Mother’s Day Photoshoot by ChicChug Creations

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On Sunday, we went for a Mother’s Day photoshoot with ChicChug Creations, a lifestyle home based studio located along Gangsa Road. The name ChicChug was inspired by a simple old way of making a shutter sound when the older generation improvised a camera shape with their fingers before they said “Chit-Chuck”.

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Wayne and Geraldine, photographer husband and wife duo specialise in newborn, baby, maternity, cake smash and family lifestyle photography in Singapore. They place strong emphasis on the importance of storytelling and emotion, capturing the intimate relationships between couples and among family members.

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For this Mother’s Day mini photoshoot session, the floral setup is done by Le Fairy Meadow. It is classic and elegant, which is very befitting of a Mother’s Day celebration.

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I was initially worried that the girls would be cranky because they did not manage to nap before the shoot. Thankfully, they warmed up really quickly as Geraldine was good with kids and they kept smiling as Wayne fired away on his camera. I’m sure having plenty of professional experience helps too! I have never seen the kids being so cooperative before!

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We certainly had a very enjoyable photoshoot and highly recommend ChicChug to everyone who wants to have their precious moments captured at an affordable rate!

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ChicChug is accepting limited slots on 12th and 13th May 2018.

Session package details:

– Location: ChicChug life-style home based studio (at Gangsa Road)
– $250 nett rate
– 3 generations photoshoot moments
– Formal to casual candid moments
– In permutations and combinations
– Up to 15 high resolution edited soft copies return in DVD
– 1 x A4 fine art print in frame
– A deposit of $50 to lock the time slot and date Booking with ChicChug Creations

To book a slot, email info@chicchug.com by 6th May 2018!

Morganfield’s Launches Candied Peach BBQ and Smokey Bacon Bourbon Sauces

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We have been to Morganfield’s on a number of occasions ever since they opened their first outlet at The Star Vista a few years ago. Glad to be back as a family of four this time, at Orchard Central a couple of weeks back to try Morganfield’s two new mouth-watering Sticky Bones sauces – Candied Peach BBQ and Smokey Bacon Bourbon. These new additions will be available for a limited time in May and June, in celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

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Morganfield’s is a family-friendly place. Besides baby chairs and children’s cutlery, they also provide color pencils for kids to doodle and color on the kids menu which is printed on paper. It is a great way to keep children occupied before the food arrives!

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The Bacon Wrapped Meatballs ($11.90) were deep fried and very juicy. There was a hint of spiciness and we enjoyed eating these with some mustard sauce. Other appetizers include Pop Corn Pork, Sauteed Mushrooms, Loaded Chilli Nachos, and Golden Fried Wings.

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The Candied Peach BBQ Sticky Bones – (Half Slab $29.90, Full Slab $46.90) was created specially for the ladies. Made with juicy peaches, the sweet and tangy combination makes this so hard to resist. We love it because the sauce really went well with the ribs, and wasn’t too overwhelming. Wash it down with a glass of SweetWater Blue ($10), definitely my kinda beer which is refreshing & fruity, and light with a hint of fresh blueberries.

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If you like strong flavours, you will find joy in eating the Smokey Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones – (Half Slab $29.90, Full Slab $46.90). The hearty, rich & smoky sauce is infused with bourbon, hand-chopped bacon bits & topped with strips of delicious candied bacon. Pair this with a glass of Bridge Road Robust Porter ($10) which has been roasted with barley & chocolate malt, resulting in big and bold flavors.

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We opted for Bread Pudding ($11.90) for our dessert. What is more comforting than homemade bread pudding served with vanilla ice cream & whiskey sauce? Just remember to keep the kids away from this. If all else fails, order the Chocolate Brownie which we reckon will not go wrong.

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Available all day, every day from 30th April to 24th June, these amazing limited time offers will definitely bring joy to the whole family! Make a date with your very own Kings and Queens to enjoy this special treat at Morganfield’s. *The Candied Peach BBQ and Smoky Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones are also available as part of the weekday Top Value Set Lunch promotion ($29.90), that comes with a free soup and drink. There are also numerous on-going promotions at Morganfield’s. Do check with them to find out more!

