The Children’s Garden in Gardens by the Bay Singapore

I've been to Gardens by the Bay in Sinagpore many times before, but this was the first time we were able to check out the Children's Garden. I think a lot of people don't even know about this place, since usually you just go the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest Conservatories. I myself just found out about the Children's Garden when I was searching for stuff my kids could do in Singapore. And guess what, the best thing about this place is that it's totally FREE!

Halloween in Singapore

Since we spent sem break in Singapore, I researched beforehand on Halloween events we could go to while we were there. This was the first time the kids wouldn't be able to go to the annual trick or treat in our village, so I still wanted them to experience Halloween even if we were in another country.

Sem break in Singapore (plus a lot of travel firsts!)

Gosh is it really November already?! Ang bilis grabe! Anyway if you're following me on Instagram (@mrsmommyholic), then you know I just got back from a family vacation in Singapore. We spent the entire sem break there which was 2 whole weeks!

Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay in MBS Singapore

Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is home to a couple of celebrity chef restaurants like those from Mario Batali, Wolfgang Puck, and David Thompson to name a few. I've already eaten in Mozza the last two times I was in Singapore, so we decided to try Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen this time around.

Children's Festival 2016 at Gardens by the Bay Singapore

Singapore is definitely one of my favorite family destinations. The city is safe and clean, transportation system is efficient, and there are just so many attractions and activities for kids! One such event we were fortunate enough to go to during our vacation last March was the Children's Fest in Gardens by the Bay.

FUTURE WORLD exhibit at ArtScience Museum Singapore

During our family vacation to Singapore last March, I admit that I really didn't plan any specific itinerary. The kids have already been here before and have visited Universal Studios and Sentosa. The main purpose of our trip was really to go to Legoland in Malaysia (more on that soon!).

But when we had lunch out with friends in Marina Bay Sands, they suggested we take a look at the ArtScience Museum since there was a new exhibit on display. Hubby and I have never been inside and figured why not.

Cherry Blossoms in Singapore

Hello! If you're following me on Instagram, then you know we just got back from sunny Singapore & Malaysia a few days ago. But don't you sometimes feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? Haha I know hubby and I do, especially after traveling with the kids. To think we didn't even take Skyler along because at 2, I don't think he'll even remember the trip. And I honestly don't know how we can travel with all 3 kids without a yaya or other family members to help. Just Miley and Sabe were a handful! But enough about that for now, I'll be sure to blog about our many adventures in the coming weeks. :)

Anyway, most people were on vacation during the Holy Week and a lot of those I saw online were in Japan, enjoying the cool weather. And I'm sure more people will be going there since it's cherry blossom season! This is definitely something that is on my bucket list, and I guess I was one step closer since I was able to see cherry blossoms... but in Singapore!

Bornga Korean BBQ (VivoCity, Singapore)

During my last trip to Singapore with friends, we spent more time eating than doing anything else. One of the restaurants we tried was this Korean BBQ place called Bornga in VivoCity Mall.

A trip to IKEA Singapore (plus shopping loot)

When I travel, I try to drop by an IKEA if I can since I just can't get enough of their stuff! I've already visited their Singapore branch in Tampines when I was there a few years ago, so I was happy to check out their other store in Alexandra this time.

S.E.A. Aquarium Singapore

I've been wanting to go to the S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore for quite some time now, and finally got a chance to visit during my trip last July.

Gardens by the Bay: Cloud Forest

After going around the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay, we then moved on to the Cloud Forest which has a completely different vibe. It features plants from tropical highlands between 1,000 to 3,500 metres above sea level and a 35-metre-tall man-made mountain (the “Cloud Mountain”) covered in lush vegetation.

Gardens by the Bay: Flower Dome

I've been to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore before, but wasn't able to enter the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest attractions. Good thing my friends haven't been here as well, so this was on the top of our list during my visit last July 17.

Pizzeria Mozza in MBS Sinagpore

I took a quick trip to Singapore last July to spend some quality time with my best friends (2 of which are based there). I've been to Singapore many times before but I never get tired of it. In fact, hubby and I would want to live here if we could. Anyway, the time we went was actually a long weekend since it was Eid’l Fitr or the end of the feast of Ramadan. I wouldn't actually choose this as the best time to go, but it was great for my friends since they had no work. I arrived on a Friday which was declared a holiday so there were so many people everywhere!

Our first order of business was to eat and everyone was in agreement to try the celebrity chef restaurant Pizzeria Mozza in Marina Bay Sands. If you're not familiar, it's owned by Mario Batali with Nancy Silverton and Joe Bastianich (you might know him as the former MasterChef judge) who brought the restaurant all the way from Los Angeles.

