My Little Pony x Kumoya Pop-up Cafe Officially Opens!

Media Invite

For those who believe in magic, unicorns and flying ponies, this is one themed pop-cafe not to be missed! Because who can say no to those wonderful, magical ponies from My Little Pony. It'll surely bring back those wonderful childhood memories.

Clearly, I'm talking about the wifey here.

Well, Ale was inevitably influenced by her. 😁

Located at Jalan Klapa, the My Little Pony pop-up café is Kumoya's latest collaboration and runs from 27 September 2018 to the 30 December 2018. It is South East Asia's and Singapore's first Kumoya x My Little Pony pop-up café.

And since it's all things My Little Pony, the cafe has been transformed with rainbows, happy colours and of course, the 6 star ponies – Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Twilight Sparkle.

So cute right???

Okay, so being all cutsey and extremely instagrammable is one thing... but just how is the FOOD?

For this collaboration, Kumoya’s kitchen team, together with Shirley Wong (Little Miss Bento), have also curated a special My Little Pony inspired menu for all fans!

Frankly, I have never visited Kumoya prior to this so I have no idea how the food would taste like. Sure, it may look good but how will the food fare in the taste test?

There is only one way to find out.

For our mains, we ordered the Magic Friendship Rainbow Big Breakfast ($24.90) which essentially consisted of toasted house-made rainbow bread, chicken and beef sausages, crispy turkey bacon, chicken ham, grilled tomato, scrambled eggs, hashbrown, fresh garden salad with cute cheese stars. Definitely a big breakfast Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie can be proud of!

The breakfast platter was decent but unspectacular. Everything was what I would expect from a breakfast set so I recommend going for the Twilight Sparkle Soaring Skies Chicken Katsu Burger ($22.90) instead.

Now this was a super delicious burger! Stuffed with a juicy chicken katsu that has a crisp skin and drizzled with house-made teriyaki sauce, the burger is accompanied by fresh garden salad, cute Twilight Sparkle mantou, crunchy curly fries and cute cheese stars.

The chicken katsu was tender and juicy while I have to single out the soft purple buns that sandwich the meat for praise as well. In fact, Ale loved it so much that she finished more than three-quarters of the burger! She would have walloped everything if not for me wanting to try some too. Heh.

I had the Friendship Meets Love Seafood Curry Rice ($28.90) which came in a heart-shaped Beetroots-infused  fluffy Japanese rice and was accompanied by breaded ebi, calamari and scallop, fresh tempura salmon, steamed broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and cute house-made tempura potato cake hearts.

Bonus points to the pink rice and the edible Fluttershy wafer print... which Ale eventually swiped. Luckily for me, I was satisfied with the flavourful Japanese curry.

My Little Pony fans take note! Every order of the Japanese curry rice dish entitles you to a FREE My Little Pony key and coin pouch worth $9.90! There are 4 designs to choose from.

Rounding up the other mains are the Bowl of Rainbow Fun Udon soup with Ebi ($21.90) and Pinkie Pie Playful Waffles with Karaage Chicken ($23.90) - both of which we did not try.

For sides, we had the Truffle Fries ($11.90) which are tossed with parmesan cheese and infused with  premium truffle oil, and served with house-made truffle mayo dip.

The wifey had this previously when she visited the Mr. Men version with her colleagues and she loved it. I popped one into my mouth and let's jsut say I just could not stop.

That was until the Cheese Fish Fingers with Cajun Spice Mix ($12.90) landed on our table.

Visually, they looked rather ordinary but these fish fingers are filled with soft cheese filling!  Cripsy on the outside and oozing with cheesy goodness inside, they are hard to resist.

For drinks, the cafe carries a variety of colourful drinks starting from $9.90. We can't possibly try them all so we had to settle for four of them.

The wifey had the Rarity Yuzu Butterfly Pea Tea with Fresh Orange ($10.90) which is infuse with a hue of beautiful Butterfly Pea blue with a dash of orange.

