Sundays Are Fun Days (Sun Day Out At Jaya One)

On Mister Four's last birthday we bought him a bike.  It was a thing of beauty, with its shiny red paintwork and coordinating helmet.  We buffed it, checked the tyres and set it up while the little man slept.  We'd thought of everything.

Well not quite.

Because the next morning, with squeals of delight our little KL-ite jumped right on and started pedalling into the living room in the general direction of our glass sliding doors.  We'd forgotten that, like many other central KL residents, we don't have a garden.

We brushed this aside as a minor hiccup and decided to head to the park.  KL boasts some very good, spacious and well-maintained green spaces.  But in order to utilise them, you need to get your family fed, dressed and out of the house before about 9.00am.  If you fail to do this your cycling trip will produce more sweat than a bout with a sumo wrestler.  A second option is to head to the park sometime after 4pm.  This is of course a careful balancing act.  You need to make it late enough to avoid the piercing heat but early enough that you have not entered the dreaded 'witching hour'.

It's doable.  You can ride a bike outdoors in KL.  It just requires military precision.

But we weren't great at it.  Six months later Mister Four's bike was almost as shiny as it had been on the morning of his birthday.

So it's fortunate that we recently found out about Sun Day Out at The School (Malaysia's first enrichment mall) at the Jaya One complex in Petaling Jaya.

 Every Sunday from 10am to 3pm (right when the sun is at its fiercest) the ground floor of The School is made available for little ones to pedal to their hearts' content.  It's free.  It's clean.  It's well organised.

You can even borrow a free bike if you don't have your own (though the selection is quite limited).  Little Miss had a blast being pushed around on her baby trike last Sunday while Mister Four zoomed around on the 'roads' that have been set up especially for little cyclists. 

Best of all though is that the smart people at The School have thought of mum and dad too.  Next door to the cycling area is a little Sunday market.  Cute little stationary, homewares and fashion stalls offer quirky finds.  A number of pop-up food stalls sell light (and unusual) bites for those who've worked up an appetite.  If you prefer something heavier, there are a number of trendy, warehouse-turned-NY-loft-appartment style restaurants with a good selection and a friendly vibe in Jaya One.  

I'm sure the brains behind the concept were parents.  On the ground floor of The School is the first men's only baby change room I've ever seen.  Hands-on dads can change baby's nappy while his other charges play or watch TV in the 'Babysitting Dads' room.  Mums needn't feel left out though.  There is a nice mums' room with a breastfeeding area upstairs.

You'll need to allow about half an hour to get to The School on a Sunday from central KL.  Parking is straightforward and cheap.  There's no need to book a slot.  Just show up whenever you manage to get out of the house.  

And as for the bike?  Okay, so the tyres aren't exactly muddy, but it's definitely got some pretty cool scuff marks now.

Getting Down With The Fish - Aquaria KLCC

Mister Four started a new year at kindergarten last week.  After a few days filled with the excitement of new shoe buying and uniform labelling, I found myself back in the school yard, waving off my little big boy and desperate to fill the void.  And so I turned to the other school mums and the conversation went something like this.

'So what did you do over the summer?' (And no, as an Aussie I still haven't got used to referring to July and August as 'summer').

'We kayaked to a desserted island.'

'We zip-lined through the jungle.'

'We scaled Everest.'

Okay, not quite. But you get my drift.  It seemed everyone had an exciting adventure to share.

But so did I.  One rainy Monday morning here in KL Mister Four, Little Miss and I had a close encounter with a tiger shark...

Fancy one too?  You'll need to head to Aquaria KLCC.

The first thing I like about this aquarium is just how easy it is to get to.  It's located in the concourse of the Convention Centre.  You can walk across from Suria KLCC and there are good public transport links.  It's well sign-posted too.

