The Deep DreamWorks at Art Science Museum

Date:  Sep 11, 2015

Yesterday was Friday.  It is Friday Family Friendly day at Art Science Museum @ Marina Bay Sands.

Entering “The Deep” is free on Friday.  We only paid 2x adults ticket for the DreamWorks exhibition and “The Deep” is free, and Singapore past stories is free too.  Quite worth it for Friday visits.

 After seeing this exhibition, my only thoughts were… Aliens…..

Think about it.  Why the sea has so many creatures that we had not seen on the land.

Could it be the reason that they are from outer space?

Our planet earth been bombarded by asteroids for so many millions of years.

All these asteroids from outer space came from where?  May be some planets few million light years away.

Imagine, they are from these planets.  And if they can survive the whole journey coming from their planets to Earth, they sure have extra ordinary surviving power.

 

By interacting with the native creatures (from Earth), they probably evolve in a certain way.

The big sea is a very big place.  It covers almost the entire earth.  So, who knows what you can find under the seabed.

That is why there are so many funny looking creatures.

Or is it we watched too many Sci-Fi movies and get to see all kinds of Aliens on the TV, and the TV series producers or artist got their idea from all these sea creatures?  No wonder we have those kind of familiar feelings?

Nobody knows.

Nobody knows.  I still think they are aliens.

These are some more photos on these deep sea creatures.

https://thetruthbehindthescenes.wordpress.com/weird-deep-sea-creatures-60-images/

Oh ya… a few families had a museum playdates.  Spontaneous decision at 8am… and by 10am, we are all here...

We also dropped by DreamWorks.

This is what I talk about.

DreamWorks teaches the kids how to make a story board, a animation movie.

Of course, they show case the few famous animations made by DreamWorks.

Through technology, the kids get to learn how to create various animation with various facial expression.  Using HP computers and softwares.

It is quite cool.  And the kids loves it.

Not easy to create an animation movie.

Thank goodness you have all the computer aided softwares to help you to render the ocean, etc.

The kids get to learn about modelling too.

I get the chance to play with the animation too.

 HaHaHaHaHa…. fun!

Look at what the kids create.  A rolling ball.  With a earthquake mountain.

It is all about interaction, and the kids love it!

It is time for more games outside.  This one is easy.  Throw 3 fishes into the dragon mouth.

OK.  This one is harder.  No wonder Kay Kay skip the queue and run away.  He will then come back to do it later. 

Let’s see how Gwen does it.

Is she better than Kungfu Panda?

Use the force.  Stable stable.

Oh this one, he really used the force.  Second try and hit the bell!

Once you get 4 chops, you can get a gingerbread boy.

All the kids are hungry now.  The food court is very crowded.  Every place is crowded except for this small Japanese restaurant just on the right side when you come in from the Art Science Museum.

After lunch, the kids went to Lilli Putt to play. 

And they played 18 holes there.

And later we continue the play dates in one of the kids home.

And the parents just enjoyed ourselves.

Looks simple.  Great food!

Great wine!  Of course!

That concludes the only day during this September School holiday where I spent time with the kids.  It was a busy week.  Glad that manage to arrange ad-hoc
 one playdates for them.  Nice! 

Playdates Bottled Garden

Date:  Sep 25, 2015

Tonight playdates is to make bottled garden for the two young ladies.

(Jay’s one has been submitted to the school for young botanist application)

A bottled garden is planting the flowers into a big bottle.  And seal the bottle and place the bottled garden at a place that has a bit of sunlight (not direct sun).  The bottled garden will create its own eco-system inside the bottle.  You shouldn’t have to open it for many many years and the plants will grow in there.

It is also called a terrarium, vivarium … Here are some of the info that can be found on the web… (for kids readings).

A bottled garden since 1960:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2267504/The-sealed-bottle-garden-thriving-40-years-fresh-air-water.html

Bottled garden education:  http://wikieducator.org/Life_in_a_Bottle

How to grow a garden in a bottle:  http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-a-Garden-in-a-Bottle

Let’s get started.

First auntie Boon Ching must explained how the whole thing works!

Bottle must have rocks and soil inside...

Colette carefully places the plants into the bottle.

It is not that hard.  Let the adult put in the rocks, sands and soil, and let the kid plants their own plants.

Why the kids want to do it? 

Well, they get very excited when they hear that this bottled garden will “grow together” with them, and will survive for 10-20-30 years… or even longer… 

Inspired by the recent visit to the Lego show case at the National Library, Colette build a “watch tower” using Lego, and place it inside.

Hahaha… Not bad looking… A tower inside the bottled garden.

A job well done!

Let’s take photo with her best buddy.

Now it’s Ashlyn’s turn.

What did Ashlyn just put inside the bottle?

A small little Lego lodge/house.  Sweet!

That is a 100% happy & satisfaction smile!

Ashlyn & Jay, her playdates buddy.

Wait!  What did Kay Kay put inside?

My mini Lego Aeroplane.

My blue Lego bicycle.

His Minecraft Lego Moo-Moo cow.

Jay build a yellow tall Lego Cranes.

Kay’s Minecraft Lego pig (red colour one)...

Well, as long as the kids enjoys it.  Let them put whatever they want.

(Oh my limited edition blue Lego bicycle).

Oh ya… Don’t forget to water a lot of water into the bottled garden.  Otherwise you can make the Eco-Systems.

Finally, its time to seal it.

Still very happy to have a bottle garden of her own.

They girls are happy.

Now, here comes the facts.

Suddenly, my son asked his mommy, “Why do you use Cork to seal the bottled garden?"

Then, he suddenly talk non-English… “A cork can flow on water… but after sometimes, cork will … "

(a lot of science theory)….

Then, mommy suddenly realise her mistake….

Wahahahahaha… The cork might dried up, or the cork might suck up the water inside the bottle and transfer it outside… Just like the wine bottle cork stopper...

etc etc… 

I also don’t exactly know what was the discussion….

So, it has 51% to survive….

If it does not, don’t worry, we can always make another one with proper bottles… those comes with real glass top… So you can completely 100% seal the eco-systems inside...

Oh ya… Today’s playdate, the kids have this wonderful (actually a bit too sweet) agar-agar...

Mommy trying to make her own agar-agar birthday cake.  So, she still got 2 weeks to make it right.

The colour looks nice!

The kids seems to love it.

Ya… mommy going to make this for you...

??????

We try to have a weekly playdates for the kids.

And some how the chemistry was quite OK for the Smith’s family to join us.

The kids need a routine playdates so that they know and they can remember how much they enjoy playing together.

A playdates is about playing Legos, playing hide and seek (hiding a small object not themselves), playing with the cats, having food such as Mac & Cheese or Chicken rice, Eating desserts such as Ice Cream, Agar-agar, special event such as making clays, drawings, or making bottled garden, watching “Battle Bots” together (to inspire young girls to build fighting robots), hiding my cats under my blankets, and many more.

The kids will remember these childhood, not a kampung one, but the one that they have so much fun of.

The kids are looking forward every week to meet up for playdates.

I am glad these kids are happy!