Trial Arts N Craft and Cooking Class @ Peekaboo Academy, Mutiara Damansara

Peekaboo Academy at Tesco Mutiara Damansara

Year end school holidays was too long! Almost 6 weeks of no school and for a stay at home mum with two boisterous kids it means goodbye to quiet personal time that is so important to my sanity. So, when I saw a flyer for peekaboo academy's holiday classes while grocery shopping at Tesco Mutiara Damansara, I thought to myself why not? 

I finally went up to the Mezzanine Level of Tesco Mutiara Damansara for the first time in December. The place was surprisingly big and cheerful. There is a section for cooking class, another for arts and craft class and another area for dancing class. The man manning the counter was quite chatty and I signed up for $78 (per child) for 3 trial classes. I chose of course dance class, cooking class and arts and craft class. Seems like a pretty good deal and I can have a bit of sanity time. 

Hip Hop Class @ Peekaboo Academy - The instructor warming up

The first trial class came and it was for a Korean Hip Hop dance class. I had pre-empted my kids the morning before setting off for the class that they are going for a dancing class in the afternoon. Kids were pretty excited until we went into the dance class, the instructor was warming up with some dance moves while waiting for the class to start. When it was time, he closed the door and just said "Ok, let's warm up. Those with sandals / shoes please take your shoes off, those with ballet shoes its ok". That's it. No warm introductions and no big smiley face. Warm ups are also done with him facing the mirror and not facing the kids (Ok, so I have never been to a dance class before, I don't know how it's usually is like but hey, aren't we dealing with kids here? surely the instructor needs to be kids friendly?) My clingy kids refused to move forward and take part in the class. I tried to cajole them for 5 minutes but seems like they are really not going to budge so I took them out and asked to reschedule for 2 arts and craft classes + 1 cooking class instead. Initially, the lady manning the counter said no but after talking (nicely) she relented. Phew. 

The next week came the kids arts and craft trial class. We came early and had breakfast at QBistro and arrived at Peekaboo Academy at 11.00am. Waited for 10 minutes before the art teacher arrived quite breathless I should say. The other grandparent waiting to drop off his grandson came earlier than me and was a bit miffed that the teacher is late. There were only 3 boys and 1 girl for that session and the art teacher was soft spoken and kind so my kids were quite happily doing the craft. 

Kids Arts and Craft Class in Mutiara Damansara @ Peekaboo Academy

Kids Arts and Craft Class in Mutiara Damansara @ Peekaboo Academy

Second trial class came with a bit of drama. The centre was again opened late at 11.10am, more kids waited for this session and then while we were writing down our names, an annoyed lady appeared saying she has been calling since 10 am to ask for directions but no one picked up the phone. The teacher was a bit perplexed (I mean which worker likes to be scolded for something that is beyond her control especially when it was her off day and the admin girl decided not to turn up that day?) Then the lady asked what time is the arts and craft class and the teacher assumed that she is asking for the next class so she said  it's at 1pm. The lady left with the words: "I would like to talk to someone in charge when I  am back" Ooookayy... even though I can understand her feelings of being lost and couldn't get through the centre, I also feel for the teacher and that episode changed the whole atmosphere of the class and the teacher's temperament, so she was slightly less patient with a student who was a bit fidgety that day as compared to the first day (the boy was in the class with my kids in the first trial as well and she was very patient with him that day). 

Kids Arts and Craft Class in Mutiara Damansara @ Peekaboo Academy

Kids Arts and Craft Class in Mutiara Damansara @ Peekaboo Academy

The second arts and craft class went quite ok for my kids except that half way through my 3.5 year old came out and told me that the "teacher" scold me and said that mine is not nice. The "teacher" being the lady that manned the counter during their hip hop trial class (who came later and I am assuming is part of the management) not the arts and craft teacher that was at the receiving end of one of the guardians' displeasure. "Not Nice" just because they are doing a snowman and my kiddo decided he wants the snowman to be purple instead of white. Really? I was pissed off but bit my tongue. My son took that remark seriously and was not proud of his craft that day. I was very sad. He kept repeating "teacher scold me and said mine is not nice" It broke my heart. 

