Revisiting 2011: Singapore Trip part 1

Let me begin the year by filling the void I left on my blog.  Last year was a good year and I would like to take this opportunity to share some of those memorable highlights.

I'll start with our family trip to Singapore last summer of 2011. It was a very memorable vacation because it was Yohan's first airplane ride and it was our first trip out of the country as a family.  It was an adventure from the start because we didn't go on a tour. The tour packages we reviewed only featured selected places so we decided to go on our own.  It was a great decision because we were free to choose our destinations. I booked our airline tickets and hotel accommodation online.

Our Singapore trip was tailored fit for Yohan. We know how much he loves animals so we put the top 3 zoos in Singapore on our itinerary.

Singapore Zoo

The Singapore Zoo was so amazing! It was an adventure in a tropical forest. We came close and personal with different animals. Just imagine 2500 animals living in that 28-hectare sanctuary.

The animals in Singapore Zoo enjoy living in wide and lush habitats. They have a taste of freedom unlike the animals from other zoos that spend all their time in small cages.

 Some of the animal attractions in the zoo.

Here are just a few of the animals we encountered during our walk ...

It was a pleasure to see 3 beautiful white tigers, also called Bengal tigers. walking, swimming and playing in such a spacious habitat. 

One of the majestic white tigers at Singapore Zoo.

Yohan and I rode on the back of a beautiful Asian elephant. We also saw several other elephants playing with a huge ball and spraying each other with water. I've always been awed by the intelligence and strength of elephants.

Fun elephant ride.

  

There were free-ranging orangutans on top of the trees. It was so cool to see them swing, lounge and play right above our heads.

Swinging orangutans.

It was Yohan's first time to see a giraffe. We wanted it to be truly memorable so we let him feed one of the giraffes.  Just look at that long tongue!

Feeding the giraffe with carrot sticks.

At that time, Angry Birds was at the height of its popularity. It was funny because a foreigner approached my husband and offered to buy the shirt he was wearing. Jules politely declined. :)

The zebras were so close.

Before going home, we bought several furry pals and shirts as keepsakes.

At the souvenir shop.

Embracing 2012

Happy New Year! Looking back at 2011, I could say that it was a good year for us. My family and I have been truly blessed. I peacefully bid 2011 goodbye and I welcome 2012 with open arms.   I hope that this year will be another great year. I pray for happiness, good health, peace, great opportunities and never ending inspiration.  I know that there will be challenges along the way. I pray for strength and courage to rise above small and big hurdles that I might encounter.

Cheers to a great year ahead!

Yohanism #39

Yohan asked me the following questions ...

Yohan: "What's your favorite mammal?"
Me: "dog"

Yohan: "What's your favorite amphibian?"
Me: "frog"

Yohan: "What's your favorite reptile?"
Me: "lizard"

Yohan: "What's your favorite bird?"
Me: "eagle"

Yohan: "What's your favorite fish?"
Me: "clown fish"

Yohan: "What's your favorite insect?"
Me: "butterfly"


I was in the mood to return the questions ... 


Me: "What's your favorite mammal?"
Yohan: "platypus"


Me: "What's your favorite amphibian?"
Yohan: "axelotle"

Me: "What's your favorite reptile?"
Yohan: "komodo dragon"

Me: "What's your favorite bird?"
Yohan: "condor"

Me: "What's your favorite fish?"
Yohan: "aligator gar"

Me: "What's your favorite insect?"
Yohan: "praying mantis"


After hearing his answers, I have to admit, I don't know what some of those creatures look like. ha!ha!

Protect the Hearts of the Young and Innocent

It’s amazing how a simple smile can brighten the mood of the day. It’s music to the ears when a child’s laughter echoes in the room. It’s rewarding to let that sweet melody play in the air. A child’s smile and laughter have a way of soothing the heart. Sadly there are children out there who have lost all reasons to smile. Pitiful cries fill the empty, cold shell where they hide. There’s no melody. There’s only silence; broken occasionally by a soft whimper.

