I love writing these monthly "Happiness is..." posts because they help me to look back, keep life in perspective and remind me that beyond the challenges and struggles, there is still much around me to be grateful for.
Let's see. At this point in writing, my laptop that has accompanied me for nearly a decade is on the verge of shutting down for good and the screen is almost falling off after suffering a fall. But it works for now and I can still type on it so I am going to make it last for as long as it can.
The kids keep me busy on my toes day in day out and constantly test my patience and endurance. I always thought it might get easier as they grow up but nope, parenting teens brings about another whole new set of challenges and there is much for me to learn. That said, it also means I am blessed to be a mum who is surrounded by mayhem and laughter rather than staying in an empty home.
April marked several milestones for me, personally, and the biggest one had to be turning a year wiser. In this post of "Happiness is...", it's about cherishing life's highlights.
******
It's not a secret that I love handwritten cards and handmade gifts. They bring me joy and warm my heart in a way that no tangible gift can ever achieve. So yes, I am one who says no to cosmetics, flowers, bags and anything to do with fashion but give me a DIY card or an origami folded with love and they are more than enough to fill my heart.
The kids presented me with these on my birthday and I hope they know how much these mean to me. I have a whole box of cards and handmade presents from them and I will keep these for as long as I live. Each of them has a special significance to me and it's something that money cannot buy.
Wondering what this is? These 'soldiers' toasties were made with love by Ariel for my birthday breakfast. Yup, it was really sweet, thoughtful and nice of her to wake up early to do that. She even remembered to wash the dishes instead of leaving a mess for me to clear up and I appreciated that very much too. Thank you for being a truly sweet daughter, dear Ariel!
For lunch, we met up with my parents and had a buffet a Seoul Garden. This used to be one of the favourite hangouts for me and my secondary friends and coming back here brought back some fond memories for sure.
We went back to my parents' place aka my 娘家 for the cake cutting ceremony. My Dad bought my favourite Coco Exotic cake and the kids and I always enjoy eating it. Yes, I don't really have fanciful celebrations at this age nor do I make a big deal out of my birthday, but just being with the kids and my family suffices to make me a happy girl.
In the evening, we went for a simple family dinner, just six of us and had a yummy meal consisting of macaroni soup, fried chicken wings and lu rou fan. I'm not one who loves lavish meals, neither is the hubby, so we don't really do fine dining or go to high class restaurants nor have we tried stuff like omakase. But give us a bowl of bak chor mee, hokkien mee or chwee kueh and we will love our meals.
After dinner, since I had no preference or where to go or what to do, we decided to go to the park so that the kids can take a stroll by the beach and play at the playground. My kids told me to get on the flying fox and they took turns to push me which made me feel like a kid all over again and that is a special feeling on your birthday.
Apart from special days, we also celebrated milestones too, like how the girls went for their black/poom (junior black) belts grading and successfully passed. Woohoo, congratulations, my dears! When I signed them up for Taekwondo classes as a year end holiday activity, I never expect that they would continue for over another two and a half years and even achieved black belts. So kudos to all of you, including Asher who is now black tip, for persevering and never giving up.
April was also a month where I met up with friends who were very sweet to celebrate my birthday with me. Now that I am 41, I don't like to make my birthday a big thing - I admitted I would like that when I was younger and have birthday bashes or huge gatherings with dozens of people - but would prefer intimate gatherings. I find it hard to chit chat when there is a huge group of people so it only makes more sense to gather in small groups so that we can really catch up on each other's lives instead of just cutting cake and taking photos.
Another highlight of April was how we took on a documentary project for S.E.A. Aquarium and this involved a whole day of filming in Sentosa. Ariel and Asher were the cast and it was an eye opener for them as they got to see how filming works and how much work goes on behind the scenes. For instance, they had to do simple scenes like running or splashing water and repeat a dozen times just to get different angles and make sure everything was perfect.
Asher was actually running a fever that morning and we woke up and it was tough on him to have to endure the bright sun and film for hours on end, including doing a voice recording after over 14 hours of being out in Sentosa. Thankfully, the crew was very nice to us and provided us with meals, drinks and even sheltered him with an umbrella in between the takes.
