Jerlene had a birthday party at Downtown East this evening. After sending her to Pasir Ris MRT station where she met up with her friend, we drove to the nearby Pasir Ris Town Park for an evening walk. Known for its large fishing pond, wide open spaces, and breezy coastal atmosphere, the park is a favourite among residents, anglers, cyclists, and anyone who enjoys a slow, relaxing afternoon outdoors. There is actually a "Sure-Catch" pond, where you pay a fee and guaranteed at least two catches. And those fishes were huge!
As we strolled through the park, we saw several beautiful chickens roaming freely around.
This morning, Javier came to our room and told us that recently, his vision at night became quite blurry whenever he looked at his monitor. He had tried to turn down the brightness and gamma setting, and that helps a bit. We suspected that he may have astigmatism and brought him to a GP for a check. The doctor then advised us to bring Javier to an Optician to do an eye test. As such, after lunch, we brought him to one and the test confirmed he indeed have astigmatism but quite mild. We will be getting him a spectacle for that condition, and he only needs to wear at night when looking at his monitor.
We also suspected that he may have a condition called "Photophobia" which is sensitivity or intolerance to light. When he attended his Prom Night recently, he said he was quite disturbed throughout the night because of the lightings in the dining hall.
Javier going for his first ever Prom Night today. Initially he actually did not want to go but after seeing most of his classmates going, he decided to go as well. We did not buy any new shirt or suit and pants for him as mine fits him pretty well. Hope he enjoyed the night!
Javier got back his Report Book today and this marked the end of his secondary school year. Next year he will enter his JC school life. His results ended in the high with all subjects achieving A or above. The surprise is definitely his Chinese result, in which he achieved an A2.
Other than getting back his report book, his teacher also wrote a testimonial for every student highlighting all the achievements over the past years. This will probably be useful when they apply for scholarship next time.
Javier achieved Distinction Award in this year's Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) for the intermediate division. AMC is one of the world’s largest and longest-running maths contests. Started in 1978, it has grown far beyond Australia, now involving students from more than 30 countries. What makes the AMC stand out is its emphasis on real problem-solving. Instead of memorising formulas, students must apply logic, pattern recognition, creativity, and strategic thinking.
Nestled between the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, River Wonders is Singapore’s only river-themed wildlife park, and one of the most unique attractions in the region. Instead of the traditional zoo layout, River Wonders takes you on a gentle, scenic journey through the habitats of some of the planet’s most iconic rivers, from the Amazon to the Nile to the Yangtze.
The most famous residents of River Wonders are none other than Kai Kai and Jia Jia, the beloved giant pandas. Their enclosure is cool, misty, and beautifully designed with bamboo groves and climbing structures.
At this point, the rain started again, and the Amazon River Quest Ride was suspended. Fortunately, most of the exhibits here are sheltered and we could continue with our exploration.
At the end of our journey through the various rivers in the world, we came to an enormous viewing panel that offers breathtaking underwater views of gigantic manatees gliding peacefully through the water.
We completed our river adventure at about 4pm and by that time, the rain got heavier. We were glad that we were able to complete both parks as planned.
We had been to the Singapore Zoo quite a few times over the years but somehow, we never get bored. Often praised as one of the best rainforest zoos in the world, this 26-hectare haven offers a beautiful blend of lush nature, immersive animal habitats, and just the right amount of adventure.
As the sea lion Splash Safari show at the Amphitheatre was about to start, we quickly made our way there.
After the show, we started visiting each and every enclosure in the zoo to see all those beautiful animals.
Tucked within the Singapore Zoo, Reptopia is a vibrant, modern exhibit dedicated to showcasing reptiles and amphibians like never before. Reptopia houses more than 60 species, many of which are rare or visually striking.
After our visit to Reptopia, it started raining. As it's already lunch time, we quickly made our way to the KFC outlet located in the Kidz World within the zoo. The rain stopped after our lunch and we continued to explore the rest of the zoo.
Our highlight of the visit is The Fragile Forest Aviary at the Singapore Zoo. It is one of its most magical experiences where the entire place is a fully immersive, climate-controlled biodome that brought us right into the heart of a tropical rainforest. Instead of viewing animals from behind glass, we stepped directly into their world, surrounded by free-roaming creatures, vibrant foliage, and the gentle hum of the rainforest. It’s not just an exhibit, it’s an adventure.
We had a very close encounter with many Tropical birds, squirrels and the adorable Ring-Tailed Lemurs.
We left the Zoo at about 2:30pm as we still have another park, River Wonders, to explore.
