The horn of a rhino is made up of hair ... bet you didn't know that!

A visit to Singapore is only complete if we visit the zoo. And we did just that today. It was a perfect day because the rain only came down after we left the zoo! So we were very blessed with the best kind of 'zoo visit' weather - slightly overcast so that mean it wasn't too hot, with a little breeze. It's always nice to go to the zoo with Sera but now with Yasmin, it's really double the thrill for us. She was so tired since she missed her morning power nap, but she just could not resist the new green lush environment she found herself in. She got so excited whenever she saw the animals, especially the ones that actively moved. So the otters, the desert squirrels and the swinging orang utans were among her favourites. Sera always enjoys the zoo and this time round, she was just beside herself when she entered the newly revamped Kidz World, which had a really cool water park. Guess who the biggest kid was? Yup, that would be Johan. He was, I daresay, the happiest kid in the water park!

So it was a very full day and a thoroughly enjoyable one for all of us.

All set for the zoo ...

Come on guys ... even I know these ain't real!

A happy zoo-er

Kanga's open enclosure

Sera never fails to find her sticks

Desert squirrels

Check out that croc

Grandma and Yas along the zoo trail

Sera didn't know what she was getting into ... the zookeeper grabbed hold of her arm and the giraffe swooped down to lick off the carrot from her fingers! Wide eyed and about to scream, she dashed away from the giraffe after that.

Yas on the other hand was all calm and oblivious to his giraffe (check out that tongue!). She dipped her fingers into the bowl of carrots and wanted her share of the carrots!

Hey beautiful!

The kids come out to play!

There was no stopping ...

these two kids ...

who hogged the slides ...

Just look at them chilling out in the shallow pool

A tired and satisfied customer

Changi Village ... our little getaway

We've been staying at a cosy chalet in Changi Village, along the far east coast of Singapore. It's nice that we're actually tucked away in what seems like a rustic 'fishing village' part of Singapore. So here are some photos of us taking a stroll along the boardwalk as the sun sets on the island.

Not sure what's with the three of them, all giving me 'attitude'

I love many things about Sera and the one thing I really love is how she always find joy in the simplest things, like this stick. "Look mama, I found a very long stick!" And then she decided to go 'leaf fishing', imitating the guys that were fishing at the jetty.

Yas is always ready with a smile

Sera decided to make 'sand cakes' for all three of us

Tossed the camera to Johan and finally got a photo with Yas

Rain-ed in days

Good weather hasn't been on our side since we arrived. We were planning to spend it outdoors, in Singapore's hot and humid weather, all day but we've been given heavy showers for a good part of every day. But we'll rush out whenever there is a pocket of sunshine.

Yasmin has been a good traveller, not difficult at all. She went straight into a routine that she found and decided for herself. We just happily went along with her. Sera had a little more difficulty adjusting to the time difference and the change in weather. For the past few days, she's been fighting a cold and a cough.

Johan and I managed to catch one movie, so far, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I liked it, I think Johan liked it too, though he may have thought it was a little bit too curious? This movie made me think of the cycle of life and death, from young to old and in the case of this curious movie, from old to young. I though the script was quite witty and art direction was interesting too. So I guess the next movie we'll catch would be Slumdog Millionaire, just to see if it's really worth the awarded Best Picture.

Getting Sera to try anything new can be a challenge sometimes. She didn't want to step on Marc and Joseph's trampoline last August but this time round, she decided it was time. She couldn't stop jumping after that!



Hanging out with their Joseph, Marc and Rachel

I'm REALLY not one of 'those parents' that trumpet their children's talents but come on, this abstract drawing of a sealion by Sera ... hah, just blew me away. ha ha ha

Her version of a ray fish

And finally, a spider

That's Yas admiring her sister's work ... grin

She slept a lot during the days we were indoors ... in the end, she adjusted to the time difference with ease

What's with these hats grandma?

Ben and Mei's wedding day

The photo is supposed to end this post but like the 'underlined text' below, it's just not happening! Anyway ... this was the last photo taken at the end of the wedding celebration. It was probably close to 12am (yah, so many kids are still up!) but we had to get this rare photo of the entire family (almost) all dressed up and looking so happy.