Morganfield’s Outlets:

Suntec City, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Tower 4, #01-645,
S038983 (Next to Promenade MRT)
Tel: 6736 1136

The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Unit #02-23,
S138617 (Next to Buona Vista MRT)
Tel: 6694 3635

VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, Unit #01-51A,
S098585 (Next to Sentosa Boardwalk Exit)
Tel: 6225 0501

Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road,
Unit #11-03/04 S238896 (Next to Somerset MRT)
Tel: 6634 1828

Opening Hours:
Sun to Thu
11am – 11pm
Fri, Sat and Eve of PH
11am – Midnight

Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids: Recommended 5D4N Itinerary

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This is our final Bangkok 2018 travelogue, where I provide my 5 days 4 nights itinerary for your reference. I hope this Recommended Bangkok Itinerary for Families Travelling with Kids will come in handy especially if you are travelling with young kids like ours. As parents, we find ourselves asking what are some of the things to do in Bangkok with kids. A fair bit of thought and research went into creating this itinerary from scratch because I wanted to have a good mix of eating, sightseeing and shopping for everyone in our group as we were also travelling with my in laws.

BANGKOK DAY ONE

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SIN to BKK

Ours was an afternoon flight and we reached BKK at around 3pm ICT. Good timing for us as compared to our 7am flight to Hong Kong last November. LOL.

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Airport Transfer

Prior our trip, I had arranged for airport transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport. The large van could accommodate all 7 adults, 2 children and 8 suitcases. There was a very bad jam on the way to our hotel. Journey took more than one hour.

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Check-in at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit

Address: 259 Sukhumvit Rd, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 207 8000
Nearest BTS Station: Asoke

Our hotel is very conveniently located across Asoke BTS station, as well as Terminal 21 shopping mall. Our well-appointed rooms were spacious, cosy and reasonably priced. Slightly more expensive than most average hotels but it’s definitely worth it given its convenient location and esteemed reputation.

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Pa Yak Boat Noodles

Address: สามเสนในอนุสาวรีย์ชัยสมรภูมิ ถนนพหลโยธิน พญาไท กรุงเทพฯ Khwaeng Samsen Nai, Khet Phaya Thai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 9pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Victory Monument

We have been there for countless bowls of boat noodles for our past two trips to BKK too! Don’t order too many bowls if you want to leave some stomach space for other food elsewhere.

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Shopping at Siam Square One

Address: 991 ถนน พระราม 1 Wang Mai, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Siam

Shibuya Toast

After You Dessert Cafe

Address: Siam Square One, Ground floor
Tel: +66 02 115 1949
Opening Hours: 12pm – midnight (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Siam

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Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY TWO

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Erawan Shrine

Address: Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 6am – 11pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Chit Lom

We make it a point to stop by Erawan Shrine to pray and pay our respects each time we visit Bangkok.

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Burger & Lobster

Address: 999 Phloen Chit Rd, Khwaeng Lumphini, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 656 1111
Opening Hours: 11am to 10pm (Sun to Wed), 11am – 11pm (Thu to Sat)
Nearest BTS Station: Chit Lom

Burger & Lobster is just across Erawan Shrine (one minute walk). If you can’t have it in London, go for it in Bangkok! There’s one in Genting too but my MIL said that it pales in comparison to what we had in Bangkok.

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Shopping at Siam Paragon

Address: 991/1 ถนนพระราม 1 แขวงปทุมวัน Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Siam

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Chocolate Ville

Address: Soi Kaset-Nawamin, Khwaeng Ram Inthra, Bueng Kum, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10240, Thailand
Opening Hours: 4pm – midnight (Daily)
Travel time from central Bangkok by car: 30 to 45 minutes

Beautiful and romantic place in Bangkok that you must visit! You can also choose to have dinner there and watch the sunset.

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Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin

Address: ถนน ศรีนครินทร์ Khwaeng Nong Bon, Khet Prawet, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10250, Thailand
Opening Hours: 5pm – 1am (Thu to Sun)
Travel time from Chocolate Ville by car: 45 minute to 1 hour

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Claypot River Prawn Tom Yam Porridge

Address: ตรง ข้าม พาราไดซ์ พาร์ ค ศรีนครินทร์, แขวง หนองบอน เขต ประเวศ กรุงเทพมหานคร 10250, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10.15am – midnight (Daily)
Travel time from Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin by car: 10 to 15 minutes

Even though we didn’t manage to stop by Claypot River Prawn Tomyam Porridge place for supper, I would still recommend that you give it a try as it is super near Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin Night Market. Photographed above was what we kept having for our supper on most nights of our trip, which was from a stall opposite our hotel.

