Creative Fun with a Mini Inflatable Pool

Since being told that they were now not allowed to watch cartoons, play video games and surfing the Internet, my kids have been very creative in creating their own fun. Again, this morning I woke up to hear their loud laughter and chatting coming from the back of the house.

Yesterday they built a toy house out of foam tiles and were happily playing hide and seek. Today is no different, they somehow managed to dig out an inflatable mini pool from somewhere. I did not even know or remember we even have a mini inflatable pool... Hahaha.

They setup their mini pool up at the backyard of the house and the three of them were just having a swell time... LOL.





Earlier this month, they had somehow managed to find and setup a 6' swimming pool, and filled it up with water. They were told that they were not allowed to do that again unless specific permissions were granted. They were told that water was a scarce resource and that we do not want to waste the litres of water. (We managed to use the water to soak and clean our window curtains... LOL.)

Anyway, they are still having fun at the back while I am writing this post. It is suddenly very quiet. Hmmm... I better end this and go check on them. Cheers.

Latest Update!

My instinct was right!!! I knew it was too quiet! And this is what I get for slacking off. They have now gotten out the 6' pool and filled it with water.



Immediately, they started blaming each other for being the one to suggest taking out the pool without permission. Of course, all were pointing their fingers at their little sister, knowing that she will not be punished. We will see about that... I promised them that all will get equal punishment.

Hmm... getting quiet again!

The Kids Creating Their Own Fun!

This morning was a surprise! I woke up to my kids chatting excitingly with each other in the living room as I came down the stairs.

For the past week, their mother had banned them from watching cartoons on Astro, playing their PS2 games and YouTube-ing/gaming on their personal computers.

I think they were bored with nothing to do and decided to get creative by building their own little toy house using some foam tiles... LOL.







Initially, I was against my wife banning the kids from those "modern" fun. My point was that it is ok as long as it is not a school day. In the end she won and I left it at that... ahem!

Anyway, it turned out to be a good thing. I am reminded that kids will always make their own fun if you give them half the chance... LOL. Kind of reminded me of my pre-teen days, where I used to make my own toys.

New Year Day in Bentong Buddhist Nature Farm

On the first day of 2010, the family went on a trip to Bentong. We were invited by my sister-in-law, who came down from Ipoh, to have breakfast in Bentong and then pay a visit to a nearby Buddhist Nature Farm (together with all her Buddhist friends). My sister-in-law is a staunch practitioner of the Buddhist philosophy. She started her journey into Buddhism about 5 years ago when she became a full fledged vegetarian.

We reached the farm at about 1pm in the afternoon. The weather was just nice with enough cloud covers to make it a cooling afternoon. I took the kids for a walk around the farm. The farm is actually a sanctuary for all living things. The people who ran the farm accepts all kind of animals from anyone who wants to donate them.


The water lily lake in the farm has lots of fishes, mostly donated by the public. You can see my kids were not enthusiastic about getting their photo taken.


Things started to get exciting for them when I took them to feed the cows. They were scared at first... but after a while... no fear... LOL.


Then we went to the goat stalls and the kids just loved feeding the hungry goats.


Jodene and Jordan reluctantly looked at me, when I told them I want to take a photo of them.


A family photo with the goats.

After the "animal farm", we followed the entourage to Bentong's Hot Spring. By then it was 2 plus in the afternoon. To my surprise, the Hot Spring was right next to the highway.


A suspension bridge leading to the Karak Highway across the river. Only if you think you are as versatile as the infamous Indiana Jones, would I advise you to cross over. The planks were loose and some parts rotten.


Just opposite the suspension bridge was the Bentong Hot Spring, in it's full glory! Sad!

When we reached the Hot Spring, I wanted to leave immediately... It was very sad to see that the place was in deplorable condition. Irresponsible visitors just piled up rubbishes next to the picnic hut area. The picnic huts were dirty and the wooden floor rotting.

To make matters worse, the state government did not see the sense of maintaining this natural wonder. The guard house were run-down and all signs were hard to read. Compared to the nearby waterfall at Hutan Lipur Lentang, this place is a shame! I am no environmentalist or a tree-hugger, but I just think this is plain negligence on the State government part.

The odd thing was that you still see a lot of tourists sitting by the hot spring soaking their feet. Some even immerse themselves and their children in the water. I wish I had taken some photos of the water just to show how disgusting it was. To each, its own I suppose...

Sad!

The Kids With Their Own Swimming Pool

Early this morning, I woke up to some screaming and laughter coming from the back of the house. I was wondering what the kids were up to.

They had somehow found the 6' pool from the store and managed to filled it with water at the backyard.


The kids with a "what's daddy going to do" look.


And then the "it wasn't me" look.


In the end, they just went about their business of enjoying themselves... LOL.