Hotel Review: Palm Garden Hotel, Putrajaya x SplashMania Stay Experience

School's out! To all the mama and papas out there, check out this latest promotion from Palm Garden Hotel, Putrajaya - the SplashMania Stay Experience which promises a comfortable stay at the hotel plus a fun-filled unforgettable day out at SplashMania to keep your kids entertained this school holiday season. 

Palm Garden Hotel, Putrajaya is located in IOI Resort City, and is a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, a range of independent boutique hotels within Marriott Bonvoy. Be greeted by the large wooden wau installment at the hotel lobby - the wau is a traditional kite originating from Malaysia, while sipping on your welcome drink. 

The Room

We checked in to the Family Room (46 sqm), a spacious, contemporary space with 1 king-sized bed and 1 twin bed - perfect for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids. The hotel has recently undergone refurbishment so all rooms are modern and elegantly designed with elements of Malaysian culture. There is also a work desk, sofa, LCD TV, mini fridge, coffee/tea making facilities, as well as a bathtub/shower in the bathroom - everything you need for a comfortable stay.

Food / Dining

Breakfast is included with this package, and is served daily from 6.30am to 10.30am at Palms Cafe, the hotel's all day dining restaurant. The breakfast selection was fantastic - we thoroughly enjoyed Asian specialties such as the nasi lemak, mee goreng, a selection of roti made to order, as well as the pastries, egg counter, and more. The barista here also makes a very good cuppa coffee (with nice coffee art to boot).

You can also enjoy a la carte lunch or dinner here at Palms Cafe, and buffets are usually served on weekends or during public holidays and festive season. We had two of our dinners here, ordering from their a la carte menu - we recommend the Wild mushroom soup (RM35), served in a farmer's loaf, Melting Cheese burger (RM48), Grilled Lamb Chops (RM80) and Spaghetti aglio e olio (RM45). 

For fans of Nyonya cuisine, a visit to Madam Lee Nyonya Private Dining is a must. The dining space is beautiful and vast. Upon arrival, we were served with Kam Cheng, their welcome drink and invited to try on their Nyonya kebaya for free, should we wish. Start with the Pie Tee, crunchy top hats filled with jicama, mushrooms and prawns, followed by a selection of delectable mains such as Kapitan Ayam, Lemak Nenas Udang, Ayam Buah Keluak, Nyonya Chap Chye, Nyonya Curry Mee and Nyonya Nasi Ulam. 

Located directly below the restaurant is Baba Bar, a stylish lounge blending Peranakan heritage with modern flair. You will find handcrafted cocktails and mocktails with a local touch as well as light bites from Madam Lee served here. Chat the night away with your friends, or entertain yourself with a game of foosball, pool or watching a football match on the large screen TV.

Hotel guests are also invited to unwind from 4-6pm daily at the Courtyard with their welcome ritual, Kopi Dulu. Local snacks and kuih-muih is served along with an old-style coffee brewed the traditional way, employing a cloth strainer and a vintage charcoal stove. 

Hotel Facilities

For the fitness fanatics, there is a well-equipped gym in the hotel, accessible by hotel keycard 24/7. There are two outdoor swimming pools; one of which is suitable for children and comes with a water slide. There is also a small playground area next to the pool. 

The SplashMania Stay Experience

Guests booking under this package will receive 2 adult + 2 kids tickets to SplashMania. Return transfer from the hotel to SplashMania is also included in the price. 

SplashMania is an expansive 18-acre water theme park located in Gamuda Cove, a 30-minute journey from the hotel. The theme park features 39 exciting rides and attractions, suitable for all different age groups. Our kids had such a fun time exploring the theme park and enjoying the various rides / attractions - their favourites include the Shaka Waka, Plunge, Sumaumeira Drop, Twista and Maniac Racers. Highly recommended for a family fun day out!

Other family activities

The hotel is located within a 5-min walking distance from IOI City Mall, the largest shopping mall in Malaysia. Here, you can indulge in lots of activities with your family such as ice skating, watching a movie at the cinema, shopping, roller skating, singing to your heart's content at the karaoke, bowling, or visit IOI City Farm, Malaysia's first indoor urban wildlife adventure park. The hotel also provides a complimentary shuttle bus service to the mall.

Check out our YouTube video here:

Quote promotional code 'E4000' when making your booking for the SplashMania Stay Experience. This offer is valid from 1 December 2024 to 31 March 2025. 

Check-in time 3pm, check-out time 12pm.