Cruisin' aboard the SuperStar Virgo

Finally, FINALLY I'm able to blog about our family vacation last October! I've just been putting it off for so long since I have sooooo many pictures and I wasn't looking forward to editing them at all haha! It took a while but better late than never right? :p

The departure port at the Singapore Harbourfront Centre, where you check-in just like in a flight

This was such a special trip for me and hubby since this is were we spent our honeymoon 5 years ago! Back then on the cruise, I remember we'd talk about the future and our dreams... There were so many families on board and I would see children running around or swimming and I'd fondly imagine what our own babies would look like when the time came. I remember saying to hubby, we have to come back here when we have kids of our own so that we can share with them this amazing experience. And I can't believe we were able to do so (with even another one on the way haha). God is really so good!

left: newly married in '09; right: 20 pounds heavier and pregnant!

we've come full circle, now with our kids

The SuperStar Virgo is one of the ships from Star Cruises that travel around different Asian countries. We took a 4-day cruise with stops in Phuket, Thailand and Langkawi, Malaysia.

The ship is HUGE at almost 900 feet long and 100 feet wide, with 935 cabins and a passenger capacity of 1,870. There are more than 25 outlets of food & beverage, entertainment, and recreation so you can be sure you won't be bored for even 1 minute with so many things to see and do.

Here's just some of their facilities:

• Amphitheatre (Jumbo chess board, jumbo checkers and table tennis)
• Universal Gymnasium (Gymnasium)
• Parthenon Pool (Outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzi (4), sunbathing)
• Aquaswim (Jet current exercise pool)
• Star Track (Jogging circuit)
• Galaxy of the Stars (Live music, dance lounge and cocktail)
• The Lido (Show lounge)
• Out of Africa (Karaoke)
• Star Club (Games of chance)
• Celebrity (Vodka club lounge)
• Art Gallery, Ports O’Call and Star Boutique (Onboard shopping)
• Computer World (Computer centre in the child care centre)
• Starlight Video Arcade (Video games and onboard shopping)
• Oscar’s Salon (Hairdressing and beauty salon)
• Library/Writing Room (Book loans and reading room)
• Charlie's Child Care Centre (Children's playroom and nursery)

the Parthenon pool

They even have a huge water slide! Too bad I wasn't able to try this at that time since I was pregnant, but hubby and I enjoyed this so much during our honeymoon back then :)

lovely at night

the magnificent lobby

Anyway, the first thing that happens when the ship leaves is that everybody has to go on deck for a safety demonstration. This was kind of nerve-wracking for me since all I could think about were scenes from the Titanic! Good thing there were no icebergs in the sea haha! ;p

After this, they call everybody to the main lobby where they have a party to welcome everyone! The crew starts dancing, music is pumping and food and drinks are served. It was really such a fun way to start the cruise. What's also great is the crew is mostly Filipino, so you can always talk to someone in Tagalog and not get lost in translation. :)

welcome party

matching outfits

chillin' by the pool

This is the kiddie pool called Neptune's Wet & Wild. It could get pretty windy and wavy though, so you have to be careful not to slip on the wet areas. There's also a playroom and an arcade for kids, plus other activities and workshops like arts & crafts, cooking, magic tricks, etc (some fees apply).

This is The Lido, the ship's main theater where lots of shows and performances take place at different times of the day.

The Lido

Some shows were just ok (meaning a bit boring haha), while others were really great like this Cirque du Soleil type show, with amazing production value and performers. Seats are on a first come first served basis.

Even though there's so much to do on board, sometimes the best way to spend the time is to just lounge out on the deck and just watch the sea and sky. :)

You can also have a souvenir picture taken on a green screen, and then choose the background you like. Here's the BEFORE...

and then the AFTER! It's a bit expensive though at SG$20 (or about P600) but we figured it was worth it since we would always be able to look back on it and remember the time we had. :)

Another thing to note, after being on the boat for 4 days, we all developed sea legs, wherein we still felt like we were moving and swaying even if we were on dry land already! I swear, I think it lasted for about a week haha. :p

We had such a great time, but it was also definitely tiring with the kids. It was really a different experience from our honeymoon where all we did before was swim and drink all day! Now, everything was about the kids especially since we didn't have a yaya on this trip. But I will forever be thankful for this time spent with family. I'll still be blogging about the restaurants and food on the ship (there were a LOT, that's why we all gained so much weight after hehe), plus our stopovers in Phuket and Langkawi. :)

the whole gang

If you're interested, we booked everything via a travel agency, Horizon Travel & Tours Inc. Aside from the cruise, they also booked our Singapore flights (via Singapore Airlines) and arranged our hotel and transportation in Singapore.

My kids at Universal Studios SG!

If you remember, the kids went on their first out of the country trip in Singapore last October. And of course, one of things on our itinerary was to go to Universal Studios! Hubby and I were also there in the early part of 2012, and I said that I couldn't wait until the kids were older so we could bring them here. And now, that dream has become a reality. :)

The newest addition to the park was Sesame Street which wasn't around the last time hubby and I visited. So it was exciting to experience the new ride and see all the characters even if the kids didn't want to have their photos taken with them! I think they got shocked to actually see them so big and life-sized. Check out poor Sabe crying and screaming his heart out haha! But he couldn't stop talking about Elmo after. ;p

Here we are going around the different areas of the park...

