Isabel Leong, Author at MoneyDigest.sg

5 Travel Destinations With Exciting Attractions For The Family

The December holidays are looming, and the kids are itching for some year-end fun. Looking for a fun-filled family getaway around the region? The options are aplenty!

From Australia’s Movie World, Taiwan’s World Chocolate Wonderland, to Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, Japan’s Sanrio Puroland or South Korea’s Everland, the choices are endless.

Here we share 17 attractions from around the region for the adventure-seeking you.

1. Australia (5 nights)

Heading to Australia? You cannot miss visiting the Gold Coast region, for that is where all the fun in Australia converges.

(Use promo code ‘MD4OFF‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off)

* ‘MD4OFF’ is only applicable for adult ticket

Warner Bros. Movie World is a theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia that revolves around the Warner Bros’ movies.

Witness your children’s favourite cartoon characters come to life, with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety and Sylvester dancing along with you. Have Australia’s best stunt crew, Showtime FMX, take you on an action-packed movie with heart-stopping driving stunts. The latest addition to the theme park, Arkham Asylum, is the Southern Hemisphere’s first Virtual Reality rollercoaster experience. Embark on a 360-degree thrilling experience, while reaching speeds of up to 85km/h!

(Use promo code ‘MD4OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off*)

* ‘MD4OFF’ is applicable only for adult ticket

Also situated on the Gold Coast, Dreamworld is Australia’s largest theme park with over 50 rides and attractions, including five roller coasters.

With so many attractions to catch, there’s a ride for every age. Cruise down river rapids as fast as 45km/h at their favourite family attraction, Thunder River Rapids. For the younger ones, indulge in a sing and dance song with Dorothy the Dinosaur and her friends Wags the Dog, Captain Feathersword and Fairy Claire. That’s not all – be impressed by their LEGO store, with life-sized LEGO models to greet you!

(Use promo code ‘MD4OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off* )

* ‘MD4OFF’ is applicable only for adult ticket

Bring your little ones on a wildlife education journey. Learn all about koalas, emus, kangaroos and even the adorable Tasmanian Devil at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary!

If you’re looking for something slightly more adventurous, give their TreeTop Challenge a shot, as you zipline across crocodiles and balance on a tightrope through the canopy!

If Melbourne is part of your Australia itinerary, catch all of Melbourne’s attractions at Eureka Skydeck 88. At 285 metres above ground, experience Melboune like never before with their floor-to-ceiling views from the 88^th floor. Try spotting Melbourne’s prominent landmarks such as the MCG, Federation square and Flinders Street Station from their 360-degree observation decks!

2. Taiwan (3 nights)

Taiwan is a mecca for food, but did you know, they have over 20 amusement parks throughout the island too?

Musical water shows, parades and safari wildlife zoo that is home to 1000 animals of 70 different species. Experience all these in one theme park at Leofoo Village Theme Park. Attractions-wise, have a taste at Taiwan’s largest man-made river Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting, their biggest Pirate Ship and also their Volcano Adventure. Fancy experiencing zero gravity? Then you have to ride the 17-storey-high Danu God!

(Use promo code ‘MD4OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off* )

* ‘MD4OFF’ is applicable to admission ticket and admission ticket + DIY Chocolate Workshop

For the sweet-toothed, here’s another reason to rejoice! As the name suggests, World Chocolate Wonderland is a haven for all chocolate lovers. Their chocolate museum features chocolate sculptures of everything imaginable, from sci-fi characters to hand bags. A great family activity includes designing your own chocolates at their DIY workshop. If you’re looking for wet-weather plans to brave the sometimes relentless weather of Taiwan, this could be it.

3. Hong Kong (3 nights)

If you enjoy the attractions in Singapore, then you’re going to love Hong Kong’s version even more. Like Singapore, Hong Kong has their very own Trick Eye Museum and Madame Tussauds that selfie-lovers will enjoy. Impress your friends with funky poses in Trick Eye Museum’s interactive 3D museum, and stand up close and personal with all the celebrity stars from Hollywood and Hong Kong in Madame Tussauds.

