Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Have you heard of ‘cave tubing’?

Well, we checked it out when we visited Jogjakarta, Central Java, recently!

Within about 2 hours drive from Jogjakarta, we reached this place called ‘Goa Pindul’ (Pindul Cave)

(Click HERE to read about our super fun Baron Beach experience. Also about 2 hours drive from Jogjakarta)

For just Rp. 35,000 per person (SG$3.70), you get to sit on a rubber tube and explore the inside of Goa Pindul (crystals, fruit bats and of course stalactites), with a tour guide, for about 45 minutes.

(Our tour guide’s name is ‘Mas Herry’, and I thought he did a good job!)

The cave itself is about 350m long, and 5m wide.

We’re told that the water is about 5 – 12m deep.

[As we’re about to enter the cave]

Btw, there’s no current in the cave, so Brie safely sat on my laps throughout the journey, while our 10yo Anya and 7.5yo Vai had their own tubes to sit on.

We’re told to hold on to the next person’s tube handle, so everyone stayed connected.

For small kids, their tubes are tied to the next one.

Oh btw, we’re not encouraged to bring any valuables, you know … just in case you drop them into the waters or something.

So we left our cameras and engaged one of their assigned photographers instead.

The fee is Rp100,000 (His name ‘Mas Wawan’).

He went along with us, and gave us a CD (with some 200+ images inside)

(Btw, it is common to tip the photographer and tour guide afterwards)

Now I thought this is the nicest part of the cave (pictured above), ie. Where there’s a huge opening right above us.

From afar, as we approached this area, we could see the sun rays coming through. It was really nice!

(But urgh, I didn’t have my camera with me!)

The photographer captured the above photo, of us right underneath the ‘hole’.

Ah anyway, after the whole ‘cave tubing’ is over, we hopped over to dry land, and went back to our ‘starting point’, on this ‘truck’, haha.

It was our first time ever, and it was a fun 5-minute ride back =)

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Here’s more info and tips to share:

1) For Rp. 35,000 / person, you get:
– A tour guide
– Equipments, like : a tube, life vest, and rubber slippers if you want)
– ‘Insurance’ (though I have no idea how it works)

2) Do bring along extra clothes, liquid soap and towels. I’d recommend wearing rubber slippers / sandals, and comfortable shorts.

3) They have built quite a lot of wash areas and changing cubicles. But of course, as always, I must say that they’re very, very simple and ‘natural’.

(Read: Close one eye – or both! – if you are the type who always prefer proper and super clean toilets)

4) You can leave your bags at the ‘counter’. If you’re the more ‘paranoid’ type, lock up all your bags before leaving them with the staff (We didn’t, and everything was intact when we collected our items)

5) They provide free drinks (Ginger tea =)

And finally, would I recommend this place to others?

Yes, why not?

For such an affordable package price, you get a different kind of experience for the whole family.

Have fun cave tubing, everyone! =)

Do you love to travel?

We do! =)

But mmm … we prefer to NOT spend much while traveling =)

I mean, where we can, we try to look for ways where we can save money.

Eg. If we could pay $120 for our overnight stay, why would we pay $200 for a stay at the same place?

Plus, if you have three kiddos in tow like us, every bit of savings would be nice to have. Always =)

Anyway.

Today I’d like to share 7 money-saving tips I personally find useful when we travel or when we plan for our trips.

(And I really hope you can share your money-saving tips too!)

Here goes:

1. Plan Early

Where possible, do your travel plans as early as possible. Because that’s how you can take advantage of cheaper airfares and accommodation rates.

Eg. From time to time, budget airlines do offer great deals like, buy your tickets today (at 70% discount) and travel 9 months later. And, online hotel booking websites frequently offer great discount rates too.

2. Browse for more Info online PRIOR to your Trip

Do look for blogs and other sites that share more info on the city you plan to visit or its places of interest.

Read and find out in advance, eg. Road conditions if you’re driving there, entrance tickets, things to look out for, etc.

And btw, for travel tips and info, I do keep a separate travel page on this! Click HERE to see the list!

3. Search for Daily deals

Consider subscribing to daily deal websites and look for deals that apply to your destination city or places of attraction!

Hotel vouchers? Cheaper entrance fees to some places of interest?

Sometimes you may even save up to 50% from finding great deals online! Why wouldn’t we take advantage of this?

