Yoomi Feeding System [Review and Giveaway]

Baby Louie was given the opportunity to try out a revolutionary new bottle feeding system (to me, in Singapore at least) by the kind folks from AT Marketing, PR and Food Consultancy and I was ecstatic when I read about how the Yoomi system warms milk to the correct temperature of 32 – 34 degree Celsius with the press of a button EVERY time, for I had been lugging a thermos flask of hot water, mineral bottles of plain water and milk powder in my backpack every time the family goes out for a long outing.  It would be AWESOME if I can shave off some kilos from my backpack by using the Yoomi feeding system!

Little Louie looked really happy with his new "toy"!

Feeding System Quick Overview 

So let me run through very briefly with you on how the system works! 

1. The feeding system consists of a Yoomi bottle, feeding teat and an alien-looking warmer. 
2. One needs to “recharge” the warmer either by (a) microwaving, (b) boiling OR (c) steaming it. (Choose one method)
3. Let the warmer cool down fully for around 75 minutes and it will be ready for use. 
4. To use, one only need to press an orange button on the warmer through the teat. 
5. Place the bottle upside down with the cap on and viola, you will have milk at the right temperature for your baby in just 60 seconds! 

The full set consist of the bottle, teat, collar, cap, microwave pod and warmer.

Our Experience 

I had brought the system along on our family trip to Japan last week.  I do not have a microwave oven at home but the apartment we stayed in had one so I took the opportunity to try it out there.  The microwave recharging method consists of two simple steps.  That is microwaving the warmer in its special microwave pod for the duration of its Stage 1 timing (to be determined on the first “charge”), followed by shaking the warmer for 30 seconds, and microwaving the warmer again for another 30 seconds and shaking it for a final 10 seconds.
  

So I had to determine the Stage 1 timing by microwaving the warmer for a first 60 seconds and removing it from the microwave and try shaking.  If there is no rattling sound from the warmer, one would need to put it back into the microwave oven for another 10 seconds and try again.  My warmer rattled on the first 60 seconds, so I needn’t try again.  My Stage 1 time was determined to be 60 seconds on 75 watt power.   Are you confused already?  Don't worry for it's really pretty straightforward IF you follow the step-by-step instructions given.  

My personal understanding of this system is, one needs to heat the substance in the warmer first to liquefy it, hence the rattling sound of ball bearings when shook.  Once the activation button is pressed, the substance will release heat and slowly solidify again, till the next recharge. 

Now the joke.  When I finally needed to use the warmer in Japan and I tried pressing the button through the teat, I realized that the button was damn hard.  I tried a couple of times and failed to move the button a teeny bit.  I re-read the instructions again and realized that I forgot to microwave and shake for the second time when I first calibrated the warmer! 

The red activation button at the top cannot be pressed until the warmer is being "recharged" and the substance inside liquefy.

Also, my first try (after finally recharging properly) with the bottle on Louie in Japan didn't work, as he probably wasn't used to a different teat but I was determined to test the bottle and warmer out and I got Leroy to try it for me instead.  He obliged, and was equally fascinated by how his cold milk warmed up so fast with the bottle in his hands!  His only grouse though, was that the milk flow was too slow for his liking (for it was meant for Louie in the first place anyway)!

Testing out the system on Louie while the older kids are at play.  Holding it upside down for 60 seconds to warm the milk up!

After we came back to Singapore, I brought the system out to an event and finally got to use it on Louie. This time round he took to the teat easily and had warm milk within a minute!  The system worked perfectly as it should.  Louie is an extremely impatiently baby and would cry out if he doesn’t get his milk fast enough, but not this time!

Little Louie enjoying his perfectly warmed milk without fuss!

