Siam Ocean World - Friso Go Explore! Bangkok With Children Day 1

So excited, our trip starts courtesy of Friso Go Explore!

In anticipation of the flight to BKK

I just realized it's their first meal on-board of a flight, they didn't get to have in-flight meal last year as did not pre-order for the AirAsia flight. No wonder they are looking so happy :)

Enjoying their children's meal and activity book on Thai Airways

Took a bus to the airport terminal after landed

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is big, when we landed, we have to take a bus to the airport terminal. Passport control is done quickly, everyone have to look into a webcam to have our photo taken :) We were met at the arrival hall by our transfer arrangement to hotel. We're staying at Hotel Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, chose this hotel for its city center location and proximity to Siam BTS station. We touchdown around 11am but there's already traffic jam.

Check-in at Novotel Siam Square is a quick breezy process. We had requested for extra bed which was not in the room so we waited for housekeeping to bring it. The extra bed makes the room really small, but still sufficient to house the 4 of us. Most important is the hotel is clean and tidy.

We went to Siam Paragon for lunch and to visit Siam Ocean World. Siam Paragon is less than 5 minutes walk away from the hotel. The Asian Food Hall is jam-packed with people, but the food (self-service) is quick and efficient. With the Siam Ocean World housed here, there are a few nice fish tanks and we sit at table with fish tank full seaweeds and small fishes. Food is tasty (I don't have much experience with Thai food though) and reasonably priced, we were too hungry to take much photos except the pineapple fried rice which looked special :) I had Thai beef noodles which taste good compared to what I had before back home. 弟弟 had rice with braised pork.

Mascots from Siam Ocean World walking around to attract visitors

There's 20% discount vouchers being distributed at the entrance of Siam Paragon if purchase tickets directly. We had our tickets pre-booked, given only handwritten paper receipt. Seems like the local tours are using this style, as Siam Ocean World honoured the paper receipt with no issue.

Off to Siam Ocean World!

Siam Ocean World Zone 1: Weird and Wonderful

Rainforest with water rats & otters,  Rocky Shore with penguins

Penguin Feeding Show and open tank opposite the penguins

Deep Reef - 8m high coral tank and Open Ocean 270-degree tunnel

Shark Feeding Show - sharks feed on tuna here!

Went around the Open Ocean tunnel again to get to Eagle Ray Feeding Show. Eagle Rays eat shellfish.

Diver's Communication Show and a funny fish tank where the children can take photos

They enjoyed the Touch Pool and were trying to get a feel of the tiny fishes

Tuk-tuk fish tank and shark teeth display

Interactive play with ocean theme, very fun for the kids!

Back to Rainforest for water rat and otter feeding show. Also saw stingray feeding Show.

Water rat feed on carrots, long beans and veggies. Otters did some tricks and feed on small fishes, shrimps and long beans. One of the otters was sticking his paws around the other tank where the water rats were being fed while waiting. The stingrays are fed small fishes and shrimps. This giant sting ray here flapped about and splashed water out of the open tank to get attention, amusing :)

A ride around the aquarium in the Glass Bottom Boat costs 150B per person, and the cup of shrimp costs 100B each. The staff pulled us around the tanks, but I didn't pay attention on how he did it as we were busy feeding shrimps to the fishes. Worth it as the children enjoyed this activity so much! We saw sharks, eagle rays and many fishes from the glass bottom. And the fishes swarm around the boat whenever we threw shrimps overboard. This is our last activity at the aquarium area.

Glass Bottom Boat Ride, and feeding shrimps

The area outside for photo taking

Next we went for the 4-D cinema which costs 250B per person. The story is about the Little Prince who went on an adventure with the fox to look for the missing Rose. 爸爸 says it's not 刺激 enough (not enough shaking and nosedive as the chair is not moving much compared to Universal Studios Singapore's Shrek 4D) but the children enjoyed it. Final photo with a shark, which to the children, all sharks are now called Julius after they saw SeeFood.

At the 4-D cinema and with "Julius"

We were able to cover all the shows we wanted to see and more, also took the boat ride and 4-D cinema that we planned. There is enough time between shows that it's not rushed, only appreciated this after going through Safari World. How is Siam Ocean World compared to Aquaria KLCC or Singapore Sentosa's Underwater World? Well, Siam Ocean World is a lot more colourful compared to what I remember of Aquaria KLCC. That's because some of the marine life are actually "imported", even though they still showcase the local marine life. Aquaria KLCC is more focused on local marine life thus the brownish and drab type from the rivers and some corals. Not really able to compare Singapore's Underwater World as they have the outdoor Dolphin Lagoon with live shows. However dolphins didn't perform when we visited last year (they were "busy"). For indoor portion, the children think Siam Ocean World is more interesting.  