One good thing was we got to enter the aquarium after closing hours because that was when filming could take place without a crowd. It was our first time doing that and although we were not allowed to wander off and explore the aquarium, it was still nice to see some of the fishes this late at night and it felt surreal to be inside an empty aquarium. We had our dinner at past 9pm and guess what, we ate takeaways in the basement carpark with the crew. Haha. By then, Ansel was so exhausted that he had fallen asleep in the pram and the rest were hungry and tired. Asher had to be whisked away to do a voiceover and thankfully, he stepped up and persevered till the end, despite his temperature.
So kudos to both Asher and Ariel for being an awesome cast and for completing this memorable filming project. Hopefully, you learned a thing or two and had fun in the process too!
SYF is the event that Ariel had been training hard for and looking forward to for a long time. As the dance captain, she had to take on extra duties in her P6 year and her dance team put in long hours of training week after week to practice their dance for the big day.
I was so thankful that we got to watch it live, even if it meant that we had to travel to NUS all the way just to watch her on stage for five minutes. Was it worthwhile? Totally! I remember that we couldn't do it the previous time due to Covid so this time, I had to make sure that I showed up. The brothers tagged along too and the funniest thing was when Ariel had finished the dance, Ansel turned around and asked us "Where is 二姐?" Apparently, he didn't recognise it was her despite her being in the centre of the stage most of the time. I don't blame it because with the thick makeup and hair, it was hard to tell the girls apart because they all looked similar.
We are so proud of you, dear Ariel, and you did a most awesome job! I know you are saddened that you all didn't achieve the Distinction award but life is like that, we just gotta work harder the next time but in the meantime, celebrate your achievement and be proud of where you are. You girls worked so hard and have come a long way for sure. *pats on back and big hugs*
In other updates, we are still making time for play, especially on weekends. We head to playgrounds, we go for swims and we also visit our favourite hangouts like Jewel. Weekends are very important to us and I never would want to sacrifice our family time for enrichment classes or tuition, that is why as best as possible, I still keep our weekends free. Yes, so still no tuition for any of the kids yet at this point.
However, we do attend Heguru on Fridays and the kids all love their teachers and the activities they do in class. This is especially so for Ansel who has improved by leaps and bounds and he is now so much more confident, vocal, focused and can follow instructions well. I kind of like that this is how we spent our Friday afternoon because it means we will always eat out on Friday night, followed by going for a movie, having desserts, going window shopping or heading to the arcade for some fun. Friday nights awesome!
Last but not least, I also went for a rare night out with my jie meis to have a nice, cosy dinner and celebrate. Friends of mine will know that I seldom take a night off mummy duties because the toddler, who is still breastfeeding, is very clingy to me and needs me to put him to bed. I don't really complain much because I know it is a passing phase and soon, I will my freedom returned back to me when the kids are bigger.
Still, I cherish nights like this because it is when I get to put my hair down and feel a little more like me again. The me who used to love to drink, dance, party, be merry and be in the company of good friends. In fact, my girls are the ones who encouraged me to go out and say things like "Go, Mama, you need your break!", and "We can take care of ourselves" and "Have some me-time and enjoy it".
The boys are still a little sad to see me go out without them but like I said, it is an age thing and I have no doubt that they will soon outgrow it. It's really once in a blue moon that I do this and entrust four kids in the care of the hubby but hey, I do think I deserve it, don't I?
So big thanks to everyone who sent their wishes and celebrated with me in one way or another, I truly appreciate each and every kind gesture, no matter how big or small.
I guess my next post will be how it feels to turn 41 but in the meantime, let me contemplate about what I wanna share because some heartfelt thoughts can be very raw and emotional. But I also guess that is why some of you still hang around and read my blog because it's as real as it gets, right?
I love going on mum-and-kids holidays. It makes me feel empowered and gives me a chance to get to spend more time with the kids, deepen my bond with each of them and make memories that will last us for a long time.
I was looking for a quick getaway during the PSLE marking period and lo and behold, Genting Dream presented the perfect opportunity as there was a 2-night cruise to Port Klang. A family cruise with a balcony stateroom, sports and entertainment facilities, daily shows, delectable cuisine and thrilling water slides? Say no more, we are hopping on board!
