Expecting with a Budget

We haven’t actually announced this on any social media, but we will be expecting a new arrival to the family pretty soon! So I think it is pretty apt for me to post about some of the good deals I got from overseas online shops. It is extremely expensive to raise a baby, even more so for Singaporeans with all the inflated prices. Many items are so much more affordable if you can get them direct from the US/UK and we managed to do so with bulk of the items that we purchased for our little one.

iHerbGood for mommies who want to take a more natural, non-toxic approach because they carry Earth Mama Angel Baby and Badger Company, two very well-known brands in US but the prices are grossly inflated in Singapore. They also carry Weleda, Munchkin and Summer Infant products but I find these items cheaper on Amazon.

Amongst all that I purchased a number of oils i.e. grapeseed, coconut and argan. I really like argan oil for my stretch marks but switched to coconut and grapeseed oil because it was getting expensive. I prefer this to Bio Oil because it is natural and it absorbs much faster than Palmer’s. These oils are also great for baby massages!

For the mommies who are suffering from UTI, you can also get the cranberry concentrate from Dynamic Health, much more affordable than the ones in Singapore. Thayers witch hazel is something that I used very often as I had some heat / pimple rash on my chest and back, but you can also get it for about the same price on Qoo10.

Use my code FQF079 to get additional $5 off! Also, check iHerb and your email often as they do offer 10% discounts occasionally and discounts for certain brands too.  Shipping from iHerb is pretty cheap with Singpost and the items usually arrive within 2 weeks. The only issue I have with them is the packaging problem, 2 out of my 9 orders had items which leaked and had to be refunded. Thankfully their customer service had greatly improved over the past year and they are more willing to offer compensations for such cases.

AmazonIt’s a little trickier ordering Amazon since the key point is to qualify for their free AmazonGlobal Shipping. Only certain products are eligible and you have to buy at least USD$125.
The following are the links to the items we bought:

1. Philips Avent BPA Free Natural Infant Starter Gift Set
2. Philips AVENT Breast Milk Storage Cups : Avent products are much much cheaper on Amazon, even cheaper as compared to Baby Fairs.
3. Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar : We couldn’t find this in stock when we went to Japan and were so happy that this can be purchased from Amazon!
4. aden + anais Classic Muslin Swaddle Blanket : The cheaper ones always on sale in Mothercare are made in China and are smaller in size. From the Amazon reviews, the 47 inch ones are much better in quality and they are almost never on offer in Singapore.
5. Munchkin White Hot Inflatable Duck Tub : This is super super expensive in Singapore, we purchased this so that we can have a place to bathe the little one when we stay in budget accomodations overseas.
6. Dynarex Disposable Underpad : This super unglam item is reccommended for use as a disposable changing pad.
7. OXO Tot Bottle and Accessories Drying Rack : Another must-have but much cheaper when purchasing from Amazon. I prefer this design because the ‘sticks’ don’t go all the way into the bottles, which I find a little unhygenic.
8. Weleda Baby Calendula Body Lotion : Recommended by Hello Charlie as a good moisturizing lotion for baby.
   

Target
We also made a one-time purchase from Target, mainly for Medela items since they don’t qualify for shipping on Amazon, so it was either we purchased them via a forwarder or we get them from Target. There was a one-off $30 discount for items over $150 so we went with target.
he following are the links to the items we bought:

1. Medela Pump In Style Advanced 9 Volt Power Adaptor
2. Medela Breast Pump Accessory Set
3. Lansinoh Milk Storage Bag 100 Ct : this is cheaper on Amazon so don’t purchase it from Target unless like us, you need to hit the minimum amount.

 

Land of the Rising Sun: Osaka (Day 2)

For our second day in Osaka, we visited the Instant Ramen Museum and Minoo Park. Both areas can be reached by Hankyu Line (not part of the Osaka subway) and we purchased the Hankyu Tourist Pass and the Osaka Enjoy! Eco Card to cover the trips for the day.

The main highlight of the museum is that you get to create your own instant ramen! First you purchase a cup, then choose your seasoning followed by the toppings and they will sealed it up for you. You also get to decorate the cups with your own design. The end product is really delicious, especially since the staff there are very generous with the toppings.After the ramen museum, we stopped by Ippudo Ramen for a quick lunch before we headed to Minoo Park, famous for the autumn foliage at that time of the year. It was unfortunate that we were there on a holiday because it was jam packed with locals! We didn’t manage to try any of the fried autumn leaves because the queue was way too long.The waterfall is a bit of a walk from the station but you get to enjoy the view as you go. There are small shops along the way if you get hungry.
After Minoo Park we headed back to Dotonburi for dinner at Botejyu, famous for their Okonomiyaki! We strolled around a little more and did some grocery shopping before heading back to the apartment.

Land of the Rising Sun: Osaka (Day 1)

We landed, exhausted from the lack of sleep, in Osaka at noon. Unfortunately, three flights landed concurrently and we took about an hour to get through the customs.