Pros 

1. The warmer takes away the need for guesswork for the right temperature and one will never overheat the milk which can cause the loss of nutrients. I sometimes do overheat the milk myself, and have to end up running the bottle under running tap water while listening the sound of crying Louie in the background. 
2. It is fast to warm, and reduces the possibility of milk contamination, especially if one uses the “bottle in hot water” method for warming up milk which takes a lot time. Even worst if one have to defrost the frozen breast milk.  
3. Reduced weight and possible water spillage in MY backpack! (the more bottles one carry, the higher the risk of water spillage) 

Cons 

1. The charging of the warmer isn't really that fast. Microwaving is the fastest, at around 2 minutes and the longest would be boiling for 30 minutes. Whichever method you use, the warmer needs to be cooled down for 75 minutes before use.  (You can cheat a little by placing it in cold water but then it wouldn't be sterile) 
2. The warmer can only be used ONCE and needs to be recharged. So if one goes on a long trip, multiple warmers IS required. 
3. In local context, one may find less use for the system at home, for one would probably have an electric thermos pot and if going out, many eating places would gladly provide warm water. 

I personally loved the practicality of having a few warmers in my backpack instead of water on my trips out with the baby.  The warmer had fulfilled its intended use of warming up the milk really well and now you can stand a chance to own a set of your own too!  Just follow the steps below to get one at a discounted price –

The "Perfect" Father Fan Discount

Additional 5% discount on the purchase of Yoomi feeding system launch (Booth A26) at Baby Market 2014 happening from 02-05 Oct 2014 @ Singapore Expo Hall 4 just by quoting The “Perfect” Father or simply by showing this blog post. 

Usual price = $59.90, 

Launch price = $49.90 + Free 5oz bottle worth $18.90

Your special price when you quote my blog (The “Perfect” Father) = $47.40 

Discount not enough? You can stand to win a set of Yoomi Feeding Set 8oz worth $59.90 for your baby simply by following the steps below – 

Yoomi Feeding Set 8oz Giveaway

1. “Like” and “Share” Yoomi SG FB page 
2. Post the comment “I Love Yoomi / The "Perfect" Father” on Yoomi SG page directly, and tag 5 friends in a comment under your original post. 
3. Giveaway ends on Friday, 10 Oct so keep your fingers crossed and wait for your winner announcement from Yoomi SG!  Winner will be chosen by Yoomi SG. 

Meanwhile with the time saved from troublesome milk preparations, have more fun with your babies instead everyone!  

My Yun Nam Hair Care Treatment Update At 6th Week [Sponsored Review]

It has already been one and a half month since I had started my hair treatment at Yun Nam Hair Care. The first five sessions that I went through focused on solving my oily and itchy scalp problem and Dandruff Emulsion was used during my weekly treatment at the outlet to dissolve the any sebum buildup. Without the hair follicle blockage, my scalp also became healthier.

My Yun Nam Hair Care range of products 

Besides going to the outlet, my DIY home treatment with the daily use of the full range of shampoo, conditioner and tonic that was given to me was also pretty straightforward and easy. First, I work up a rich lather with the Ginseng shampoo, followed by a few sprays of Hair Renewal Tonic into the bubbles and then I work all that into my scalp with a massage that I learnt from my friendly consultant, Carol!

And once I am done, I wash everything off, apply the Jasmine Herbal Conditioner, leave that in for a few minutes and then wash off. The condition masks the smell of the ginseng shampoo a little, but not that it bothers me though. Anyway I think I already got used to the smell of ginseng by now.

I am honest, the "after"image is after a haircut.  Thus it may not reflect the improvement accurately.  But my scalp is confirmed less greasy.

There is definitely a noticeable reduction in my hair loss as I am seeing much fewer strands of dropped hair when shampooing. Besides this, when I run my fingers through my dry hair, my scalp and hair doesn’t feel as greasy now compared to before. Having only gone through 6 weeks’ worth of treatment, I would consider that fairly good improvement already.

The bottle on the left is the Dandruff Emulsion used on me earlier while the one on the right is the Herbalogy Formula 3 for my next few treatments.