(Use promo code ‘MD2OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $2 off*)

* ‘MD2OFF’ is only applicable to Ocean Park (Adult) Admission + HKD100 Souvenir Coupon, Ocean Park (Adult) Admission + Kiosk Meal Combo, Ocean Park Special Admission + Restaurant Meal Combo, Ocean Park Special (Buy 2 Adults Get 1 Child Free Promotion)

Hong Kong has no lack of fun activities as well, with Ocean Park Hong Kong topping the list for family-friendly activities. Encompassing a marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park and amusement park, it is the perfect place to bring your children for a fun and educational journey. Located in the Southern District of Hong Kong, Ocean Park covers more than 915,000 metres. It’s no wonder why they are the first Asian theme park to win the biannual Applause Award, the most distinguished award within the amusement and theme park field.

While you’re on Hong Kong Island, make a visit to The Peak to experience Hong Kong’s oldest and most famous funicular tramway, The Peak Tram. This tramway rises all the way to 296 metres above sea level, offering you a panoramic view of the city. While you’re at the top, indulge in the views from the Sky Terrace 428. Whether by night or by day, Hong Kong’s skyscrapers is a sight like no other!

(Use promo code ‘MD2OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $2 off*)

* ‘MD2OFF’ is applicable to only Ngong Ping Round Trip Crystal Cabin Cable Car (Adult) and Ngong Ping Crystal Cabin Round-trip Adult + Meal Coupon

FIRST 300 CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE ANY NGONG PING ATTRACTION TICKETS WILL BE ENTITLED TO A FREE SNACK COUPON VALUED AT $6.50 (HKD36) TO BE USED AT NGONG PING. WHILE STOCKS LAST.

Intrigued by the views of Hong Kong from the top? Then Ngong Ping 360 is another attraction worth exploring. An aerial tramway 5.7 kilometres long will connect you from Tung Chung Town Centre to Ngong Ping Village in the 25-minute ride. With the option of a glass-bottomed crystal cabin, you’ll be greeted with unobstructed views over Lantau Island, the seascape and Ngong Ping Village. Can you spot the airport from this aerial view?

4. South Korea (3 nights)

(Use promo code ‘MD2OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $2 off*)

Over at South Korea, you can never miss out on shopping. Lotte World is a shopping complex which also conveniently transforms into a theme park, a water park, and an aquarium within the complex. It boasts an indoor and outdoor theme park, with the indoor theme park being the world’s largest. Your children will never run out of things to do with daily ongoing performances and bi-monthly festivals being held, while you can occupy yourself with the myriad of shops in the vicinity. Now you can shop with ease while your children let themselves loose.

Everland is South Korea’s largest theme park. Different themed festivals are organized all year round, including Tulip Festival, Rose Festival, Summer Splash, Halloween Festival, and Romantic Illumination. Learn about Korean’s history in Pride in Korea. Hear the kings of the jungle roar in Safari World. You also cannot leave without riding on T-Express, Korea’s first wooden roller coaster and also one of Everland’s most thrilling rides!

If you’ve always dreamed of being in a live K-Pop concert watching your favourite bands perform, you can experience how it feels like through the 3D hologram at the Live Hologram Theater! The K-Pop Hologram which plays the first ever hologram concert at Everland is at the Global Fair which is an international market of shopping outlets.

Set atop Namsan Mountain 237 metres high, N Seoul Tower offers sweeping views of the city of Seoul. While you’re on top of the world, don’t miss out on dining at N Grill, a Western-style revolving restaurant, and the Sky Restroom with its multi-colour creative art space!

5. Japan (3 nights)

Tokyo Disneyland is no stranger to the adventure-seeking families in Asia. Riding on the same concept as the rest of Disneyland worldwide, it is based on the films produced by Walt Disney, with some rides not found anywhere else. Interestingly, it is the first Disney theme park outside of the United States to be opened, in 1983.

Sister to Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea is a 176-acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Get ready to set sail on the seven themed ports of call: Mediterranean Harbor, Mysterious Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery and American Waterfront.

