Fun at Kidzania Jakarta

July 29, 2014 12:11 PM , Leave a Comment ,

Visiting Jakarta has a lot of things that tag along: meet and greet with my families, hangout with good old friends and of course, entertaining the kids. When we were planning for our Jakarta trip during Eid we wanted to take the kids to a place where they can have fun and play all day long. Being Jakarta, the city has enough to offer. But this time we set our eyes at Kidzania.

Kidzania Jakarta was open in 2007, the fourth after Mexico City, Monterrey and Tokyo.  It’s a kids city, which offers various pretend plays where kids are taught to make decision, be responsible and independent. The main concept is educational play for kids between 2 – 16 years old (though in my opinion, it’s more ideal for kids above 5 years old).

Kidzania is designed as a small city with banks, restaurant, fire fighter, police station, mini market and many more where kids take turn to roll play. They even get paycheck each time they finish a roll play.

At the Entrance

It was holiday season when we were there so we had to pay a high season fee of IDR 200,000.- per pax (kids and adult are paying the same rate). Senior citizen of 65 years old above can enter for free. There are two sessions daily, morning is at 10 am – 3 pm and afternoon is at 4 – 9 pm. We took the later. The kids are given a bank cheque of 50 kidzos to start with. This is the currency of Kidzania.

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Have Fun at Kidzania

Once in, the kids have to go to a bank first to cash their cheque. No parents allowed to enter the bank with the kids. They have to be  independent. Soon after, they are free to choose what they want to roll play at first.

K and little A wanted to do pilot but we were late and had to wait for 20 minutes. So we decided to return later and went to the fire brigade where they experienced how to become a fireman.

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Finished fighting the fire K and little A went back to the airlines and played pilot. They were thrilled!

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Roll playing in Kidzania includes selling bread (real bread), which  you can buy with the kidzos. You can also take a taxi to being driven around the city for 10 kidzos. It was real taxi in mini size.

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During sometimes we had to go outside for breaking the fast and meeting my cousin, K and little A stayed behind continued their play. We couldn’t take them because only parents can go out and return with no additional charge. If kids go out they have to pay again to enter. The good thing is in Kidzania kids are encouraged to play by themselves. It’s safe too. So, though a bit hesitant at first, we went downstair to have a feast of sushi while K and little A had fun driving around with the taxi, worked in a construction site, and many more. They even managed to get a driving license working at Honda!

Finishing Off

Like I said above every each roll play the kids get a paycheck. K and little A each has 11 kidzos more in their wallet. Unfortunately they didn’t put their money in the bank, otherwise they would have had an ATM card as well.

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We would definitely go back to Kidzania Jakarta for more fun. The kids so can’t wait to “work” hard and earn more kidzos ha ha..

Kidzania is spreading their wings and planning to open in Dubai, Osaka and Lisbon.

 

Kidzania Jakarta

Pacific Place Shopping Mall, 6th floor

Jl. Jend. Sudirman, kav 52-53, Niaga Sudirman area, Jakarta 12190

 

Posted in: Parenting, Places, Reviews , Tagged: , , , ,

Eid’s Signature Dishes in My Family

July 28, 2014 7:16 AM , Leave a Comment ,

Today is the victory day to all Moslems in the world when the holly month of Ramadhan finally completes and here comes the celebration; Eidil Fitr. The festivity starts off on the last evening of fasting when people chant in a praise of God, people go out of their houses, take a big drum and parade around the town. The youngs, normally the boys, set fireworks in streets in front of their houses. Families and neighbors visit each other offering forgiveness. Everyone embraces the celebration full of joy.

After so many years celebrating Eid overseas and in the city we resides, this year we all went back to my mom’s house in Jakarta. Although J couldn’t make it through the Eid day as he has to go back on duty the kids and I stay put.

Like always, Eid is the time to get together with the entire family with a feast of delicious dishes to indulge. I have started my own festivity last night, brushing off two portions of rice cakes, mix fruits and cakes. Today is the second round and later in the afternoon there will be more rounds of food all the way up till evening. I am a bit worried with my weight ha ha..but this is once a year!