In Far, Far Away...

at Jurassic Park

The kids had a lot of fun checking out the stores with the different merchandise. Of course, they wanted to buy everything - and that stuff ain't cheap! But they ended up getting a stuffed toy each from the Sesame Street store (Abby Cadabby for Miley and Elmo for Sabe).

Sabe loving the Shrek toys

Meanwhile, Miley had so much fun on all the kiddie rides! I love how excited and brave she was to try almost everything. Well, she just didn't like Ancient Egypt zone where "The Mummy" was since she got scared with the characters roaming around (like those Pharaos on stilts). But here she is having a blast on the Madagascar carousel and the Potion Factory ferris wheel.

Sabe on the other hand was still a bit apprehensive to go on some of the rides, even though he loves all the movies like Shrek, Madagascar and Transformers. We rode the Madagascar Crate Adventure and he got scared as soon as we entered the tunnel since it was dark. We also tried watching the Shrek 4D movie but as soon as they turned off the lights, he started crying! So we just waited outside hehe. Hopefully, he'll be more game when we go to Disneyland. :)

A lot of kids were also holding these Universal Studios balloons so naturally, the kids wanted one too. I just didn't expect them to cost SG$10 (about P350) each! Ang mahal! But it was worth it since the kids held on to it the entire time we were there. We even tried bringing one home to Manila, but it deflated inside the luggage hehe.

If you also recall, I was about 6 months pregnant here so I was basically just watching everyone's stuff while they went on the rides haha! But the weather was so hot when we went so I was happy just sitting in the shade or inside an air-conditioned place. Good thing I've already been here before and rode almost everything so I didn't feel like I was missing out. ;p

It was such a great experience for the whole family and I can't wait until we are able to go to Disneyland! Keeping my fingers crossed it'll happen this year. :)

The kids' 1st out of the country trip in Singapore!

Finally, I'm able to post about our trip to Singapore last October. As the title says, this was the very first time we were taking the kids out of the country so hubby and I were both really excited and nervous. We were travelling with hubby's family so we didn't really plan on bringing a yaya anymore (also a first!). However, I got pregnant a couple of months before the trip so I was extra anxious since I knew I couldn't really wear myself out so much with all the walking and running after the kids...

Anyway, we had a full itinerary since we were spending 4 days in Singapore and another 4 days on board a cruise ship (more on that later). Hubby and I love Singapore and have already been here many times but it was a whole new experience being with the kids. From waking up extra early everyday to make sure the kids and all our stuff were ready, lugging around 2 strollers plus our heavy baby bags everywhere we went, dealing with temper tantrums, sleepyheads, bathroom breaks, feeding, and basically keeping both kids entertained... We have never been more exhausted during a trip!

It was also a little more costly since we would always think about the convenience of the kids. Like instead of staying in a budget hotel with smaller rooms, we wanted to book in a nice hotel where the kids would be more comfortable. If before, we would always take the train or walk going somewhere, this time we mostly took taxis or booked a tour van. But we did take the MRT though, so that the kids could also experience riding the train.

the kids' 1st train ride! :)

favorite meal in SG - hainanese chicken

We also just chose to go to kid-friendly places and areas that would be easy for us to move around (so no crowded places like Chinatown or shopping at Bugis Street). We just went to Marina Bay Sands and then of course Universal Studios and Sentosa.

Marina Bay Sands

the Louis Vuitton store

inside the MBS hotel

Gardens by the Bay

Singapore at night

Manila St. in Singapore

This was also probably the only trip where hubby and I didn't go shopping at all! We only went to one mall near our hotel and basically just walked around with the kids while waiting for everyone to finish shopping and then have dinner haha! I'm glad I've already been to Singapore before because we really didn't have time to visit all the attractions tourists usually go to like the Merlion or even Orchard Road. At least I didn't feel like I was missing out while I was at the hotel with the kids instead of sightseeing. ;p

Bottomline, it was definitely a challenge travelling with young kids especially with no yaya. When we would get back to our hotel at the end of the day, all we want to do is crawl into bed and sleep. But of course, we still have to give the kids a bath, clean their bottles, and prepare stuff for the next day. And after everything's done, the kids are still up wanting to play! I don't think I've ever appreciated our yayas more after this trip haha! Although it would have definitely been easier if it was just one child or if I wasn't pregnant since I was extra tired most of the time and I was really careful to not exert myself so much in carrying the kids or our heavy things.

If we could do this all over again, would we? I think definitely YES, but not for a while though hehe. Imagine next year, we have 3 kids already! I think we definitely need to bring a yaya or we'll go insane! Although just being by yourselves definitely brings everyone closer and the memories we had on this trip are priceless. But personally, I think that if you can afford it and if you want more time to relax and enjoy, then bringing a yaya is definitely worth it. Or just wait until all your kids are grown up before travelling haha!