26-27 May 2007 was the Singapore Navy Open House and we've decided to go on 26 May. Instead of driving directly into the Naval base, everyone has to take a shuttle bus from the Singapore Expo, due to security reasons. We went there for lunch and waited for grandma, Bao Bei Gu Gu, Gu Cheung and Joel...before we set off for Hall 1 & 2 to join the queue for the shuttle. Along the way, there were missiles, interceptors being displayed in the exhibition hall. Gwendolyn was interested in the boats and asked one of the navy guy what those things are. Below is the funny conversation:
G: Gwendolyn and N: Navy guy
G: What is that?
N: It's a very fast boat, an interceptor. It can chase pirates. Do you know pirates?
G: Yes, the pirate piggies (she learnt from the Dora's pirate show).
N: Grrrrr...These are very fast...you know cars are fast, right?
G: (Hesitated) No...cars are not fast, only Lamboghini is fast!
N and others: (All laughed)...Haha...
What a matured conversation!!!
Anyways, after that, we went through security checks before we hop onto the shuttle bus. On the way, Lyn Lyn was enthusiastic in reading the map that she's gotten before entering the exhibition halls...Mama was observing the map with her in locating various activities available for kids, like bouncy castles, trampolines, etc...Finally, we've arrived and the first thing that Lyn Lyn looked for was the bouncy castle! She enjoyed herself so much in jumping in them, whilst leading Joel Di Di, as he couldn't really stand up with all the bigger kids jumping! It was so much fun...but after a short while, we went and join Papa in the queue, where he's started queuing for everybody to have a bum boat ride.
You know those Duck Tours? They were converted from these army bum boats! Lyn Lyn was all enthusiastic when she saw people queuing in front wearing life jackets! She was really looking forward to her turn, as Dora and Boots were also wearing life jackets in one of the episodes and she loves to be associated with things that has happened to the two! However, Joel Di Di wasn't very impressed with the life jackets and refused to put them on when initially being offered one...but when he saw Lyn Lyn was wearing and everyone was wearing, his fear disappeared and he was wearing with Lyn Lyn! We took a slow ride in the bum boat and it was a short distance only!
After this not so "exciting" ride, we went on to visit a carrier. It's big and we have to walk up the steep staircase! Lyn Lyn insisted that she walked by herself and whenever the navy guys offered to give her a hand, she will say: No, I can do it by myself! Scared off the navy guys! When we reach the control room, the first thing that Lyn Lyn looked for was the steering wheel, where in the Dora pirate show, Isa the iguana broke the steering wheel when trying to turn the wheel! She went over to another navy guy and asked for it. When the guy showed her the sophisticatedly small steering wheel, she wasn't convinced and was very very disappointed. She was expecting the wooden ship kind of traditional steering wheel...oh well, what to do? She went on the sit in the chairs located at the front two corners of the control room. When she saw the ventilation window that shaped like a circle, she pointed at it and said: See, this is round, this is the steering wheel! She wasn't very convinced with the navy guy's response! Anyways, we continued on visiting other parts of the ship and finally reached the lowest deck for another boat ride. This time, the boat is much bigger and have no seats! You know what? It was a very bumpy ride. The boatman purposely speed up, stop suddenly, U-turn, whatever pattern you can think of...and Lyn Lyn was really scared! At some point, she was screaming out aloud: I scared, I scared...and started crying...you know what? She's the only one who screamed and cried...whilst Joel Di Di was standing cool, holding both parents' hands! Difference between boys and girls? Not sure though!
It's getting late and it's time to leave...because the open house ends at 5:30pm. We took the shuttle bus back to Expo to collect our cars and Lyn Lyn fell asleep before we board the shuttle bus. After that, we went to Bedok to see Auntie Sharon and Uncle Justin, Gu Cheung's elder brother and sister-in-law's new born baby: baby Jenny! We didn't take any pictures of her, as she was sleeping. She has big round eyes and is very pretty for a new born! After staying for a while, we went for dinner at Feng Shan Food Centre. That ended our day and left us all tired!
