Family Special

Family Special

From the not-so-universal language of peekaboo to our top spots to take the tots, this year’s guide to traveling with the brood is packed with fun for everyone.

©Hero Images/corbis

Illustr ations by Autchar a Panphai

Family fun on the beach.

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Play time at Bollywood Veggies.

Fun on the Farm

Singapore may not be known as an agricultural haven, but its suburb of Kranji houses a cluster of farms that offers a bundle of fun for the little ones.

By Mel anie Lee. Photogr aphs by Darren Soh

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My son, Christian, has been bugging me to bring him to farms “just like my storybooks.” Amazingly enough, after some queries with my resourceful mommy network, I discover that a few farms in Kranji (kranjicountryside.com), in Singapore’s northwest corner, do cater to rambunctious toddlers. We pack our hats, sunscreen and water one weekend to channel our inner Old MacDonalds.

of vegetables and pellets to feed catfish, frogs, parrots, rabbits, guinea pigs and goats. With staff supervision, Christian even perches a parrot on his forefinger and learns that “birds need to cut their nails.” farmart.com.sg; free admission Jurong Frog Farm.

“I’m so brave catching frogs and tadpoles!” This ends up being my son’s favorite farm because it is “so slimy and the Feeding the goats at Farmart Centre.

would get at any Chinese restaurant). jurong frog farm. com.sg; free admission.

Peek-a-huh?

Parents around the world play peekaboo to delight their toddlers and, while the pastime may be universal, each country has its own vernacular for the game.

Ja-aei Bollywood Veggies.

“I feel like a real farmer!”

The four-hectare farm raises vegetables and fruits free from fertilizers, pesticides and growth hormones. That matters little to Christian, who is more taken with zipping through the rows of plants, chasing birds around the lotus pond and traipsing around the children’s garden just outside its restaurant, Poison Ivy. There’s a tree house and a retired miniature tractor there, which means we parents get to indulge in the farm’s signature banana curry (from their homegrown organic bananas) in peace. bollywoodveggies.com; free entry for kids, S$2 per adult.

Farmart Centre.

“I want to feed animals forever!” The equivalent of a village town center, here you’ll find a sprinkling of shops and stalls selling Kranji farm produce.

However, it is the animal corner that will get the kids in a euphoric state. For S$5, you are given a small basket

frogs jump so high.” We meet Uncle William, a quail farmer who is good friends with the frog farmers, who spontaneously grabs tadpoles and frogs at various life stages for Christian to coo over. There are thousands of American bullfrogs housed in this farm and their resonant cacophony of croaking leaves him transfixed for a few minutes. He’s also fascinated with the deep-fried frog meat sold at their Royal Frog Shop that smells like chicken nuggets, and why mommy seems so delighted slurping up chilled hashima (the Chinese delicacy of frog fallopian tubes, much cheaper and fresher than what you

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Jurong Frog Farm.

Hay Dairies.

“This place smells funny.”

This is Singapore’s only goat farm that supplies fresh goat

Hay Dairies.

milk locally. Christian is joined by his two best buddies for this visit. They take a while to warm up as the earthy livestock scent of the place initially puts them off, but they are soon distracted by the goats getting milked and having a chance to pet the kids. After running up and down the pens housing more than 1,000 goats of various breeds, the boys are rewarded with bottles of chocolate goat milk, free of antibiotics and preservatives.

His two friends gobble up two bottles each, but Christian stops after a few sips and says the milk tastes like grass. haydairies.com.sg; free admission.

Getting Around Rent a car for a day trip around Kranji countryside (Avis offers hourly rentals from S$44; avis. com.sg). Or hop on the Kranji Countryside Express shuttle bus (kranjicountry.com; S$3 per adult, S$1 per child) from Kranji MRT station; just note it does not stop at all the farms.

Go Now Visit this rustic side of Singapore while it’s still possible; a huge chunk of Kranji countryside has been earmarked to become military training grounds, so many farms will be gone by 2017.

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Elephant rides at Bali Safari and Marine Park.

Beach Safari

From rice terraces, to cheeky monkeys, to sandy shores, Bali has adventures in store for any type of family vacation you can dream up. Here, four experiences that should top your list.

Uh-wah

By Jacqueline De Segonz ac Arce

Safari.

For close encounters with 60 different species of wildlife, plan a trip to the Bali Safari & Marine Park (balisafarimarinepark.com; entry US$55 for adults). The park has tons to tire out your little explorers: animals, more animals, elephant rides, cultural dances and even a water park. The Tsavo Lion restaurant lets you dine in the middle of a lions’ den, with towering windows looking out at the giant cats lounging in their enclosure.

When they flash their bright feline eyes in your direction, you may end up wondering which of you is sitting down to lunch.

Sport.

Bali Barat National Park (day-pass Rp40,000 per

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person), a scenic four-hour drive from Denpasar, has all the ingredients for a family-adventure success.

Kayak, hike, snorkel, dive and explore to your heart’s content in this wilderness set in the northwest of the island.

Stay at The Menjangan (themenjangan.com; doubles from Rp2,209,090), located inside the 190-squarekilometer park, with rooms nestled in the forest or perched on the beachside, so you can squeeze every possible second into enjoying the haven of flora, fauna and underwater wonders.

Sand.

There are plenty of loungeworthy strips of coast in Bali, each with its own vibe. Head to Seminyak for a lively beach-town feel, surfing and

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the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever laid eyes on, best enjoyed in 360-degree splendor from the rooftop at the Double-Six Hotel (doublesixrooftop.com; cocktails and tapas for two Rp1,080,000), with a delicious sundowner in hand. If you’re looking for a quieter beach, check out Sanur with its lovely long boardwalk along the sand, perfect for bike rides and evening strolls.

Shorefront Maya Sanur (mayaresorts.com; doubles from Rp6,260,294) is a stunner with three elegant swimming pools to choose from, including a 158-meter lagoon pool for your Marco Polo-playing pleasure.

Scenery and Simians.

Bribe your kids into waiting while you shop the many narrow streets of boutiques in Bali’s cultural heart of Ubud with the promise of a trip to see the simians at Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (monkeyforest ubud.com; admission Rp40,000 per adult, Rp30,000 per child). But beware, the hundreds of long-tailed macaques can be mischievous and aren’t above snatching the snacks out of your hands (they are particular fond of, you guessed it, bananas).

Spend the night at the recently opened Padma Ubud (padmaresortubud.com; Family Premiere rooms from US$569), set on 11 hectares of lolling rice paddies overlooking a bamboo forest and a misty river valley, to soak in the serenity.

One of three pools at Maya Sanur.

f r o m t o p : c o u r t e s y o f B a l i S a fa r i & M a r i n e Pa r k ; c o u r t e s y o f m aya s a n u r

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