The aquarium houses eight or so exhibits, showcasing marine life in various habitats from jungle streams to tropical waters.  There are also otters and water rats - surprisingly cute and cuddly looking.  Young children will enjoy the touch pools where they can stroke sea cucumbers and star fish.  Then there is the shark display, with enough jaws and pointy teeth to tantalise any future marine biologist.  On any of our visits though, it's the Oceanarium that steals the show.  We never tire of watching tiger sharks, rays and turtles swim above our heads in the tunnel and there's definitely child appeal in the moving walkway.  We also enjoy the fish feedings, which are scheduled throughout the day (check first).  Be warned though that they can get very crowded.  On this last occasion I was left standing on the side with Little Miss, craning my neck to get a view of anything more than the man in front's head.

It's worth mentioning that the Jewels Of The Jungle exhibit was closed when we went in August.  I believe there is a new display set to replace it, but it did leave a slight 'hole' in our tour.  That said, there is still plenty to see.

I should also mention that it's one of the more costly family attractions in the city.  This must be reflective of the upkeep required though, evident in the well-maintained exhibits.  Residents of Malaysia receive a discounted rate on presentation of ID.

Having visited a number of aquariums in other countries, I think that Aquaria holds its own in terms of variety and presentation and will keep little ones happily diverted.  It's not particularly large, but a good size for younger children whose interest may be zealous but short lived.  There are toilet facilities though few rest stops.  The aquarium is stroller and wheelchair friendly.  It's well staffed and we found a number of people willing to help us navigate our way around.

As with most child-orientated attractions in the modern world the exit hosts a sizeable gift shop with all manner of marine (and surprisingly non-marine) trinkets on offer.  I challenge any parent to make an undiverted exit.

I haven't managed it yet but perhaps that's my challenge for the next school holidays.

A (Child Friendly) Morning In China Town, KL

The first time I went to China Town I dragged my little boy around in circles for a good hour.  The second time we did figures of eight.  The third time I made the effort to actually study a map properly and discovered that while getting lost is almost par for the course, with a little forward planning China Town is one of the most exciting spots to explore here in KL.    It's not necessarily the easiest destination in this great city but don't let that put you off - there's something for everyone here.

So I've done the grind work for you and thought I'd share an itinerary for a top morning or afternoon that will showcase a few of the area's charms.

Getting there

Traffic in China Town is something else.  The streets heave with a throng of coaches, motorbikes, Myvis and pedestrians.  I have neither the mettle nor the patience to drive there (though plenty do) and always take the LRT.  The nearest LRT station is Pasar Seni, just a few short stops away from KLCC.  It costs peanuts to travel and the transport is clean and efficient.

Take note though that whilst in theory it should be possible to wheel a stroller out of the station, escalators and lifts aren't always reliable.  That said, I've never had problems adopting a helpless look and finding a kind stranger to help me carry my stroller down stairs when needed.

You can also take an easy taxi journey to China Town but bear in mind that traffic can be variable and taxis hard to flag down in busy periods.

The streets around China Town, however, are hardly ideal for pushing prams and strollers.  You can just about do it if you really want to, but if you aren't a fan of pumping iron you might want to consider using a lightweight baby carrier rather than four wheels.  Just build in plenty of pit stops to avoid over heating.


Sri Maha Mariamman

China Town boasts numerous temples.  In order to avoid the all-too-real 'temple fatigue' phenomenon, I've selected two of my favourites for this itinerary.  Start early while the children are fresh and walk to Jalan Tun HS Lee to visit KL's most important Hindu temple, Sri Maha Mariamman.  You can't miss it - the five tiered tower at the front is a bit of a China Town landmark.  Children will love the vibrant colours of the various deities and friezes decorating the building and those who hanker after the exotic will love the sensation of stepping into another world here.  If you're lucky the temple with be abuzz with the sound of music accompanying prayer, if not, you'll enjoy just walking around the impressive structure.  You'll need to take off your shoes before entering.