In each festive season be it Christmas, Easter, Diwali and of course Eid there are signature dishes to mark the celebration. Rice cake, or in Indonesian: Ketupat, is the signature dish of Eid in Indonesia. It’s coconut leaves woven into a kind of pocket filled with rice and steamed. Other dishes that tag along include Indonesian chicken curry (Opor Ayam), spicy liver and potato (Sambal goreng ati) with crisps.

Ketupat

Ketupat

Sambal Goreng Ati

Sambal Goreng Ati

Opor Ayam

Opor Ayam

Besides those dishes every family will have their own dish that differ from one to another. In my family for example, we have Sate Garo, which is sauted beef in a lot of herbs and spices. In addition to that, we use to have Blackforrest cake to snack on (can you imagine our snack is that soft thick chocolate cake?!)

Sate Garo

Sate Garo

 

Last but certainly not the least, I wish you who celebrate a happy Eid!

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Posted in: Just Random, Meals & Recipes

Reconnect

July 23, 2014 8:31 PM , 2 Comments ,

When a blogging block came up. What would you do?

When you are really stuck in a moment where you have zero time to pursue other things. What would you do?

I’d say: re-prioritize.

It’s not once or twice I came across bloggers who have been religiously blogging and suddenly stop to look back and realize that they have made not quite right decision. And then..they re-arrange their prioritize.

So did I.

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Image credit: Pinterest

I can’t tell you how much I miss my blog. But one after another lead to one thing, I had to rest my eyes a bit more as my work takes up too much load on computer usage.

A lot of things had happened for the past weeks. The kids have been with my mom for almost a month now. They are happily spending an extended summer holiday..yeap been skipping school for two weeks and will only be back after Eid holiday on the first week of August.

Day after tomorrow J and I are going to Jakarta to see them.

Two weeks ago I finally met Ai from SakuraHaruka. In person! I remember long back ago (I couldn’t even find that posting) I wrote about bloggers I want to meet in person and Ai was in that list. I am truly happy!

Little Pumpkin was super adorable beyond words! She was really keen on taking pictures and was not in a mood of getting herself photographed. However she listened to her mom and dad and posed with me (I know..I know..but I really wanted to be photographed with her :D …).

Meeting with Ai sort of lit on my blogging fire again.

Yes I am here. Let’s reconnect!

If you’re looking for something awesome for your kids’ festive gifts, make sure you come back tomorrow as I will share with you about these crafts from Meadow Kids.

Posted in: Just Random , Tagged: , ,

The Moms and The Singles

June 3, 2014 9:11 PM , 11 Comments ,

Apparently there is this so called opinion among the singles that hangout with moms is no fun. Am I right or am I wrong?

Image courtesy: Pinterest

Image courtesy: Pinterest

I think you single ladies can answer that question better. An enlightenment came from one of my single friends who had made a confession to me that part of her was hesitant to make friends with moms. Thankfully I could break her hesitation because in the end whenever I hangout with my girlfriends I want to have some fun, it’s a privilege of having a me time moment, for sure once or twice there will be a mention about the kids or the husband but it won’t dominate the whole conversation. I am sure you, moms, are with me in this.

It is really a matter of placing everything into perspective. There should be certain boundaries that we need to respect when we hangout with the singles because let’s face it, there’s a reason why they are being singles and one of those reasons is probably because they are not interested in kids and marriage.

Have you ever been in a group of moms where each one of them raced to talk about their great kids, perfect husband and happy family? It’s always like a competition. Maybe some of us are so used to that kind of talk that the habit is carried on even when we talk with other people (the non-moms).

Now tell me, do you think the moms and the singles can actually make good friends?

Posted in: Just Random , Tagged: , , ,

Smart Play with Funny Faces & Bath Stickers Silly Faces From Meadow Kids

May 9, 2014 9:42 PM , 3 Comments ,

I have had eye break down for the past two weeks. Somehow every time I spent too much time on the computer I got dizzy and my head spun like I were having sea sickness. It had gotten so bad I decided to minimize my computer/laptop/mobile phone use, only focusing on my work and that was it. But really I couldn’t just turn my back on my love of blogging. For the same reason I have been delaying my story about these awesome Funny Faces and Bath Stickers Silly Faces from Meadow Kids.