We also had the Friendship is Magic Mango Milk Frappe with Magic Rainbow Candy Band ($13.90). I think its name is pretty self-explanatory. 🤣

Cotton candy somehow never fails to appeal to kids so it was no surprise that Ale aimed for the Rainbow Dash Fluffy Clouds Bubblegum Soda with Fluffy Cotton Candy ($12.90) immediately.

 As for me, the old man in me dictated I had to have a hot cup of coffee and even then, there was no escaping from the cuteness of the ponies.

I have to admit - I felt a tad guilty 'destroying' the artwork when I stirred my Better Together Hot Latte ($9.90). But an old man gotta have his caffeine.

For desserts, there are five to choose from but from this moment on, our tummies were already bursting so we chose the best-looking two.

If there is one dessert at My Little Pony cafe created solely for Instagram, then the Magical Princesses with Magic Potion Galaxy Cake ($21.90) will surely be it.

In the words of the menu, this dessert is "A magical cake powered by friendship, rainbows and love!" Well, all I can say it is one cake that will have everyone at the table snapping photos and taking videos. Because pouring a multi-coloured shinny galaxy glaze over the mango mousse cake,  complete with magical dry ice sounds (and looks) like a match made in Instagram heaven.

The final item we had was the colourful Candylicious Rainbow Fruity Shibuya Toast ($24.90). As you can probably tell from its name, rainbows take centre-stage in this dessert. With a toasted buttery  bread tower, vanilla Hokkaido soft serve, Rainbow Dash cookies, colourful rainbow cookie, fresh berries and fruits, rainbow lollipop, fruity candy drops, AND drizzled with warm dark chocolate sauce, you will definitely find your sugar rush with this dessert.

Surprisingly, for all the sweet stuff on the plate, the best part of the dessert for me was the toast. I loved the buttery bread bits (which are stuffed within the bread tower) as they are toasted to perfection.

After all the eating, you wish to complete your Pony experience by checking out the cafe's mini merchandise corner which sells My Little Pony merchandise.

Of course, there are plushies scattered throughout the cafe for customers to go all trigger-happy with their phone cameras.

From the cafe's decor to its food, I have to say enjoyed my first themed cafe experience even though I am no brony (a male fan of My Little Pony). The cuteness of the cafe was expected but I was pleasantly surprised that food served in a themed cafe can actually taste delicious too!

The My Little Pony cafe is on a limited run basis and it will end on 30 December 2018, so be sure to head down before it gallops away!



Useful Information

My Little Pony x Kumoya Pop-up Cafe
Address: Kumoya @8 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199320
Dates: 27 September 2018 (Thursday) to 30 December 2018 (Sunday)
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, Sunday (12.00pm – 9.30pm) | Friday and Saturday (12.00pm – 10.00pm) | Closed on Monday
*Last order 30 minutes before closing
*Strictly no reservations. Walk-in only.
*In order to create a better dining experience during this pop-up collaboration, the cafe may limit dining time to 90 minutes.
*There is a minimum spending of $10.00 per person.
*Not Halal certified, Muslim friendly – No pork, No lard and No Alcohol

Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark: Three Unique Attractions that make it so FUN for Families!

Media Invite

There is a new waterpark in Malaysia and it is only a 1.5-hour drive from Singapore! Located in Desaru, Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark is billed as one of the biggest waterparks in the world - and we were there during the September School Holidays to see if it is worth a visit for families.

Set against the backdrop of a traditional Malaysian fishing village, Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark is home to more than 20 wet and dry rides, slides and attractions... which I guess it is a clear indication that we were going to have a splash-tacular time!

Especially with huge water slides like these.

Consisting of 5 different zones, the waterpark offers a unique mix of wet and dry rides.

Yes, there are usual water slide attractions found in other waterparks - and they are really fun! - but the thing I found refreshing about Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark was they had designed the waterpark with families with kids in mind.