Peter Hoe Beyond

It might seem early in the day, but given KL's heat you've probably already earned yourself a little stop gap.  It's time to walk over to Peter Hoe Beyond.  This gorgeous shop and cafe is a hidden retreat from heat, sweat and frizzy hair.  Tucked away on the second floor of Lee Rubber Building at 145 Jalan Tun HS Lee the shop stocks beautiful homewares and souvenirs, with embroidered cushions, silver tableware and decorative lamps that are a world away from some of the mass produced trinkets you'll find elsewhere in China Town.  Best of all, the little cafe serves up delicious cakes.  You may find yourself needing to use this as a bit of an incentive for good behaviour - the shop is saturated with goods, especially breakables, and you'll want to hold tightly onto little hands as you wander around.

Sze Ya Temple

Getting yet another 'average lot'

Next stroll to this little Taoist temple at 14A Lebuh Pudu.  The entrance is rather nondescript but don't be deterred.  Built in 1864 the temple houses a main hall and two side halls in honour of two deities who died in battle.  All are welcome to wander around the alters and see the statues of the deities.  If you're feeling brave you can then ask one of the attendants to take you to the side hall to discover your fortune.  They will show you how to shuffle a basket containing numbered sticks until one drops out.  The number corresponds to a fortune written on a small piece of paper and you'll be shown an English translation in a well-thumbed book in the main hall.  Be warned:  I've done this three times now and got one 'bad lot' and two 'average lots'.  So far I haven't been told I'll soon be a millionaire or a world-famous blog writer...but perhaps you'll have better luck than me.

Central Markets

Lastly, cross over to the iconic Central Markets.  I love this beautiful art deco building because it has almost everything I'm after at this point in the day.  Air con - check.  Handicrafts, souvenirs and art - check.  Food - check.  We love to meander around some of the many stores and the art enclave at the back then head upstairs to the tasty Ginger Thai restaurant for lunch when little feet start to tire.  (Of course, there are plenty of Chinese options nearby if you prefer cuisine more in keeping with the area).  My real reason for coming here though?  Taking my guests to try one of my 'non-negotiable' KL experiences:  a fish spa.  For RM5 a pop, you can submerge your feet into a communal tank while little fish nip away at dead skin.  Let's be honest here - no one really walks away with baby soft feet, but you'll be dead proud of yourself for going through with it (or satisfyingly tired out after belly laughing at your companions enduring the process).

All in all I think that's plenty for a family introduction to China Town.  Of course, you could do countless other things.  One of China Town's biggest tourist attractions is the Petaling Street markets.  These perk up at night time, when traders emerge with their fake designer bags, knock-off watches and 'best quality' DVDs.  If a slightly wonky Prado purse is the closest you're ever going to get to owning a designer piece you might want to check it out.  But bear in mind that it gets pretty crowded and can be quite overwhelming.  I've been a number of times but never taken my children.

You can use the following interactive map to plot your trip.  Of course, sometimes getting lost is part of the fun so don't let me know stop you if you choose to walk in circles or figures of eight too.

Happy exploring!

InterNations Interview

Thank you to the lovely people at InterNations, the largest expat network worldwide, for recommending Mum On The Move!  Here's a link to an interview I've just answered for them:

http://www.internations.org/malaysia-expats/guide/recommended-expat-blogs-malaysia-15667/anna-mum-on-the-move-8

Hop On Hop Off Bus

If you're anything like me, when you visit or move to a new place you will collect enough maps to start a small library.  Aside from the fun you'll have trying to fold them back up again, if, again, you're like me, they'll be nice things to have but frankly not mean a whole lot.  Because in my (poor map reading) experience, the best way to get to know a place is simply to get out and see it.

And that's where KL's Hop On Hop Off Bus comes in.  Despite living in the city for nearly two and a half years, it was only recently, with visiting friends, that I took my first trip on the bus.  I should mention that I also took Mister Four and Little Miss along for the ride too (who both travelled free).

And it was great!  So good that I'm planning on taking the children on the trip again.  The bus follows a round trip that covers an astounding amount of the city via 22 bus stops.  As the name implies, you can get on and off anywhere along the route and pick up the next bus when it comes along in 20 to 30 minutes.

