Together with my girl, we visited the Canadian International School (CIS) STEAM Fair and spent a fun time exploring the campus and participating in various engaging activities. For those who might be wondering, STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. The campus was huge and there were many activities going on. For younger kids, there were carnival games booths, bouncy castles and crafts stations on the first floor. For older kids, there were exciting activities like robot programming, virtual reality exploration, hologram design, drone and aeroplane flight simulation. My girl enjoyed the various Science experiments booths at the school hall, particularly the Oobleck booth, where she spent a long time there. Didn't managed to take many photos as was busy with the activities but here are two booths that I found pretty interesting.
Experimenting with static electricity that made one's hair stand on end. My girl refused to try this at first, but after much persuasion, she gave it a go, although she didn't complete the part that would show the sparks.
My girl had actually known about Oobleck, having watched videos about it before. By simply mixing cornstarch with water, the outcome turns out to be a non-Newtonian fluid that can behave like both a solid and a liquid, which is so amazing. Applying sudden force with fast movement makes it turn into a solid form, but if you gentle press it or let it drip, it behaves like a liquid.
Overall, the event was well-organized and a great opportunity to encourage STEAM learning, creativity in a fun and interactive way. This might just be one of their biggest annual event held. It would definitely be a great experience to study there. The difference in the teaching approach is pretty significant to local schools as I felt they made it more interesting and well-rounded. Classes typically start at 8.30am, which is one hour later than local schools. For me, the most dreaded part of school days is having to wake up super early. I can no longer hang out late at night without feeling tired the next day. The timetable of a typical school day in CIS can be found at this link.
Brought my MIL along to have dinner at Mr Grumpy Nasi Ayam. This was our first time trying this Malay-style chicken rice, and we all loved it so much. The fried chicken was served with extra crispy crumbs and the meat was super tender and juicy. What made it most 'shiok' was the sambal chili. It wasn't too spicy so even my hubby who can't eat spicy food, enjoyed it. The portion was big and very satisfying. I was super full after finishing the meal. The soup tasted like Mee Soto soup with options to add sides like sambal quail eggs, hotdogs and bergedil.
The recent increase in immersive exhibitions and installations is revolutionizing the way we experience art and has proved to be a trend here and around the world. Having previously been mesmerized by the immersive Claude Monet exhibition, I had the opportunity to step into the world of Gustav Klimt in an immersive exhibition with my family.
We sort of skipped lunch so we had an early dinner at Seoul Yummy, Kallang Wave Mall. We ordered the Daebak Combo for two to share. For the two mains, we chose Hotstone Cheesy Kimchi Fried Rice and Korean Glass Noodle. For the soup, we chose Seafood Beancurd Soup, and Soy Garlic Chicken as the appetizer. This combo also comes with two Iced Lemon Teas (with pulps inside) and we added on a Seaweed Fish Roe Rice. We love the food and free flow banchan here. The total damage was $61.99 after an $8 member discount.
After our satisfying meal, we walked over to the Gustav Klimt - Falling in Gold exhibition. Featuring the works of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, this is an immersive experience that transforms the Sports Hub Library into a multidimensional art space. With the use of 360° breathtaking projections, AI and VR-powered interactions, the artist's iconic masterpieces are brought to life.
01. RECEPTION
The exhibition sprawls across 1,400 square meters, occupying two storeys and seven interactive rooms, each showcasing Gustav Klimt's renowned artworks. Here is where we complete our registration at the front desk counter, receive a special UV-stamped chop at the back of our hand which marks the start of this unique experience.
02. PHOTOBOOTH
Right at the entrance is Klimt's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, also known as The Lady in Gold. The portrait is an oil painting on canvas with gold leaf and is the final and most fully representative work of Klimt's golden phase.
After the registration, we took the stairs up to level 2, mid-way, we spotted this artwork "Hygeia", the Greek goddess created by Gustav Klimt between 1900 and 1907. A predominant feature is the golden snake coiling around her arm, which is a traditional symbol of medical and healing, echoing the staff of Asclepius.
03. WALK OF FAME
A timeline and summary of the works of Gustav Klimt as an artist and some of his famous sayings.
04. SUNSET
We took lots of photos and videos here. It's like a mini stage for us. Check out the video for a little 'snake' dance that my girl did!
05. BEETHOVEN FRIEZE
We walked through this hallway with dangling cut-ups of geometric shapes and patterns leading us to a reimagined version of The Kiss at the end.
06. THE KISS
This stunning recreation of The Kiss is made of hundreds of intricately arranged, moveable wooden blocks - akin to puzzle pieces carefully fitted together. We couldn't resist interacting with the artwork, gentle pushing the blocks to create a wave like effect. Check out the short video above. The Kiss represent the union between men and women with the universe, conveying that love is the fundamental force that binds everything together.
07. ART GALLERY
The art gallery is filled with real paintings by Gustav Klimt. It is worth noting that Gustav Klimt's artwork frequently features the female figure as a central theme and some of paintings depict women in various states of nudity. As such, viewer discretion is advised.
08. INFINICUBE
The use of mirrors and and light creating an infinite regression of reflections.
09. A.I. PHOTOBOOTH
Using artificial intelligence technology that analyzes Klimt's use of colours and techniques, this innovative installation generates a personalized portrait of you, reimagined through the artistic lens of Gustav Klimt, simply by standing in front of the screen.
10. IMMERSIVE
We returned to the first floor and went into a breathtaking immersive room surrounded by 360° projections of Gustav Klimt's artwork. The walls came alive with dynamic displays and the scattered seating areas invited us to linger and soak in this beautiful and mesmerizing vibes. Feel free to claim your favourite spot and indulge for as long as you like.
