Junior Jaunts

May 31, 2012 9:30 AM by

Rather than cramp their style, let the young’uns in your family have their own brand of fun during the mid-year school break. By Ana Ow.

Family holidays hold more wonder and enjoyment when children are still babies or tots. They are easier to please, and you can choose what to do for them. Disneyland always does the job, though even activities as simple as a sandcastle here or a colouring book there will allow Mommy and Daddy to take a breather with their beach lits and Virgin Mojitos.

The challenge of making vacations fun and exciting grows, however, when the kids are older and develop their own personalities that come with a set of new demands. Teens and tweens teeter on the fence of wanting to stay home—because holidays with the parents are considered ‘lame’—and still being drawn to certain fun family traditions, like spending time together during special occasions.

It is up to you to arm yourself with an arsenal of information on what is hip, cool and happening this season to entertain your junior missus or master. With a bit of effort and a lot of understanding, you will be able to entice your ex-little ones to stay within the family fold a while longer.

WILD THINGS

For a truly wicked holiday, get the young adults reacquainted with nature. Take them for a walk on the wild side, from high above on ambling elephants to deep down below in dark caves.

Bali Treetop Adventure Park
If you are ready to bond with the younger members of the family, add an element of adventure from some 20 metres above the ground. With five up-in-the-air adventure circuits of varying difficulty, a session at Bali Treetop Adventure Park in Bedugul will set hearts racing—in a good way. Participating in confidence-building activities with your children provides the opportunity to build their trust in you while you support them (or vice versa!). Experience the thrill of the 160-metre-long Flying Fox, challenges like the Tarzan Jump, or the most thrilling of all, the black circuit—aptly named Adrenaline.
Eka Karya Bali Botanical Garden
Candikuning, Bali, Indonesia
Tel: 62.36.1852.0680
www.balitreetop.com

PAMPERED PRINCES & PRINCESSES

Go ahead, spare some cash and spoil the kids. After all, it is vacation time and shopping is part of the fun when on holiday. If you want to discourage impulse buying or irresponsible splurging, set aside a budget or give pocket money throughout the year for them to save up and spend wisely.

Feffy’s Kids Spa
Pamper your mini Muslimah the same way you pamper yourself—with a spa session. Feffy’s specialises in kid-friendly manicures and pedicures, hair treatments, facials and funky new hairdos to reward your wee one. Treatments are all-natural, using fresh ingredients such as fruit and vegetables. Birthday parties can be arranged, too.
13, A-1 Jl Solaris 3
Solaris Mont Kiara (off Jalan Duta), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 60.3.6203.0463
www.feffys.com

CLASSY PURSUITS

Once in a while, you cannot help but want to spoil your little treasures. There are plenty of ways to reward your children. Here are some ideas to get you started.

The Bali Concierge
Everyone knows that travelling in a group can present its hassles. Do yourself and your jet-lagged tweens or moody teens a favour: make your arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali a painless one. For a reasonable fee of US$50 per person, The Bali Concierge will bypass queues and clear customs on your behalf, collect all your luggage and whisk you off to your hotel in a luxury car. Best of all, they are the go-to authority for all things you could possibly need in Bali. Want a personal shopper for your picky teenage shopaholic, or reliable advice on the best family-friendly hangouts in town? They will take care of it.
Jl Raya Kuta 88R
Kuta, Bali, Indonesia
Tel: 62.3.6176.6880
www.thebaliconcierge.com

CULTURE VULTURE

The earlier we expose our offspring to the meaning behind history and tradition, the better equipped they will be in becoming cultured individuals. With these ideas, you are off to a great start.

The Actors Studio
Want to know what makes Kuala Lumpur tick? Go watch a play, a contemporary dance piece or even a local film. The Actors Studio @ Lot 10 makes this easy, being located on top of a mall in the popular Bukit Bintang area. Tickets at the door tend to be cheap and sell quickly, so get yours about two hours before performance time. Some performances may have an age advisory, so check beforehand for plays that are appropriate for your children.
Roof Top, Level 8A, Lot 10 Shopping Centre
50 Jl Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, West Malaysia
Tel: 60.3.2144.2009
www.theactorsstudio.com.my

PARK AND RIDE

Asia has become home to some top-notch amusement parks. There is nothing like a hair-raising roller-coaster ride to permanently bond a family together.

A’Famosa Resort
Named after the once-mighty Portuguese fort in the nearby historic city of Melaka, A’Famosa Resort offers a diverse range of activities too long to list here. Stretched across more than 500 hectares, its main attractions include a water park and animal safari, along with tween- and teen-friendly thrills such as paintball, horse riding and go-karts. On-site accommodation is available.
Jl Kemus, Simpang Empat
Alor Gajah, Melaka, West Malaysia
Tel: 60.3.2781.8888
www.afamosa.com

 

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