(The text below went all crazy 'underlined' with me last night while I was trying to upload the photos and I have no idea how to undo it, despite the umpteen times I tried to 'ctrl U' the text???)

We're all jet lagged. Last night, we all went to bed at 1-ish in the morning. And this morning, we had to be up early for the wedding tea ceremony. The Tea Ceremony is a traditional Chinese custom whereby the married couple would serve tea (a special brew of red dates and dried longans) to the older members in the family. The younger family members would serve the married couple the tea, and that meant Johan and I were one of the lucky few who served tea to Ben and Mei, and in return we received a red packet (with money), as a sign of their gratitude. The entire family gathered at the Four Seasons hotel to celebrate the wedding that evening. Everyone took part in the wedding. Sera was delighted to wear her white 'princess' dress, complete with her grey mouse shoes (which she named Molly) and her hair garland (I'm surprised she kept that on for more than 5 minutes). She was confused with all the commotion prior to the wedding march and when she was ushered down the aisle, together with Joseph and Marc, she walked seven steps and then totally frozed. So the ring bearers went on without her, the other four flower girls walked past her, the bride and her father walked past her ... and Sera, well she walked straight to Johan (who was sitting somewhere in the middle row) and unto his lap. We were still proud of her anyway! The wedding celebration went well into the night. A 9- course Chinese dinner was served, a deejay played Ben and Mei's favourite music, there were games and .... lots of happy people in that one ballroom. We were very glad to be a part of it and we wish Ben and Mei a wonderful journey from this day on ...

So Johan was given the honorable task of opening the car door for Mei, the bride. The duty is usually given to the youngest male in the family, which he isn't, just his luck that all the young boys were at school that morning.

First order of the morning ... Ben and Mei pouring tea for my grandparents. The rest of the family had their turn after that.


The two youngest, Yasmin and Rachel, in the family playing together



Yasmin cuddling with auntie Fiona

The flower girl. Can you tell she is just a little overwhelmed by the task ahead? ha ha


Yasmin and Johan all ready for the celebration ahead



The wedding march. Sera, flanked by her two uncles Joseph and Marc, looked almost fearful when she realised she had to walk down the aisle with all those people 'ooh-ing and aah-ing'.





She didn't get to throw petals unto the floor but she did throw them all around Johan

Landed

We landed in Singapore at 6AM, lost in the time zone and completely exhausted. Johan and I hadn't slept a wink. Yasmin had an interrupted sleep (there was turbulence throughout the flight so we had to take her out from her bassinet every single time we put her in!) and Sera, a tummy sleeper, just couldn't sleep sitting. But we've landed in Singapore and we'll be on land for a while ... and we're going to enjoy it!

Yasmin on her bassinet, happily chewing on the head set

Sera was very contented watching 'silent' cartoons from her personal TV as she refused to use her headset

Al Ain Zoo

We ventured out of Dubai and into Al Ain, in Abu Dhabi, to visit their zoo. Yah, we heard it was worth the 1.5 hours drive. Was it? Well, you can't ask me for an unbiased answer, especially when I come from Singapore. But it was a nice day trip for us and our neighbour, Cosse family, into the quieter Al Ain town. Yas was a 'terror' in her car seat on our way there, Sera was very excited about going to a zoo. She was naming all the animals that she thought she'd see at the zoo. There are more photos of us than the animals, just because ... well, there weren't so many animals. However, the grounds (and landscaping) of the zoo were surprisingly green and very clean so we spent the rest of the afternoon just relaxing on the greens.

After 1.5 hours in the car, Etienne and Sera were feeling car sick and soooo ready to experience the zoo. Can you tell?

Yas and Edouard all strapped and ready to go ...

Sera still not impressed with the zoo (ha ha) but check out the rocky landscape at the back

Johan and Yas chilling out

At any opportunity, Sera will take off her shoes ...

