We went sailing in a Venetian gondola on Sunday!
Well not quite, but it's nice to think that we did!
After swimming on Sunday morning, we tried to have brunch at one of our old haunts - Casa Verde. Unfortunately, the place was packed and there were already so many people waiting for seats that we decided to go elsewhere. It was also packed the last time we tried to have brunch there, which was just before Chinese New Year. We used to go there for the relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, when it was never a problem finding a table and there was no pressure to finish your food and leave quickly. The last two times we dropped by, the place was so chaotic and crowded with people, I was stressed just from standing outside. I guess people have discovered our secret hideaway (good things are meant to be shared after all) so we'll have to find a new one now.
Anyway for that day, we ended up at Papparich, near our old house. The staff greeted us enthusiastically and asked us where we've been, as we hadn't been there for some time. The place was quite empty and we had quick service and a slow and easy meal.
To fill in the time before Ryan's Shichida class, we decided to check out the new ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. The museum just opened for the first time the day before. We parked at Marina Square and walked over via the Youth Olympic Park and the Helix Bridge.
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| That's my mum! |
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| That's me carrying Ryan and walking up to the museum. |
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| Richard and Ryan just outside the museum. |
Spent some time taking photos on and from the bridge and outside the museum, so there wasn't much time left to do a proper visit to the museum. We decided to hang around the Shoppes at Marina Bay instead, which was a good decision because we bumped into Elvis there!
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| The King and my mum! |
Walked all the way to the Rain Oculus and was lucky to catch it in action - the water falling two storeys from the hole in the centre of the acrylic bowl. The acrylic displayed the whirlpool perfectly.
While we were admiring this amazing sight, we noticed the gondolas (actually they are sampans lah...) that were sailing underneath it so, yes, we did the cheesy tourist thing and hopped onto one!
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| Our sampan man couldn't stand up because there was not enough weight in the small sampan to counterbalance his weight. He and I had to sit on opposite sides of the sampan. |
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| What's that you say? Venice doesn't look like this...? |
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| Believe it or not there was a queue for the ride. By the time we got on, the Rain Oculus had been switched off. |
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| Richard was running along "on shore" snapping photos. |
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| I was dressed for the occasion (as a fisherwoman?), although I did not plan to. Someone please remind me never to wear this outfit again, no matter in or out of the house. |
Still can't believe that I did the most cheesy thing in Singapore - and had fun! Tickets are $5 per person, maximum of 2 passengers per sampan. Children below 2 years old are not allowed on board. Don't be misled by the green swim board that Ryan is holding - there are no safety devices on board (the water in the canal is probably just about thigh high). We bought the swim board for Ryan at one of the shops before we walked over to this area. We certainly did not buy it for this! His second favourite exercise at swimming class is using the swim board so he was so excited about having his own board that he refused to let go of it until we got back to the car.
Ryan wanted to be carried almost the whole time we were out, so Richard and I were really puffed by the time we got back to the car at Marina Square. That boy is growing! The next time we do this, I think we'll park at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, which seems to be much nearer.
Richard took Ryan for his Shichida class, while I accompanied my mum for a cool drink. Ryan did so well in his linking memory activity that, after class, his sensei asked Richard whether mummy had been practising with him at home. Of course she has! It's hard work you know! Hahaha!
After Ryan woke from his nap, we had a late dinner at Chong Qing Hot Pot. Ryan ate seven pan-fried dumplings ("woh teep"). Actually he only ate the filling, but still, seven! I think we were all tired from the day so we went home to rest after that.
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