Kids and the Mals

I don't really like to go to the mals during weekend, well it's because we live above it. Mal has become our yard, we even pass it before it open. But sometimes if we don't have any place to go and have to choose a mal somewhere else than Kalibata City Square then I usually have to google it first.

You don't want to go to the mal that has similar tenant as KCS. In my priority list of course something that is new for the kids.
And in my very less experience in 2013, allow me to share.

1. MOI (Mal of Indonesia)
I finally could step my foot inside MOI because one of my friend delivered a baby just behind it. That's why I was so excited. Not to mention, there is a baking supplies store (titan). Got somethings to buy there.

But when we get there, we are a little confused and finally get it when we got home. Basically MOI is like the headquarter of FunWorld games area. They have not only the largest machine games which located at the second floor but you can enjoy all kind of carrousells and mini trains at the back side of the ground floor. But that was it.

Malika and Safir were too small at that time and for me spending money just to take a train was a waste. So, I looked for some kind of free play area or a softplay area. But when we found it, they only allowed a companion that 150 cm tall at the highest. Surely can't do that. The kids even didn't want take the plane carousel without having us beside them.

So, I guess I will going to visit here once again in a few years. Maybe five years from now.

2. PHINISI (Pasaraya Blok M)
I had a chance to visit here because I was attending a Parenthink seminar. I tought it would be a great to join a seminar while knowing your kids would happily playing with their father. But unfortunately, it was not. I only attended it in 15 minutes and after that the father gave up. So here I was, playing with Malika.

I think Phinisi is one of big effort that Pasaraya tried to do to survive. But too bad, the access to go there was not upto date. Phinisi lied at the top of the building but the elevator were too small. Well, it was an old mal, when at its time people didn't bring strollers. Thank God, we decided not to bring any of it. Because those long waitings for the elevator could fall hard when you know your stroller won't fit in.

Just like its name, Phinisi is a legendary boat kind originally from Indonesia, there was a big boat lied at the center of a big hall with dark blue sky. Before we get into the center there were rooms for activities such as batik painting, drawing, vocals training, wayang, cupcakes decorating, etc. Around the big boat there was a track for a mini gokart. The boat itself was quite big to enjoy from the inside.
Other than a carrousel, there was a softplay area with a very high perosotan. But due to its professionalism, the parents were not allowed to accompany the kids while climbing up. It was a big one, so it would quite intimidating for toddler and they usually didn't feel comfort being accompanied by the nice guide there. So was Malika.

Then we decided to take a stair and we finally found the perfect place for the kids. It was a medium area where you could found toys such as brick and stuffs there. Yeah, kids this age didn't really want the most impressive play area. While the kids played, the parents could relax a little bit, sitting on the wooden floor. At the same level there were also a light game where an LED light spot the floor and we could step on whatever that showed and it would crash. What was that game anyway? I think that was so cool. I wish I have one. You could test your kids nerve by trying the wallclimb at the same level. It was safe. Or you could have some fun by taking the train.

But still, I felt uneasy when I got home.

3. SAND PLAYING @Pejaten Village
Most people don't believe in me when I said my favorite place at Pejaten Village was the sand area at the third level. Not because they don't think I like to play sand but because they don't believe that there IS a sand area. Well, no wonder that place had very less visitor, the opposite happened at the second floor where chaos was in the house.

By paying Rp25000,-, Malika and his dad could able to play there while I was in karaoke with Safir n my cousins.

The place was designed as if we were on a beach with big windows and the buildings landscape as its view.  She seemed to enjoy it but the sand it self was very dry so it was impossible to mould anything. Maybe someday we should bring water.
Yes, someday. malika still wants to go there once again.

4. Lolliop @LOVE & Chipmunks @kotakasablanka
There are two similar things from them that become my reasons not to go there. Too expensive and too big.

Yup, they are a giant softplay area that includes cafe and train track. And I know my kids behaviour. Malika likes to explore but she doesn't want to do it if one of us not be with her. While those big area are not suitable for grownups to go in there yet difficult to watch from the outside. While Safir is a ball freak. He would do anything with balls and nothing else matter. Can you imagine him and the ball pool? He would busy picking up the falling out balls and put them in back. Things that you can do at home.
I don't want to spend Rp150000,- - Rp170000,- for each kid and additional Rp50000,- for each companion. Nope. That is not going to happen.

But this palces are suitable if you want to held a party for your kids. It would be more fun.

5. D'amazon Carribean @kotakasablanka
At first we came in here after being disappointed by the entrance price to Chipmunks and Lollipop. Yup, we've travel to three mals within two hours just to seek for a play area. Malika decided to play games that used coins. I said, fine. Better than nothing.
but when me and Malika arrived there, we couldn't find Safir and his father. So we walked around it, it was a small yet crowded place and that was when I saw, in the other cashier corner, there was a small softplay. Voila!

And its price was not that shocking before.
Rp50000 or Rp55000,- if you don't bring any socks. And the kids were finally could have some fun.

As I predicted before, Safir would busy with balls. But in here there was a wind machine where you could place balls and after hitting a button the air would come from the bottom and made the balls flying. Well, at least Safir could do something else with the balls, not just picking it up. And he stayed there for an hour.

While Malika, again, as I predicted, would asked me to join with her crawling inside the tunnel. But because it was too small, I made to convince her that she won't lose me from her sight by standing outside the tunnel. And she really made me as her human directions.
We would love to come back there again.

Well, after some mals, many times we think that Kalibata City Square are OK for us. Quite cheap and small but fit in with the kids.
Ah, home sweet home.