Carol did another round of hair analysis on my fifth visit and recommended a change in my treatment since the scalp oiliness is now kept under control. She started using Herbalogy Formula 3 from my 6th treatment onwards. Preparation of this new formula included adding herbal lotion to another packet of specially formulated herbal powder and mixing them together to form a paste. 

This is how my new "Herbal paste" looks like before application onto my scalp.  This gives me a tingling cold sensation too!

This new formula is for the promoting and maintenance of healthy hair growth, as well as reversing the effects of greying hair. I have only undergone two rounds of the new treatment and can’t wait to see what effects it would have on my hair growth. 

My experience at Yun Nam Hair Care @ Jubilee Square has been really wonderful so far. The service provided is top-notch, and even the staff at the reception remembered and addressed me by name. They would even ask about Steffi and Leroy whenever I went alone. This level of service level is not only accorded to me, but extended to all their customers as well. 

As with most conditions, the earlier it is diagnosed the better it is. If you suspect yourself to be suffering from any undesirable hair conditions such as dandruff or oily scalp, take heart. Yun Nam Hair Care offers a FREE Consultation, Scalp Analysis and Hair & Scalp Treatment for first time customers at any of the following 9 conveniently located outlets – 

• Century Square 
• City Square Mall 
• Heartland Mall 
• Jubilee Square 
• Jurong Point 
• Lot One Shoppers’ Mall 
• Plaza Singapura 
• Tiong Bahru Plaza 
• Woodlands Civic Centre 

I am already looking forward to having back the same thick dark hair that I used to have. Will update you after completion of my treatments in a later blog post!

Razzle Dazzle U Picnic 2014 [Giveaway]

Razzle Dazzle is this year’s theme for U picnic on Sat, 04 Oct 2013. And being a family-centric event, you can be sure that there will lots of activities suitable for all ages! 

There will be exciting Laser Light show, Glow in the Dark Experience, Dazzling Craft Activities or you even join in the LED flying discs mass activity. For the more sporting families, come prepared and take part in the “Most Creative Picnic Set Up” competition or come dressed up for the “Best Dressed Family” competition and stand to win attractive prizes! How does a “Dazzling Family Moments Photo” competition or Family Challenges sound as well? 

So bring the entire family down and tickets are on sale over here. Good news for our readers too, for we have 3 family tickets worth $50 each to be given away for this event! Just follow ALL the steps in the Rafflecopter below to qualify!  Giveaway ends at 12am on Fri, 19 Sep 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

eXplorerkid @ Amk Hub [Sponsored Review]

Steffi kept asking about going to the indoor playground at Amk Hub every time we passed by and she got her wish last month when the kiddos were kindly invited over by eXplorerkids for some play time!  Although not the first time we were there, since the kids were all members as well, Steffi, Leroy and Stacci still cannot contain their excitement when they knew they were going to the indoor playground!  They knew exactly what to expect, like putting on of socks and cleansing of hand with sanitizers.  And before I knew it, off they went straight into the ball pits! 

The three musketeers having a ball of a time at the ball pit!

The kiddos loved the shooting games they played with one another using the air-powered soft-ball launchers, and amused themselves playing the hide-and-seek within the giant maze too!  Steffi enjoyed the tall slide, but Leroy and Stacci only dared to take the smaller slides!  You can check out some of the playstation highlights here. 

The kids are ever ready for photos, especially when they are happy!

My own take on the place is that it is extremely convenient for families living in the central or northern side of Singapore, especially when the eXplorerkids at E!hub would be too far.  The full-day play during off-peak period at $9 is also affordable, but the kids would need to be member first to enjoy that rate though.  More information on the rates here. 

The kids have the 3rd level to themselves and truly made themselves at home.