4. Compare Prices!

Before settling on something (eg. A place to stay, car rentals, etc), I usually compare at least THREE different vendors.

In the end, I may not settle for the ‘cheapest’, but at least I have compared and double checked the features or offers to better understand what I’m getting / buying.

5. Check your Credit Card Rewards

This is something that’s often overlooked.

If you own a credit card, do check if you can redeem your points and use them for travel and tourist activities!

Eg.  Click HERE to see some ‘Travel and Experiential Rewards’ offered by AMEX Singapore!

Free stays and upgrades, may be?

Well, you may be in for a nice surprise! =)

6. Plan your Itinerary Early and Sightsee for Free

Some places of attractions do offer free admissions on certain dates or hours.

Do take advantage of this!

Eg. When we were in Hong Kong, we went to its Science Museum on Wednesday, and everyone of us went in for free!

[Cave tubing at Goa Pindul, Gunung Kidul, Central Java]

7. Travel with Friends and Family – Share the Costs!

I personally treasure trips where it’s just the five of us.

But I do enjoy traveling with more people than just our own family members too.

Because it’ll still be great fun, we get to know each other better, AND the costs can be split too.

Eg. Rental of a mini-bus, a cottage, even eating out together with friends and family may mean cheaper costs for everyone!

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Any other money-saving tips to share when YOU travel?

Do share yours yeah! =)

One of the privileges of living in Indonesia is the access to a huge variety of places to visit, … outside our busy city of Jakarta!

During this kids’ school holiday, we managed to find one weekend where ‘everyone’ could get together and travel to Central Java.

Within one hour, we reached Jogjakarta.

And we were there over the weekend.

One of the places we visited is this beautiful beach called Baron Beach (Pantai Baron)

About two hours drive (about 60km) from the city of Jogjakarta.

Now, first thing first.

Upon reaching Baron beach, I saw fisherman boats. Working ones, parked by the beach (pictured above).

Local fishermen sell their catch to nearby restaurants and shops.

And, I saw what seemed like millions of these unique, tiny ‘dried’ creatures on the ground!

The locals said these are called ‘undur undur laut’.

I have no idea what it’s called in English!

They’re a little smaller than your little finger’s nail, and they apparently are caught, dried up, and mixed with flour (or something), deep-fried and eaten as crackers!

They can randomly be spotted crawling around the beach, btw =)

Anyway, I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Jogjakarta or the nearby towns.

You get different experiences at one beach.

Mountain views.

Fresh water (it’s on a separate ‘corner’, making it look like a nice pool. No ocean waves, safe for swimming)

Rocks and cliffs.

Knee-deep water with strong currents (but, still away from the ocean!)

And of course, the ocean and its big waves.

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Here are more photos to share!

The unique thing about Baron Beach is, it is actually where fresh water meets sea water!

You get quiet calm waters, shallow waters with currents, and right on the other side, you get the ocean.

Big waves and all.

And you know our kids.

They love love love the beach.

And I love love love capturing such happy and fun moments, hehe.

Because the ocean waves were quite big, they didn’t actually go far towards the ocean for safety reasons.

Instead, they went towards the ocean, to only as deep as their knee, and waited for the big waves to come crashing towards them!

It was so much fun!

And me? I was happy to just be the photographer, capturing all moments for the family =)

(read: not getting myself soaking wet and needing to wash up afterwards, because hmm … the wash areas were kind of … scary =)

The view was just so nice that I just had to take a selfie, haha.

Anyway.

Here’s one of my fave shots that day.

A photo of Vai running towards me! =D

Ruuuunnnn from the waves, little guy … =)

For more photos and info of our Central Java trip (Baron Beach, Cave Tubing at Goa Pindul, Borobudur Temple), please go to my Facebook Album.

Click HERE!

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More tips and info:

– There are shops selling fresh coconuts and local seafood just by the beach

– Bring along extra clothes, towels, liquid soap and shampoo if you wish =)

– Didn’t spot any ‘proper’ wash areas though, so you need to be prepared to use the available wash areas.

– Early morning or late afternoon visits to the beach would be best!

– To avoid getting sunburnt, the kids and Wilson wore shirts too. I recommend wearing bright coloured tops, for easy sighting. Anyway, they turn out nicer too in photos!

– If you only want to walk around the beach, wear shorts and leave your sandals behind! You need to cross knee-deep waters with strong currents too.