Children are young and playful at heart. They deserve to be carefree. Kids are entitled to fun activities like flying kites, playing tag, blowing bubbles, watching cartoons, playing video games and so much more. However, in this imperfect world, there are some kids who are forced to grow up fast. Instead of toys, they carry sacks heavier than them. Some children are forced to work to help bring food to the table. At the end of the day, their energy is drained. They use whatever extra time they have to rest and sleep rather than play outside. Youthful years fade without them being aware of it.

As parents, we should nurture, love and protect our children. We should motivate them to learn and dream. It’s so hard to believe that some parents turn promising dreams into nightmares. Some parents rule with iron fists. Why subject a child to a painful blow for a wrong deed? How can a child appreciate the beauty of life when every waking day is ruled by fear and pain?

Child abuse is a reality that some children face in their homes. They are robbed of their innocence and deprived of happiness. Physical scars fade in time but the emotional scars lie embedded deep in the heart.

Don't let your child be another victim.  

Remember that every child is a blessing. Embrace your child and let him feel special and loved. Encourage and support your child to become a better individual.  Nurture, guide and protect him as he grows. 

This post is created for The Blog & Twitter Carnival: Child Abuse Prevention.

Yohanism #38

The earlier football game between the Philippines and Mongolia was exhilarating. Adrenaline rushed whenever the ball came very close to the goal. My family cheered as Chieffy Caligdong gave the Philippines its first goal. We were ecstatic when Phil Younghusband gave the country its second goal.  It was a 2-0 triumph for the Philippines.

Here's a funny conversation after the game ...

Me: "Phil Younghusband is so cute!"

Yohan: "Mom, it's not about the looks. It's all about the skill."

ha!ha! I almost died laughing. Good thing Phil is blessed with both. :)

Congrats Azkals! 

Happy New Year!

New Year is a wonderful time to celebrate life, good health, love and friendship. May you be blessed with all these things.

May the New Year usher in new hopes, new goals, exciting discoveries and more inspirations. I hope that 2011 will be a great year for you.

Take care and God bless.

Yohanism #37

My parents recently sent me several gifts. I was so overwhelmed with happiness which made me utter ...

Me: "My dad and mom are the best parents in the world!"

Yohan heard it and seemed baffled. He asked me ...

Yohan: "What about you?"

Me: "My parents are kinder and more thoughtful than I am."
 
He touched my shoulder and said ...

Yohan: "Mom, don't underestimate yourself."

One Remote That Does It All

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of TiVo. All opinions are 100% mine.

Many people, like me, enjoy watching TV series. You will feel the excitement building inside of you as the plot thickens. Sometimes you might feel anxious to know what will happen next. There's always something worth looking forward to especially when the story continues to unfold. You can find the best and latest TV series on TiVo Premiere.  I became a fan. You can do the same by clicking here to access its Facebook Fan Page.

I'm looking forward to the many upcoming TV Fall Premieres especially Glee. I checked out Fall TV and I'm also excited to watch the action packed series Hawaii Five-0. Now you can watch your favorite programs with ease. TiVo Premiere is such an amazing gadget for the biggest TV fans. I'm sure a lot of TV lovers will appreciate it.  Now, it's easy to keep track of your favorite programs and actors. You can simply click and find your favorite programs whether its web video, TV, and movies.

I'm fascinated by the features of the the TiVo Premiere and Slide Remote. It's a remote and at the same time, it gives you full access to TiVo.  I like its fully retractable QWERTY keyboard. It is perfect in making easy and quick text entries. I don't have to worry about using it in the dark because it is equipped with a cool light sensor. It's convenient to use in the dark because of its automatic glow in the dark feature. The backlit keys and keyboard will surely come in handy at night.

You can enjoy your favorite programs and get the chance to win a a new TiVo Slide in the "30 Slides in 30 Days" Sweepstakes (http://www.tivo.com/30slides).  Sweepstakes ends 9/22/10 so don't waste time and click Enter to Win. Happy viewing and good luck!