Let Sesame Street, Minions and Shrek welcome you into a land of joy at Universal Studios Japan. As the first theme park under the Universal Studios brand to be built in Asia, it is the next most popular theme park in Japan after Tokyo Disneyland. Step into the shoes of Harry Potter and enter the massive Hogwarts castle. You can even witness the ‘Moving Portrait Corridor’ as seen in the movie!

In the first half of 2017, Universal Studios Japan will open “Minion Park,” the world’s largest Minion area, inspired by Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me franchise. There are so many Minions in “Minion Park” and now all guests, from children to adults, may now celebrate the world of Gru’s subversive and sweet henchmen alongside them.

Think Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars and My Melody. Now imagine them greeting you and dancing along with your favourite melodies. At Sanrio Puroland Japan, musicals, parades, and even the food served are all made of Sanrio character heroes. Take a leisurely boat ride through the park and be entertained by Hello Kitty’s wedding. Better yet, visit Lady Kitty House to get a sneak peak of what how Kitty goes about her daily life! Don’t leave without getting a souvenir for your visit to Sanrio Puroland. With over 5000 Sanrio products, at their Sanrio store, you are bound to be spoilt for choice!

Start your trip with a dose of Hello Kitty at Changi Airport’s Hello Kitty café before you kick off your Hello Kitty journey at Japan.

As part of Changi Recommends’ continuous efforts to make your holiday planning effortless, you can now purchase mobile Wi-Fi router rental, airport transfers, Japan Rail Pass and overseas attraction tickets before you embark on your trip!

Planning for a holiday could not have been easier when you can purchase land tour packages directly with Changi Recommends. If you are travelling to Japan or South Korea, check out their Mt Fuji Tour and the Jisan Ski Tour.

To provide you with even a better experience, you can track your flight in real-time with their Flight Watch function by simply entering your flight details and mobile number. This is a free service where you get SMS updates on your arrival or departure flights. It acts like your personal concierge where it reports to you:

when you are scheduled to board
which terminal to go to
which row to check in
which belt for baggage collection
flight delay or cancellation updates

Talk about first-class services.

Whether you are bringing little tots for an educational yet playful trip, or teenagers looking for adrenaline, there is something for everyone in the neighbouring countries. Grab hold of the limited year-end promo codes to book your tickets today!

(* Code validity for purchase by 30 Nov 2016)

Hair Fall Control with Tailor-Made Solutions from TK TrichoKare

In the quest for beauty, hair and scalp care are easily overlooked these days with the ease and popularity of hair colouring and styling. Whether it is due to lifestyle, age, or medical reasons, many experience hair loss, greasy scalp and dandruff without even realising it. Fortunately, there is less reason to despair now, with TrichoKare.

12 years in Singapore, TrichoKare provides the necessary hair and scalp care to ensure a fuller and denser head of hair. With their profound knowledge in hair and scalp problems, they provide a detailed diagnosis of every scalp type, and recommends a customized scalp treatment program for every individual.

They have established their credibility with public figures such as Xiaxue, Adrian Pang and Sheila Sim experiencing first-hand their services. With awards such as Her World Spa Awards 2016, ELLE Beauty Treat List 2016, Harper’s BAZAAR Hair Awards 2016 and The Singapore Women’s Weekly Hair Awards 2016, surely something can be said about their professional and effective treatments.

Trichology is the science of the structure, function, diseases and care of the human hair and scalp. Out of the 12 accredited trichologists in Singapore, 3 of them are currently with TrichoKare. These trichologists undergo regular courses to be equipped with the most modern treatment methods and hair knowledge to identify the problems, determine its underlying cause and understand your worrying scalp and hair concerns.

With premium herb products that are formulated from Europe, TrichoKare has different tonic formulations to suit every scalp condition. These herbs include Leopard’s Bane, nettle and rosemary, which have scalp cleansing and detoxifying properties. This drug-free formulation stays true to their natural formulation of remedies. Being free from harsh chemicals, you can expect to experience the gentle care that only these traditional pure-bio extracts can bring.