Last week the sample finally arrived. I was actually expecting it to come for another two weeks. It was Saturday and we have just got back from the market. The boys had bought new toys and was playing with it when the package came. Within seconds they completely ignored the new toys and were so happy unwrapping.

Two items came in, one was Funny Faces and the other one was Bath Stickers Silly Faces. Both are puzzles that allow your kid create facial expressions with the pieces. The Funny Faces came in a box, with a circus theme and a magnetic board attached so the faces can be arranged on it. A booklet with different facial expressions was provided to guide your kid. The boys really had a great time playing with it over and over and over again. My two boys are under 6 years old with only one year apart hence a fight over toys is a regular thing in the house but the magnetic Funny Faces is so smartly designed it could be played together. I barely heard them fight over it. Instead they were always sitting side by side creating funny (sometimes weird) facial expressions with the puzzle.

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The Bath Stickers Silly Faces sticks on the bathroom wall or the bath tub. You just need to use water as the “glue” and the pieces can be rearranged easily. Even I like playing with it while taking a shower (oops, don’t tell anyone okay!).

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Oh, and my kids even loved to use their own face to play with these puzzle :)

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Meadow Kids produces toys, books, bath plays and craft that are all designed to enhance family interaction and stimulate cognitive development. The production takes place in the UK with compliance to safety regulation of EU and US.

If you want to learn more about this you can go to their webpage www.meadowkids.com or follow their Facebook HERE.

 

Disclosure: Two product samples were provided to me for this review purpose but all opinions are 100% mine. This is a level 1 review, please visit my Disclosure page for further information.

 

Posted in: Product, Reviews

50 Amazing Secrets to a Successful Labor & Delivery or C-section (book review)

April 23, 2014 3:33 PM , 4 Comments ,

Moms, did you remember how it was on your first pregnancy? I know I did. I remember feeling so excited about it that I gathered every mom I knew just to hear their side of story about how delivery was. Almost everyone I spoke to told me the amazing thing, how the struggle was, how the pain was, but as far as I remembered everyone’s face was glowing in happiness as they were telling me the story. It made me wonder that how much painful it was it must be a joyous experience as well. Hence I waited for my turn excitedly.

This is little A when he was just out of my womb

This is little A when he was just out of my womb

Of course, you would know very well that going on labor was no wonderland. I have read a lot of books, including the hypnobirthing method, swear none had worked. I really wished back in time Pamela Peery has had come up with her awesome book, the 50 Amazing Secrets to a Successful Labor & Delivery or C-section (POP), because every tip written sounds so normal yet most new mom would have overlooked.

There is almost zero medical term in this book (well epidural…one..hmm..) but anyway reading this is like you were talking to your mom friends when every one of them took turn to tell you about their experience and then every one chipped in some tips to help you get by the unforeseen experience of laboring day.

No lengthy paragraph that can make you fall asleep. The tips are very straight forwards, grant, if not all you will at least giving a nod of approval on some. Because I did :)

My favorite part? Page 109, a story from Vicky when she came to the hospital because her water broke and the nurse asked what was the weighed of her pad (apparently you need to soak your water in a pad and scale it – lol), and there are many more interesting stories like this one.

In my first labor I didn’t get epidural, imagine the excruciating pain I had to endure for almost 11 hours. Not to mention that K was stuck on 8cm for 2 hours. One of the sections in 50 Amazing Secrets to a Successful Labor & Delivery or C-section is talking about Women Not Getting Epidural. I really wished this book was already in store then…seriously!

Pamela Peery spent quite few years to finish this book project, I must say it worths every second.

If you are a new mom this book is something I would recommend you to gift to yourself. If you know someone is going to be a new mom soon, buy this as a gift because everything here is so light, easy to digest, informative and at the same time very fun to read.

The book will come out on 6th May this year, so be happy you are amongst the people who get the first scoop of sneak peek of it. Click here to buy the book on Amazon.

 

Disclosure: I was provided with a free copy of the book for this review purpose. All opinions are 100% mine. No other compensation was given. Hence this post falls on level 1. See my Disclosure Page to learn more.

Posted in: Books & Entertainment, Reviews , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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