day well spent.


Baby FAN shaking the potato chips like a baracus.

Trip to the National Library

Put Baby FAN with my mum and brought SMALL FAN to the National Library at Bishan today. Was planning to get a few books and sit down with him and do some reading. But ended up, he was busy running around the library. What happen?

Well, I told him that after reading a book, you need to put it into this big container so that it won't get lost. He got so sold into the idea that he started taking books out from the book shelves, flip a few pages and put the book into the big container. He keep doing this until I have to get him to sit down and rest, here's few pictures of him sitting down and resting on the sofa there.

Well, there is still a long way to go to get him to read quietly by himself but it's a good fun trip and SMALL FAN really enjoy it. I think I might want to make it a regular affair next time.