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY THREE

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Afteroon Tea at Authors’ Lounge, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Address: 48 Oriental Avenue, Khwaeng Bang Rak, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 659 9000
Nearest BTS Station: Taksin (Take a complimentary shuttle ferry to the hotel)

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Shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall

Address: 644/3 Phetchaburi Rd, Khwaeng Thanon Phetchaburi, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Ratchathewi or Chit Lom (10 minute walk)

We couldn’t quite agree with the fashion at Platinum Mall but I managed to purchase 20 pairs of contact lens from Dazzle Me. If you have thing for tees with logos or slogans, you can get them easily at about $4 per piece.

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Shopping at MBK Center

Address: Phayathai Rd, Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS station: National Stadium

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Ping’s Thai Teochew Seafood Restaurant

Address: 444 Phayathai Rd, Khwaeng Wang Mai, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand (Second floor of Pathumwan Princess Hotel)
Tel: +66 2 048 4755
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest BTS Station: National Stadium

Since Pathumwan Princess Hotel is right next to MBK Center, you can do more shopping after your dinner!

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY FOUR

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Maeklong Railway Market

Address: Mae Klong, Mueang Samut Songkhram District, Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 5.30pm (Daily)
Travelling time from central Bangkok by car: 1 to 1.5 hours

Amphawa Floating Market

Address: Amphawa, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram 75110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 2 – 8pm
Travelling time from central Bangkok by car: 1 to 1.5 hours

Amphawa Floating Market and Mae Klong Railway Market are actually situated very near to each other, so I would definitely suggest that you dedicate at least half a day to visit these two spots.

Wat Bang Kung

Address: Sakae Krang, Mueang Uthai Thani District, Uthai Thani 61000, Thailand
Opening Hours: 24/7
Travelling time from Amphawa Floating Market or Mae Klong Railway Market: 10 to 15 minutes

It’s a temple worth visiting if you are in the area.

Chinatown 中華街

Address: 300 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Travelling time from Maeklong Railway Market or Amphawa Floating Market by car: 1 to 1.5 hours

Dinner at Chinatown 海外天

Address: 461 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 222 3029

Plaeng Nam Shark Fin-Bird’s Nest

Address: 47 Plaeng Nam Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 222 8716

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W.T Bird’s Nest Company 泰國運通燕窩

Address: 90 Soi Langsuan, Phloenchit Road, Lumphini, Pathumwan, Bangkok
Tel:+66 (0) 2253-1888

If you are not heading to Chinatown, there’s also W.T Bird’s Nest Company at Pathumwan area where you can go for the birds nest in coconut. Delicious stuff!

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Talad Neon Night Market
Address: 1087 New Petchaburi Rd, Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 4pm – midnight (Wed to Sun)
Nearest BTS Station: Chit Lom

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY FIVE

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After You Dessert Cafe

Address: 15 1/F Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 061 5545
Nearest BTS Station: Asoke

YAAAAAS! After You Dessert Cafe again! Must have it before we go back home! Happy that there’s one directly across our hotel at Terminal 21!

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Check out of The Westin Grande Sukhumvit

We got our pocket wifi device from Roaming Man, which offers free delivery and wifi rental starts from just $3 a day. Very affordable and convenient! We were also very impressed by the super long-lasting battery life. It could last the entire day and we only had to charge it overnight for the next’s day usage. Connectivity is also very stable and reliable. Roaming Man wifi device helped us to stay connected throughout our trip, even along our journey to the airport after checking out of the hotel.

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Home Sweet Home

Many people have this misconception that Bangkok isn’t kid-friendly, which definitely isn’t true. This was our third time travelling to Bangkok with kids and for each trip, there was still so much to see and do. Hope you find our recommended 5D4N Bangkok itinerary useful if you have always wondered what are the things to do in Bangkok with kids! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy 🙂

Chocolate Ville: Most Romantic Place in Bangkok

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Hello everyone! I figured I need to finish up my Bangkok travelogues so here I am! I had many friends and followers asking me about Chocolate Ville when I posted IG stories during our trip so this post is for all of you who are keen to know more about this beautiful place! Some had asked if Chocolate Ville is located in Hua Hin and the answer is no. Chocolate Ville is also not exactly in Bangkok, but it is rather near Bangkok. Depending on traffic conditions, it would take about 30 to 45 minutes’ journey by car from Pratunam area.