Being Singaporean, I think we often take into consideration the value-for-money of things, such as the number of play stations etc, but ultimately it is still the kids who are enjoying the play.  Having been in operations since 2011, there are definitely some wear-and-tear in the facilities so do not expect everything to be spanking new, I did not.  The size of the indoor playground is definitely not as big and spacious as the one at E!Hub but it sure made keeping an eye on my 3 kids much easier!  I remembered having a hard time going after the kids who ran at different directions in much bigger playgrounds! 

Despite playing for 2 hours non-stop, the kids did not want to leave the place at all!  My kids are my bosses, if they love the place and had fun using the facilities, playing among themselves, that’s really good enough for me!  I merely had to use my eye-power on them.  They never found it bored with this playground, so I am guessing it wouldn't be long when they ask to be back again.  You can find more photos of the kiddos in this album. 

There is a promotion for 2-hr peak hour play at 50% off going on till end of Sept that you might wish to consider!  Have fun!

Pep Bou's Wonderful World Of Bubbles [Media Invite]

Sorry I am "mountain tortoise", but this is my first time at Jubilee hall. 

Upon the kiddo’s request, the family watched Pep Bou’s Bubble Magic Show yesterday and it was worth my half day’s leave!  The kids truly enjoyed the 70 minutes of slapstick comedy cum bubble performance.  And whatever makes my kids happy, makes me really happy too.

 

Look at how happy Leroy and Stacci were!

The clever use of lights and smoke for special effect gave the "wow" factor.  The only thing missing from the show would probably be the giant bubble that encapsulates a whole person, or big acts of that sort that  one might expect.  Nevertheless ALL the kids seemed to be captivated by the two “weird uncles” and had their eyeballs fixed on the action onstage.

 

The kids laughed at anything the two comedians did, even if it's just bursting of bubbles.

Clever use of lighting.

Smoking bubbles!

Bubbles galore, to the delight of the kids again!

And yes, the fishbowl act!

Thus I am confident that kids would enjoy the show but it will only be available till this Sun, 14 Sep 2014!  So if you want to make your little ones happy just like mine, hurry over to SISTIC to get your tickets now!  

Don't miss your chance to catch the show without needing to travel to Spain!

Thank you Lunchbox Theatrical Productions for having our family at the show!

Total Turtle Takeover @ City Square Mall [Media Invite]

These four mutated reptiles had made very young kids rattle off seemingly long names of certain renaissance artists without any problems at all.  They are none other than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!  I grew up watching the cartoons, did you?

 

Steffi and Leroy really have no patience waiting.  We got there early with Dinokid just to make sure they have good views!

And the good news is, they are now in town to wow the kids!  From now till 14 Sept, the four of them will be performing live at City Square Mall.  The show is free so do come early to get a good view.  With a minimum spending of $50* (max 3 same-day combined receipt) at the mall, you will also get a special meet and greet pass with them for the family and that will surely make any TMNT fan's day!  It's limited to 50 passes per session only and we were lucky to be able to catch the show plus meet & greet together with blogging Dinomum and her Dinokid.  Check out the show details here!

 

High kick without a problem.

Choreographed low swipe.

A "matrix" moment by the turtles.

Nice pose by 3/4 of the gang.

The show was interactive and got everyone on their feet, be it kids or adults.  Steffi and Leroy enjoyed the martial arts display and lessons dished out by the turtles thoroughly.  Whenever the word mascots were mentioned, I would visualize the usual big and wobbly characters.  But these bunch of turtles were very different.  They were the most realistic and flexible mascots I have ever seen, even with their shells on!

 

Leroy truly enjoying himself during the ninja training! 

And how can they miss the photo opportunity with the TMNTs!!!

What are you waiting for, for the turtle show won't wait for you!  While you are at the mall, you can also check out the 3D Turtles Floor Art @ Level 2, snap a creative shot, post it on your Instagram account with the hashtag #TurtlesAtCitySqMall for a shot at winning $50 metro voucher!  Lazy bums who do not want to move anywhere can take part in the online quiz by Nickelodeon and stand to win turtles premiums!

 

Kids were all pumped up after the show and not wanting to leave!

