Redang - beach!

The beach on Redang island is lovely - white powder sand, and the water is turquoise! Beautiful!
Thomas and Phillip building a sandcastle. They really enjoyed the freedom of playing outdoor all day, and go for a "swim" when they felt like it. The water is quite salty, so Phillip stopped sticking out this tongue!!!
We dug a big hole in the sand, which Phillip just called the toilet!
Big job trying to bury Marius.....but we did it!
Sand got everywhere, but the ice cram still tasted delicious!
The big art work! Some people though it was a lizard - not very bright - yes, of course its a crocodile! The sad thing was that while we had dinner, somebody destroyed our hard work.

Redang island, Malaysia

Since we all got married together, way not also have a little "honeymoon" together...Marius was so happy to hear this - one for all, all for one *tjhihi*! Took the plan from Singapore on Wednesday the 23rd of July, and returned on the following Saturday. From the airport we had to take a boat out to the beach we stayed at - quite a wet trip for some....

This was our little cabin at Ayu Mayang Resort. Marius and Linda had their cabin next door - which had a door in between the cabins - the kids loved to join them in the morning.....accept that morning it was a bit smelly (Marius!!!!)
Anne Siri had shipped some magazines for the kids with Linda. Kaptein Sabeltann - HURRA! Phillips magazine had a kite, didn't get it to work...
The kids stayed outdoor all day, which they really loved (used to that from Norway, but Singapore is not like that at all!). Phillip needed to have a little nap to keep up with the big brother.
Linda trying the local food - CHILI! But it tasted really good!
Everybody gathered at the benches out side our cabins. Very relaxing and nice "honeymoon".

The website to our accommodation;

http://www.myoutdoor.com/redang/redang/AMR.asp

Little India

About time to do some more sightseeing! Marius had to stop by the dentist this day, so he caught up with us a bit later.

Today's guide getting out of the well known Singapore taxi (One of Phillip's favorite toy-car!)
View of Serangoon road, which is the main street in little India. It reminded quite a bit about India, but a lot cleaner, even though its the dirtiest place we have seen in Singapore!
This is called the Tan House, which is a two-story, Peranakan- style building built in 1905.
We got very quickly tired of looking at religious buildings, shopping is a lot more exiting! Here you can find anything, also in various quality!

Marius - we are going to get you!

I guess we just have to admit that Marius is normally the one that we tease - but he doesn't let an opportunity to pay back go by!!
The gang is getting themselves ready!! Watch out Marius!!!
Thomas is attaching with the big water gun, and Phillip is using his legs to kick as much water as possible!
After a while of playing, Marius wanted to have a rest.....but not for long! Phillip suddenly came up with the idea of butterfly hunting! He snok up on Marius, and - gabom......
The surprise attack worked, and Marius was caught!
But when Marius overcame the shock, revenge was waiting....... Run Phillip!!!

The bikers - Ubin

Of course we need to see some pictures of the excellent riders!!

Thomas is constantly improving on his bike. This time he flew along the roads.... Phillip is not to happy that he has to sit behind daddy - would have liked to ride him self!
Marius - the "bag lady"!
Linda and Rachel were flying along on their tandem! Rachel was glad to have a "airbag" in front! Should probably mention that I was the windshield before Linda.....
The gang on a wild run down the road!! Watch out people!!

One big happy familiy at Ubin

They say that a trip to Ubin is a throwback to Singapore in the 1960's. The island is home to Singapore's last village or "Kampongs" - there are still about a hundred people living on the island.

Marius and Linda on the bumboat to Ubin. There are no schedules for this boats - they live when its about 12 passengers on their boat!
A "floating village" just outside Ubin. In the background you can see Changi, Singapore.



Here we are sorting out the different bikes we need. Rachel didn't know how to bike, so needed a tandem for her and Linda/me, Rob needed a child seat for Phillip, Marius needed a basket for all our bags, and I needed a big comfortable seat! Thomas was the only one that where set to go!
Ice cream time! After a long ride - we needed some sugar before we went home. In the background you can see the bumboats!
Phillip watching the boats passing by!