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We had a private driver for our trip and since Chocolate Ville operates only from 4pm onwards, we got our driver to pick us up at around 3pm so that we would have ample time to walk around for photos before having dinner there.

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Being the unofficial planner for our trip, I had to find places that are suitable for all three generations. In one of my previous posts, I blogged about our day trip to Maeklong Railway Market which was not particularly well-received by the group. Good thing everyone liked Chocolate Ville because of the pretty and romantic European village theme which has a unique “Dining in the Park” concept.

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I mean honestly, who would have thought that such a place exists around Bangkok? It is so not Bangkok at all, if you know what I mean! And also, did I mention that admission is FREE?!

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Even my in laws could not resist having their photos taken with their grandchildren!

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There are many nice photo spots around Chocolate Ville so it is really important to arrive early to give yourself time for photos, as well as avoid the potential crowds that might start to stream in during dinner time. Also, the entire place is quite huge!

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I observed that the crowds came in at around 6ish even on a weekday but it could be that Chocolate Ville is a popular choice on Valentine’s Day (yup we visited on 14th Feb!). Heh not surprising at all since I reckon Chocolate Ville is the most romantic place in Bangkok!

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Besides arriving early to avoid the crowd, good and bright lighting makes your photos turn out really nicely!

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As with the rest of Bangkok, it was also a little hot and humid over at Chocolate Ville. I strongly recommend wearing light, breathable clothing there. Thankfully, my nursing dress from JumpEatCry is made of polyester material which is very soft and cooling to wear.

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I love that there are numerous bears of different shapes and sizes scattered around Chocolate Ville. This is one of my favorites!

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Yup it happens. Just another unglam moment lol.

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I strongly advise that you make reservations if you are keen to dine at Chocolate Ville as the entire place gets filled up pretty quickly. I copied what everyone else did, which was to leave on Chocolate Ville’s Facebook page, a 5-star rating with a specific template:

Dear Chocolate Ville,
I would like to reserve a table for (number of) adults on (date)
Please find the details as below for your reference :
Guest name: XXX
Date: XXX
Time: XXX
Preference: non-smoking area, Riverside, and sunset view.

Thank you so much!
This is the first time we visit Chocolate Ville.
We’ve learned from friends recommendation that Chocolate Ville provides delicious food and nice scenery.
We hope we can have a great time in here.
We understand that you will cancel the booking without notification if we come late.
So that would be great if you can confirm the booking for us so that we can mark it down on our schedule.
Thanks a lot for your assistance in advance.
Have a nice day.
I hope to get your reply soon.
Thanks.

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The above is cute and funny but hey, it works. Someone from Chocolate Ville will confirm your reservation by providing a reply to your comment.

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As it is a central restaurant, the same food menu will be provided regardless of where you choose to dine in Chocolate Ville.

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I was feeling quite ravenous from all the walking around Chocolate Ville and managed to only take photos of half of what we had for dinner. The food was quite good and also reasonably priced. The menu features a good mix of Thai and Western food. Alcohol is strictly served only after 6pm.

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Since the night is still young, it is a good idea to head over to Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin night market which is about 30 minutes by taxi. Estimated taxi fare is around THB 350 to 400. There’s also Grab in Bangkok if you prefer!

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A quick recap:

– Make reservations on Facebook if you intend to dine at Chocolate Ville.
– Wear light and breathable clothing.
– Remember to bring along your camera.
– Chocolate Ville opens only at 4pm.
– Take a taxi around 3.30pm and aim to arrive around 4pm for ample time to explore.
– Alcohol is served only after 6pm.