So besides the usual water rides, there are THREE other attractions found within Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark that other waterparks in the region do not have.

1. Kraken’s Revenge
Minimum height: 110cn

How's this for the region's FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND water rollercoaster???

Kraken’s Revenge is a combination of a roller coaster and splashing flume ride that takes thrill seekers up 30-metres above the ground in rolling “boats” before swooping and spinning through a full 360-degree horizontal loop.

The ride then takes a 27-metre drop to the shipwrecking Kraken sea monster waiting in the pool of water below! Riders can reach speeds up to 70 km/h as they plummet to a splashing finish. Just take a look at the video of the ride.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kelvin Ang (@cheekiemonkies) on Sep 9, 2018 at 7:14pm PDT

IT WAS EXHILARATING STUFF! For once, we were all too happy to be drenched at a water flume ride - because we were in our swim wear!

2. Tidal Wave Beach

There are wave pools at waterparks and there is THE Wave Pool at Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark.

Tidal Wave Beach is one of the biggest wave pools in the world with some of the world’s biggest man-made waves! This signature water feature at Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark spreads over nearly three acres and holds more than 4 million gallons of water.

Oh, and it comes with a 170m-long sandy beach too in case you are wondering.

But frankly, who cares about the beach when one has such as awesome wave pool to dip in???

Why? Because this wave pool generates tidal waves. Yes, waves that actually reach up to 3m in height. 😱😱😱

For that reason, everyone is required to wear a life vest and are not allowed to cross beyond a marked line.

But as you can hear from the video below, we thoroughly enjoyed getting slammed by the waves. 😂 IT'S SUPER FUN!!!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kelvin Ang (@cheekiemonkies) on Sep 9, 2018 at 1:48am PDT

This wave pool is unlike what the monkies had ever experienced so it wasn't any surprise that we ended up spending most of our time in the tidal wave pool.

3. Kids Ahoy (Special zone for kids!)

For most waterparks, younger kids usually will not be able to go on the bigger water slides due to the minimum water height requirement. What this means is they are usually resigned to playing at the giant water play structure with mini water slides. And that is probably all they will get to play.

But not at Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark. Sure, it has the standard huge water play structure, complete with water slides and giant splash bucket.

But what impressed me was the inclusion of other water slides which are specially designed for younger kids.

Kids Ahoy is a dedicated children’s zone with three separate age-appropriate play areas filled with water play equipment with a combination of 13 different water slides designed for the waterpark’s younger guests!

How many times have we seen this giant water barrel slide at other waterparks?

Here, this slide is scaled down to smaller version so that kids can go on it! Ditto for this colouful bendy water slide.

I cannot tell you just how much Ale was happy trying all the slides in this zone. Even though she meets the height requirement to go on the bigger water slides, she is still fearful of them so this zone is just perfect for her!

Got even younger kids or toddlers? There is also a dedicated area - AND SHELTERED! - just for them.

If you are ready to up those adrenaline levels, then head to the left section of the waterpark where all 4 of its signature water slides await.

The Riptide (Min. height 122cm) is a ride that will sweep riders at the steepest angles and fastest speeds giving an unparalleled feeling of weightlessness. Then, riders will travel downhill to enter the first twister where they slide back and forth several times before exiting into the second and third twisters and splash out into the pool.

The Tempest (Min. height 122cm) riders will experience two high-energy funnels throughout the course of the slide as well as a sudden 24-foot drop, which allows for high-banking swings and zero gravity moments. A 55-foot tube slide with a funnel in the middle sends riders on a swirling vortex before completing the descent.

On Wild Whirl (Min. height 122cm), riders on rafts plunge down a steep entrance channel, then shoot into the high, wide-open bowl for peak thrills. As rafts and riders slow down, they move to the centre drop chute for a quick and exciting exit.