Location: Palm Garden Hotel, Putrajaya, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, IOI Resort City, 62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia. (complimentary on-site parking)

Tel: 03-8943 2233

Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/kulpt-palm-garden-hotel-putrajaya-a-tribute-portfolio-hotel/overview/

If you enjoyed reading my posts, LIKE me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Instagram (@babysumo) for more photo updates or subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thanks :)

CNY 2023: Rabbit Face Origami

Another annual CNY activity for us is to make the current year's zodiac animal in origami form. This year, we welcome the Year of the Rabbit and we had an absolute hopping time making these adorable origami rabbit faces. A fun activity you can do tu兔-gether with your kids; you can use them as CNY decoration as they add a wonderful festive cheer to your home.

What you need: 1 square paper (any size), pink highlighter, black marker pen.

Here's a step-by-step video on how to make rabbit face origami:

Here's wishing you all a very Hoppy Chinese New Year! Gong Xi Fa Cai ;)

If you enjoyed reading my posts, LIKE me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Instagram (@babysumo) for more photo updates or subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thanks :)

Breakfast Menu @ Harley's Burgers & Coffee Roasters, Cyberjaya

During the recent public holiday commemorating Prophet Muhammad's birthday, we took the kids to Cyberjaya for a stroll at Taman Tasik Cyberjaya, followed by a delicious breakfast at Harley's Burgers & Coffee Roasters. Cyberjaya is a short 25-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur. 

Taman Tasik Cyberjaya is a well-kept public park, with plentiful of car parking. We spent about 45 minutes here, going for a morning walk plus enjoying the nature; there is a lotus pond in the centre of the park, you may even spot a monitor lizard or two. There are also bicycles for rent as well as a large playground for children. 

Just 5 minutes drive away from the park is Harley's; we usually come here for their fabulous burgers but this time, we're here to check out their newly launched Breakfast Menu. Available from 8am - 11am daily, you can order their breakfast muffins (a la carte or make it a set for RM10.90) as well as their freshly baked pastries with a cup of coffee/tea. 

Harley's Cyberjaya Breakfast Menu

I had the Chicken and Sambal Muffin with an add-on egg, and it was delicious! The sambal was sweet and spicy, just the way I like it. They also offer chicken and cheese muffins, if sambal is not your thing. 

The pastries are available all day long, at RM3.50 each, and you can even enjoy 30% off from 3pm-6pm, and 50% off from 9pm- 12am. Yes, this Cyberjaya is now open til 12 midnight, so you know where to get to get your midnight munchies. 

We love the chilled out vibe of this outlet, and ended up lounging here for quite a bit. Before we knew it, we were craving for some burgers too. Chloe made good use of her student ID and ordered a Student Meal for RM13.90, which comes with 1 burger (either cheeseburger, crispy chicken, or vegetarian) with your choice of side (fries, coleslaw, potato salad) OR drink (lemon tea or soft drinks). The Student Meal promo is available Monday to Friday, for a limited time only.

Meanwhile, Hubby ordered his all-time favourite, 2 x 2 burger (RM19.90) from the a la carte menu. Always hits the spot!

Harley's Burger Menu

Opening hours: 8am to 12 midnight.

Pork-free.

Location: Harley's Burgers & Roasters, Third Avenue Cyberjaya, Jalan Teknokrat 3, Cyber 4, 63000 Cyberjaya, Malaysia (Free Parking)

Tel: 03- 8689 6227


If you enjoyed reading my posts, LIKE me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Instagram (@babysumo) for more photo updates or subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thanks :)

How to Make Tiger Origami for Year of the Tiger (CNY 2022)

Every year, my kids would make zodiac animal origami which I will use as Chinese New Year decorations around the house. This year (CNY 2022), we will be ushering in the Year of the Tiger. Here is a very simple and cute tiger origami which you can try making at home.

All you need is: 15cm x 15cm orange craft paper, Black marker pen.

You can watch this video for the step-by-step tutorial. Click here to watch on YouTube.

tiger origami tiger origami tiger origami tiger origami tiger origami tiger origami tiger origami tiger origami cny 2022 cny 2022 cny 2022 cny 2022 cny 2022 cny 2022 cny 2022 cny 2022 cny 2022

If you enjoyed reading my posts, LIKE me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Instagram (@babysumo) for more photo updates or subscribe to our YouTube channel.Thanks :)

The BIG BAD WOLF Book Sale is Back, at Tropicana Gardens Mall!