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Would you be keen to visit Chocolate Ville during your next holiday to Bangkok? Let us know! Stay connected with us on Instagram @missuschewy and on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy 🙂

Chocolate Ville
Soi Nawamin 74, Yak 3-8, Kaset-Nawamin Road
Klong Kum Subdistrict, Bueng Kum District
Bangkok 10230, Thailand

Opening Hours:
Daily
4pm – 12 midnight

TrollsTopia at Universal Studios Singapore

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Getting the Universal Studios Singapore season pass is one of the best decisions we have ever made and to date, we had visited the theme park on multiple occasions since the pass gives us unlimited access in a span of 6 months. On Chanelle’s 4th birthday, we decided to check out the TrollsTopia event which commenced early March and will last till end April.

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We thought that face painting would be a good idea for the birthday girl and Chanelle was excited because she was eager to put on some “makeup” lol. It costs $10 for eye design and $20 for half face. Alternatively, there is also hand painting at $10. Chanelle went for the half face painting which actually looked like a full face painting to me. Perhaps her face is too small. Hahaha.

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The designs are all Trolls-inspired and you can let the artist know your choice from the design board.

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I was quite amused to see Chanelle interact with the artist in her own ways. Not sure if they were talking but I caught her winking at the artist many times and the artist was trying hard not to laugh out loud!

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Almost done!

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Applying some finishing touches!

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Tadaaaaah! Chanelle was really pleased! It took her awhile to realise that she really had “makeup” on and that she wasn’t dreaming!

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We popped over for a mini photoshoot which was also Trolls-themed of course! There were Trolls hair of various colors to choose from.

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Cayla decided she was too cool for Trolls hair and proceeded to chuck the wig aside lol.

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For anyone who’s interested, you can get your Trolls face and hand paintings done at Trollify Yourself!

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How could we miss the TrollsTopia musical performance? It’s important to grab a programme sheet as soon as you enter USS to keep yourself updated on the show timings. We assembled ourselves in front of the stage 5 minutes beforehand to get a relatively good spot. The performance was entertaining with songs and dances.

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Hahaha I didn’t know that misterchewy stood so far away from us until I viewed the photo and he said that Shrek pulled him close.

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The Madagascar carousel ride is always a must for the girls!

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We couldn’t stay around for long because we had to send Cayla for the class. Will definitely be back soon for TrollsTopia which ends on 29 April! 🙂 Stay connected with us on Instagram @missuschewy and on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy

DreamWorks KouKou Cafe Singapore Review

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Chanelle turned 4 last week and we had a simple dinner celebration with my family. Decided to check out the new DreamWorks KouKou Cafe which opened recently at Bugis+. We figured that the kids would be thrilled because the cafe is cartoon themed plus very colorful. Having been to Universal Studios Singapore on multiple occasions, they are quite familiar with the Madagascar characters, and recently, Trolls!

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We visited DreamWorks KouKou Cafe on a Saturday evening and was horrified because the cafe is situated next to an arcade which was extremely noisy. Plus, there was some kinda competition going on that day which made the noise levels even more intolerable with all the shouting, cheering and clapping.

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I have always thought that Singaporeans love going to new cafes and restaurants, especially cartoon themed ones. It’s kinda strange that there isn’t any queue on a weekend night.

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There is a small corner selling various merchandise such as t-shirts, notebooks, keychains, and even personalised name stickers!

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We were initially given just a booth seat which is obviously too cramped for our group. Good thing they added two tables and more chairs for us. Food arrived very quickly! I will not be able to go into much detail about the food as these were all individual orders but we all agreed that the food was mediocre at best. I wouldn’t really recommend dining at DreamWorks KouKou Cafe but probably a drink or dessert would be harmless if you want to snap some Instagram-worthy photos around the cafe 🙂

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Signature K.B.P ($13)

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Ogre Chicken Pho ($14.90)

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Peek-A-Boo Cold Soba ($14)

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Secret Ingredient Noodle Soup ($23)

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Hug Time! Curry Rice ($16.50)

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It’s Fun-People-Fun Time! Ramen ($15)

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Never Leave A Man Behind $22.50

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Pretty in Pink ($7.50)

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DreamWorks KouKou Cafe Singapore
201 Victoria Street
Bugis+
#05-04/05/06
Tel: 6634 2682

Opening Hours:
Daily
11am – 10pm

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Afternoon Tea Review

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To some Singaporeans, Bangkok is all about shopping, shopping and more shopping. Foodies like us value eating more than anything else. On the third day of our Bangkok trip, The Chewys had the luxury of sleeping in and subsequently took a Grab car to Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. We were staying at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit and the journey from our hotel took about 20 minutes due to a slight midday traffic jam.