The round trip takes longer than I'd anticipated - a good two and a half hours minus stops on the day we took it, though do factor in that KL's traffic is highly changeable.  With that in mind, you could really plan an entire day using the bus.  Start early and then schedule in a few child-friendly stops to break up the trip.  I'd suggest visiting the Central Markets in Chinatown for market shopping and Chinese food, Little India for a tosai lunch and a spot of sari shopping and the Bird Park for the open spaces, playground and, oh yes, the birds.  End up in the KLCC or Bukit Bintang area for some dinner and shopping if you can muster the energy.

Of course, that's just one option, and there are lots of other things to see along the tour.  But don't forget the fun of the bus itself.  Mister Four was beside himself with glee when we sat up top for a while (though Little Miss had to stay downstairs with my friends - there's no stroller access to the top, though plenty of space downstairs).  It's great fun to watch KL from above.  And sweaty mums take note - it's the first place I've ever found to catch a cooling breeze in this humid city.  In my book that alone makes it worth the ticket.

You can find out full details about the route, ticketing and so forth on their website.

Kids In Kuala Lumpur: Expat Arrivals

Just taking a moment to plug an article I've just written for Expat Arrivals.  I hope it might be useful to families moving to, or visiting, KL.

http://www.expatarrivals.com/malaysia/kuala-lumpur/kids-in-kuala-lumpur

Let me know what you think!

Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, Pahang

'Mummy, can we ask them if we can take an elephant home?'

It was a tempting prospect.  Baby elephants are adorable.  And of course, since I've never had to clean up elephant poo or treat a fevered (elephantine) brow they do look like pretty appealing playmates.


Of course the answer was a (fairly) firm 'No'.  But despite our son's disappointment that Mummy had vetoed his hefty souvenir of choice our trip to Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary made for a happy day out and a nice change of scene from the big smoke.

The sanctuary is a conservation centre dedicated to protecting orphaned elephants.  It's located in Pahang, between an hour and a half to two hours' drive out of KL, depending, of course, on how obliging KL's traffic decides to be on the given day.  A visit to the sanctuary makes a good day trip for avid elephant fans and for those who are looking for a break from the city.  It's probably not a 'must see' if you are just visiting KL for a few days, but if you have the time and inclination it's worth the journey.

I must admit we made the trip with some trepidation.  Hubby and I spent three years in Uganda and viewing the Asian elephant's African cousins in their natural habitat had been an almost monthly passion.  I still have my 'animal sightings log book' (yes, I know, I know) - and it's only now, with some distance between Africa and myself that I realise I may have had something of an obsession.  I digress (and quite frankly, with the clock nearing midnight I really can't afford to be going off on tangents now).  I'd heard a number of less-than-glowing reports about the place, but having been told that they'd made changes recently we decided to give it a go. And I'm pleased to report that the sanctuary was clean and the animals appeared well looked after.

Admission is free but there are a limited number of tickets given out each day on a first come first served basis.  It's advisable to call a day or two before you go to check on the schedule and find out the best time to arrive.

One of the major draw cards is the sanctuary's elephant show.  This was scheduled for 2pm on our chosen day.  Until then the only activity on offer was feeding a number of elephants separated (understandably so) from us by a wooden fence.  This was fun and all very sweet but two hours of standing in the sun watching elephants vie for sugar cane is probably a bit of a stretch for even the keenest elephant enthusiast.  Luckily, there are some pretty picnic tables dotted around the area and we'd brought a (slightly soggy) stash of sandwiches to help us pass the time.

When it did roll around, the show was interesting, but do be warned that there is no seating and you are likely to be standing in full sunlight.  I ended up bouncing Little Miss up and down in the rather sweaty baby carrier from a distance as it was simply too hot for a baby to be under Malaysia's scorching afternoon sun.

