Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N @ Singapore Science Centre

This post shouldn't be up that fast but because the Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N exibition will be ending on 5th March 2016, I reckon I should do up this review asap and hopefully it's of some help to those who are still contemplating whether to go for this exhibition.

So during Derp's birthday (December last year), we decided to go there for his birthday celebration. 

Simply because there's so much advertisement on the exhibition on TV and etc which tempted us to go for it even though it's all the way to the west. The reviews on the media was quite good for this exhibition too. 

Before heading out for his birthday celebration. 

Greeted by this upon reaching. It's facing the carpark directly so it's hard to miss it. 

This was near the Mcdonald's at the Singapore Science Center.

A #OOTD worthy shot.

We went to have our late lunch at Mcdonald's to fill our tummies after purchasing the tickets.

Btw, his birthday falls on a Saturday so we went to this exhibition on a weekend. There were quite a number of people visiting the exhibition (there's recreational club who organizes their outing to go there so they went to the exhibition in a large group) but we didn't have to queue or so to get the tickets. 

The whole process of getting the tickets was very smooth. 

The tickets!

It was highly recommended to download the Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N mobile app before entering the exhibition.

We had done this at home before we left house that day. Once we enter the exhibition, we are require to join the designated wifi network at the exhibition if not we won't be able to complete the mission. I will roughly say more about that as we go down this blogpost. 

1) Briefing

We were first brought into this 'room' to watch a short video on the instructions for this whole exhibition. Basically, we are to answer questions on the mobile app and as we walk around, once they detect our location, they will unlock related information/questions. 

2) Captain America

The first Marvel character we met was Captain America. It was a in depth history lesson on Captain America. 

The classic uniform. But is he ever so lean? haha!  

Snippets of his movie playing on the screen behind.

I've got not 1, but 2 shields! 

Derp's turn haha! 

Very chio looking shield! 

His way of transporting himself around since he can't fly haha!

But anyway, this is "wow" as we didn't expect to see this at the exhibition though. 

Derp took a few shots for me and this was a 'just nice' moment which Captain America's face  was caught on screen haha! 

Because it was no sitting on the bike, so the best we could was to lean on it. But we do see much people riding on the bike despite the warning. 

Anyway, there were 3 questions at the Captain America's station which were given to us once we were at this area. We start hunting for the answers by reading what's on the wall and we got it answered pretty fast. 

After we were done we proceed on to the next station. We passed by this few simulators (still at the Captain America's area) which were out to test our reaction time and strength test. 

Derp's trying his very best to pull this metal bar up.

This is the strength test haha! The system will then compare the readings from the strength test to that of Captain America. This is the same for the reaction time test too. 

3) Hulk

There's no life size Hulk at the exhibition but just the virtual version of hulk. He did move and make quite a bit of noise when he's punching here and there in the screen which actually scare visitors when they first enter that area.

Comparing our hand to the one of Hulk. 

I do believe that's the life size hulk's hand size haha!

The wordings on the display are answers to our MCQ questions. Ultron was also found at Hulk's area. 

3) Hawkeye, Catwoman, Antman

Hawkeye's weapon

You can slowly read through the 'stories' behind each of the superheroes.

I love this alot haha!

When you start to walk near it, all the virtual ants will start to scatter and run away. I'm quite impress with it and not very sure how they do it. They will form back once you move away. 

Spend some time 'playing' with that lol! 

Antman's suit

4) Thor

The 2nd last exhibit was on Thor.

The famous Thor's hammer.

Derp trying hard to pull it out lol. 

Obviously can't pull it out so Derp made me take this pic haha! 

This was a very good photo spot because everyone is having a go at it and having lots of fun. 

5) Ironman

Everyone's favourite Ironman

The 'ah pui' Ironman haha! 

Ironman's bff is not being left out in this exhibition. 

Mandatory shot

I tried to pose like him but failed badly. A normal standing shot looks better. 

Our only #welfie that day because the exhibition lighting wasn't that good.

Lots of Ironman! 

Derp and I have actually came across this magnificent display during STGCC 2013 and gosh that was 4 years ago! 

Had to edit the photos quite alot because of the bright background and dark surroundings. 

#OOTD shot with the Ironman(s)

6) Final Mission

There's this final mission which will be unlocked for us once we are near the final mission's room. We have to complete answering those questions from all the stations prior to that! There's a minimum mark if I'm not wrong but it's not difficult to to achieve the minimum mark at all haha!

It require group effort for this final mission so each of us will be allocated to a 'team'. I was allocated to the Hulk's team but actually there's only me inside haha! It's a battle between the super heroes and the villain (I can't remember who is it actually).

At that moment, our phone will be the same as that of the big screen and we are suppose to tap at a button (there's only 1 button) to 'attack'. Somehow hulk's skill was throwing stones at the villain haha! Like quite weak right?

After around 5 mintutes or so, we defeated the villain and mission accomplished!

Btw, this is what the app look like. Those with pictures meant you have been to the stations and have cover them.  