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Thankfully, the girls were pretty well-behaved along our way there and upon reaching Mandarin Oriental, we were captivated by the beautiful and luxurious hotel interior.

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Overlooking the Chao Phraya river, the Authors’ Lounge at Mandarin Oriental is one of Bangkok’s most photographed locations. It was originally an open roofed garden with a tortoise pond and since 1976, the Authors’ Lounge features a glass roof and is the place to enjoy afternoon tea. Over the last three centuries, many famous writers have stayed at the hotel and their photographs are showcased in the newly restored Authors’ Lounge. The ‘Heritage Authors’ Noël Coward, James Michener, Somerset Maugham and Joseph Conrad are now immortalised in four new private lounges.

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I am always cautious and want to avoid any disappointment when it comes to holiday planning, so I reserved a table for the four of us a couple of weeks before our trip. I booked the earliest slot for afternoon tea at 12pm and perhaps it was a weekday, we got to choose where we wanted to sit. What I didn’t like was that Mini misschewy started to whine because it was close to her nap time and one of the staff forewarned us that if Cayla continued to make noise, we would have to be moved to a table at a corner as it would disturb other (non-existent) guests. I mean young children are bound to laugh, cry or talk loudly. She could have ushered us to a corner table in the first place. It resulted in us jumping up every time one of the girls let out any form of sound exceeding 60 to 75 decibels and we had to constantly shush them. LOLOLOL.

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Moving on..! The Author’s Lounge offers three types of afternoon tea sets. If you are a vegetarian, there’s something for you! Apart from that, there is a choice of Western Afternoon Tea Set and The Oriental Afternoon Tea Set. If you are dining alone, I would definitely recommend that you go for the Oriental set where the items are traditionally Thai. Dining with friends? Then you should have the best of both worlds! Each set costs ฿1450++ per person and is inclusive of free flow tea of coffee.

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My choice of tea: Pink Garden TeaRegal garden roses accent this green tea blended with notes of Provencal red fruits. A blooming bouquet as blissful as a summer day.

His choice of tea (without even having to look at the menu): Moroccan Mint TeaA great favourite, this fine TWG Tea green tea is perfectly blended with suave and strong Sahara mint. A timeless classic.

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We didn’t have to wait long for both the afternoon tea sets to be served. Yaaay! And look! So Instagram-worthy!

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Little Tai Tais in training 😛

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I love the use of ceramic tiered tiffin to present the oriental set! Traditional with a touch of class.

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We really enjoyed The Oriental Afternoon Tea Set. Most of our favorites were the savory food items such as:

– Lime-marinated crabmeat sandwich with lemongrass and chilli
– Minced chicken, chilli and black olive sandwich
– Roasted pandan chicken
– Steamed Thai dumplings

From the selection of pastries, these were pretty unforgettable:

– Kanom Sai Sai, sweet coconut pudding wrapped in banana leaf
– Steamed pumpkin custard
– Mango tartlet with vanilla cream
– Candy bale fruit chiffon cake

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We were impressed by the Oriental set but that doesn’t mean we paid any less attention to the Western Afternoon Tea Set.

Here are some of the finger sandwiches that we reckon are worthy of mention:

– Green asparagus dips in clear tomato aspic on white sour dough bread
– Smoked ham, sun dried tomato and honeydew melon
– Open-faced smoked salmon, sour cream and beetroot sandwich
– Cucumber, dill and cream cheese on oat bread

Apart from the chocolate desserts, these were quite nice and refreshing:

– Minted light cream and strawberry sphere
– Vanilla yoghurt cream, streusel and pineapple chutney

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If you only have time to indulge in one afternoon tea session in Bangkok, make the Authors’ Lounge at Mandarin Oriental your choice! Hope you guys have enjoyed our Mandarin Oriental Bangkok afternoon tea review! Stay connected with us on Facebook and on Instagram 🙂

Authors’ Lounge
48 Oriental Avenue
Bangkok 10500
Thailand
Tel: +66 (2) 659 9000 ext 7390-4
Email: mobkk-reservations@mohg.com

Afternoon tea timing:
12pm – 6pm (Last order at 5.30pm)

Hong Kong Photoshoot with Shoot My Travel

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During our Hong Kong trip late last year, we dedicated some time to a casual family photoshoot in Central area. We wanted a little tour around the area as well, and what better way than to engage a freelance photographer via Shoot My Travel? It’s the perfect way to experience the city through the lens of a local photographer! Shoot My Travel photographers are available in over 250 destinations so you can always easily engage one wherever you go. Wylie was our photographer and we communicated via emails and subsequently whatsapp prior our trip.

