{"id":358,"date":"2013-05-14T01:02:00","date_gmt":"2013-05-13T17:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/2013\/05\/14\/home-away-a-mothers-day-staycation\/"},"modified":"2014-10-03T18:19:49","modified_gmt":"2014-10-03T10:19:49","slug":"home-away-a-mothers-day-staycation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/2013\/05\/home-away-a-mothers-day-staycation\/","title":{"rendered":"Home & Away – A Mothers’ Day Staycation…"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mother’s Day, a day about thanking and appreciating the women in our lives whose sacrifices and love shape us into who we are today.  So when the occasion and the weekend presented itself, we scooped Dana’s Grandma, Great-Grandma, Grand Aunt Judy off to somewhere off the beaten track for an inter-generational getaway. Our choice? Nope, not boisterous RWS Sentosa but the quaint old Changi Village.  <\/p>\n

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Going East to escape from it all!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Bright facade of the hotel jazzing up the relaxed vibes of Changi…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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 Beautiful orchid blooms greet the guests at the entrance…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Just under 40 mintues by car, tucked away in the far eastern part of Singapore, away from the hustle and bustle of city living is a gem of an enclave that is Changi Village.  Right in its center, embracing this rustic laid-back ambiance is a well-furnished 4-star hotel, offering clean, modern accommodation and most importantly, the exceptionally warm hospitality which reflects the village ‘kampong’ spirit of days gone by. <\/div>\n
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Here we are at quaint old Changi Village!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Humour in the neighbourhood…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Once we arrived, and after we settled into our rooms, it was just plain simple laid back getaway:  no major plans, no major shopping, no agendas to follow, no schedules to keep…just being there, talking, laughing, interacting, connecting.  <\/div>\n
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Chilling out at the rooftop infinity pool…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Bonus activity at the pool – planes spotting!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Tranquility outside the room window…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Upgraded to this Junior Suite because it was my birthday – what a pleasant surprise! <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Big Bathtub in Big Bathroom…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Premium brand of aromatherapy bath products…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Guess who’s having a whale of her time?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Since we are already in this ulu part of the island,  Daddy whisked the entire troop off to Changi Chapel & Museum: a former chapel preserved for the remembrance and commemoration of the suffering and bravery of the POWs during World War 2. Dana may be a preschooler but we seized the opportunity to teach her a bit about Singapore’s history.  We taught her that the soldiers paid the price for our freedom and the beautiful country we live in today was built through the sweat and toil of our forefathers so we must learn to be gracious and grateful…<\/p>\n

I’ve visited the Changi Chapel with my students on history learning journeys many years ago but it still moved me deeply today.  Daddy being a history buff was naturally captivated by every note, every word, every ornament, every mural…the walls tell the stories of valor, courage and sacrifice…lest we forget and wage war…Great-Grandma is a war survivor herself so she shared tales with Dana whenever her memory is jotted by the museum exhibits…such poignant reminders on Mothers’ Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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The old rugged cross – a symbol of hope for the POWs…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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 Wreath of honour and remembrance…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Names inscribed on each cross…each one represents someone’s brother, son, father, husband…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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 Dana lighting a candle in remembrance of the fallen soldiers…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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 A prayer plaque…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Thousands of cranes offering peace and reconciliation…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Penning down her thoughts at the chapel…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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A Mommy and Daughter moment…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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The Cross of Changi… <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Relic of St. Georges Church<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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 Because we remember…that’s why we came…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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A message from 5 yr-old Dana: ‘Thank you for fighting for our freedom…’<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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 A grand-daughter’s note to her pop…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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The Changi Chapel, a slice of history preserved…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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 The pews where the POWs sat…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Thank you for your sacrifice…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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  4 generations of blessings – Great Grandma, Grand Aunt and little Dana<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In our unhurried pace, we soaked in the two gems that Changi Village offers and rediscovered a little more about our tiny island…We would definitely return again, perhaps even take a bum boat at the jetty opposite the hotel to explore the rustic Pulau Ubin whilst its charm is still intact.  Home & away – thanking God for this most lovely and memorable way to spend Mothers’ Day.<\/p>\n

Changi Village Hotel<\/a><\/b>  <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span>
Address: 1 Netheravon Rd  508502
Telephone: (65) 6379 7111<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Changi Chapel and Museum<\/b><\/a> (<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Free Admission)<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span>
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Address: 1000, Upper Changi Road North, Singapore 507707 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Telephone: <\/span> (65) 6214 2451<\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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Operation hours:  <\/span> <\/b>9:30am – 5:00pm daily; last admission at 4.30pm
(Including Sundays and Public Holidays<\/i>)<\/span><\/div>\n
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<\/b>Getting There: <\/span><\/span>By MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and Bus
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