It's really Total Turtle Takeover this September school holidays!  Thank you City Square Mall for hosting the kids!  I grew up watching TMNT and am really glad that Steffi and Leroy are happy ninjas now!



Steffi and Leroy loves the Mikey and Shellraiser they got from the kind folks at Passion Marketing while I can only console myself with a mini Raphael from the Gacha machine that I got for myself!

Yun Nam Hair Care [Sponsored Review]

I never really had any hair problems since young, except for very thick unruly hair that required lots of hair gel or hair spray to keep in place.  Then there's the occasional dandruff problem but it's usually kept in check with the use of over-the-counter anti-dandruff shampoo.  My usual haircut then would usually require the thinning of the hair by the barber for my easier styling.

 

However of late, I started to notice that I seemed to lose quite a fair bit of hair when I shower and I can actually see many strands of hair in my hands following a shampooing.  But I always thought I had enough hair to drop anyway.  I also attributed the noticeable shine near my forehead as a sign of excessive oiliness that all.

 

About 2 months back, when I was about to finish my haircut at the salon, the aunty mentioned, "Wah boy ah, your hair...." and I interjected, "very coarse it is?"  She replied, "No lah, your hair quite sparse at the crown leh."  That raise my alarm.  Am I balding already?

 

By sheer coincidence I was invited by Yun Nam Hair Care to try out their herbal treatment recently and accepted without second thoughts.  After all, Yun Nam Hair Care is a recognized leader in the hair care industry, well-known for their comprehensive range of effective treatments with a total of 9 conveniently located outlets in Singapore.

 

I chose to go to the outlet at Julilee Square, conveniently located in Ang Mo Kio Central

1. Professional Scalp Scan & Analysis

 

I was assigned my own personal professional hair care consultant, Ms Carol whom did a detailed scalp scan to examine my hair follicles thoroughly.  She showed me the condition of my scalp and hair growth at various spots and confirmed I had some oiliness near the crown as well as slight hair thinning. Steffi who was with me, laughed. 

 

My first consultation at Yun Nam Hair Care with my trusty photographer Steffi, who took this candid shot for me

Normally there would be around 3 strands of hair in one follicle but in my case, many of my follicles have only 1-2 strands with some just being baby hair only!  However she did mention that my condition wasn’t that bad as having baby hair means there were still signs of growth and that with proper treatment to unclog my hair follicles from the excessive sebum buildup, my problem should be solved. 

 

2. Customized Treatment Programme

 

With my problem now diagnosed, I was the led into a private room where she started my FIRST EVER scalp treatment. It consisted of thoroughly cleansing the hair and scalp with ginseng shampoo, with the addition of two other types of hair tonics.  Hair cleansing lotion to sanitize and protect damaged scalp as well as hair renewal lotion to nourish the scalp and hair.

 

Steffi insisted on taking a photo of my funny hairstyle after shampooing

After the shampooing, I was given a hair with special tonic treatment to dissolve the layer of sebum on the scalp.  My consultant had to painstakingly use cotton pads to rub the tonic and grease off my scalp after the steaming, before another round of ginseng shampooing as well as charcoal shampooing to wash everything off.  Finally a Hair Nutritional Lotion was applied into my scalp and left in while my hair was blown dry.

 

Steffi laughing at my UFO treatment, which is actually the steaming of hair with specially concocted herbal tonics

The consultant did another scalp analysis right after the treatment and the difference in my scalp condition pre and post treatment was clearly evident.  I can see my hair follicles clearly now, without any blockages at all as compared to when I first arrived. 

 

Close up of my hair follicles.  Before treatment, the hair follicles on the left were blocked with sebum.  Just after one treatment, the follicles on the right already looked much cleaner.

3. Home Care and Follow-up

 

Treatment does not stop here.  Ms Carol gave me clear instructions on how to take care of my hair back home, with the myriad of hair care products that the company had bundled together just for me.