This is from Siam Ocean World brochure with show times

Walked back to the hotel for quick freshen up and back to Siam Paragon for quick dinner as we're tired from all the walking up and down Siam Ocean World. That's the beauty of being so close-by. 弟弟 just had to have pineapple fried rice, 姐姐 had sticky fried noodles and I had rice with spicy minced chicken. Flaming hot for my tastebud! After dinner, we were strolling around and saw that they are preparing for the Siam Paragon Bangkok Royal Orchid Paradise. The beautiful white peacock is still work-in-progress as we saw it the next day with full white tail!

Siam Paragon Bangkok Royal Orchid Paradise

And they just had to have Nemo in their memory too :)

There's a night market right outside Siam BTS station but we're just not able to walk anymore! Back at the hotel, the children enjoyed the cartoon channel called Boomerang.

Check out our holiday here:
Friso Go Explore! Contest - We are so lucky!
Day 1: Siam Ocean World (this post)
Day 2: Bangkok Dream World
Day 3: Bangkok Safari World
Day 4: Chatuchak Weekend Market and Chao Phraya boat ride

This is not a sponsored post.

Wizardbrush - computer class holiday camp

姐姐 is always very interested in computer class and also anything to do with art/drawing. When her computer class teacher told the children about the holiday camp they have for school holidays, 姐姐 bring back the notice and ask to attend this class - Wizardbrush. We paid RM65 for her to attend at her school.

She spent 3 days for this holiday camp, each session is 2 hours. She enjoyed the class and liked the pictures she drew in class. The yellow flowers, the river scene look so mature. The angry bird and little yellow chick are so cute.

She also got a little souvenir and attendance certificate (all the children who went got it). But she said she wanted to join the holiday camp because she likes drawing and computer. Of course, the teacher allow them to play computer games when they finish their work for the day, and she look forward to that too :)

In fact she attended the previous holiday camp during 2011 year end holiday too. That was called Gold Wave and it's cut-and-mix sound clips. I do wonder if she still remember how to do the simple sound file editing, but she remember the 小礼物 and cert very well.

Enjoying KFC breakfast

First day of the school holiday, we went to KFC for breakfast. The children loved the a.m. Cheezy Egg Bun Combo with hot Milo. Good to occupy their time at the indoor playground and for the parents some free time to read newspaper :)

Mmm.. can't wait to eat you Cheezy Egg Bun

This hairstyle is gone by afternoon

Slurp... I hope she will be more ladylike but ...

Mmm..

The Cheezy Egg Bun is just right for children

Friso Go Explore! Contest - We are so lucky!

爸爸 won one of the weekly prize for Friso Go Explore! Contest. His name is on Friso's Facebook, and it's all so exciting making arrangements to go for an all-expense paid holiday! The holiday package includes flight tickets and hotel accommodation for 2 adults and 2 children, and theme park tickets to selected destination. I mean, who would have thought the children's milk powder company will sponsor a holiday for us? And we had fun at the Friso Growing Up Together Day at Queensbay Mall when we submitted the contest form.

We choose to go to Bangkok Dream World as it seems more suitable for our children. We had already been to Singapore Sentosa Island last year ourselves. Bangkok might not be a super popular destination for holiday with children but we found enough stuff to do to fill our holiday to the brim. Check out our holiday here:

Day 1: Siam Ocean World
Day 2: Bangkok Dream World
Day 3: Bangkok Safari World
Day 4: Chatuchak Weekend Market and Chao Phraya boat ride

Dessert at 鲜芋仙 Meet Fresh, Gurney Plaza

It's public holiday! As we missed our outing for quite some time since 爸爸 is always travelling, he brings us out for lunch. Just discovered this new dessert shop at Gurney Plaza called 鲜芋仙 Meet Fresh. They sell Taiwanese style dessert, considered reasonably priced for Gurney Plaza. RM6.50 for most of the hot/cold desserts, up to RM5.90 for most of the drinks, of course there are drinks like shaved ice which are more premium range. Loads of people there during the weekend we were there. See the queue, never stops the whole time we were there. The bowl of dessert is big, right?

Slurp, slurp, drink

Eat, eat, munch, munch

Only 姐姐 will volunteer to give up the jelly for 弟弟