We wanted to get to Namba from Kansai International Airport and the fastest way is via the Nankai Limited Express which takes you about 35 minutes. We purchased this Yokoso! Osaka ticket online and exchanged for the pass and tickets at the counter. This ‘ticket’ covers the price of the limited express ticket, the seat reservation and also gives you a 1-day pass for travelling on the subway. It is extremely worth it since the limited express train ride from the airport would have cost you ¥1430 and single trips on the Osaka subway costs ¥180. Furthermore, you can choose to use the 1-day pass on the same day or the next day! However in Japan, you can almost always find a cheaper but more time consuming alternative to get to the same place. This ‘ticket’ may not be the most suitable if you are heading to Shin-Osaka or Umeda.
After meeting our Airbnb hosts and dropping off our luggage we wasted no time at all and made our way to Dotonbori. There were several mouth watering food options and each restaurant comes with their version of eye-popping signboards to catch our attention. It was definitely a feast for the senses!  The many signs of dotonburi and the famous Glico man! The place was jam packed with locals from 5pm. It was there that we realize that Japanese love queuing as much as Singaporeans. We spent most of the night wandering around the canal area and taking in the sights and sounds. We managed to find Hozenji Yokocho Alley but we didn’t head into any of the restaurants and unfortunately the Doguyasuji Kitchen Market and Kuromon Ichiba were almost closing when we got there so we didn’t really get to explore the area.

Osaka Airbnb Review: Tom and Meli’s Apartment

We chose to stay at Tom and Meli’s because of the good location, close to subway and it was quite affordable as well! It is a medium size one bedroom apartment although for us (four adults and one infant), it was quite tight. Tom met us at the apartment and went through on how to use the amenities, the safety evacuation route, the nearest hospital and the checkout procedure. They also provided a 3G wifi device what makes navigating around Osaka much easier. There are several eateries around the place and also a large supermarket just a few minutes walk.

Strong wifi is available in the apartment. The kitchen is well equipped with pots and utensils. The bathroom comes with an automatic bathtub filler and a washer AND dryer! It is a miracle how the Japanese makes clever use of space in their apartments. My wife and I slept on the sofa bed in the living room while my sister-in-law’s family were in the bedroom.

Sky Report: CX714/CX594 Singapore to Osaka via Hong Kong

With the yen dropping to all time low in 2014, we decided to make a trip to Japan in November. Planning a F&E trip in Japan is not easy due to language barrier. Fortunately, with the help of google translate and google maps, the missus was able to piece together a nine-day trip in Osaka,Kyoto and Tokyo. The first step will be to land in Osaka airport. Due to limited premium cabin redemption options, I convinced the wife to fly on Cathay instead and experience their new first class cabin as well as their much lauded lounges in Hong Kong International Airport(HKIA).

We first flew a red-eye flight on CX714 from Singapore to HKIA. Flying Cathay business class out from Changi Airport Terminal 1 gave us the chance to experience the newly refurbished Qantas Lounge. It was a really nice lounge with ample seating. There was a separate dining area where we could order food off the menu and also a small buffet spread. The plane was a regional type with non-flat 2-3-2 seating which was not too comfortable(still better than economy though). We arrived at HKIA at 5.30am with my wife feeling pretty exhausted(sorry dear!). Our outgoing flight to Osaka was in Cathay first class. That gave us the opportunity to visit the cabana at the Pier. After a invigorating shower, we had breakfast at the restaurant, tried the noodles at the noodle bar and bread from the bakery before boarding the plane that will take us to Osaka.

The plane features Cathay new herringbone seats with 1-2-1 arrangement in business class and 1-1-1 arrangement in first class. It was refreshing trying out a product other than SQ(not that I am complaining). We had lunch together in the cabin sitting opposite each other. Before long we were approaching Osaka airport(KIX) and I found the landing gear camera extremely fascinating. Overall, it was a good lounge and flight on Cathay airlines although the red eye experience is not favored by the missus.

Japan – I can never get enough of it!

Japan has to be one of my favourite countries to visit, it holds a different place in my heart as compared to Australia. I can never get enough of Japan, I always yearn to return to Japan almost immediately after I leave and I get so jealous of my friends who are there! Amazing sights, mouth-watering food and wonderfully polite and helpful people – there isn’t a better way to travel to unwind.

Another reason for my love for this place is because it is home to my favourite animation director, Hayao Miyazaki and one of the most talented composer, Joe Hisashi. I am a big fan of his animation and evidently, Totoro is one of his most popular characters. Probably because this is one of his less solemn films, my favourite is still Spirited Away and I absolutely adore Sootballs!

One of my absolute favorite places in Japan is Hokkaido, my sister planned a family trip back in Summer 2010 and we had such an amazing time there. Our posts will cover our trip in Autumn 2014 where we visited the Kansai area i.e. Osaka, Nara and Kyoto and we visited Hakone and Tokyo.

As usual, I use Google Maps for planning and locating landmarks that we would be interested in visiting.

