Penang Holiday with Kids - Part II

Day Two

Took a 45 minutes taxi ride to Penang Hill, cost us about RM$45.  The taxi driver drop us off at the foot of the hill so that we can purchase the ticket for the Funicular Train up to the hill top, he also gave us his name card so that we can call him when we want to go back to the hotel.  It was a slow journey up the hill and the train was rather crowded.  Baby FAN can't seems to keep still for the entire journey, luckily we have made the necessary prep.  I took out my LG phone which is loaded with kids videos, this kept her entertained for a while.  We were quite disappointed with the Penang Hill as the place was not properly maintained, the flowers, fountain, mosque and temple are all in a bad shape.  Also, as the whether was quite hot that day, it wasn't the cooling effect that we expected from a high ground area.  Basically, nothing much to view at the top except to look down at the town area.  SMALL FAN started whining to go back to the hotel after a while.

The ticketing area.

View from the top

The Indian Temple

The one and only hotel at the Hilltop.

We also visited the Bird Sanctuary at the hilltop, cost us RM$5/adult.  Nothing really much to see i think we were out of the sanctuary in 15 minutes.

We wanted to take a break at the David Brown's restaurant but the garden didn't turn out as nice as those in the website and the meals provided doesn't seems to suit my kids.  So we went downstairs to the foodcourt and tried mee goreng and ice kacang instead...We asked the hawker to cook the mee goreng without chilli, it tasted like our wanton noodle without the wanton...hi hi...

David Brown's Restaurant

After lunch we took a taxi back to the hotel for a rest before heading to the beach for a walk and a dip in the pool again.  We didn't went into the sea water as I read that there are a lot of jelly fish there.

Beside the usual water sport like banana boat, parachuting etc...they also have buggy ride and horse riding on the beach.



























At night, we took a taxi to Gurney Drive, cost about RM$30. Had Penang Fried Kway Teow, Chendol, Niang Dou Fu and Wanton Noodle for dinner at the Gurney Drive Hawker Fare.  The food was quite tasty although the price was quite ex for a hawker centre.  We had a bowl of Niang Dou Fu (about 7 items) for RM$8 and the Fried Kway Teow cost RM$3.50 for a really really small plate.  After that, we went for a walk at Gurney Plaza.  It's quite a big plaza, looks very much like the style of Vivio City. We didn't really walk around much as Baby FAN was getting tire and cranky.  So we just take a taxi outside the plaza back to the hotel, cost us RM$28.

Penang Holiday with Kids - Part I

I know I haven't been updating this blog as I have been in this lazy mode recently, got addicted to the games in facebook.  Sigh.... Well, went a trip to Penang lately.  Our first maiden trip with the kids without any help from mom or mom-in-law. Here's an account of our trip.

Day One
Took MAS from Changi Airport to Penang Airport.  The kids have a great time playing at the playground in the Changi Airport Transit while waiting for our flight. It's the first plane ride for the kids, we thought we went there earlier so that can get prepared.  We also took some light snacks before boarding as I was worried that Baby FAN will be hungry on the plane.  Boy I was right, the plane served ask spicy food for lunch, either sambal prawn or nasi brayani. So both kids ended up eating biscuits and drinking fruit juice for their lunch.

Pic at the Koi Pond at Changi Airport.

 

 

Kids passing their time at the playground.

Baby FAN taking her mid-morning snack












As we went there on a Thursday morning, the plane wasn't very crowded and boarding was a breeze. I was worried that the air pressure of the plane taking off and landing might hurt the kids, so I kept stuffing them with sweets when the plane take off.  It's seems to work and they did not cry or complain about ear pain.  However, Baby FAN fell asleep on the plane and wake up crying when the plane was landing, complaining about ear pain. Luckily, she stop crying after we fed her some sweets to appease her... SMALL FAN also started complaining about ear pain.  Luckily, he was quite brave and didn't whine much.  I think he was too excited about the plane ride to be bothered by ear pain.

We reached the Penang airport after an hour's ride on MAS.  Then as suggested by many of the internet forum website, we went straight to the taxi ticketing booth and bought a taxi voucher,it cost RM$67 to get from the airport to our hotel at Batu Ferringhi.  The whole journey took about 45 minutes and we reached Hard Rock Hotel, saved and sound.  The checking in was a breeze too since it's a weekday and the hotel wasn't very crowded (Overheard a lady during one of the afternoon swim at the pool that she has to wait 2 hours to check in on a Saturday).

Some pictures of the hotel room we stayed in, it's a seaview deluxe.

We got a king size bed.

A little disappointed with the toilet as there is no bath tub.















Views from our room

After checking in, we rest for a while before going for a dip in the huge inviting pool.  Thereafter, we had dinner at Hard Rock Cafe.  Tried the macaroni cheese and fish n chips yum yum....

 



Kids playing at the shallow sand pool.

The pool has 3 water slides and a water play area.  Baby FAN loves the slides and the water play while SMALL FAN prefer to dip in the sand pool.

Our mac n cheese dinner...yum yum...













After the dinner, we decided to just take a walk around the hotel before retiring for the night...What a day...

Hotel lobby

The lounge at our floor.

Baby FAN was so tire at the end of the day that she just get onto the bed and make herself comfortable instead of roaming around the room....hi hi...

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....

Nursery Rhymes in Mandarin

Baby FAN's first Mandarin song taught by her daddy.