– No lockers or anything, so either you have someone to sit around the shops and watch over your belongings, or leave your stuff in your car.

One of the things that we look forward to when the school holiday comes is … a family getaway.

Doesn’t have to fly overseas.

Doesn’t have to be anything fancy.

Just, a time to get away from our routines and spend time exploring something different, together.

Unfortunately though, with work and all (although it’s the school holiday already!), finding THAT time is not as easy as we wish.

SO.

When we finally had THAT chance to ‘escape overnight’, we immediately booked the villa online, packed and left the next day.

Our destination?

Lembang, West Java. The mountain side of Bandung.

[The Crater at Tangkuban Perahu, Lembang]

And to surprise the kids, we only told them about this trip right before we headed to the car! Hah!

The kids were super excited!

And, we parents eliminated the ‘When are we going, Mommyyy?‘ questions =)

Win-Win situation =)

Anyway.

Wilson drove all the way and back.

Jakarta – Lembang : 4 hours drive.

Lembang – Jakarta : 3.5 hours drive.

Here’re some photos and info to share with you, just in case you are thinking of checking out Lembang too for 2 days and 1 night like us! =)

Stayed at a humble villa called ‘Bantal Guling Villa Lembang’.

Didn’t wish to spend much on accommodation, and this one was okay for us (Not for fussy families though =)

The very next day, we checked out 3 main places:

Tangkuban Perahu, Hot Water Spring at Ciater and Floating Market Lembang.

(More photos and info are shared on my Facebook. You can view them for more details of the trip HERE)

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Tangkuban Perahu

This is what Tangkuban Perahu is, according to Wikipedia :

Tangkuban Perahu is a dormant volcano 30 km north of the city of Bandung, the provincial capital of West Java, Indonesia. It last erupted in 1826, 1829, 1842, 1846, 1896, 1910, 1926, 1929, 1952, 1957, 1961, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1983.

Too bad it was rather cloudy / foggy by the time we got there (around 10am). If it was all clear, we could see the many surrounding mountains!

The view would’ve been even more breath-taking!

…

Hot Water Spring @ Ciater 

All the water you see here at Ciater is about 40 – 42 degree Celsius!

And it is said to contain good-for-the-skin minerals!

Btw, it was a Saturday when we’re there, so it was packed with people, young and old!

The whole place is huge though.

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Floating Market Lembang

Here’s one place that I’d happily recommend!

It’s relatively new (opened in December 2012), it’s super spacious (70,000 sq m!), and it has many activities for the whole family!

Plus, we just love the cool, fresh air and the mountain views in the background! =)

Anyway.

It was a tiring weekend, but it was a nice getaway for the family =)

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Do check out my Lembang Overnight Trip Photo Album on my Facebook!

I posted more photos and info there =)

Have a good week ahead, everyone!

Okay I’ll get straight to it!

We ordered NINE customised magnets from PIXAROLL!

And we love them! =)

I simply download the PIXAROLL app to my phone (my AppStore), and chose which photos I’d like to print as magnets from my Instagram collection.

And VOILA … they are here!

(It’s US$14 per set. In Singapore, it’s S$16. Free shipping included to all countries!)

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I thought they don’t just make wonderful gift ideas, but they’ll look great on MY fridge too! =)

I purposely chose memorable moments from my Instagram collection, including a shot with my grandpa!

A nice way for our family to remember him, I thought.

And.

Here’s the good news for YOU!

I asked PIXAROLL if I can share the love with blog readers and friends, … and YEP, they’re on!

*YAY!*

There will be TWO sets (each set contains nine customised magnets!) to be won by TWO winners!

*Thanks PIXAROLL!=)*

Here’s what you need to do :

1) Leave a comment to share : What items are usually stuck on YOUR fridge door? =)

2) SHARE this giveaway on your Facebook or Twitter

3) LIKE Our Everyday Things Facebook Page, if you haven’t =)

And that’s it!!

INFO:

– Giveaway closes on Wednesday, 25 June (My birthday! Heh! Regard this as my gift to you too! =)

– Two winners will be randomly chosen

– Open to EVERYONE wherever you are!

…

Enjoy the giveaway, everyone!

…

ADDED NEWS!

PIXAROLL just soft-launched this cute ‘ink stamps’ called ‘CHOP BLOCKS’!