11. TREE OF LIFE
The entire tree from its leaves to its stem is covered in gold and lit up by fairy lights. Another nice photo-taking spot.
12. VR
Step into a wonderful VR experience at this station, put on the VR headset placed at each swivel chair and enter a vibrant world inspired by Gustav Klimt's masterpieces. Spend approximately 8 minutes immersed in this environment, feel free to rotate 360 degrees on the swivel chair and marvel as the artworks come to life around you. My girl even wanted to re-watch it the second time.
13. MERCHANDISE
There's a wide range of exclusive merchandise inspired by Gustav Klimt's artwork.
14. CAFE
The cafe just closed when we reached so we only took a photo here for memory.
We took about one and a half hour to complete the whole exhibition. Personally, I believe that immersive art exhibitions like this one make art more engaging, interactive and accessible to a broader audience, including casual art viewers like my family and me. I actually learnt a lot more about the artist and the artwork in this kind of setting as compared to the traditional setting.
Exploring new places for the latest food trend is what I love to do, even if it means a little travelling. Explored Bali Lane during my lunch break to check out the latest craze in Singapore - the UFO Burger by KOWBOY. The friendly boss who opened KOWBOY also owns the halal yakiniku restaurant Waku Waku just down the road and is currently applying for halal certification for KOWBOY.
I stood outside the shopfront for a few minutes just to see the clouds moving in the sky, the shop title changing (the boss has added chewyjas inside), and the eyes spinning round and round.
The menu here is simple, focusing on just two items, UFO burgers and milkshakes.
There are other drink options in the fridge too. I got this drink pouch which comes printed with their tagline, 'Come Hungry Leave Happy'.
Expressing my congratulations in writing on their wall.
Here's a short video of the making of the UFO Burger. A machine that functions like a waffle maker was used. Instead of the waffle grid, there was a hollow dome in place.
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We ordered the UFO Cosmic Truffle, UFO Supernova Mentaiko, Strawberry Celestia and Honeydew Hyperspace. The burger comes in this ziplock bag regardless of whether you're eating in or taking away. We ate at one of the standing tables outside. There are no indoor tables, but the kind boss did ask if we wanted to sit at his other restaurant.
A common sight in Korea, unlike the usual classic burger, KOWBOY's UFO burgers uses pita bun and encase the usual burger ingredients inside in a UFO-like shape. This design locks in the ingredients and sauces inside, thus making it a fuss-free and mess-free way of eating burgers.
A short video of me eating the UFO Burger and how it looks like inside.
FEBRUARY PROMOTION
From 12-14 Feb 2025, grab any 2 drinks (1 of it must be a milkshake) and score yourself a KOWBOY UFO Cup holder.
On 25th Feb 2025, the first 100 KIMCHI UFO Burger (new flavour) will cost only $2.50 ** (Max 2 burgers per person, with minimum spend of $10).
Thank you KOWBOY for this stylish cup holder sleeve.
If you are looking to try this mess free UFO-burger, check it out at
After our meal, my friend suggested having some sweet treats before we headed back to work. She recommended Cafe Margaret, which coincidentally, serves popular cube cakes inspired from Korea as well. This cafe has a policy requiring every visitor to order at least one drink. Even though my friend had ordered a drink, they still expected me to order another one as well. All the cakes were nicely displayed, and we simply grabbed a tray, picked what we wanted and proceeded to the second floor to sit down. We found a nice table by the window.
We enjoyed their signature Biscoff CubePie (Cube Croissant), a laminated pastry with 72 flaky layers and filled with sweet cream inside. One CubePie is good for sharing. Thank you W for the treat!
Meet The Little Prince, the World's first Museum interactive AI Ambassador on your next visit to the MINT Museum of Toys. Designed using a cutting-edge generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, The Little Prince (AI Ambassador) serves as the museum's information and ticketing platform, by engaging and communicating with visitors through a two-way interaction, providing consistent and accurate information.
I was thrilled to attend the launch event and be among the first few to witness the unveiling and launch. The event kicked off with opening speeches , followed by a live demonstration and in-depth sharing of the innovative generative AI Technology.
The benefits of using an AI Ambassador include customization to any character, providing two-way live interactions in multiple languages, deployment on any screen, and consistent information provision.
The unveiling of the AI Ambassador. The Little Prince was chosen as the character for this role because he is an iconic figure who embodies the timeless value of innocence, curiousity and wisdom. With his childlike sense of wonder, he explores the vast universe, cherishing what truly matters in life. Similarly, the museum celebrates the historical, cultural, and social significance of every vintage toy and collectible, making The Little Prince the perfect fit for the AI Ambassador.
We were served a sumptuous buffet spread for lunch, featuring an assortment of dishes, including traditional nonya kueh.
Exploring the various sections of the MINT Museum of Toys with Jessie, where we discovered lots of vintage toys and childhood memorabilia. The experience was truly nostalgic.
We also received a pack of 37 AR cards that we can use to scan and access toys via 2D and 3D animations while exploring the 6 levels of the museum.
Before we left, we tried interacting with the AI Ambassador, The Little Prince. He was able to share his knowledge about the museum's history and background, introducing us to exhibition themes and toy collections. One potential enhancement I thought would be great is the addition of captions when he speaks. As technology advances, we can expect to see more places utilizing AI and jobs being replaced by AI. Embracing this change is essential. Until next time, stay curious and keep exploring.
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