Customized treatment programme

Diagnosis of my scalp condition was done with a lens that can magnify up to 200 times. My consultant enlightened me on the condition of my scalp, while educating me about hair growth. While I don’t experience significant hair loss, the hair follicles clogged by sebum in my scalp was visible, and so is the aggressive-looking pimple at the back of my head. She then advised me on some lifestyle changes to improve my scalp care, and recommended a suitable therapeutic treatment strategy for my scalp condition.

Scalp mask application

The clear gel scalp mask removed any oil clogs on my scalp, cleansing and detoxing it in the process. The minty feel slowly emerged on my scalp over the course of the 15 minutes it was left on my scalp, purifying its way through my hair follicles.

Hair wash

The shampooing session was extremely thorough. Throughout the 15 minutes, my hair went through at least 3 rounds of shampooing. On hindsight, it was this hair wash that cleared the dead skin and removed the grease on my scalp. The massage, as part of the hair wash, was a huge bonus.

Tonic application

Every customer’s tonic treatment is different, and that’s what makes TrichoKare stand out from the rest. The tonic served as nutrients for the hair roots to strengthen them. A shoulder heat warmer and head massage came along with the tonic application to improve blood circulation of the head and promote relaxation.

Infra-red to promote nutrient absorption

An infra-red machine was then placed along the surface of my scalp to enable better penetration of the tonic into the hair follicles, while also improving blood circulation. The machine consisted of 5 infra-red outlets, so no part of the head was neglected. It allowed me to play the part of Medusa for that couple of minutes.

The entire consultation and treatment took less than 2 hours, and the effects could be seen immediately. The pimple that was once aggressive looked to be cleared of dead skin cells, and the grease on my hair follicles have significantly reduced. In the following days after the treatment, I noticed that the healing of my pimple was enhanced. My scalp also felt less itchy, even after a long day out and about.

Throughout the entire treatment process, my welfare was taken care of very meticulously, from draping a towel across my legs to keep me warm, to asking about the intensity of my head massage. I never felt in better hands.

Exclusively for Money Digest readers:

From now til 31 Oct, Money Digest’s readers can have a chance to experience TrichoKare’s award-winning hair fall prevention treatment at only $39. (U.P $175) In addition, the first 20 readers to sign up will also receive a free haircare kit.

How Not To Fall Prey To Jewellers’ Sales Tactics

Some useful tips for you not to fall prey to jewellers’sales tactics

Shopping for diamonds is an art. Diamond shopping is a test of meticulousness. All diamonds may look equally impressive in jewellery stores, but only when viewed under natural daylight will it reveal its true brilliance. In a bid to make your diamond shopping a wiser one, JannPaul highlights 5 of the most common marketing tactics.

There can be GIA triple Excellent diamonds that are poor performers.

When a diamond is said to have a triple excellent rating, it refers to the rating of the diamond’s cut grade, polish and symmetry. Often, this is how a salesperson would benchmark their diamond, by saying a “triple Excellent diamond is the best.”

However, there is much more to this. A more reliable way to determine the quality and performance of a diamond, is by measuring the light performance (measured with an Ideal Scope or ASET Scope) and symmetry of the diamond (measured with a Hearts and Arrow Scope).

The Ideal Scope reveals the amount of light return and light leakage in a diamond. Through the scope, the greater the red areas, the more intense the light return. What this means is a lot of light is coming into the diamond and reflected out, giving the diamond a brighter look. The white areas you see on the Ideal Scope represents the amount of light leakage, which you want to minimize.

A more advanced version of the Ideal Scope is the ASET Scope. The ASET Scope determines the strength of a diamond’s light return. Red areas are indicative of strong light, while green areas represent weak light return. White areas show full light leakage, which is regarded as poor light performance in a diamond. The blue areas are a diamond’s contrast, which gives an idea of where the colourful sparkles you see on the diamond are. It should ideally have sharp and crisp arrows.

Both the Ideal Scope and ASET Scope are not commonly found in local jewellery stores, but it can be easily found online.

Although these two diamonds have different light performances, they can cost the same! This is because diamonds are sold based on what is shown on the GIA certificate, and GIA does not grade the light performance of a diamond.