Which basically are ‘face portraits’ on ink-stamps!

And, you can enjoy 50% OFF for the Chop Blocks!

Simply enter the code : CHOPCHOP50″.

For more info, click http://bit.ly/1lynPMr

ADDED : Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to the following winners:

– Kathryn
– Flora

Each of you has won a set of 9 personalised magnets, thanks to Pixaroll!

*YAY!*

Pixaroll will get in touch with you and let you know the code to claim your prize!

As for everyone else, THANK YOU for participating!

Join me in the next giveaways yeah! =)

If you have chosen a life as a Mom who does not pursue a career outside the home, and instead, fully look after and raise your child or children, I’m sure this thought ever crossed your mind – even for a second :

‘Have I made the right decision?‘

Now, why am I so sure that this question most possibly has crossed your mind?

the convenience of having more income from having a careerBecause, probably, your family or friends may have asked you (if not again and again) WHY you have chosen to NOT have a career outside the home (ie. Despite your university degrees, the ease of leaving your child in the care of a nanny or grandparent, the convenience of having more income from having a career, etc)

Because, probably, your children may have been acting so HORRIBLY that day, and you’re just soooooo exhausted mentally, emotionally and physically, that you thought it’s probably better for someone else to raise your children instead! (you know, because you’ve become a ‘monster mom’ from all the rebuking, yelling and threatening)

…

Everyone / every family has unique situations, I’m sure.

To those who chose to not pursue a career outside the home, here’s a passage I’d like to share with you today.

It’s taken from a book called “Lies Women Believe, and the Truth that Sets Them Free’, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

(A GREAT book btw, and I highly recommend it!)

…

I have a number of close friends with six, seven, eight and nine children who have chosen for the mother to stay at home with the children. No, it’s not easy; they don’t have a lot of material things many people consider necessities today. Yes, they make sacrifices – in a sense, but the sacrifices pale beside what they are gaining in exchange. In virtually every case,

> these families are content and have joy;

> they have a better sense about values and the things that really matter

> they have learned how to pray and depend on God for everything from ‘daily bread’ to college tuition;

> the parents know where their children are and are able to monitor and direct their activities;

> they are actively involved in serving others in practical ways that many families don’t have time (or energy) to do when both parents are working outside the home

…

My refrigerator serves as a backdrop for photographs of my friends and their families.

I sat back to review some of the highlights these families had experienced over the past year. Eight had been blessed with the birth of a new baby. At least seven had a grandchild born. Seven had a son or daughter get married.

If things aren’t well at home, every other area of life is affected.Nearly all the faces in these photos were smiling. But behind some of the near-perfect poses, I know there is more. Several individuals have confided a burden in relation to the physical or spiritual condition of specific family members. Three have recently buried a member of their immediate family.

I was struck with the wonder and significance of the family – for better or worse. The family is at the heart of what really matters to all of us. If things aren’t well at home, every other area of life is affected.

I looked at those scores of women sitting like mother hens surrounded by their brood of young ones, and I felt an enormous sense of gratitude for the willingness of those women to be givers and nurturers of life.

I can’t turn back time, and the time lost today is lost forever.These women have chosen life by bearing children and they are choosing life everyday …

> with every meal they prepare;

> with every load of dirty clothes they wash;

> with every trip they make to the grocery store, to school, to the dentist, to piano lessons, to soccer practice, or to the shoe store;

> with every scraped knee they bandaged;

> with every encouraging word they speak;

> with every night hour they spend rocking a sick or scared child;

> with every dispute they arbitrate;

> with every moment they spend building Legos, colouring, helping with math problems, reading a Bible story, or listening to a husband or child describe his day;

> with every moment they spend interceding for the spiritual growth and protection of their family.

Day in and day out, they are building a home.

They are being life-givers.

They are laying a foundation and building a memorial that will outlive them for generations to come; they are honouring their Creator in the greatest possible way.

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we ARE guiding and training and loving the very souls God has entrusted into our handsNow we all agree, raising children and handling them day in and day out is NOT easy!

The kids won’t appreciate your decision to stay home with them (till perhaps, decades later?)

And gee, it sure can get very draining too!

But, the passage from the book above reminded me (and hopefully you too), that we ARE building a home.

Despite all the challenges, we ARE being life-givers. We ARE laying a foundation.

