JOIN USWe, a family with two kids below eight years, felt that Malaysia and Singapore were the perfect destinations for a trip abroad – exciting enough for adults and children.
We started with Kuala Lumpur. Our tour was brief and rounded and we used the app-based taxis to move around.
The National Monument (Tugu Negara); the Parliament, where the street lights were adorned with the national flower, hibiscus was very impressive.
Another attraction is the Thean Hou Temple which is a very beautiful Pagoda style temple and one of the oldest and largest temples in Southeast Asia.
A visit to the city is not complete without enjoying the views of the Petronas Towers, the 88-storey twin structure, which is an architectural marvel.
We were whisked off to level 41 to the sky bridge which connects the two towers. And to top it, we even saw a paraglider, navigating among the sky scrapers! After that, the elevators took us to level 86, where we got a panoramic view of the city. What a bird’s eye view that was! The next morning, we travelled for four hours via coach to Legoland in the Johor Bahru state.
It was paradise for kids and parents alike, all Lego buffs. A theme park, a water park and the Legoland resort, all made us think and breathe Lego for the next three days. We were transported to a fantasy world of Lego. The themed room of the resort was complete with a treasure hunt, Lego brick decorative figurines and even soap that was shaped like a brick!
The theme park was a lot of fun with rides (even 3D) based on seven distinct themes. From simple boat and train rides to twisters, we were spoilt for choice.
The kids enjoyed the 4 D movies too with raindrops falling on our heads! While our toddler could not enjoy all rides, our elder son could access the rides.
The water park kept us soaked in fun the following day. The slides varied in height and had twists and turns. After a three day stay, we headed off to Singapore via cab. It took us about an hour to reach our hotel.
Singapore was full of fun things to do and we chose to go a-la-carte by selecting the best picks that suited our interests.
The first day we visited the SEA aquarium on the Sentosa Island- breath-taking and mesmerising. Our baby loved the sharks, crabs and lobsters swimming in close proximity.
The panoramic tanks and the glass panelled tunnels are really a must see! Next, we hopped into the adjoining trick eye museum and before long, we were caught up in a maze of illusions.
The photographs from here make unforgettable illusions; we even have one with us hanging upside down from the ceiling and a crocodile at our feet!
In the evening, we headed to the ‘Singapore Flyer’, Asia’s largest giant observation wheel, standing at a stunning 165m from the ground. We enjoyed magnificent views of the city at sunset during our 30-minute ride.
Next day, we went back to Sentosa, to visit Universal Studios, it was like stepping into the silver screen.
The seven zones of fun - Madagascar, Lost World, Far Far Away, Transformers, New York, ancient Egypt and Hollywood - kept us entertained with rides, shows, live characters and yummy food.
On day three, we headed to Jurong Bird Park in West Singapore.
We thoroughly enjoyed the bird shows with the talking parrot Papua. The finale was a riot of colours as flamingos added to the parade. In the evening we headed to Clark Quay, to take in the sights along the Singapore river. The quay is lined with restaurants and while the smells were delicious the prices were pretty high.
A visit to ‘Gardens by the Bay’ was a must. These are beautifully maintained gardens with majestic towering super trees. The Singapore zoo may be given a miss but not the night safari.
The creature of the night show was completely transfixing. Food in Singapore, being rice based, was enjoyed by the children. The fish was very fresh and tasty. We even tried eating at a hawker centre with a four-star rating and recommend it!
We flew back from Singapore with a lot of treasured memories.
(The author can be contacted at sbhede@gmail.com)