 

The range of Yun Nam Hair Care product that included shampoos, conditioner, various types of tonic, al made from 100% top-grade natural herbs.

And that marked the end of my first visit to Yun Nam Hair Care.  If you currently encounter any hair problems, you may wish to know that Yun Nam Hair Care also offers a free trial at any of the following 9 outlets –

• Century Square
• City Square Mall
• Heartland Mall
• Jubilee Square
• Jurong Point
• Lot One Shoppers’ Mall
• Plaza Singapura
• Tiong Bahru Plaza
• Woodlands Civic Centre

Remember to stay tuned as I bring you updates on my treatments and find out if they worked for me!

July 2014 Travel Adventure: Part 3 (Shinta Mani Resort Review)

I had rarely stayed in any luxury accommodation for they are really expensive but I decided on giving my wife and the kids a special treat by booking a nice resort for my Siem Reap trip in Jul 2014, instead of our usual budget hotel or AirBnB finds.  I knew they would like to enjoy some comfort after our planned temple runs.  I googled and I cannot help but notice that the online reviews for one particular hotel, Shinta Mani Club was overly positive.  It was only a 4-star hotel but it was the #01 hotel in Siem Reap on Tripadvisor and it had FANTASTIC reviews that made it unbelievable actually.  Nevertheless I took the bait, hook and sinker.

I got in contact with the GM on the room booking and he actually recommended another place called Shinta Mani Resort instead.  It was a new resort that they took over recently and is located just opposite the hotel. Knowing that I will be there with my family and 3 kids, he had informed me that all of us would not be able to fit in one room (due to some regulations maybe?).  I thought holy shit, that meant me paying double just to add one more room for the kids.  But guess what?  He kindly issued the family 2 adjoining rooms, but for the price of one!  How cool is that?

The kiddos with a few of the friendly resort staff!

The moment we arrived at the resort on our "free" tuk tuk (read Part 2 to know why it’s free), the resort staff welcomed us with the friendliest smiles I have ever seen!  We were handed wet towels to freshen up and our luggage and pram were "forcefully" taken away from me immediately!  I had wanted to handle them myself but the staff wouldn't let me and instead, asked all of us to relax and drink the welcome drinks.  We were then shown to our resort and we could smell the wonderful scent of lemongrass the moment we stepped into the lobby, making us feel really relaxed.  It felt like stepping into a big spa sanctuary.

What were the kids looking at while seated in the bright airy lobby?

There is this large teddy bear hanging from the ceiling.  You can't miss it.

The nice smell of lemongrass filled the lobby area and really helped to soothe one's senses.

Our room is the first on the left at the end of this passageway.

There were lots of lotus flowers used in their decorations.  A nice touch to the overall resort feel.

The kids’ eyes lit up and they went wow when they were shown the first room.  The room was huge, with a king-sized bed and lots of walking (running) space.  To me, it was like a super luxurious chalet room!  The glass sliding door at the front opens out to a big balcony and lo and behold, the salt water swimming pool was in clear sight just metres away!  The GM probably didn’t know the size of my kids, for the room was definitely big enough for ALL five of us!  

The kids were super duper happy with their own room for the next few days!  Really comfortable bed and pillows!

The kiddos relaxing in the balcony, with Steffi and Leroy tapping on the hotel's free WIFI.

That was only the first room, for my wife and myself.  There was a door at the corner of the room that led to the second room.  As usual the kids were the first to get there and I heard them scream that there was a bed for each of them!  Yes, they had prepared for the kids beforehand and that delighted the kids!  The kids started jumping up and down their own bed and I must say that the pillows were really comfortable!  Each of us got our own toiletries and slippers.  It's these little details that really makes the difference, to me at least.

There were fresh fruits in our room and welcome drinks served when we arrived. 