You have to be on this App throughout the exhibition to complete it so do prepare your powerbank. 

There's charging station if I never remember wrongly but you will have to bring your own cable haha! Same concept as those charging station at the Changi Airport. 

We exited the exhibition once we were done with the final mission. It was close to the closing time already so we hurriedly left. We spend around 2 hours in the exhibition and barely make it though.

Do cater time for photo taking and also completing the various missions! This exhibition is not as small as you think it will be.

Lots of Marvel's merchandise sold outside the exhibition hall...

So cute :) 

We didn't get any merchandise as they were closing real soon. I only fancy the lanyard but it was sold out by the time I came out from the exhibition. Oh well, no luck in getting it. 

Last few pictures taken at the exhibiton before we left for the Derp's birthday dinner. 

Overall, we enjoyed this exhibition very much as it's very interactive. Lots of photo taking spots and we enjoy doing the mission given to us. 

It's not any other type of exhibition whereby you just read what's there, take photos and then that's it. Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N is indeed something done differently from the usual ones :) 

It was a afternoon well spent there! 

24/09/2016 BKK 2016 - Day 2 (Chatuchak Weekend Market, Somboondee Seafood Restaurant Scam, Rod Fai Night Market)

I'm back to update BKK 2016 Day 2. Just 2 posts back was on BKK 2016 Day 1 (blog about it few weeks ago, you may click here for it) and I hope I can keep up with it. 

Day 2 started with hotel breakfast served by Glow Pratunam Hotel. As mentioned before, it was my first time staying at Glow Pratunam Hotel (previous trips stay was at Baiyoke Sky). So this is the first time trying out this hotel's breakfast and the reviews online seems good. 

We were lazy to go out hunt for food as shops in BKK doesn't operate that early so hotel breakfast seems to be a better choice. 

Quite a wide and delish spread of food served for breakfast...

Fuel to kick start the day...

And this was only round 1 of what I took.

Scramble egg cooked by the chef. This is a must have for every hotel's breakfast.

There were other types of eggs being served too and we get to try all of them by the end of our trip.

We went back to our room to get ready to head out to Chatuchak Weekend Market. It's been awhile since I've been there because we feel that it's not a must-go place for our BKK trips in recent years. 

However, our BIL and SIL have not been there before so we slot in the trip to Chatuchak as part of the itinerary. 

As mentioned in Day 1 of the trip, we purchased our customize hat and had it delivered to our hotel. We went to enquire with the reception counter the night before and they told us there weren't any caps for us. 

I had to resort to whatsapp-ing the HolyCaps's person in charge. The person was kind enough to help me check the status and confirmed that the caps were delivered to the hotel receptionist.

After resting for the night, Derp and I went to the hotel receptionist after our breakfast once again to asked whether are there any parcels for us. And this time round, they took out the 'parcel' for us. They were all wrapped up so one can't tell there's caps inside.

At the very least, I do expect the hotel receptionist to have them deliver and place it in our room but nope they didn't do it when they received the parcel. No idea why too? 

For a moment we thought our caps were gone for good (we had paid the cost of the caps in full) and should have just collected the caps ourselves to prevent such miscommunication. We were glad to finally get our caps in the end. A huge sigh of relive because they aren't cheap at all and we really look forward to receiving them. 

Our customized caps :) 

I love the font I chose for my caps! 

Initially, I didn't know what to choose because there were too many options until Derp pointed out to me this heart shape looking font. I love anything heart shape so I went for it without giving it a 2nd thought.

#selfie with the cap. 

Love the natural room lighting in the hotel room. Best for taking selfie :)

After settling our caps (like finally), it's time to head to Chatuchak weekend market! Since there were 4 of us, we took a cab there instead of public transport. 

If you will like to know how to get to Chatuchak via public transport, you may refer to this blogpost which I've written years back :)

Finally here after a good 20 mins or so taxi ride. There was slight jam but it wasn't that bad. 

We reached Chatuchak  around 11+am and there were quite a number of shops that weren't opened yet.

We start walking around lane by lane and we went to the extend of covering those shops which sell household/antique decoration items for the house.

And while shopping around, we passed by those handphone accessories shop and decide to take a look. We decide to each buy the fish eye lens because it's really cheap (around few sg dollars) and starting taking photos with it lol. We were quite amazed by its ability to take wide angle photos haha! It makes taking welfie much more easier.

Us at Chatuchak!

:)

We start to feel famished after 2pm and proceed to find food then. 

We walked around Chatuchak but didn't have any idea on what to eat. We only wanted a place to sit down and rest our legs to have our food instead of standing around under the hot sun. 

In the end, we settle down at this street stall. Quite a big stall as they do have quite a number of seats for tourists there. 

There weren't much food option but it was good enough for us. 

BIL ordered this fried chicken for us to share.

Can't really make up what the sauces were but if I never remember wrongly, botlh are spicy sauces. 

Btw, they do taste really yummy! :) 

Our mains. 