Introduction
With a length of 335 metres and width of 40 metres, Genting Dream is the flagship of Resorts World Cruises. Completed in October 2016, it boasts a capacity of 3,352 passengers and has a total of 18 decks.
Prior to the cruise, we heard feedback from friends and were under the impression that the ship would be smaller compared to other vessels we had cruised with before. On the day of the cruise, we drove by the ship and the kids exclaimed "Mama, Genting Dream is so BIG!" Indeed, I did a fact check and to my pleasant surprise, Genting Dream is a considerably huge ship and with its 14 passenger-accessible decks including 1674 staterooms, 16 elevators as well as 35 restaurants, bar and lounges, it turned out to be much bigger that we imagined. In fact, the whole trip exceeded our expectations in many aspects. Read on and you'll know why.
Check-in
We arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre at 3:30pm and realised that the queue was snakingly long even though different timeslots had been allocated in the booking tickets. After depositing our luggage, we waited patiently for two hours and completed the check in before going on board. It was a good thing that I had brought along snacks to keep the kids happy and occupied. Nonetheless, all of us were feeling excited as we simply love cruises and couldn't wait to check out what was lying in store for us on Genting Dream.
Once we were checked in, each of us received a personalised red card which would serve as the room keycard, our personal ID, verification for mealtimes and shore excursions. Yes, it is important and very frequently used so do bring it along whenever you are not in your stateroom - except when you are swimming or doing other exercises. Lanyards are provided so that you can wear them around your necks too - I find this much easier for the kids to manage.
Staterooms
With cabins on 10 levels and over 1,600 staterooms, it is still easy to remember your stateroom number as it is clearly indicated in your card. Yes, it even states whether it is in the forward or aft part of the ship to make it easier for you to locate your room. We stayed in a Balcony Stateroom on Deck 10 and with the queen-sized bed, single sofa bed and pullman bed, it was more than enough to accommodate the four of us.
The balcony with the ocean view was well-loved by the kids who would hang out there to enjoy the scenic views, have a breath of fresh air, chit chat or to keep themselves warm after a swim. We witnessed a mesmerising, beautiful sunrise on our last day and it was such a magical moment.
Inside the stateroom, you can find the usual amenities including coffee and tea, hairdryer, shampoo and shower foam, dental kit, shower cap, bar fridge and complimentary bottled water.
The Balcony Class Experience comes with perks that include:
- Welcome drink (soft drink/ beer/ house pour)
- Designated check in and priority luggage handling services
- Free standard WIFI (2 devices per cabin)
- Designated seating for Zodiac Theatre shows
- 10% off spa services, shore excursions and retail
- SGD50 beverage credit per cabin per night
Dining
Let's talk about food! It is always one of the highlights of a cruise and I have to say that we truly enjoyed our dining experiences on board Genting Dream.
We had a total of five meals on our trip and we managed to check out four different restaurants. As the restaurants have different opening hours and serve different kinds of cuisine, it helps to plan ahead of time according to your itinerary. You can do this by checking the restaurant information, including operating hours and deck locations, through daily planners available on the RWC Concierge app or on the information boards around the ship.
-> Dream Dining Room
We had an international breakfast buffet in Dream Dining Room and this consisted of cereal, yoghurt, salad bar and cold cuts, assorted bread and waffle, congee, Dim Sum station, Nasi Lemak Station and western fare like sausages, hash brown, bacon, ham and corn. The kids loved that they could order freshly cooked eggs from the kitchen and heartily tucked into their sunny side up and omelette.
-> The Lido
We headed to The Lido for our first dinner on the cruise and it typically serves International, Vegetarian, Jain and Halal cuisine. Its closes later than Dream Dining Room at night so you can head over here to enjoy the buffet or late night snacks. A one-hour dining time limit is given but from what we see, it is not strictly enforced especially if the restaurant is not crowded. While the kids were happy to eat pizzas and pasta, I liked my bowl of piping hot laksa and my plate of flavourful biryani too. This was also where the kids enjoyed a cone of soft serve after dinner - you can choose from vanilla, chocolate or mixed. For the dessert lovers, you will be spoilt for choice because there is a huge variety to choose from.