There were the usual welcome fruit baskets, the beautiful flower arrangements and even personalized letters in the rooms.  From the moment we stepped into the resort into the beautifully decorated reception lobby and wonderful ambiance, we felt absolutely relaxed and on holiday.   However the real gem of the place has to be the staff, for ALL of them were really friendly and attentive. 



The usual range of pastries available at the breakfast buffet line.

Colorful breakfast cereals and toppings, but nothing fantastic though.

The first time I tried their breakfast, I was alone as the wife and kids were still sleeping.  I walked straight to buffet spread and was thinking to myself that although the food wasn't that much, it still looks alright lah.  There were the usual pastries and bread, some noodles and congee with the various sides, fruits, cereals and the usual stuff.  Wasn't that impressed actually.  That's until I sat down and the staff showed me the menu and asked me what I wanted for breakfast!  They had eggs benedict, smoked salmon whatever, braised beef noodles, pancakes and waffles!  I had tried everything over my stay and the eggs benedict is really NICE!

You need to order their mains for breakfast through the staff and this is smoked salmon on top of toast and topped with their special sauce.  Really yummy!!!

Eggs Florentine with bacon strips.  I would prefer Eggs Benedict but this tastes great too.  I only wished I had more room in my stomach.

A nice family photo taken in the café by one of the staff.

Normally when I visit any food establishments with my kids, I always fear that they are not welcomed. You know, the dirty look of someone who isn't too happy with kids around really spoils the day. Here at the resort, that's the least of my worries. All the staff seemed genuinely happy to see the kids and would welcome and high-five them with their widest smiles. There was one particular morning when Stacci wasn't feeling that happy during breakfast and started crying. A lady staff walked pass, asked Stacci what's wrong and proceeded to calm her down by carrying her and walking around the resort! The kids can really run about without any fears.

Happy Stacci with Ms Saven who plaited her hair!

On another separate occasion, another staff saw Stacci, found her cute and decided to start plaiting her hair there and then. The whole family felt really welcomed in the resort and we knew all our request would be taken care of, as long as it's possible. We had great help from the reception on their recommendations and bookings of restaurants. All you need to do is ask.

One can simply laze around by the pool the whole day long.  The staff are so attentive that they would even serve you ice water and bring you beach towels!

This is the salt-water pool that the kids demanded a swim in EVERY day!

Swimming is a family affair. 

The layout of the resort is such that the swimming pool is right at the centre and there are rows of 2-storey colonial styled rooms at 3 sides of the pool, with the restaurant occupying one side. So each of the rooms on level one have sliding door that opens out to the balcony and with direct access to the pool! The kids looked forward to a swim every day we were there, followed by a leisurely bath in their own big bathtub!

One of their favorite highlights of the day would be soaking in the big bath tub after a long day of play and sightseeing!

The resort is conveniently located within 15 minutes ride of the famed Angkor Wat temples and is also within walking distance to the famous pub street. But I would suggest taking a tuk tuk out if you are not too keen in walking. It should cost about usd$2 one way. Have a look at the recommended eateries on Tripadvisor, and many of them are located along pub street. There are also lots of massage palours along the way and it's really affordable! I didn’t feel the pinch even though Steffi wanted to do it every day. She was totally addicted to it and would fall asleep during the sessions!

A nice gesture by the hotel management, a tasty treat by the hotel chef!

My birthday happened to fall during our trip and management had actually gotten the chef to bake a special birthday cake for me.  A group of 5-6 staff turned up at my room just before midnight on my actual day, to surprise me with the cake.  They probably had wanted to sing me a birthday song but I guess it was really too late and they didn't want to disturb the other guests.  So they just wished me a happy birthday and left us to celebrate on our own.  I thought I would have to make do without a birthday cake this year, but am really happy that I still got one in the end. 

The staff bidding farewell to the family as we made our way to the airport on our tuk tuk.

I would personally recommend this place to anyone who wishes to visit Siem Reap, simply because my own experience there was truly amazing!  Great location, awesome rooms, superb customer service and affordable prices.  This is not a sponsored review by the way.