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It is very important to discuss your preferences and expectations with your photographer so that you can have a smooth photoshoot on the day itself. Based on previous experiences, a shoot in the morning is better for us because the kids are chirpy and smiley, before their nap time that is. After deciding on the date and time of the shoot, we moved on to settle the location of the shoot. I told Wylie that I wanted to avoid modern architecture as I preferred Hong Kong’s colonial charm. She provided some really good suggestions and Central appealed the most to me.

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I totally forgot about planning our outfits for the shoot and was about to haphazardly throw in some clothes into our luggage when Wylie texted to ask if we will be in matching attires. It was difficult to pick out something coordinated which we have not worn before in previous shoots but I finally managed to go for a neutral-colored theme, with the girls watching matching dresses. I think we look pretty ok in the photos!

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Wylie went the extra mile and got her assistant to help us with our bags and stroller so it really lightened our load during the shoot. They arrived early and we got to commence the photoshoot right away. This is very crucial especially when you have young children! Every second counts! LOL.

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The shoot was a relaxing one and we got to explore the area which we couldn’t have done so without Wylie showing us around. It was a pity we could only one hour because the kids usually get restless very quickly! I would definitely recommend going for at least a two-hour shoot if you can afford the time. Shoot My Travel has various packages that can cater to your needs.

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Rates start from USD$234 and gift cards are also available to surprise your friends or loved ones! For more information or to book a photographer, visit https://www.shootmytravel.com/

Madame Tussauds Hong Kong

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Heyyy chewy friends! How’s it going? Hahaha I’m back again to continue blogging about our Hong Kong trip which took place in November last year! OMG blog so long still haven blog finish! LOL. I know it’s funny that we have not been to Madame Tussauds in Singapore and yet, made it a must-visit in Hong Kong. Psst.. You will find out why really soon 😛

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Madame Tussauds Hong Kong is located at The Peak and there are a few ways to get there. We took the Peak Tram and the queue was excruciatingly long under the hot sun. While we were queuing, I almost wanted to give up and kept thinking if it was a bad idea to make this part of our itinerary. But once you get there, you will come to realise that it is all worth it. LOL. I’m not so much into Taiwanese or Hong Kong artistes actually. This is Ethan Ruan if you duno. Haha.

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Of course must take photo with Andy Lau. Do you know that you can feel his “heartbeat”?

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Wahahaha Albert Einstein. Sorry I barely made it for Physics.

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Donnie Yen is the man! I enjoyed all his Ip Man movies tremendously!

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Yup I’m training under him lol.

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AND OMG OMG OMG. THIS IS THE MOMENT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

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SARANG HAEYO OPPA!

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Ok seriously I was very happy that the Korean section was relatively empty. I was expecting a long queue for Lee Jong Suk oppa. But none cuz it’s a weekday I suppose lol but very happy la! I HOGGED HIM OKAY.

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I really took many photos with him and these are some of my favorites.

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HAPPY UNTIL OMG CANNOT SLEEP. Now you know why I had to visit Madame Tussauds! 😛

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IDK wassup with Little misschewy’s constipated face. Haha!

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Park Hae Jin oppa also not bad la!

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The Korean section really my favorite!

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Jay Chou doesn’t look exactly like Jay Chou. I feel that his eyes are a lot smaller here 🙁

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The hubs and I really like G.E.M Tang’s songs! She’s such a pretty, young and talented artiste.

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Hahaha so difficult to get these two to pose properly.

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Upon exiting the museum, you will see a small shop selling all kinds of souvenir.

