Staycation - Marina Bay Sands + Children's Garden at Gardens by the Bay + Banyan Tree Spa

Thanks to Emma's favourite grand uncle Chong and grand aunties Hock Neo and Joon, we got to stay at MBS for 3D2N from 21-23 Mar. This was our second time staying at MBS, first time also thanks to Uncle Chong and Aunty Hock Neo. We previously stayed for 1 night last year (can't remember exact date, which proves all the more the point of this blog... to keep track!). 

On Friday I brought Leanne to check in first in the afternoon. Then we went up to the Skypark to take some pictures. After which I went to fetch Emma and we managed to go swimming, while waiting for everyone else to reach. 

We went to Din Tai Fung for dinner. They are famous for their xiao long baos which we ordered about 36 pieces in total including their Steamed Pork, Steamed Pork and Shrimp, Chilli Crab one, and some other one. They all taste the same to me though, except the Chilli Crab one. Plus some dishes here and there. While their Fried Rice was nice, never really felt that they had very substantial dishes. More like having lots of xiao cai rather than main dishes. 

We went back to Aunty Hock Neo's Suite room which was definitely spacious, where their bathroom alone was about 3/4 the size of our Premier room. There was a console wall separating the living room and bedroom, with a TV on each side. There was also a partition wall on each side where Emma had lots of fun playing with, and she also had a ball pretending to wash everyone in the bath tub. Aunty Hock Neo was tempted to have Emma stay with them for the night. Well, they ended up going to the casino after we left so I imagine that they had more fun there than if they were stuck in the room with Emma lol.

Next morning we headed to the Children's Garden at Gardens by the Bay after breakfast. I knew that it opened last year but didn't want to go immediately as it would surely be very crowded. We started off in the dry area for toddlers. They were having some performers in costumes to entertain the kids. I was bored but Emma was somewhat entertained. There were also 2 overaged girls who had been playing in the wet area, and now came over to play in the toddler dry area. They were making the see-saw, the swing, the balance beams, etc. all wet, dirty and slippery for the other kids. Other kids could not sit on the see-saw after they vacated, as they were dry and the seats were wet. The balance beam became muddy and slippery after they went onto it. The mother was either inconsiderate, ignorant, or just plain stupid. Andrew had to go and politely tell her that the kids should not play in the toddler dry area because well, they were wet. At least she had the sense to bring them back to the wet area after that. 

Daddy teaching Emma to drink milo the old-fashioned way... on a saucer

After Emma had her fun in the dry area, we brought her to the wet area. The toddler wet area, the Fish Fountain, is just made up of several fish spouting water out of their mouths. Nothing really much you can do differently after the initial 5 mins. So we headed to the main wet area. 

Curiously moving forward when the fountain sprays are off...

Running for cover when the water starts spraying!

At first Andrew and I were pondering whether to just let her get wet in her clothes then change her up, or to change her into her swimming costume. We decided to be lazy and just let her play in her clothes. However, seeing everyone else in swimming attire, Emma also wanted to wear her swimming costume. My goodness, self-conscious at the age of 2! 

Daddy braving the waters with Emma

There were a number of parents who brought huge-ass DSLRs with long zoom lenses to capture the moments of their kids playing in the water. Well, I just wonder how many of them would just put aside the cameras and just head in and play with their kids. I only have the shots above, because after that I put my phone with my helper, and went into the water to join daddy and Emma. I ran one round with Emma into the water and we came back out. Then I asked her if she wants mummy or daddy to go into the water with her, and she took daddy's hand with her left hand and my hand with her right hand and the three of us ran into the water together, round and round. Yup, we ended up very drenched and only Emma had a change of clothes. Fortunately our room was only 10 mins walk away. 

