"Wicked" Musical

We were fortunate to be in Singapore to watch the final performance of the Musical Wicked at the Marina Bay Sands on 27.04.2025. This marked our third time watching a musical production having previously seen the Lion King Musical in August 2018 and the Aladdin Musical in August 2019.

Earlier this year, we had watched the movie adaptation of "Wicked" in a cinema in Singapore, so seeing Act 1 performed live was truly magical. The highlight was undoubtedly Elphaba's ascent into the air during "Defying Gravity" - a breathtaking moment that left a lasting impression!

In contrast,  Act 2 was more complex and harder to follow. It shifted to a darker, more political and introspective tone, lacking the vibrant energy or surprises that made the first half so captivating.

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Watching Wicked was the last special moment we shared with Livvie and Maddie before flying back the next day. After the show, before saying good-bye to Sam, Rachel, Livvie and Maddie, we enjoyed a final dinner together at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beers.

A Short Walk along Singapore Rail Corridor

After dropping off Maddie for her playtime with friends at home, it was Livvie's turn to spend time with her grandparents. Her dad chose to do trekking at the old rail corridor - a unique way to spend time outdoors together. We drove to a public car park approx. mid-point of the 22Km former railway line that once connected Woodlands and Tanjong Paga to begin our walk. 

Following the closure of  the railway service and the return of the land to Singapore, the Singapore Government decided to preserve the former railway reserve as a heritage and nature trail. The vision was to retain its historical significance while transforming it into a vibrant, biodiversity-rich green corridor that supports walking, cycling and community activities.

There was another reason why Sam chose to bring me here - to show me the improvement he had made since being appointed as a consultant to upgrade the corridor's infrastructure for public convenience.

Back when the railway was still operational, the only access beneath the elevated rail track was a narrow vehicular underpass. For pedestrians heading to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, using this tunnel was rather dangerous. Sam's contribution was to design a separate underpass specifically for pedestrians and cyclists, significantly improving both safety and accessibility. 

Original vehicular underpass at left.
New underpass for pedestrians and cyclists at right.

New underpass.

Father and Son!

This area under an elevated highway adjacent to the Rail

Corridor is earmarked for improvement,

Former Bukit Timah Railway Station.

We began our trek from the public car park near the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Livvie has certainly grown. She completed the 3.5Km walk with barely a compliant. After reaching the furthest point of our walk - the Former Bukit Timah Railway Station, we stopped by BikeCraft One Bicycle Servicing & Cafe on our way back to enjoy a refreshing drink.

Before we wrapped up our day after the trek, Livvie had one more surprise waiting for her. We handed her two special gifts from her cousin Gracie, brought all the way from WA. Her eyes lit up with excitement, beaming with joy at the thoughtful presents - a cherished set of storybooks Gracie wanted to pass down to her cousin and another mysterious gift Gracie had told me earlier with a grin, "It's a secret!".

It was a perfect ending of a day filled with adventure and connection!

"Best Day Ever in My Whole Life!"

After a heartwarming trip to WA, our family reunion continued in Singapore. On this occasion, Livvie and Maddie's parents thoughtfully coordinated individual sessions for each of the girls to spend quality time with their grandparents. A simple idea - yet it turned into something deeply meaningful.

We had just over an hour with Maddie at the Woodleigh Mall - but what a beautiful time it was. 

Since April is her birthday month, she lit up at the chance to pick a birthday gift of her choice. Watching her browse with intent, weighing her options, and finally choosing her present - it felt like we were witnessing a little milestone in independence and joy. It wasn't just about the gift; it was about the moment, shared with grandparents from across the South China Sea.

Next came a snack of her choice (of course!), and a stop at a nearby playground before lunch. There in the late morning sun, we watched her run, laugh and climb - completely in her element!

We ended our short outing with a cozy lunch at Little Italy, joined by her parents, Sam and Rachel. After lunch and on the way to the car park, she looked up, her eyes bright and beaming with smiles and said: "Today is the best day ever in my whole life!"

That one sentence - so pure, so sincere - captured everything that the reunion would be. Sometimes, it's not the grand gestures that matter most, but the small, shared moments that linger in the heart.

Post meeting photo - Playing her birthday present!

Food - The Bridge that Connects Hearts at Every Family Reunion

Whether we are meeting up at restaurants or sharing a home-cooked meals around family table, eating together during family reunions is always a special time to connect and bond. These shared meals are really the heart of the gathering, bringing together love, stories and laughs that everyone will remember.

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After exploring the Wungong Dam (Read here), Meng Haw drove us to the Last Drop Elizabethan at Bedfordale where we had our lunch - pizzas paired with a beer tasting!

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At Hello Spice in Canning Vale, I was surprised to find that some of the foods at this outlet were priced quite a bit lower than most other places. The grandchildren contended that it may be because of some of the food preparation and cooking are done with the help of equipment, which helps cut down on labour costs!

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Apart from eating out, we had lots of great home-cooked meals at Serene's place during that short holidays. The cheese platter she put together on 21.04.2025 was a meal worth remembering!

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A day before flying home on 23.04.2025, Serene's family took us to orchards in Roleystone to look for persimmons. After buying several packs to bring home, Meng How proceeded to look for a nearby place for lunch. We eventually followed a side lane that led us to Naked Apple Cider.

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Just before going to the Perth Airport to catch our flight to Singapore, Serene's family took us for lunch at Uncle 6 Nanyang Hawker Cuisine in Willetton. This is a new restaurant that serves one of my favorite foods - Fried Fish Wings Mee Hun Soup. Incidentally, this is the third outlet after Bateman Chinese Eating House and Two Hands Noodles Shop in WA which serve this dish.