“The diamond is GIA-certified.”

Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the world’s oldest, largest, and one of the most respected independent laboratories. Their laboratories are regarded as one of the most respected laboratories in the diamond industry, simply because of their consistency and unbiased diamond grading systems. As such, most of the diamonds manufactured now are graded according to the GIA standards, making it one of the most popular diamond certification in the industry.

GIA grades a diamond on according to the 4 “C”s – Carat, Colour, Cut and Clarity. That being said, there are other facets of a diamond that determine the quality of the diamond, which the GIA certificate does not take into consideration. For instance, two diamonds with the same GIA certification grades may differ greatly in terms of their light performances.

“The diamond is a ‘’Super Ideal Cut’’.”

The term Super Ideal Cut is used to label a diamond that is cut to the maximum light performance. The Super Ideal Cut standard was introduced into Singapore by Paul Hung from JannPaul in 2010.

In order to prove that a diamond has high light performance, various tools are needed, such as the HCA tool, Ideal Scope, ASET Scope and Hearts & Arrows scope. Without these analytical tools, a jeweller cannot label their diamond as a Super Ideal Cut.

Unfortunately, there is no regulation for this type of grading in the industry. That is to say, any jeweller can brand their diamonds as a “Super Ideal Cut” according to their own parameters. Hence, it is important not to fall into these marketing labels, and to learn how to check if the diamond you’re purchasing is truly a Super Ideal Cut.

In other words, no scopes, no talk.

The Hearts & Arrows scope does not measure a diamond’s brilliance

The Hearts and Arrow Scope reveals the symmetry of a diamond. A good diamond appears symmetrical and crisp under the scope, with no clefts or visible flaws. This scope is most commonly found in most jewellery stores, but is by no means the most representative way of determining the cut of a diamond.

What this scope does not reveal is the amount of light leakages in a diamond. Light leakage is indicative of poor light performance in a diamond, as the light leaks out instead of being reflected out. A diamond with poor light performance can still look good under the Hearts & Arrows scope, as all it means is that the diamond is symmetrically cut or it has symmetrical light leakages.

“The greater the carat size, the bigger the diamond.”

Carat size is the weight of a diamond, but it does not tell you anything about a diamond’s brightness or how well it sparkles, much less its cut and size.

For the same carat weight, a diamond can be cut deeper, making it look smaller. A deeply cut diamond can affect its light performance as well, causing it to appear darker and duller. Hence, a well cut diamond will appear larger, brighter and more brilliant compared to a poorly cut diamond of the same carat weight.

The next time you shop for diamonds, equip yourself with this common language to defend yourself and your pockets from harm. With the appropriate tools for accessing a diamond’s quality, it is not as difficult as one might imagine to pick out one that’s worth the price tag attached to it.

Special thanks to Casey Lai from JANNPAUL for these useful tips.

Avoid “Bill Shock”: 5 Ways You’re Throwing Your Money Away

As much as we try to save on bills that swamp us, there are hidden costs along the way that seem to spring up and bite you from the back when you least expect it.

Here, we suss out 5 ways that your next bill may shock you, and how you can prevent it to save yourself from the all-too-often panic attacks.

Phone bill costs

(Image credit: www.saveup.com)

Today’s millennials simply can no longer live without a smartphone. The smartphone is the gateway to everything. Furthermore, it acts as your PA. It reminds you of upcoming birthdays, it keeps you connected to your otherwise non-existent friends, it is your solution to appearing knowledgeable, and is handy for when you need to “keep busy”.

All the little time spent on your phone adds up. And you would have wished you had watched a little less YouTube, served a little less on Instagram, and minded less about people’s business on Snapchat when your monthly phone bill arrives.

For the next month, take control of your phone bills. Free apps such as My Data Manager or Onavo Count make for great tools to monitor your data usage. Both are available on Apple and Android.

Overseas purchase and currency conversion

(Image credit: commons.wikimedia.org)

It is in everyone’s nature to be unique, and looking unique is part of the equation. Therefore sometimes, we cannot help but do some online shopping with overseas brands.