All of us ordered the same mains because there weren't much option. And we have no idea why do they sell this Vietnam pho noodles in Chatuchak haha!

After our lunch, we went to hunt for our dessert. Actually, there's not a need to hunt for them because coconut ice cream can be found anywhere in Chatuchak lol. We didn't explicitly went all out to find the original one because most/all of the stalls there claimed they were the original coconut ice cream.

Favourite coconut ice cream from Chatuchak :) A must have especially under the hot sun! 

With the coconut ice cream before digging in! 

Making full use of the wide lens camera once again haha! 

So after we were done with the coocnut ice cream, we took cab back to our hotel to rest before dinner time. 

Placing all our caps together for a 'group pic' 

All my loots from Chatuchak. 

Comparing this to many years back when I first went Chatuchak, these were less than half of the total things I bought from there haha!

Derp and my loots..

 And the carrot soft toy actually belong to Day 1's loots though haha! 

We rested for an hour plus or so before heading out for our dinner. And that's when we fall into the famous Sombondee Seafood Restuarant Scam.

We simply flagged a cab (from below our hotel) to Rod Fai Night Market as we were going nearby that area for claypot tom yum porridge. After we got into the cab and told the cab driver about it, he started telling us there will be massive jam to the night market. It will probably take us 1 hour or so to reach that place. And also the night market doesn't start operating at such a early hour.

None of us have been to that night market before so we somehow believed him. 

Eventually, BIL told him we were heading there for tom yum porridge first before going to the night market. The cab driver then said he have better recommendation about this seafood restaurant which sells the best tom yum soup and also crab in BKK. 

After some debate, we eventually just proceed to go where he's bringing us too. I remember mentioning getting down to shop around at the malls first and this cab driver hop in to say everywhere is closing soon when obviously it's not. 

Upon reaching, I have a really bad feeling about the place after seeing the signboard written Sombondee Seafood Restaurant. I remember back then when I was searching for Sombom Seafood, they have warned tourist of fake restaurants using their name out there. 

Once we were seated, they gave us wet towels, peanut and etc. I was busy on the phone searching on my phone regarding this restaurant and hardwarezone even have a thread talking about it (somehow forums always provide the best information). I'm quite sure it was a scam after quickly reading through the stories posted on the forum.

Before we order anything, we quickly returned the wet towel and etc to them because there's bound to be unreasonable charges for them. 

We looked through the menu and came to consensus that we will only order the 'cheaper' food  solve there because we do not want to get overcharged too badly. 

So here's what we ordered at the scam restaurant..

Pineapple Fried Rice and Mussels..

This was our only carbo dish that night. The pineapple fried rice was tasteless. 

And we also ordered this asparagus with prawns. The texture of the asparagus was very hard which made it very difficult to bite and swallow.

No picture of the tom yum soup because they helped us to serve e into 4 portions once it was served to us. I suddenly remember we ordered 2 types of seafood tom yum soup, 1 clear tom yum soup and 1 normal tom yum soup. Should have just stick to 1 will do because they really taste not nice at all!

The food served there were below average and they charged us way too expensive.

This meal costs us around $80SGD for just 3 dishes and 2 soups. After viewing the bill, we noticed they add on additional cost (for no reason) like a few hundred baht on top the total bill. Btw, we purposely didn't order any crab because there weren't any fixed price written on the menu. They will probably overcharge us to the max if we were to order crab.

We didn't wish to accuse them for overcharging us because afterall, we are in a foreign country so we are at a losing end. We quickly pay the bill and left this scam place.

Took a cab who is station just right outside the restaurant and he charge us 100 baht for bringing us to Rod Fai Night Market. By right it shouldn't cost that much but oh well, that's how all these cab drivers earned from bringing customers to and fro this scam restaurant.

We went back to do some research and came to realize the night market which we initially wanted to go (because of the nearby claypot tom yum porridge) is called the New Rod Fai Night Market/ Rod Fai Night Market 2. IKR, it's really complicated and easy to mix them up!

Upon reaching Rod Fai Night Market, we started to walk around the various stalls. It's not a big night market (unlike Chatuchak) and you can easily cover it within few hours the most.

The stuff sold there were more or less similar to those from Chatuchak but at a higher price. There were many repeated stalls too so we got bored after an hour or walking or so.

We started to get some snacks/drinks to eat and drink while walking around..

Cute cupcakes sold at the night market.

We packed this back to our hotel because it's the first time we see colorful mango sticky rice haha.

Rod Fai Night Market

Thailand, ถนน ศรีนครินทร์ - Srinagarindra 51 Alley, Nong Bon, Prawet, Bangkok 10250, Thailand

I do hope that by writing my experience down, more people will be aware of the Somboondee Seafood Restaurant Scam and not fall for them like we do. By all means insist to go to the place you wish to go instead of following the cab drivers recommendation will be a safer choice at all times! If not, just request to get down the cab then since he refused to drive you to your destination. 

Alright, that's all for Day 2 of BKK 2016. 

Be back soon to update more :)