Cow babies ... Edouard and Yas start chewing on the grass the minute we sit them down

Cow kids herding together


Tired but contented

Yas and Sera slept most of the way on our journey back to Dubai. It was our first peaceful car ride since Yas was born. So unbelieveable that I had to take a photo. ha ha.

Little Miss Sera

I couldn't sleep last night. I was thinking about Sera. Just before Johan dozed off to dreamland, we had a thoughtful discussion about Sera. I told Johan him about how she stands aside and watched when at the playground, especially when there was more than one child playing. So let's say if there were two kids going down the slide. She'd won't join it despite me urging her to do so. She'd walk away and do her own things - pick up twigs, find odd pieces of things or practise her balancing on the narrow cement curb.

However, she'd be ok if there was just one kid ... she'd join in with little hesitation.

Ok, what is my point? None really. Just my observation and yah, I'm a little concerned maybe because I wonder how she is at school these days. I've spoken to Ms Trish about Sera's involvement in school and yes, she did say that Sera was more the observer and sometimes, she'd drift away from the crowd if she felt she didn't want to be involved or was BORED. Gulp. When Ms Trish shared that information with me, I groaned inwardly, because it was ME ... exaclty me when I was young. I wasn't so good with group (controlled) settings. I got easily distracted and I always went quietly into my own space, my 'bubble'. I mean, Johan still calls me a bubble for goodness sake. I always laugh it away but now that it concerns my daughter, my Sera ... sigh, I do worry ... a little.

I look at her, this little girl just four months shy of her 3rd birthday and I do marvel at how much she has grown, especially since Yas came along. In a way, she was 'forced' to grow up even faster and be more helpful around the house. And honestly, when I think about how helpful she's been to me, it just blows my mind. These past two days, she was off from school. I was a little worried about having to cope with the two girls, especially since Sera was having a stomach flu. But she was her usual Little Miss Helpful. She ran to do my bidding in a flash, whether it was getting a diaper, a bib, or a toy for Yas. And if we were going out for a walk, she'd get dressed (all by herself), put on her socks and shoes and she'd be ready at the door, holding it while I push the stroller through it.

I'm really not blowing her trumpet here but it's more a reflection on my part and also my need as a mother to stop and smell the roses, in this case, to appreciate my daughters everyday despite the other 101 things that I have to do during the day. I need to be more aware and praise her, more often, for the little things that I've so easily taken for granted, like how she throws her banana peels or her empty yogurt pots into the bins without instruction. How she eagerly lines the bins with plastic bags or refills the toilet paper rolls in our bathrooms. Ha ha. It sounds almost like child labour but believe me, she always does it with a smile and it becomes a little achievement for her when it gets done.

So I did eventually fall asleep though I had this strong urge to go into Sera's room and give her a big, tight hug. I didn't, knowing she'd crawl into our bed in the middle of the night anyway. Yes, this girl has perseverance for sure. By hook or by crook (even with a stomach flu) she'd find her way into our warm bed every night. Am I going to worry if she feels left out at the playground or at school? Yah, sure ... as a mother I'd continue to worry about these little things but then, I have to trust and have faith that if she does wonder alone into her own 'bubble' or let's call it her 'secret garden', she finds all her friends that her imagination can conjure up.

His one cheering fan

His one cheering fan from Que Sera Sera on Vimeo.

Calm after the storm ... well kind of

The storm did die down for us to have some time outdoors this afternoon. Johan gets a half day off on Saturday so that means I get some 'quality time' with the girls in the mornings. I usually just go to the playground or stroll around the village. This morning, we went across to the Palace, with our neigbour Philippa and her two boys (aged 4 years and 5 months). It was highly ambitious of us, I have to say. Reef and Yas took turns with their crying (either for milk or from plain tiredness), Sera and Zac took turns complaining of hunger and thirst (kids ... that is ALWAYS their first complaint), tiredness and boredom. Oh gosh and golly, it did get totally out of hand and I nearly broke my back trying to carry a fussy, tired and wiggly Yas in one arm and pushing Sera (who gleefully hoped on) in the sroller back home. We were so relieved when we finally got home ... sometimes, why do we even try?