-> Blue Lagoon
For our second day lunch, we decided to visit Blue Lagoon, a restaurant that serves Chinese cuisine and provided a set lunch menu. We had dishes like fishball egg drop soup, steamed spare ribs, stir fried vegetables, chicken dumplings, braised fish, curry prawns and more. I personally think that the hubby would enjoy this restaurant because he much prefers Chinese and Asian cuisine to Western food. Ariel said the spare ribs were really delicious and I also liked the dessert which was chilled black jelly and fruit cocktail in soya milk.
-> Function 8
Save the best for the last! For me, this was the most delicious meal I had and it was the buffet spread at Function 8. There were prawns, lamb, beef, fish, naan, laksa, curry, pasta, burgers and more. I had more than two full portions, much to the surprise of the kids who said "Mama, you really like the food here!"
Besides these inclusive restaurants that we tried, there are also many specialty restaurants where you will have to top up a fee when you dine. Some of them include premium dining and panoramic oceanic views so it might be worthwhile to check them out when you are there.
Swimming Pools and Slides
Now, let's move outdoors and show you around the pool on Deck 16. The main swimming pool is 1.2 metres deep and surrounding is a wading pool where toddlers can play in. There are also two smaller wading pools at the further end and this is suitable for the younger kids too.
There is a colourful kids' playground that you can't miss and it features three small slides, fountains and water blasters. Even though the slides are not tall, they are slippery and I was very thankful that the lifeguard allowed Ansel to sit on the laps of the older ones as he was a little scared.
For the adrenaline junkies, you will be thrilled to learn that there are SIX water slides. Yes, not just one or two but a grand total of six! This was undeniably the highlight of the pool for us and the kids and I had so much fun.
This green slide has a minimum height limit of 1 metre and was the only one that Ansel could quality for. However, he refused to go on it alone and the good thing is parents are allowed to accompany them. So he sat on me and we went on it time and again, with him squealing in delight each time.
The slides in red, yellow and blue have varying height requirements. You have to be over 1.2 metres tall to ride on the red and yellow one and over 1.4 metres to go on the blue one. Asher and Ariel had loads of fun on them and since we visited the pool right after we boarded, it wasn't crowded which meant that there was literally no queue at that time, woohoo!
The yellow and purple slides feature steep drops and you have to be over 1.4 metres to ride on them. Since Asher couldn't qualify, it meant that I was able to slide with the girl and it was so fun as we counted "1, 2, 3!" together before lunging forward and we heard each other screaming as we slid down at high speeds and felt the water splashing into our faces.
Another thing we love about the pool are the jacuzzi pools! The warm water always felt so good and we loved soaking together as a family as we enjoyed the scenic views and melodious music.
Sports
If you love sports and outdoor activities, Genting Dream has plenty to offer and the good thing is these activities are family-friendly too. One of the highlights on board is the rope course and Ariel and I got to try that together - minimum height is 1.4 metres and kids 12 and below have to be accompanied by an adult.
Together, we overcame obstacles like a rock wall, balance beams, spider web and wobbly ladders before zipping down a 35-metre zipline above the ocean. Yes, how cool is that? If this was how we were gonna celebrate the end of PSLE for this girl, I think we did it in style and also made lots of priceless memories in the process.
For the younger kids, there is a mini rope course for them to try out too and the boys loved it! Ansel, in particular, was insistent on trying to cross the obstacles himself and he did pretty well for a 3-year-old. See him in action in my video below.
The rock wall is not huge nor tall but it still provides opportunities to scale to the top and it ain't always the case where you get to go rock climbing in the middle of the vast ocean. There are a few different routes of varying difficulties so you can still challenge yourself to complete them all. The minimum height requirement is 1.4metres for this activity.
Moving onto the next sport, we played basketball and the kids attempted to shoot some hoops. The sun was scorching when we were there which explained why most other families came, stayed for a few minutes and left. Well, we had a good half an hour of fun and perspired quite a lot from all the running! Talking about that, there is also a jogging track on the open deck so if you would like to wake up early in the morning for a jog, don't forget to bring along your running shoes.
The kids also played table tennis and just so you know, this is usually a popular activity and despite the fact that there are four tables, they are usually filled up so you might have to wait a while for your turn.