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Visiting Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong is definitely one of my best decisions ever! 😀

Madame Tussauds
Shop P101,
The Peak Tower,
128 Peak Road,
The Peak,
Hong Kong Island
Tel: +852 2849 6966

Opening Hours:
Daily
10am – 10pm

Changi Recommends X Ocean Park

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It has been raining a lot in Singapore and I can’t help but be reminded of the wet weather experience we had at Ocean Park during our Hong Kong trip in November. We spent almost a week in Hong Kong and the weather was perfect, except that it rained the entire day in Ocean Park, right from the minute we set foot on the theme park! *Grumbles* Hahaha. It was too late to make any changes to our plans so we decided to just embrace the cool weather and have fun!

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While researching for our trip, I found out that the MTR South Island Line opened in December 2016 and there is direct access to the park entrance if you alight at Ocean Park Station. Super convenient and it’s only 3 stops away from our hotel!

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Besides the convenience in travelling, we also got our admission tickets and fast passes via Changi Recommends! Basically, you can get everything covered just by visiting the website! Changi Recommends offer good deals on connectivity (WiFi and SIM), transport, and activities, etc! Getting our Ocean Park tickets before our trip is definitely a good decision as there are huge money savings and most importantly, we saved time without having to queue for our tickets at the park.

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Entering the park with our e-Tickets was a total breeze too, as we simply had to flash our phone to get the QR codes scanned. Alternatively, you may also print the tickets on A4-sized paper 🙂

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Although Ocean Park offers complimentary WiFi, we found that it was a little unstable (not sure if the rainy weather played a part? haha) and we got disconnected at times, much to our frustration. Good thing we had our WiFi router which we had loaned from Changi Recommends! In fact, staying connected throughout our holiday was vital as we often had to seek information online as well as update my social media pages with photos of our trip! Hehe.

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Ocean Park is really huge and it’s basically divided into The Summit (highland) and The Waterfront (lowland). I also highly recommend going for the Ocean FasTrack as it gives you priority accesses for designated rides and attractions. It’s kind of like a fast pass and we managed to beat the queue for the Ocean Express!

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The Summit features all the crazy exciting rides that you can think of and they are definitely not for the faint-hearted! Needless to say, we did not go for any of these rides because we weren’t up for it, plus it was raining! Also, Little misschewy did not meet the minimum height requirement for all the rides there. LOL.

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The restaurants were all packed because it was lunch time and everyone was seeking shelter, so we decided to stop by a food kiosk for a quick bite instead. The giant turkey leg was so juicy and delicious!

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Since we are already at The Summit, we checked out the Ocean Theatre where there was an animal fun talk on seals.

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Took the Ocean Express back to The Waterfront and both girls fell asleep because it was their nap time.

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Again, we managed to skip the queue at The Grand Aquarium, thanks to our FasTrack band which was worn around our wrists!

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Time for a snack!

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This is one of the mascots at Ocean Park but I can’t remember his name. Haha.

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Each time we passed by the mascot meet and greet booth, we would take a photo with the various mascots on duty. Lol! Super cute can!

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Don’t have to worry about getting hungry as there are plenty of food kiosks and restaurants scattered all over Ocean Park.

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Whiskers Harbour has up to 11 attraction rides that are more suitable for young children of Little misschewy’s age.

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Hahaha just to make sure that Little misschewy is eligible for the Frog Hopper ride.

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Totally clueless before the ride lol.

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The hubs and I were really evil because we kept laughing when Little misschewy got frightened and buried her face in her hands.

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On the Balloons Up-Up-And-Away ride! It’s actually a mini ferris wheel that moves really really slowly. Haha.

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Make sure you stop by Whiskers Theatre to catch the Ocean Heroes!

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It is very meaningful as you will get to learn about ocean conservation through the songs and dances. Although the songs were in Cantonese, we could get the message through their wonderful performance.

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There are a number of baby care rooms in Ocean Park so it shouldn’t be an issue if you want to feed your little ones or have his/her diapers changed.

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Finally it was time for our cable car ride! It is another must-do at Ocean Park! The kids loved it so much!

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This place is like a mini Chinatown. Very good for photo ops!

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There are a few game stalls so if you are feeling lucky, do give it a shot and win some prizes!

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We actually stayed till closing time! Can’t wait to revisit Ocean Park when the kids are slightly older and of course, thank you Changi Recommends for the awesome experience!