So Johan came back home to a slightly bent wife and a 'mall-ed out' Sera. We decided to treat ourselves to a picnic out in the garden, which got Sera all excited but surprisingly, she hardly ate (that should have been a clear signal that something was amiss with her!). We made out way to Umm Suqeim park once Yas woke from her nap. It was so nice to be out and we found a nice spot at the park, a little stump of a hill where we played the rest of the afternoon away.

We stopped at Pizza Express along the way home to get dinner but once in the restaurant, Sera turned a shade of grey, hiccupped and then did a big chuck up, much to our horror (not about the mess, though we pitied all the other familes who were tucking into their pizzas) for our Sera who suddenly looked so sick. I quickly took her out to let her breathe in some fresh air and she calmed down a little but unfortunately, nothing stayed in after that. Sigh.

So it was a full day, a good one despite the hiccup of a possible tummy virus. Hopefully a good nights' rest will do her some good. And I think I better turn in too ... night!

Our little picnic in our garden

Yas just went absolutely crazy on the little hill, crawling up and down

Sera and Yas hugging and tussling for the football all at once


Hmm, maybe she got sick from this?

... or this?

Ok, what were they doing?


Rolling rolling rolling .... from Que Sera Sera on Vimeo.

Sand storm

We welcomed the weekend with a sandstorm, one that lasted the night prior and most of Friday. That was a total 'bummer' (excuse the lack of a fancier word) because weekends for us, means playing outdoors. Thus to the mall we went, and we managed to run some errands and had a nice lunch at a restaurant overlooking Ski Dubai. Yah, that's the irony of Dubai. There was a sandstorm outside but there were people skiing indoors!

The storm calmed down by evening and we took a short stroll to the mall to get a pair of shoes for Johan (might as well make use of the big Dubai shopping festival that was thankfully coming to an end), and he did get a pair of boots for a steal. Wonderful!

Sera in her usual imitating mode ... her she's pushing her Bunny Tummy

As expected (within 7 minutes), her baby stroller went into Yas's stroller and up unto Johan's shoulders she went

Can I just say, this stroller was such a good buy. Ha ha. Yas is really enjoying her stroller these days. She'd sit and sleep on it, while watching the world go by ...

Johan's boots. Sera spent a good half hour fiddling with the laces, undoing and then trying to thread the laces again

Weekend with Opa

This weekend, we had opa for the weekend and as usual, it was always nice to have him around. Every visit he gets to see how the girls have grown ... most especially Yas, who is crawling towards him now.

We went to the the aquarium at the mall, of course, but this time we went through the aquarium tunnel and the Discovery Centre, which was a hidden gem as we were one of the few visitors. The Discovery Centre was simulated to feel like we were walking through a rainforest and there was a wide selection of exotic fish, otters, a lone water rat (that made my hair stand!), seals, turtles, and even penguins! Needless to say, we joined Sera in her excitement and enthusiasm. Yas, on the other hand, was lulled to sleep when walking through the centre. (Unfortunately, both of us forgot our cameras thus no photos of our little excursion).

Thanks again for visitng with us Opa ... till next time!

Opa carrying Yas ... photo opportunity, priceless moment!

Why am I here when all the fun is behind me? She would have been in the water too but she was having a runny nose.

In our garden ... Sera and Yas were having fun teasing each other


It was the perfect weather to have our lunch out in the garden

And only Sera can have two men wrapped around her fingers ... ha ha, making her papa and opa paint with her!

Nothing's going to stop her

When they start crawling, they do become little explorers don't they? Yas, our little explorer is not letting anything stop her. Not even her sister Sera who can be a loud obstruction to her exploring desires. Ha ha! But really, Sera is a big help because she'll always alert me loudly if Yas is reaching for 'forbidden' things like the electrical wires (yah, Johan has yet to tidy those up!), the telephone or the trash bins.

Here's a video I took of Yas crawling towards something that caught her interest, this time it was my glass of soda water. And you can hear her screaming her frustration when her sister snatches it away from her path.


Nothing's going to stop her from Que Sera Sera on Vimeo.