The mini golf activity was fun for the kids and they enjoyed using the kid-sized golf putter to hit the ball into the holes one by one.
Ansel also played ring toss and it was a good way to distract him while the rest of us were at activities that he could not qualify for due to his age and height.
Entertainment
After perspiring from all those fun, vigorous sports, it's time to head indoor and relax a little as we show you the entertainment around the ship.
-> Shows
Every evening, you can catch a show at the Zodiac Theatre. There are usually two timings to accommodate your dinner time so do check and see which one fits your itinerary better. We watched two shows, titled "Spellbindra" and "Affinity", which were a delightful mix of dance, singing, magic, gymnastics and acrobatics.
We've been to a few cruises over the years and honestly franking, not every show we watched was to our liking and there were some that would bore the kids too. However, the shows on board Genting Dream were top-notch and we were simply fascinated, even blown away at times, by the amazing acts. Mesmerising, powerful and absolutely entertaining - these are the reasons why you should definitely catch the shows when you are on board.
-> Little Dreamers' Club
This is the kids' club on board Genting Dream and it is suitable for kids aged 2 to 12 years of age. The first two hours are free of charge following which hourly charges will be imposed (SGD30 for kids 2-4yo and SGD25 for kids 5-12yo). This can be a lifesaver for parents who wish to have some couple or relaxation time.
We went in to take a look and I must say it was much more spacious than expected and there were various activities to keep the kids happy and occupied. These included LEGO, reading corner with lots of different genre books, video games, play kitchen and there is also a comfortable nook filled with bean bags where kids can sit down to watch a movie.
-> Arcade
The arcade is always a hit with my kids so we couldn't miss checking out what games were offered on board Genting Dream. There is a small Little Dreamers Arcade on Deck 6 where you can play some games to win tickets and this is also the place where you redeem your accumulated tickets for prizes.
The main arcade is located on Deck 16 and this is the largest one we've been to on board a cruise ship. It opens till 1am so you can play till your heart's content although I have to say that I think it is a little more costly than the usual in Singapore. There is a good variety of games, including table hockey, shooting, basketball, racing, ice hockey, fishing and even DDR too.
There is also a photo booth inside the arcade and you can take a series of wacky shots to take home as a souvenir. Yup, this was the 'game' I chose because I'd rather have something to keep with me and remind me of all these precious moments we spent together as a family.
- Glow Bowling
For those who love to bowl, you will be happy to know that Genting Dream offers four bowling lanes on Deck 17 and these open till midnight. It is chargeable at SGD10 per game per person and note that there is a cashless payment on board so you just have to charge it to your card and settle your payment before you disembark. Bumpers are available if the kids require and shoes are provided too.
-> Pool tables
Right beside the bowling lanes, there are two pool tables so you can have a go if you are interested.
-> Zouk
There is also a Zouk night club which opens till as late as 2am but I guess this is for the adults and not the kids. Well, you might consider chilling out here and have a cocktail or two when the kids are asleep.
-> Dance Parties
We love dancing and live music so we would usually swing by the late night dance parties to have a look. There are different themes every night so you might wanna look through the daily planner and decide on which suits you best too.
-> Games
There are also games that you can play at certain timings around the ship and these include trivia, Guess the Celebrity and more.
-> Live band
There is a live band and I have to that they are pretty good! You can sit around to enjoy the music while having a drink on Deck 6.
-> Shopping
There is a chain of boutiques located on Deck 7 for guests to do some shopping and a souvenir mart where you can grab a few mementos for keepsake too. Also, there is usually a retail sale along the aisles on the last night where you can check out some good deals too.
-> Movie Night
There are movie screenings held at the Zouk Beach Club on Deck 17 but you can always watch the movies on demand in the comfort of your stateroom. On our last night, we watched Mall Cop 2 and the kids said it was hilarious and we all laughed a lot.
-> Foam Party
This is one of the main highlights during our trip and we had such a blast! The kids were stoked to see so much foam and to make it even better, we loved the songs that were playing including hits like "Fireworks", "Let Me Love You", "Danza Kuduro" and so on.
So we frolicked in the foam, made foam angels, spun each other around, made silly faces and tried to cover up each other with foam. There was lots of fun and laughter in the air and I was glad to be there to share this happy, wondrous moment with the kids.