Playmates Linda and Marius

The kids have really have been missing Linda and Marius. They have been enjoying every minute with them!
Phillip is the water gun man, and of course Marius is the victim. Thomas had a water-flower that Marius also had to sniff quite a few times!
Ice cream buddies. Because of the heat in Singapore its always a good excuse to have an ice cream!
Thomas and Phillip love to read books. Thomas has a bit more patience for the reading part then Phillip. The "bad" part is that is very often the same books they want to read over and over again!
Linda and Thomas are screaming monster!! And of course they have to take the pictures them selves....
The kids love to go to Linda and Marius' room in the morning. Some where more happy about this than others.....tjihihi! In the end Marius had to cling onto the side of the bed to get some room!

Jubilee Park - kindergarden

Finding a kinder garden in Singapore that we liked was not easy. The main problem was that non of them had any good outdoor space. After a while we decided on Jubilee Park - PAT school. The outdoor is great here, but sadly they don't use it as much as we would have liked!!
Inside the have a gym area. The kids always stops here for 15 min before we go home. I think they miss being more physical in kinder garden. Home in Norway they would stay outside all day during spring/summer/fall. Both the boys love the trampoline.
Thomas is take after Morfar and the treadmill. After a while he got a bit bored, and started putting balls under...


Phillip doing so leg exercise
Cooperation is important..... but it didn't last long!!
Kinder garden from the outside. Playground on each side of the house!

The website for kinder garden is;

http://www.patschoolhouse.com/index.asp

Chinatown

Time to explore Singapore a bit. We decided to start with Chinatown.
Today's guide.......Lonely Planet - Singapore!!

This is the Wak Hai Cheng Bio Temple, with is one of the oldest Chinese temples in Singapore. This Taoist temple is also known as the Yueh Hai Ching Temple, which translates as Calm Sea Temple. It was built in 1826. Its a atmospheric place, with giant incense coils smoking over its empty courtyard. On the roof of the temple there is lots of tiny figures - very impressive and beautiful!
This is part of the beautifully restored (2000) Thian Hock Keng Temple. Its name translates as Temple of Heavenly Bliss, which apt given the gorgeous decoration of this, the oldest and most important Hokkien temple in Singapore. It was built between 1839 and 1842.
This is the Sri Mariamman Temple, which is a popular South Indian Dravidian-style Hindu temple. It was originally built in 1827 as a wood and atap (thatchedroof) hut by Nariana Pillay. Its present form was built in 1843 in a style similar to the enormous Sri Meenakshi temple in Madurai, South India
This is Telok Ayer St., which means "by water", for this street once ran alongside the bay. As you can see in the background, this "line" has been extended quite a bit...

Underwater World

It is said that the aquarium is one of the most popular attractions on the island Santosa. The star attraction is the "travellator", an acrylic tunnel with moving walkway that takes you through the main tank. I must admit, that none of us was really impressed...
The thing that I liked the best, was the open tank where you could feed some big fish. Here Rob is giving a stingray some snack. Rob said that the ray was sort of sucking the fish out of his hand.....
Thomas and Phillip are looking for Nemo!
Linda is trying to help Thomas finding Nemo... For the kids, Nemo was the best thing!
At the end the aquarium had a open tank where the kid (and adults) could touch and feel some sea stars, fish etc. The boys liked the idea of playing with the water....
Ice cream and hot dog time.....again!!

Santosa

Santosa is a little island just outside Singapore. This is the city's favourite getaway. The island has a lot of attraction both for kids and adults.
You can get to the island different ways, but we choose the kids favourite - the cable car.
Two beautiful young ladies!

On the island there is quite a few monkeys. This little one took a little trip on his own. When we had ice cream, one of the bigger once ran of with all our wet wipes.....tried to chew on it....than threw it a way!
After a long walk on Santosa's beaches, we all needed something to drink....or a quick nap!
Thomas though is it was fun that the penguin could peek out this shirt. When Linda and Thomas went to buy ice cream the lady though is was so nice that Thomas also wanted to have a baby in his tummy - like his mum........tjhihi!