As some of the famous landmarks are pretty close together, I planned some walking directions on our itinerary too; always help to find ways to unknowingly burn calories as you travel. I managed to find comprehensive guides at the Japan National Tourism Official Website. The following links will allow you to download the guides.

• Osaka Guide
• Nara Walks
• Hakone Guide
• Kyoto Walks
• Tokyo Walks

We visited Japan from 22nd November to 30th November in 2014, specifically for the viewing of autumn bloom i.e. koyo. Japan guide with its awesome Autumn Color Reports will guide you to where you can see the best leaves!

One thing to take note, planning your own itinerary in Japan takes a little time, especially if you are trying your best to travel on a budget. Mainly because there are usually different railway companies in each city and each of them have their own passes. After lots of research (and website translation), we found the optimum way to move around each city based on our itinerary and will cover them in the following posts. So stick around!

WA Road Trip: Rottnest Island & Penguin Island

A long trip to Perth will not be completed without a visit to these two off-shore island; Rottnest Island and Penguin Island!

We visited Rottnest Island in 2011 and explored the island on bicycles, it can also be explored by bus or on foot. The island is serviced by 45-minute ferry rides from Perth and Fremantle; the Fremantle port is located at B Shed, Victoria Quay (near E Shed Markets). We rented bicycles and helmets (compulsory) from the rental shop and spent the entire day exploring the island.

It is best to prepare some food to snack along the way and for pit-stops to rest and enjoy the scenery. Some parts of the ride are pretty challenging so do be prepared for sore bums and burning legs.

Along the way, remember to keep a lookout for the quokka, the happiest animal in the world!

We visited Penguin Island which was located close to our Rockingham base in 2011. The more adventurous and young-at-heart can take a walk on the sandbar from the shore to the island during low tides. It can be quite nerve-wrecking as you can’t really see the path that you are taking through the water. One can always opt for ferry services that are available.

As the name suggests, the island is a penguin sanctuary. There is a penguin conservation center which holds penguin shows and education talks. We attended the show and then proceeded to walk around the island to do some penguin spotting.

They can be found huddling in caves or hiding beneath the staircases, please refrain from touching them! You would also see many different types of birds on the island, try not to approach their nests as they are really territorial and will attack you.

WA Road Trip: Caversham Wildlife Park and Lancelin Dunes

A must-visit location in Perth for animal lovers and families with small children is Caversham Wildlife Park. The park has enough activities to keep the family occupied for an entire day, it offers lots of chances to get up-close and personal with kangeroos, koala bears, wombats, etc. Just make sure you check the time for the meet-up sessions so that you won’t miss it.

After the park, we drove to Lancelin dunes which is known for its sandsurfing. This spot is north of Perth and quite out of the way, we actually got lost and had to ask a local for help. The boards have to be rented BEFORE getting to the dunes from any of the local shops (look out for the signs). Once there, climb the dunes and try your hand at sandsurfing! This is not an easy activity and it would be good to have a change of clothes; the sand is extremely fine and it gets into everything!

WA Road Trip: Perth City

Perth is the largest city in Western Australia. Accommodation is expensive here so our previous stays had us staying in towns outside of Perth, such as Fremantle and Rockingham and then driving into Perth for a day trip. Be prepared to spend loads just on parking fees.

We visited the Perth Mint and attended their interesting tour on the mining history of Australia. Photos are not allowed during the making of the gold bar but overall we liked the tour as it was informative and the guide was entertaining.

Kings Park is a large park overlooking Perth City with lots of trees with open spaces and playgrounds for kids to just run about. There are trails to walk through and restaurants to sit down and have a meal. There are even free BBQ pits with electric grills to have a family BBQ picnic!

The back of the Kings Park also leads to Blue Boat House, famous place for wedding photos and scenic shots; although you need to cross a rather busy road to reach the house. Sadly it seems that we are no longer allowed to walk on the platform.

 

 

WA Road Trip: Fremantle

Fremantle is a popular coastal city that is just a thirty minutes drive away from Perth City. Dropping by Fremantle or “Freo” for short, is a must-do for almost anyone visiting Western Australia. Attractions include the Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Market, E-Shed Market and the famous fish and chips at the harbour. We visited Kailis in 2011 and Cicerello later in 2015; we preferred Cicerello!

Fremantle Market is a weekend market that is comprised of two halls. The first hall is made up of a number of stores selling souvenirs, toys and other touristy stuff. The second hall is made up of food stalls and fresh fruits and vegetables stalls. It is a lively place to walk around in but do take note that parking is limited and expensive.

E-Shed Market, a short drive away from the Fremantle Market, is open on weekends as well. This whole place is almost entirely made up of stalls selling souvenir which are much cheaper than those found in Fremantle Market.

We stumbled on this lighthouse on our 2015 trip, lovely place with scenic views but very very windy!We also visited Fremantle Prison and did two tours, each lasting about an hour. The tour guide made the content entertaining and fun to listen to.