The foam party cost $20/adult and $10/child and each tickets comes with a drink and ice cream. While the kids had their apple juice, I indulged in a cocktail and we all had popsicles afterwards. This was a fun-filled afternoon that we are surely gonna remember for a long time.
Photo Opportunities
Genting Dream isn't huge on photography, unlike some other cruises we've been before. We didn't see studio setups where you can get family portraits taken but I do think you can go to the Photo Corner on Deck 6 to purchase packages and guests can also top up a fee to go on the bridge and helipad tours. However, that doesn't mean that there are no photo opportunities because on the contrary, we discovered quite a handful of them.
-> Mascot
We came up close with Pin Pin the mascot after one of the shows and managed to give him high fives and take a photo with him on stage. Cute, right?
-> Art
There are some sculptures and figurines around the ship that you can take a photo with and also a art gallery that you can visit.
-> Meet the Cast
Remember how we were awestruck by the talented cast of the shows? Well, we also managed to meet and greet some of them at the post party celebration.
-> Night view
When darkness falls, it adds another dimension and beauty to the ship so do hop around the open decks to snap a photo or two.
-> Sun and Scenery
Besides feeling the warm rays of the sun, we love watching the beauty of sunrise and sunset. We managed to witness both of them on Genting Dream and the beauty of it all felt so surreal.
Besides the mandatory wefies, check out these amazing scenery shots that we took from the balcony in our stateroom. Gorgeous and magnificent, aren't they?
Disembarkation
The disembarkation was a breeze and everything went smoothly and efficiently for us. We managed to wake up early to have a quick breakfast at The Lido before getting off the ship. Remember to settle your bills beforehand so that you will not experience any unnecessary delay.
Now that we are more experienced with cruises, here are some tips that might be helpful for your next trip.
Tips for Familes
1) Pack swimwear in a separate bag
If your kids love water play like mine, remember to pack your swimwear in a separate bag so that you can hit the pool right after you board. The good thing is it will likely not be crowded as most people would explore other places first. In our case, we headed straight for the water slides and it was a good thing as we saw that the queues were long the next day.
2) Download RWC concierge app and use RW Daily to plan your itinerary
Thanks to technology, we no longer use printed daily itineraries like last time and nowadays, you can just download them to your phone. The RW Daily tells you the highlights of the day and gives you information on the activities including locations and timings, as well as the operating hours of the restaurants and facilities. Use them to plan your daily itinerary so that you can experience as many activities as possible even if it is a short cruise.
3) Online check-in
Online check-in is mandatory and closes 48 hours before departure, so make sure you head over to https://webcheckin.rwcruises.comto do it.
4) Luggage
As much as you can, pack light so that you do not have to handle too many luggage, especially if you travelling with kids alone like me. For us, we chose to deposit our big luggage during check-in but we took it with us during disembarkation. This was so that we would not need to rush to pack the luggage on the last evening and leave outside our room. Instead, I took my time to pack late at night when the kids were in bed.
5) Shore Excursions
We love shore excursions and have gone on a few of them. If time and budget allows, you should definitely disembark and visit the ports too. However, if the cruise is short like our 2-night one this time, my advice would be to skip visiting the port and instead use the time to check out more of the onboard activities. We skipped Port Klang which we've visited before but we managed to try out over a dozen activities on the ship in one day and it was definitely worthwhile.
6) Attire check
Some of the activities might require specific attires, for instance the Rope Course does not allow sleeveless tops and you would be turned away if you have wet clothes on too. This is for safety reason so make sure you follow them.
7) Chill and have fun
It's always easy to get caught up in life and the point of a family getaway is to help you to relax and spend some quality time together with your loved ones. So here's a reminder to all parents to be truly present with the kids, to put away the electronic devices, to let your hair down and have a fun, memorable time on the cruise.
That's all for now for our Genting Dream experience. We definitely hope to be back with the entire family next time and we would definitely choose a longer cruise because there's just so much to see, to do, to eat and to play. Till the next trip!
******
Here's a video compilation of all the highlights we had on board Genting Dream and it gives you a pretty good idea of what you can expect. Enjoy watching!
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