After the show we were invited to watch the adult elephants bathe in the river.  If luck is on your side and the river isn't too high it's possible to pay extra to go into the water with the baby elephants.  Unfortunately this wasn't an option on the day we visited - do bear this in mind.  Still, we enjoyed watching the beautiful giants splash around in the water with their mahouts.  That wrapped up the day's activities and heralded an inevitable surge towards the car park.

Would we go again?  Probably.  Is it a worthy organisation to support?  Absolutely.  Has my son forgiven me for not buying him a pet elephant?  Absolutely not.

Win A Newborn Photo Shoot With Monthi Barker In KL!

I'm delighted to say that I have in my possession one voucher for a one hour photo shoot for a newborn (baby up to two weeks old).  The photographer is the very talented Monthi Barker who is based in KL.  Tempted?  It could be yours for the having.  Here's what to do:

Visit the Mum On The Move Facebook page and leave me a message explaining why you would love to win the voucher.  I'll be selecting the best answer after the CNY weekend, on Monday 3rd February 2014.

Please note that the voucher needs to be used by the end of February and can only be used for newborns up to two weeks old.  An ideal way to commemorate the arrival of a brand new little one.  Good luck!  Please share with anyone you know who may be interested.

Life As An Expat: Interview For Expat Arrivals

I've just had fun answering questions about life as an expat in Malaysia.  You can read my interview for Expat Arrivals here.  Hope it will be useful to those of you considering making a move here.

Monkeying Around In Bukit Melawati

There does come a point when even the most die-hard bargain hunting KL-ite gives in and admits, 'I just can't take another shopping mall.  I refuse to shop this weekend!'  When you reach that crossroad, it's time to bundle up the children and take the hour's drive to Bukit Melawati (Melawati Hill) in Kuala Selangor for some fresh(er) air and an afternoon with a difference.

Bukit Melawati was the administrative centre of the Selangor Sultanate in the late 18th and early 19th century.  Today you can still see the remains of a fort, palace grounds, a lighthouse and royal grounds.  I would have loved to spend time meandering through these offerings and taking in the extensive view, but there was really only one reason we made the journey to this little hill - Bukit Melawati is all about the monkeys.

Silver-leafed monkey babies work the ginger trend beautifully

Bukit Melawati is home to a tribe of ridiculously cute and friendly silver-leafed monkeys.  You can take a kitsch little tram (RM 5/adult, RM 3/child for a return ticket) on weekends up to the top of the hill where the monkeys congregate.  Once you're deposited here your up close and personal encounter begins.  The monkeys flock around new arrivals and are so tame that they will quite literally stroke your legs.  A few found my red pedicure to be of interest and sat on the ground beneath me twiddling my toes.  

If you're not averse to having monkeys jumping all over you and quite likely sitting on your shoulder, you can buy a bundle of green beans for RM1.  You'll feel like the Pied Piper. 

The silver-leafed monkeys are incredibly gentle.  There's none of the aggressive behaviour of their wild cousins, the macaques, and you get the feeling that they are just as interested in you as you are in them.   (Do note though, that there are macaques in some of the surrounding trees too and it's best to be wary of them). Mister Three, although a little apprehensive at first, was soon comfortable enough to let the silver-leafed monkeys curl their long arms around his little legs.

Making friends

What I liked most about the set up here is that it feels like a win-win situation.  The monkeys are clearly very healthy and respected.  You're not allowed to feed them junk food.  There are people watching over the whole operation to make sure no one (monkeys included) gets hurt.  I've seen other 'monkey feeding' operations where people delight in supplying monkeys with cans of soft drink or packets of crisps.  This, on the other hand, feels like hanging out with much loved friends, rather than a circus act.

The little train will take you back down the hill and on a little extra route that takes in a local park before returning you to the main entrance point for the hill.  There's almost a breeze as you chug along the winding green road - very welcome on a sweltering afternoon.

History buffs, or those who can tolerate the heat better than we could, may prefer to spend more time on the hill visiting the historical quarter, but for us, it was enough to spend twenty minutes hanging with the monkeys.  We were then more than ready to head back to the comfort of our air conditioned car.

