Family sight-seeing in Seoul

City-hopping to Seoul!

I’m starting Tuesday off with a little review of just a few of the places we recently visited in the capital of South Korea, following an entire day of fun at their theme park, Lotte World!

Gyeongbokgung Palace was on the top of our list of places to visit. Not only is it a beautiful place set in magnificent gardens with a lake, but it’s also the perfect spot to people watch and see both locals and tourists rent stunning ‘Hanboks’ to walk around the historical sites in traditional dress.

If it hadn’t been a little on the cold side, I would have loved to have done this – the women, in particular, looked out of this world as they posed for photos in their costumes and it just gives a whole new level of authenticity to the palace.

Quite by chance, we were there to witness the changing of the guards (which takes place daily at 10am and 2pm daily) which was really interesting and especially enjoyed by the children.

The whole ceremony only lasts about 15 minutes but you hear the beating drum start and then the crowds start to appear around the main entrance gates so try to be there a few minutes ahead of time to be able to see the guards file around the courtyard before taking to their posts. Afterwards, you can then get up fairly close to them and they then seemed used to everyone taking photos of them looking very official (and serious!) in their uniforms.

Wander around the gardens and lakes and stumble across outbuildings and statues before making your way to The National Folk Museum of Korea to which you have free access with your palace ticket.

Travel through history and enjoy a look at the traditional way of life in Korea. There were lots of colourful showcases showing the traditional clothes, food, wedding ceremonies, and also a few places where you could try your hand at learning some Korean board games. There is also a dedicated Children’s museum which offers interactive play stations for the little ones. We didn’t go in, but judging by its popularity, it must be good, and offers hands-on activities for children.

We then went on to Bukchon Hanok Village a traditional cultural village which doesn’t cost anything and where you can wander the streets freely. All of these stops we did by taking the metro/underground system which was easy and reasonably priced, with machines in English to buy tickets.

With local arts n crafts, typical eateries, traditional architecture and quaint winding streets, it was a nice walk, albeit a bit hilly in places (if you’re with a stroller!). It was also another spot where people rent Hanboks and enjoy the area. There were street performers and little markets and some very cute little boutiques.

Children’s Grand Park is another great place to hang out and Korea in general is known for having so many ‘kids Cafes’ that if you need a little escape from tourism, you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice! Hello Kitty, Tayo the Bus, Pororo; they all have their themed set-ups with soft play areas and are very popular!

I have the feeling there’s a lot more yet to explore in Seoul, but as a first encounter, it was a lovely city just a 6-hour flight from KL! S x

Prepare for Snow in April with this Fun Family Event

Snow in Malaysia?! Yep, it’s gonna happen!

The heat here in Malaysia can be pretty persistent, but Aeon Malls have come up with a plan for next month…. and you’ll get the chance to cool off!

Bringing the 1st outdoor snow slide in Malaysia to its Snow Playground, children are invited along for a play in the falling snow! Build a snowman, take to the little slopes, or just have a play, this is a rare chance for some cold outdoor play in our normally warm climate!

With two Aeon Malls getting involved in April 2018, you get to pick the closest event to you to enjoy the fun experience! The first stop in April will be at Aeon Mall Rawang for two consecutive weekends starting from 3pm.

The Snow Playground then heads over to Aeon Alpha Angel Shopping Centre for the second half of April, and is available on the 20th, 21st, 22nd of April, and the 27th, 28th, 29th of April 2018

Really not something you see every day here so save the dates for a Winter Wonderland in KL! S x

A family day in Seoul – Fun at Lotte World Adventure!

No, not Berjaya Times Square.

Not a Disneyland either….

But we did get to check out this theme park in Seoul which is known for having the world’s largest indoor theme park, and so much more!

Lotte World Adventure sits in the heart of Seoul and is easily accessible by metro. Open 365 days of the year, you can go along any day to experience the different components that make up this major tourist attraction!

On first entering the main centre section, it almost looked a little empty; high domed ceilings made from glass made the place seem so large yet it was hard to identify the different attractions before us! It took us a little while to get orientated because, let’s be fair, it is the largest indoor theme park in the world, but they had a plan of the layout in English, and once we’d worked it out, we were good to get started!

Take it easy on the classic merry-go-round or a little tour on the monorail which was what we did to start as it gave us a great view down over the park, and from there, we all managed to pinpoint other rides we wanted to try!

The rides are generally very children-oriented (admittedly with height restrictions on certain attractions) and there were the good ole favourites such as bumper cars, a version of spinning teacups, raft rides and so much more.

The little ones (well they’re eight now but… you know!) had their first ever ride on a water log ‘Flume Ride’ which turned out to be very addictive (if not a little damp!) and as we had visited in the week (when Koreans were at school!) there were very few queues until late afternoon!!

For me, some of the best rides were their simulators. We’ve flown across open skies, been on a runaway boat ride, and bumped our way along on a safari Jeep, to name just a few. Really exceptional and very realistic. Flying through the air on their ‘Fly Venture’ is an absolute must. Never have I felt such breathtaking freedom soaring over different lands as they swept below me. Hats off to them on this ride – loved it!

