I was content on visiting other blogs =)
These few weeks, I was also busy Googling: renotalk solid surface, renotalk cove lights, renotalk down lights. I've learned many things and hopefully I can proceed with little bit of reno for our crib.
Segway na segway ang intro...
Last year, I felt that with all the help that my Mom has extended to my own family, I should at least treat her. What better time that during her birthday? So last year, I suggested to book at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel to hubby. There was a little argument due to $$. Happy ending, my Mom was so delighted, I enjoyed the pool very much and now wish to experience it again, hubby was glad I argued with him because my parents-in-law and my sister-in-law and her whole family were our guests. They were able to enter the Skypark for free =). So this year, no more argument on Mom's birthday treat. Mas atat pa siya...aprub agad ang budget.
I was planning to book 3D2N at a new hotel in Batam, Indonesia. For our family of 5, it would cost about S$600. But then I realized that my daughter had school. Even for primary one, it's a no no to be absent. Ang OA lang talaga dito. The week before Mom's birthday was my daughter's week long school holiday. Hindi kasi organized ang aking utak, yun...dun sana kami nag holiday. So we can't have the short vacay.
We decided on 2D1N at Festive Hotel in Resorts World Sentosa. My first choice was Fullerton Hotel, I thought that having a view of MBS would be great. Hubby wanted Rasa Sentosa, I rejected it telling him that it's so liblib. He wanted it for the child friendly amenities. Since Festive was new and they had Family Room, we both agreed on it.
We booked it through Latestays.com for S$340, $40 more expensive than MBS (we had staff discount through a friend). I still think MBS experience was grand! E alangan namang MBS every year...so sige I need to convince myself.
At the end of our 2D1N staycation at Festive Hotel, I told hubby that it was a good choice.
Here's the fun that we had for Mom's 67th birthday:
Friday
Half day ako sa work dahil 3 pm pa naman ang check-in. Medyo nahirapan kaming hanapin ang hotel sa liit ng RWS hahaha, pano ang sinusundan kong direction was Festive Grand. Tongek! Theatre pala yun, yung hotel was just Festive Hotel. Check in was swift, my kids were given door gifts which consisted of tooth brush, body sponge and ballon cheering stick. Why they gave the ballons, I don't know. I told my pack to rest for 1 hour then we'll go swimming, I though of getting a nap. Picture picture, watch TV, unpack our clothes...booom, 2 hours is gone. Swam for 2 hours then headed out to USS for dinner. Glad that Malaysian Food Street has opened. It's Singapore Hawker food in the midst of an expensive place. Because we had budget, eat all you can! At least the food there were affordable. We watched the show at the Lake of Dreams, pang turista lang =( inantok ako during the show.
Saturday
No rise and shine schedule. We were up by 9 am, same as our usual weekend. Since we got the room for a deal, no breakfast. Anyway, from reviews, the breakfast at Festive was not that good. Pare parehas lang naman sa lahat ng hotel...American Breakfast (kuripot ka lang kamo!). Headed to Malaysian food street again. Cge eat all you can...roti prata, kopi and toast. Napadami ang breakfast, we agreed to skip lunch. Picture picture hahaha. Balik sa room and by 11 am, we were ready to check out pero swim muna kami ulit. I let them go ahead while I made sure all things were ready to go. At 11:30 Mom and I headed back to the room to shower. After which, I checked out. I expected check out to have long que...naku parang ghost town sa reception. So walang ganun karaming guests ang hotel. Actually there were so few people at the pool, meron ding another Filipino family who like us, sinulit din ang pool. Kapal ng mukha namin, kahit naka check out na kami, nasa pool parin si Audrey and we were at the cabana. Wala nang ibang tao. Naisip ko nga, para masulit mo ang bayad mo sa 1N sa hotel, maaga palang, andun kana, ipa-store mo lang luggage mo, then magswim ka na. Pagka check-in sa hapon, matulog sa masarap na kama. Feeling ko nga yung ibang families na lumalangoy doon were not hotel guests. Security was not tight at all.
After Audrey became super nog nog, we headed to the Maritime Experiencial Museum. It was good for the kids. There was a "typhoon theater" naexcite ako kasi nakalagay doon, experience the perils of a storm at sea. Gusto ko nun! yung tipong rollercoaster. Haha....wala. But it's really good for learning kids. The life size ship replica in the museum was so nice. It showed great craftsmanship. Mom also mentioned it. She'd never have the chance to see and touch those things if not for the museum. There was also this pottery making station with a big LCD, para ka lang naglalaro sa iPhone and whoala! may maganda ka nang jar. People lined up to use the application.
Dinner was at Aston's Specialties at 5 pm. Affordable and has the Filipino taste of grilled meat.
Happy Birthday Mama! Thanks for the treat >__<