Top tips: Bring hand sanitizer!  We were told that the silver-leafed monkeys are very clean and don't carry disease, but still...  And if your little one needs a toilet stop, based on what I saw of the facilities, you may prefer to make like a monkey and head for the trees.  

The Carpenter's Daughter - An Artisan Bakery in KL

If Cath Kidston were passing through KL (okay, Subang Jaya to be technical) she'd probably stop by at The Carpenter's Daughter for lunch.  Think cosy polka dot tablecloths, homely sofas and a blackboard menu.  (For a moment I thought I was back in cosy Harrow on The Hill on a drizzly London afternoon.)  Oh, and did I mention the food tastes good too?

The Carpenter's Daughter is both a bakery and a cafe.  The cafe sits between the kitchen and the bakery and is suffused with the comforting smell of freshly baked organic breads.  There's an extensive menu of breakfasts, nibbles, sweet treats, lunches and dinners.  If you've been hankering for a satisfying bowl of soup or a proper Sunday brunch with all the trimmings this is the place for you.  It's also a great place to take little ones.  We visited with Master Three and found lots of things on the menu to suit his (fussy) taste buds.  Of particular note, in his opinion, was the walnut sourdough with rozelle jam.  It's a friendly, welcoming place - both the owner and her staff took the time to chat with our little guy (and proffer a few sample cookies, much to his delight).

Master Three's airplane chose my yummy gourmet sandwich as his landing strip.  Good choice!

The bakery stocks a dizzying range of handmade breads that changes daily.  We made sure we stocked up on a few.  It's well worth the drive from KL to pick up some of the mixed grains, herb breads, pretzels, brioche and sourdoughs.  I strongly suspect we'll be back.  And you should go too.

Petrosains, KL - Petroleum Gets Fun!

Shopping-gate.  That awful point where the child/husband/boyfriend you've been towing around the mall for the last four hours digs in their heels and point blank refuses to enter another shop.  It's a tough call - if you're like me you'll be just starting to enter your shopping comfort zone.  On the other hand, the public embarrassment factor of said child/husband/boyfriend letting everyone else in the vicinity know their feelings about your shopping habits isn't worth the risk.  This is why Petrosains, KL's popular science discovery centre, is genius.  It's in KLCC, one of the city's largest malls.  Play your cards right and you just might be able to sneak in a visit to one last shop if you can carefully incorporate a trip to Petrosains into your day.

To be honest, it's a pretty good reason outright to visit KLCC.  Petrosains is fun!  It may be the baby of Petronas, the country's oil giant, but the centre is anything but a dry science excursion-y destination.  Instead, it's an exciting, hands-on science centre bursting with activities that will appeal to both toddlers and their parents as well.

The experience starts with a ride on the very cool (and not at all scary) Dark Ride, little pods that transport you through an introductory video and deposit you neatly at the first of the exhibits.  From here on in you wander through a number of different exhibits, that include Mr Three's beloved kiddy-sized ride-on diggers, Geotime Diorama (complete with rapping T-Rex), a replica of an oil platform and my personal favourite, the speed zone, where you can create lego cars and pit them against each other on a little race course.  Little ones will also appreciate a stop at the soft play area, as will your aching feet.

Petrosains is deceptively large.  Mister Three and I have been four times and have yet to  discover everything on offer.  I would allow a minimum of three hours - and that would be time enough to just get a taster.  If you want to have a go at every simulator, formula one car experience, interactive computer game and maybe catch a 3D movie in the little cinema, you're looking at a whole day.  In that case, do bear in mind that there is just one very small, basic cafe - you may do well to eat up in one of KLCC's many restaurants before you set out.

When your little one (or you) can walk no further, the exit involves a second ride back on the Dark Ride.  You'll emerge back into the world of KLCC with an eye rub and a slight sense of bewilderment. Before leaving completely though, do stop into the excellent Petrosains gift shop.  This is on my hit list for birthday present shopping, with its interesting (and well-priced) array of dinosaurs, puzzles, build it yourself kits and science books.  I'm always surprised by what I find here.  Didn't I say there'd be a way to squeeze in one last shop?