It’s all a process that will take years (and no, there won’t be all sweet moments).

…

Now, some of us may wonder:

With this decision to stay home and raise our children fully, won’t our kids surely turn out better than other kids because we spend more time raising and looking after them ourselves everyday?

Well, … of course we couldn’t know for sure.

I mean, it’s not like we’re ‘producing boxed children’ from factories.

I do not wish to look back and regret NOT building a closer relationship with the kids during their super fast growing-up yearsTo me though, there’s this one thing I know for sure, that is … I simply do not wish to look back and regret NOT building a closer relationship with the kids / spending ‘more time’ with them during their super fast growing-up years.

I can’t turn back time, and the time lost today is lost forever.

I simply do not wish to lose the opportunities I have right now, while I still can.

It’s a personal choice, and, although I know I’m far from perfect, I know I’d try my best, while God will do the rest.

May God have mercy on my family and yours, and shower us with the strength and wisdom we parents need everyday.

Have a wonderful week ahead, everyone!

To someone who had no idea how he’d act and what he’d do and say if he was to be a Daddy one day :

When we got married, I had no idea how we’d be like when we’re parents ourselves one day. I’m sure you didn’t too!

(Actually, I don’t even think we thought about it much at the time!)

Now, some 10 years later, hey … I seriously think you’re doing greattt … =)

I’m so thankful to God for giving to me a wonderful ‘parenting partner’ who,

… balances out my weaknesses
… rebukes me when I’m wrong
… grows in his faith
… takes over and cares for the kids when I have my ministries or simply when I’m exhausted
… defends me when my kids are disrespectful
… shares similar principles in almost all aspects of parenting! *I treasure this a LOT!*
… plays with the kids in a much more fun way than I can!
… tells bedtime stories to the kids every now and then *kids LOVE this*
… and sooo many more!

*blessed*

Happy Father’s Day! =D

We’ve driven past this place, and we’ve heard about how fun the slides are, but we’ve never actually been there.

And so, one week before the kids had their final exams, we decided to just go together!

Despite the thick greyish clouds above us, we went to Waterbom PIK anyway.

On a Monday afternoon.

You know, because it’s cheaper on a weekday and there’s so much less crowd (read: much shorter queuing time for water slides! =)

Here’s one useful tip:

Waterbom PIK has frequent discount offers and joint promotions with banks and other institutions.

Check them out in advance and enjoy the offers!

Click HERE!

We had a greatttt deal when we went, and we saved so much.

It was a joint promo with ‘BCA Flazz card’.

For every 3 tickets, we got 1 ticket free.

And for those 3 tickets we bought, 57% discount applied!

So happy with this deal!

TIP:
Where you can, go on a weekday, and spend less time on queues!

A few more tips and info to share :

> They rent lockers (big and small sized), and there’s a deposit of …hmm, Rp15,000, I think (which they’ll return to you once you return the locker key to them)

Recommendation:
Unless you have a huge bag of valuables, just rent the smaller ‘individual locker’ (Rp25,000).
Keep your valuables in the locker, and leave your towels and sandals near the ‘pool chairs’.

> They provide free … what do you call those … ‘safety jackets’ (?) – for smaller kids like Brie.

> At the entrance, they’ll search and check  your bags for food and drinks. They’re not allowed inside.

Recommendation:
Unless you’re willing to spend money inside at their ‘food court’, let the kids eat first before going inside, and do leave your food and drinks in the car.

> Shower areas are spacious and relatively clean.

> The tubes are all free for us to use

> Other than the slides, there are lots of areas for little children to play at more shallow waters.

Anyway.

The kids LOVED this place.

They didn’t want to go home! =D

They kept going on the slides, and we took Brie too down some slides =)

Like this one, it’s called the TWIZTER.

And this is the big slide where Brie went along too! Haha.

And this is probably the scariest slide? It’s called ‘speed slide’.

Steep slide. Super fast.

Basically the kids went on ALL the slides.

I went to most, but didn’t go as many times as the kids, hehe.

I know I definitely would if I were still a teenager or in my early twenties! So fun!

Now I need to be gentle with my knees, you see! Ha, imagine that, I’m not yet in my forties yet my knees are giving me problems already. Facts of life =)

It was a great day out for the family!

And yes, we’d be happy to go there again some other time! =)

Last one from me, here’s a short clip I put together. Enjoy! =D