After playing, we quickly headed back and changed up. Headed to the food court for a quick lunch. As we were finishing lunch, a woman started screaming at her helper at the next table. 2 kids were seated at the table with the helper eating, while she came back with her 3rd kid carrying a tray of food each. She yelled at the helper to help with the trays, and said that "she don't know how to help is it". When she placed the food on the table, she gave the empty trays to the helper and muttered loudly "you don't know how to take care of the children then you got to take care of these". The helper, who looked Indonesian, also had her hair shaved like the $2 haircut that army boys get on Tekong. While my helper noted that the Indonesian helper was not taking initiative to help, I can't help but wonder:
(i) What is the woman teaching her 3 children by screaming and yelling at the maid like that? The maid is also human, and deserves to be treated with respect and not like a slave.
(ii) I doubt the helper shaved her own hair like an army recruit willingly. 
(iii) She is only causing the maid to resent her more, and if she has to leave her kids alone with the maid, hmmm wonder how the maid will treat her kids in her absence? 

Surely she could have just gotten her helper's attention and asked her for help. After all, the maid may have been engrossed in eating, hence just simply did not notice them approaching the table. I really hope that this is not a common behaviour of how Singaporeans treat their helpers; she really reminded me of a slave-driver. 

After which, we headed back to the Hotel. On the way back to Tower 2, Emma fell asleep on Andrew's shoulders; perfect. Just in time for me to head to Tower 1 for the Banyan Tree Spa where I arranged for a 90mins Lomi-Lomi massage. The masseuse was from Thailand and she had cracked joints in my body that I hadn't realised existed. I hadn't had that cracking sound for quite a number of massages. With her knees on my back, she grabbed the sides of the massage bed and pulled herself towards me. My upper back cracked. Of course, the ambience of the Banyan Tree Spa was lovely with the typical wooden poles, and scented with essential oils. Halfway through my massage, I heard a baby cry, and thought it sounded suspiciously like Leanne. True enough, it was Andrew bringing Leanne as she was hungry. Sigh, the sacrifices of a breastfeeding mother. Fathers can happily go off "molesting" Lego mini-figurines in 7-11 stores, but mothers are constrained by the 2-3 hourly schedules of their feeding babes. Luckily she is a fast drinker and took only about 10 mins or so. My masseuse tried to make up for lost time, but unfortunately she did have another appointment immediately after. After I was done with my massage, they also provided some refreshments to enjoy at their tea lounge before heading back to the bustle outside. 

Reception

Massage room with lovely view, though blinds were closed when massage started

Tea lounge

After my massage, I went back to the room and Emma woke just as I came back. We sent our helper to the MRT where she could make her way back home. It was a nice balance, having her for one day especially where she could help take care of Leanne while we were playing with Emma in the Children's Garden, and one day just the 4 of us having some family time together. We had some time before dinner, and decided to have an impromptu picnic at the Skypark. 

Cake first...

then smile for photo!

We headed to Imperial Treasure for dinner where Uncle Chong had made reservations. The corridor lead to this area where we could overlook the casino, and I had my first glance into the Singapore Sands casino. It looked exactly the same as the Macau Sands casino. Oh well. Aunty Hock Neo's sister Aunty Jenny and her family also joined us for dinner. The bamboo clams were good. Leanne however was not, so Aunty Joon, Andrew and I took turns to carry her during dinner. Sigh, the disadvantages of having a baby. After dinner, those without kids under the age of 18 went back into the casino, aka everyone else. We, poor sad sods with kids not allowed into the casino, headed back to our room for the night. 

The next morning, we headed to Rise for breakfast. While the variety of food was not as much compared to Silver Shell Cafe at Shangri-la Rasa Sentosa, I must say the quality was better. The cold cuts, cheeses, dim sum, smoked fish... nice! Emma ate A LOT, enough to go without lunch before her afternoon nap. 

All in all, the Hotel does live up to expectations, with its huge bathtub (large enough for 2 which sadly now means me and Emma rather than me and Andrew), nice amenities (including TWG tea), spacious rooms, and of course the rooftop infinity pool. They now have people to check the validity of the key cards before allowing access to the pool, which has greatly reduced the number of gawkers and restored some of the pool's allure. I was also able to check-in at the Sands Lounge instead of queuing up at the Front Desk, so that was a better experience. As mega hotels go, it is quite nice. For more personalised and VIP treatment, there is the Paiza club. For tourists, this is the glam version of Singapore, where the Shoppes are out to empty your wallet by the thousands, if not by the ten thousands. There is still plenty to do around the area, and hopefully will bring Emma to the ArtScience Museum for the dinosaurs exhibition before it ends in July.