It all seems harmless and appears to be an effective way to shop, until your credit card company charges you at their own currency conversion rate. That is when you realize that the items you bought are not as affordable as you previously thought.

Keep in mind the next time you do online shopping with a different currency. If possible, convert the foreign currency to a local one, so that at least you will not be at the mercy of your credit card company’s exchange rates.

Letting your taxi meter run as you get stuck in heavy traffic

So you inadvertently overslept for work the next day thanks to a soccer match. You flag for the next oncoming taxi hoping to beat time. But when you fall right into the throes of peak-hour traffic conditions, the fare meter is racing as fast as your heart is.

Why give yourself the unnecessary morning stress and panic? You can eliminate fare uncertainty with GrabCar, where you always know your fixed fare upfront. Once you have keyed in your pickup and drop off locations and are satisfied with your fare, all you need to do is wait for your ride to arrive. Unlike metered fares that will jump by the distance or time, GrabCar fares remain constant even if you are caught in a traffic jam.

Unlimited flow of drinks

(Image credit: https://www.rsamelbourne.com.au)

It is your best friend’s birthday, or your cousin’s first promotion at work, and this is a cause for celebration at a bar. It is an occasional splurge, you tell yourself. You make a mental note to make sure no glass on the table is empty, and you put your bill on tab. What matters is that everyone is merry, right?

At the end of the night, you sign your bill off only to realize that you have spent way out of your limit.

Sometimes, it does not take more than a simple suggestion to split the bill between your comrades to spread out your cost.

Hidden charges on restaurant bills

(Image credit: http://www.stomp.com.sg)

Cunning as they can be, some restaurants put extra hidden charges on seemingly great service, such as paper towels, starter bread baskets or drink refills. Before you know it, it is already charged to your final bill.

The next time you frequent a restaurant that does something similar, be wiser about it and clarify beforehand, or decline politely when they serve these (chargeable) bonuses to you.

(This article is brought to you by Grab.)

1. Australia (5 nights)

(Use promo code ‘MD4OFF‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off)

* ‘MD4OFF’ is only applicable for adult ticket

(*Use promo code ‘MD4OFF‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off)

* ‘MD4OFF’ is applicable only for adult ticket

(*Use promo code ‘MD4OFF‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off )

* ‘MD4OFF’ is applicable only for adult ticket

2. Taiwan (3 nights)

(*Use promo code ‘MD4OFF‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off )

* ‘MD4OFF’ is applicable to admission ticket and admission ticket + DIY Chocolate Workshop

3. Hong Kong (3 nights)

(*Use promo code ‘MD2OFF‘ at checkout to enjoy $2 off)

* ‘MD2OFF’ is only applicable to Ocean Park (Adult) Admission + HKD100 Souvenir Coupon, Ocean Park (Adult) Admission + Kiosk Meal Combo, Ocean Park Special Admission + Restaurant Meal Combo, Ocean Park Special (Buy 2 Adults Get 1 Child Free Promotion)

(*Use promo code ‘MD2OFF‘ at checkout to enjoy $2 off)

* ‘MD2OFF’ is applicable to only Ngong Ping Round Trip Crystal Cabin Cable Car (Adult) and Ngong Ping Crystal Cabin Round-trip Adult + Meal Coupon

FIRST 300 CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE ANY NGONG PING ATTRACTION TICKETS WILL BE ENTITLED TO A FREE SNACK COUPON VALUED AT $6.50 (HKD36) TO BE USED AT NGONG PING. WHILE STOCKS LAST.

4. South Korea (3 nights)

(*Use promo code ‘MD2OFF‘ at checkout to enjoy $2 off)

5. Japan (3 nights)

(* Code validity for purchase by 30 Nov 2016)

(Use promo code ‘MD4OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off*)

(Use promo code ‘MD4OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off* )

(Use promo code ‘MD4OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $4 off* )

(Use promo code ‘MD2OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $2 off*)

(Use promo code ‘MD2OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $2 off*)

(Use promo code ‘MD2OFF**‘ at checkout to enjoy $2 off*)