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[title]Radio and TV host Aishah Sinclair recently went to Singapore with her husband and two little girls, Soraya and Aina. Here she tells us why she thinks visiting our neighbour down south would make a great weekend getaway for the family.
You were on a trip recently with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). Tell us about it. What were the highlights?
The STB actually reached out to me a couple of years ago and invited my family and I over. I was very pleased to discover that Singapore is filled with fun things to do with the family. And as a mum, I was very excited to see all the different experiences that were very enriching, educational and yet fun for the whole family. During that trip, my family and I explored the Lee Kong Chian Natural History museum where we saw real dinosaur bones and we went to discover the Singapore Zoo. It was truly a memorable experience.
This year, the STB reached out to me to again to share my experiences travelling as an explorer mum with my family in a series that’s on their Facebook page. I love spending time with my family exploring nature, so naturally I jumped at the opportunity.
Singapore is an island of exploration, and it’s honestly very hard for me to choose a specific highlight. But if I had to choose, it would be Pulau Ubin and the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. I love Pulau Ubin for its raw beauty, and it was wonderful to see the island and all its glory preserved for the younger generations. And the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens is fun, educational and a great way to keep the kids occupied.
Photo: Singapore Tourism Board
If you could give a weekend itinerary to Singapore for a family, what would you advise them to see and do?
I would first fly down with my kids the day before so they can rest up for the weekend.
On Saturday, take a bumboat ride from the mainland to Pulau Ubin and spend the whole day there. You could rent a bike and cycle around the island, go for a picnic or have lunch at a local restaurant. The island is quite big, so you’d want to take your time and not rush.
During my trip, I had the privilege of meeting a fellow nature lover and guide Subaraj and my family had a fun time exploring the sensory trails with him and visiting the last Malay kampung in Singapore. And there are so many more things you can do on the island!
Sunday would be a good day to head to Sentosa Island. Start with Resorts World Sentosa and visit the Adventure Cove Waterpark. Then after lunch, head over to the SEA Aquarium for a couple of hours to be wowed by the marine animals.
If you have older children, you could add in a few more activities, especially at night; you could watch the Spectra – Light and Water Show at the Marina Bay Sands area (which is free for public) or go fly an LED kite under the stars at Marina Barrage.
Photo: Singapore Tourism Board
What are your views on family getaways, ie time to bond, have fun, and connect and why should families make it a point of going away together whenever they can?
Time spent away as a family is extremely important. Ever since I started working on radio and my husband went back to working full-time we’ve had less time to spend with the kids. And now thanks to smartphones we can work on the go, even on the weekends when we’re supposed to be spending quality time with the family!
That’s why to me, it’s important to plan family getaways so you can deliberately shut down, tell your office and clients that you’ll be away, get in the right mood and really enjoy the time off with the family.
During these breaks, when everybody is relaxed, that’s when you can really catch up and bond.
Any tips for parents on how to travel smart with kids?
Plan your trip around their routines. The younger they are, the more they need familiarity. I always try to stick to their meal, snack and nap times. I learned my lesson travelling with my older daughter; she missed her naps and became cranky, which in turn became a challenge for me.
Photo: Singapore Tourism Board
What is your dream family holiday destination and why?
I’d love to take my family on a caravan trip around the South Island of New Zealand; we’d go on short hiking trips, stargaze in the dark reserves and maybe even see the Southern Lights. I’ll have to wait for the girls to be a little older though.
For more information, visit Singapore Tourism Board's Facebook page.