As well as all the park attractions indoors there is an ice rink, a Folk Museum, and an outdoor island full of yet more impressive rides which is linked over from the main building by a bridge and a familiar-looking castle!

Outside there is a host of rather ‘big rides’ and some impressive attractions more suited to adults but we still did a boat ride, the swings and a 3D haunted house experience. Needless to say we were there in March when the weather wasn’t quite warm enough to spend a lot of time outside but I’m glad it was a dry day and we could at least take a peak at what was on offer.

In true theme park style, they also have parades several times a day (including their closing ceremony at 8pm with a night-glow theme!) that sees dancers and acrobats doing the circuit of the indoor section of the park.

To top it off they have performances on their central stage by artists from around the world who sing, dance and show off their colourful costumes every single day. While 95% is in Korean, it really didn’t effect mine or the children’s ability to fully enjoy the shows and get completely drawn in by the characters and mascots. After each show there was time to take photos with the cast and several other chances to meet n greet the crew throughout the day.

Heading to South Korea? This made for an amazing day trip (yes we were there for 10 hours!!) and didn’t break the bank! You can get discounted tickets online, and of course if you are resident in South Korea, you receive a reasonable discount on your entrance fees! Thank you Lotte World Adventure for a Friday very well spent! S x

99 Wonderland Park is now open in KL – and it’s Free (for a month!)

Wow! How I love something new!

Not only is 99 Wonderland Park the latest landmark to open here in KL but they are offering FREE entry to all MyKad holders for the next month!!

Come and enjoy the tranquility of this brand new recreational park that allows people to enjoy a rare nocturnal experience; set in 23 acres of land there’s a lake, waterfalls, fountains, LED lights, and a chance to interact with a wide range of birds and animals.

It is open from 6pm to 9.30pm from Monday to Thursday (6pm to 10pm on all other days/holidays) so, don’t miss out on experiencing this for FREE! What are you waiting – have a great weekend, S x

A family stay at The Conrad Seoul

When my husband needed to attend meetings in Seoul, and we realized we had some days off school, we decided to make it a little family break and discover a city that none of us had ever been to!

A getaway to the capital of South Korea saw us booking a room at the stylish Conrad Seoul, and requesting an extra bed as usual….. but we weren’t quite expecting everything else that we got as a family travelling to Seoul!!

The teepee tent set-up was an absolute winner (with Conrad teddy bears already camping out on the cushions!) but add to that the colouring books with crayons, and a selection of children’s toiletries, and our two children had it made!!

While it may have been cooler in Seoul than in KL, their indoor pool was great for families and with heated tiled flooring, it meant we were always comfortably warm!

A great hotel option for families so if you’re booking, ask about a little treat to surprise the little ones with as, needless to say, they don’t have an endless supply of tents… so don’t miss out! S x

Milky Way Playspace has opened in KL and JB!

Another day, and another NEW play space to try out with the little ones!!

This time Paradigm Mall in Petaling Jaya is the venue for the latest children’s attraction to open, and it looks impressive!

Milky Way Playspace only opened last month and offers a number of different zones to indulge in for anyone 4 years old and above! Try wall climbing, sliding, and tackling a labyrinth of suspended obstacles in ‘Tiger Cub Road’ or if that’s not for you, they also have lots of space-themed 5D games and over 70 VR games – it’s a fun zone with a bit of everything, that even adults can get involved in!

With a second location in JB at Paradigm Mall, is day we have plenty of new things to try out! Check out their Facebook page here for more info and pricing! Sx

FREE Trials at Little Kickers Malaysia.

Little Kickers is offering you a FREE trial!

The UK football academy has been so well received in Malaysia that they’ve now got over 10 clubs here! Their latest centre to open is at TTDI and to celebrate, you get to pick a day to come along and try it out for free!

Check out their FB page, Little Kickers Malaysia, here and be sure to sign up to guarantee your spot for either the 8th or the 10th of March 2018! Get the little ones out and about and making new friends, with this fun way to learn about the sport, S x

Kuala Lumpur’s New Cafe Concept is Fab For Families!

It’s time to get baking!

There’s a NEW concept store in town and I’m loving the idea behind this place!

‘Good Times DIY & Lifestyle Cafe’ is the latest family-friendly hangout to open over in MyTown Shopping Centre in Cheras, and I’m looking forward to trying it out!

The idea is a simple, but original one, come to their spacious kitchen and get baking with friends and family! They offer you the space, ingredients, equipment and a lovely new environment to get creative and to then take home your own baking!

Use it as a gathering place with school friends, or a bit of ‘mummy and me’ time, if you just fancy going along with your own children! Have a one on one moment for Mother’s Day, or even organise a little birthday party there, the choice is yours!

Decide how much time you have, then pick from a wide selection of yummy treats including cookies, brownies, sponge cakes and more, all of which are categorized as to how long you will need to perfect your creation! No reservation needed, just come along and get your aprons on!

The Cafe only opened at the end of 2017 so it is sparkling new and gives a fun and safe way to enjoy cooking with your little ones! They also offer DIY latte art on hot chocolate or you can just kick back and enjoy a coffee from the menu. Great to see yet another new concept in KL and we wish them all the best! S x