Equipped with four sensational funnels where you slide up and down, the Super Twister (Min. height 122cm) leads riders cruising through radius curves before an unexpected drop into a funnel. Here, the riders oscillate back and forth, and then exit back into the enclosed tunnel before heading to the next set of exciting curves and funnels.

There is also a dry ride which comes in the form of the classic Swinging Ship ride (Min. height 110cm). We went on it and I would say that it is mild enough for younger kids to go on it.

Want to try your hand at surfing? Splash your way to Surf Wall (Min. height 110cm), a surf simulator where surfing beginners or enthusiasts can catch and ride artificial waves.

Of course, a must-have in any waterpark is the Lazy River... or in this case, it is known as Penawar River.

The Penawar River is a long, looping lazy river float through lushly landscaped riverbanks and riverside fishing village scenes. It is a 350-metre long waterway that is extrememly suitable for families and kids.

Because nothing is more relaxing than chilling on a float while drfting along with the currents, no?

For the monkies, being able to stop for refreshments at a swim-up bar which was located along the Penawar River definitely upped the experience!

Food options wise, there are a total of 5 Food and Beverage outlets within the waterpark. They sell a variety of food ranging from burgers and pizza to chicken rice and nasi lemak. Prices start from RM22 for a meal and RM18 for a kid's meal.

Not exactly cheap by Malaysian standards but decent enough as the serving portion is pretty huge.

My recommendation is the Lamb Shank with Mashed Potatoes at the Kelong Eatery. It costs RM38 for a combo meal but the lamb is so tender and juicy that the meat literraly slides off the bone!

If you are planning to head down with the kids, here are a few things to take note:

- The waterpark is currently in a soft-opening phase until 11 November 2018.
- This means that the park will only open from Thursdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm (Closed from Mondays to Wednesdays).
- Admission prices are currently reduced at RM75 (Adult) and RM56 (Child below 12 years old). The normal prices are RM151 and RM113 respectively.

- No re-entry allowed.
- Life vests in various sizes are readily available for free.
- Shower rooms are available.
- Locker rates are RM20 for a small one and RM40 for a large one. Rental is for an entire day and is valid for multiple access. The lockers are accessed electronically, without the hassle of a physical key.
- Bring your own towels.
- No outside food and drinks are allowed. All bags are subject to a security check at the entrance.
- Paid parking is available beside the waterpark.

As for accommodation, the nearest option is Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast. It is just beside the waterpark so it's super convenient. And it is fully operational since 24 Sep 2018!

Other resorts near to the waterpark are Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort (Desaru Coast) and Sand & Sandals Resort & Spa which are located a 5-minute drive away.

For us, we stayed at Amansari Hotel Desaru, a no-frills hotel, which is situated at the city centre (about 10-minute drive to the waterpark). We got the Family Suite room for S$80 per night and it came with a queen-sized bed and a double sofa bed. Not too shabby but then, our main objective was to have loads of spalshing fun at Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark.

And judging from the monkies' reluctance to leave the waterpark at 6pm, I think we sure did have plenty of fun!


Useful Information

Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark
ADDRESS: Desaru Coast, No. 4 Jalan Danau, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar,  Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
OPENING HOURS: 10am – 6pm  (Thursday to Sunday) | Park closed from Monday to Wednesday
ADMISSION PRICES:
From now until 11 Nov 2018 - Adult RM75 | Child (below 12 years old) & Senior (Age 60+) RM56 | Toddler (below 3 years old) FREE
After 11 Nov 2018 - Adult RM151 | Child (below 12 years old) & Senior (Age 60+) RM113 | Toddler (below 3 years old) FREE
GETTING THERE:
By Car - 1.5-hour drive from Singapore Checkpoints via Senai–Desaru Expressway
By Coach - Coach from Singapore available at Singapore Flyer. Round trip tickets from S$36.33. Visit HERE for more info.
CONTACT: +603-2203-9696
EMAIL: info@DCAWP.com
WEBSITE