 THE WOLF IS BACK!

AND KICKS OFF THE “MALAYSIA TOUR” HYBRID BOOK SALE.

Book-lovers, brace yourselves! Dubbed as The World’s Biggest Book Sale, the BIG BAD WOLF Book Sale is back and ready to kick off the ‘Malaysia Tour’ after a long hiatus due to the pandemic. Fans of BIG BAD WOLF Books will be thrilled to know that the much-awaited Book Sale is returning with a Hybrid Sale combining both on-ground Book Sale event together with the Online Book Sale. The Book Sale will be held at the Tropicana Gardens Mall, Level 3A Convention Centre, Kota Damansara, and simultaneously goes live online via its e-commerce website from the 29th of April to the 10th of May, 2021.

Speaking at the press conference held at the Convention Centre recently, Andrew Yap, Co-Founder and Managing Director of BIG BAD WOLF Books, said, “We are extremely excited and thrilled to be back on home ground after having hosted our first Hybrid Sale in Johor Bahru recently. Due to the popular response received from our first Hybrid Sale, we decided that we should meet our fans once again hence the launch of the ‘Malaysia Tour’ Hybrid Book Sale.”

“We’re also delighted to be partnering with Tropicana Gardens Mall and being their first BIG BAD WOLF Book Sale at Tropicana Gardens Convention Centre to hold our on-ground Book Sale in Selangor that will be open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. Simultaneously, our Online Book Sale’ e-commerce website will be going live 24 hours daily to cater to our customers nationwide.”

“There are amazing deals such the ‘1SEN Deal’ on offer for the Hybrid Book Sale as well as free shipping within Peninsular Malaysia with a net purchase of RM180 and 50% off shipping with a minimum spend of RM80,” added Yap.

Andrew Ashvin, Managing Director of Tropicana Gardens Mall, added, “It is our pleasure and privilege to host the return of the BIG BAD WOLF Book Sale at Tropicana Gardens Mall. As always, we are committed to ensuring the best shopping experience for our shoppers by observing SOPs in our aim to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. I wish to thank Andrew Yap, Jacqueline Ng, and their team who have worked tirelessly to organize this event with much priority on the wellbeing of our shoppers and employees. We’re looking forward to a safe and successful event.”

With books available from up to 99% off the recommended retail price, customers will be spoilt for choice as BIG BAD WOLF Books offers more than 60,000 book titles ranging from popular novels to science fiction, romance, literature, graphic art, and business books to architecture, cookbooks, and many more.

Fans of BIG BAD WOLF Books who are unable to visit the Book Sale at Tropicana Gardens Mall or prefer to shop from the comfort of their own homes may join in the Book Sale by adding books into their cart online. The BIG BAD WOLF Online Book Sale e-commerce website will be available live 24 hours a day at https://online.shopbigbadwolfbooks.com/. Online shoppers surely would not want to miss bountiful discounts and promotions made available throughout the Sale.

BIG BAD WOLF Books and Tropicana Gardens Mall highly prioritizes the safety and hygiene of those visiting the Book Sale. Preventive safety SOPs measures and precautions enforced by the Government of Malaysia will be adhered to at all times. Customers entering the Sale will be constantly monitored to ensure that they wear a mask and maintain a safe distance from one another while shopping. Hand sanitizer ‘stations’ will be placed throughout the Convention Centre hall. In-house personnel will ensure that all the trolleys be regularly sanitized throughout the day and conduct temperature checks at the entrance.

Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Selangor 2021 Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Selangor 2021 Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Selangor 2021 Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Selangor 2021 Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Selangor 2021

If you enjoyed reading my posts, LIKE me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Instagram (@babysumo) for more photo updates or subscribe to our YouTube channel.Thanks :)

Science Experiment at Home: Volcanic Eruption!

Due to online learning, our kids need to make videos of science projects and such for their teachers to assess. This is a video DJ Dan made for his science class to show an irreversible reaction. He chose to make a volcano and went on to show how to make an volcanic eruption using baking powder and vinegar. Super fun, even for adults!
science experiment for kids science experiment for kids science experiment for kids science experiment for kids science experiment for kids science experiment for kids science experiment for kids

Watch the video on YouTube (link here) :)

For those who want to create the volcanic eruption without having to build a volcano, simply place all the ingredients (follow order in video) in a glass. 

volcanic eruption science experiment volcanic eruption science experiment volcanic eruption science experiment volcanic eruption science experiment volcanic eruption science experiment
If you enjoyed reading my posts, LIKE me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Instagram (@babysumo) for more photo updates or subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thanks :)

How to Make Cow Origami Envelope for Year of the Ox

Hi everyone! How are you keeping during this MCO 2.0? Why not spend some time making some cute decorations for the upcoming Chinese New Year?