(Top tip: If you live in KL you will get a nice, healthy discount on the admission price by showing your My Kad or diplomatic ID if you have one).

Notes From The Field (My Guest Blog on The New Diplomat's Wife)

Hurrah! Just done my first blogging 'collaboration'! You can check it out at The New Diplomat's Wife

This post is less about travel with children and more about great places to check out in KL...hope you enjoy it! Many thanks to Ania for allowing me to be a part of her very inspiring blog.

Soft Play All The Way!

Where do you go when it's 35 degrees Celsius outside and pouring with rain?  Shopping of course! Perhaps not the most likely answer when you're talking about entertaining a three-year-old who thinks shops are the devil's own work and would rather eat a teaspoon full of salt than venture into yet another small room full of clothes, clothes, clothes.  But there is method in my madness.  I've found that hot countries tend to have the most entertaining malls on the globe.   Think about Dubai for a moment - if the notion takes you, you can go skiing, pop into an aquarium or catch a 'fountain show' - all readily available in shopping malls.

KL is no exception.  We seem to spend half our waking hours in malls, along with the rest of the population here.  And there is nearly always something for small children to do, breaking up mummy's dull routine of rifling through coat hanger after coat hanger.  Of course, the options range in size and quality, but virtually every mall will have at least one small playground or 'soft play' area.  Some of them are free, others charge a nominal fee.  The best thing about these places is that everyone's happy - your little one gets a neon-coloured change of scene, and you're free to sit back, relax and take it all in.  As you do so you'll no doubt find the people watching is plentiful.

The first model to check out in any play centre the world over is Second Wind Dad.  You'll spot him easily.  He's the one who's desperately trying to convince his kids to 'have a go' on the climbing wall, because deep down he's hoping it'll give him an excuse to climb up too.  He's the dad who can't resist having a surreptitious little jump on the trampoline when he thinks no one's watching. 

Another favourite play centre parenting model is Downtime Mum.  Downtime Mum is so completely and utterly exhausted that she sees the play centre as her ticket to five minutes of peace and quiet.  And so, for those few, blissful moments when she sinks down onto a foamy barrier, she is in her own, perfectly insulated little world as her children roam in distracted bliss.  She pretends she's sitting at home in her own lounge room.  Out comes the favourite magazine, the crossword puzzle or the ever-accessible mobile phone for a few minutes of social networking escapism. 

If you are very lucky, you'll find another parenting type too: Mr/Mrs Chatalot.  This encounter is a traveller's dream.  Chatalot has been so starved of adult company s/he is desperate to commune with anyone who can string more than three words together - even if the only option is the pasty foreigner lurking in the corner.  He or she will happily share local gems that you won't find in any guidebook - the best parks, the best ice cream stops, the best toy shops and perhaps most usefully, the restaurants where you can order a decent meal and leave without hanging your head in shame at the amount of food your two-year-old has thrown all over the floor.  The only difficulty with this parenting type is that he or she may want to come along to dinner with you.

There's just one more (obvious) component in all of this.  The children.  Don't worry about language barriers.  Forget about cultural differences.  In every play centre around the globe there will always be those key preschool characters:  the rowdy one, climbing the walls and bashing his brother over the head with a foam brick; the quiet one, sitting in the corner staring at it all in open-mouthed surprise; the leader, with a troupe of toddlers following her in admiration; and the comedy act, bashing himself in the head with a foam brick in a desperate attempt to elicit the same admiration the leader garners by just being, well, normal.

KL-ites take note: we've just found a brilliant play centre at the Aeon Mall in Setiawangsa called Kidizooom.  Entry: RM10.  Watching your little boy, decked out in builder's hat and jacket being 'made up' with play make up by a bossy little five year: Priceless.