Since it's the Year of the Ox, we will be showing you how to make a cute Cow Origami Envelope. You can use this as a decoration around your house or even as an angpow packet. 

For this craft, you will need : one A4 paper, black marker pen, pencil, pink and orange colour pencils and scissors. You may watch the step-by-step instructions by clicking the link here.

Don't forget to check out our Cow Yee Sang for the Year of the Ox too (link here)!
cow origami envelope cow origami envelope cow origami envelope cow origami envelope
cow origami envelope cow origami envelope cow origami envelope cow origami envelope
Tag us on Instagram or Facebook if you give this craft a go - we would love to see them!

year of the ox cny crafts year of the ox cny crafts year of the ox cny crafts year of the ox cny crafts year of the ox cny crafts year of the ox cny crafts year of the ox cny crafts year of the ox cny crafts
If you enjoyed reading my posts, LIKE me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Instagram (@babysumo) for more photo updates or subscribe to our YouTube channel.Thanks :)

Recipe: Mini lime syrup sponges (Nigella Lawson)

Need inspiration for Mother's Day?

Mother's Day is fast approaching (it's this coming Sunday, guys!), but if you haven't gotten her anything this year, I have a recipe especially for you.  These delicious Mini Lime Syrup Sponges will surely put a smile on your mother's face.... it certainly did for me, when BabySumoKids made these for me for teatime one day.

This beautiful recipe yields a soft, tender sponge soaked in lime syrup. Loved the lovely aroma from the lime zest too! The original recipe call for self-raising cake flour, however I've provided a substitution which you can use (with the more commonly found all-purpose flour in our kitchens).

This is an easy recipe, which kids can do all by themselves with minor supervision. They turned out absolutely divine and certainly went down a treat, perfect with a cuppa tea!

Mini Lime Syrup Sponges
Recipe by Baby Sumo, adapted from Nigella Lawson
Preparation time: 15-20 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Makes 8

Ingredients
113g butter, softened at room temperature
1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp caster sugar
2 large eggs
Zest of 1 lime
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
4 tbsp milk

For the syrup:
4 tbsp lime juice (from 2-4 limes, depending on size)
5-6 tbsp icing sugar


1. Preheat oven to 180°C (no fan). Grease the inside of the 8-cup mini loaf pan using melted butter or oil.

2. Sift the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Mix well.

3. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until pale, light and creamy, about 5-6 minutes. Then, add the eggs one at a time, and beat well, repeat until all eggs are used. Mixture should be light and fluffy. Add the lime zest.

4. Fold in sifted flour in 3 batches, until well combined. Add the milk and mix well. Your batter should be of a dropping consistency at this point.

5. Spoon batter into prepared mini-loaf pan and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes.

6. While the cakes are cooking, make the syrup. Place lime juice and icing sugar in a small saucepan and gently heat and stir until sugar dissolves. See Note 1. 

7. As soon as the mini sponges are ready, take them out of the oven and prick all over using a cake tester or skewer. Then, spoon over lime syrup. Allow cake to cool for at least 1 hour before removing from tin. Grate lime zest over the cakes and serve.

Note:

1. Original recipe calls for 1/2 cup icing sugar for the syrup. However, I recommend you start with 1/4 cup (which is equivalent to 4 tbsp) and then gradually add 1 tbsp at a time to get the taste that you like. We used 5 tbsp in total.
2. If you do not have a mini loaf pan, you may also do this in 9 x 4 inch loaf pan, lined with baking paper. For the loaf pan, you will need to bake the cake for 45 minutes. You can get 16 slices from this loaf.

The same recipe, made in a loaf pan.Please see Note 2 above for baking instructions.

Lime syrup sponge cake recipe

Mini Lime Syrup Sponges Mini Lime Syrup Sponges Mini Lime Syrup Sponges Mini Lime Syrup Sponges Mini Lime Syrup Sponges Mini Lime Syrup Sponges Mini Lime Syrup Sponges
If you enjoyed reading my posts, LIKE me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Instagram (@babysumo) for more photo updates or subscribe to our YouTube channel.Thanks :)