Kids cooking class @ Peekaboo Academy

The third class was the cooking class. The kids were quite happy and comfortable with the centre by now though my second son said he didn't want to do arts and craft anymore. I was looking from the window outside hence the pictures are not very clear. They were doing some sort of egg with ham and my heart nearly popped out when I saw them cutting ham. I ran in just to check if it's halal :p The men that were manning the counter were really nice, they assured me that they buy all ingredients from Tesco and even brought out the ham for me to see the packaging (I didn't request for it) It was Ayamas chicken ham and has a halal logo :) The chef that was instructing the class looked very efficient and handled the kids well. My kids were very happy and my second son kept holding on to his container and couldn't wait to eat his creation :)

The kids with their eggs and ham @ Peekaboo Academy

While waiting for them, a ballet class was ongoing and the kids looked like they were really enjoying themselves. The teacher looked very kind and had good rapport with the kids. I asked whether the same instructor teaches boys and they said no. Sigh.. I am sure my kids will love being in her class (not ballet though - any kind of creative dance just for fun).

Ballet Class For Kids @ Peekaboo Academy

I am unsure of signing on my kids with Peekaboo Academy since I think the lady that helps with the arts and craft class should be more sensitive to younger kids but the cooking class was great and is also a good exposure for my kids.. so maybe its a yes?

Peekaboo Academy has two branches, one in Mutiara Damansara and the other in Kota Damansara. You can find out about their courses and fees here. 

Penang With Kids - Toy Museum / Butterfly Farm / Queensbay Mall

Went to Penang with the kids last Oct/Nov but the weather was quite unpredictable. Incredibly hot or sudden downpour. Spent one day at the hotel swimming and kicking ball with the kids in front of Adventure Zone and was contemplating on bringing the kids to ESCAPE Theme Park the day after but thought the better of it since its the weekend and the traffic would be horrid. Plus, I think our 5year old and 3.5 year old are too young for ESCAPE (you can find out more about ESCAPE at their website here). In the end, we decided to just revisit Penang Butterfly Park as the kids enjoyed their visit there 3 years ago and the Toy Museum ( hubby is not interested in the Tropical Spice Garden).

Penang With Kids: Penang Butterfly Farm @ Teluk Bahang

1) Penang Butterfly Farm

Penang Butterfly Farm is similar to KL Butterfly Park, free flying butterflies all over the park and some bugs/insects, snakes and frogs. This time around my kids kind of freak out from the flying butterflies instead of really liking it like when they are smaller. We finished touring the Butterfly Farm in about 1 hour so I'm not really sure if the admission fee is worth it plus you have to pay by cash. 

Penang With Kids @ Penang Butterfly Farm

Millipedes, leaf frogs and snakes @ Penang Butterfly Farm

Penang Butterfly Farm Admission Fee is:

Adults : RM 27 (Foreigner) / RM18 (MyKad Holder)

Children (4-12) : RM15 (Foreigner) / RM10 (MyKad Holder)

Penang Butterfly Farm Opening Hours:

9.00am -6.00pm everyday (except half day on Chinese New Year Eve)

Penang Butterfly Farm is at:

View Larger Map

2) Penang Toy Museum:

Penang Toy Museum has shifted to a new location at Teluk Bahang, if you drive from Batu Ferringhi and take a left turn to Teluk Bahang Road, you need to take a left before the Craft Batik building (yes, it is a small road that makes you wonder if you are going in the right direction, after about 100m you will see a very small road on your right, take that right and you will see the Toy Museum. It is a white, single storey building with unshaded and quite limited parking lots.

Penang Toy Museum Entrance and Admission Fees

The only photos they wanted to take @ Penang Toy Museum

I kind of remembered paying RM10 for our previous entrance hence the nothing-better-to-do visit. But, this time around, we were charged foreigner fees RM30 for adults and RM20 for kids, that works out to RM100 for us and I didn't think it was really worth it. Especially since my 3.5 year old who is mad about Ninja Turtles refused to go anywhere else but the Ninja Turtles section and kept asking why he couldn't buy the "toys" on display, while my 5 year old asked to be brought out since he find the toy figurines scary. Instead, he was entertained by the scorpion in a small glass tank at the entrance of the Toy Museum.

Penang Toy Museum Admission Fees:

Adults : RM 30 (Foreigner) / RM15 (MyKad Holder)

Children : RM20 (Foreigner) / RM10 (MyKad Holder)

Penang Toy Museum Opening Hours:

 9.00am-6.00pm everyday (Last admission at 5.30pm)


Map of Penang Toy Museum:

View Larger Map

3) Indoor Play @ AEON (Kids section) ; Queensbay Mall

Lastly, since the weather was pouring non-stop and traffic was really bad around Gurney/Georgetown area, husband said let's drive out to Queensbay Mall around Sungai Nibong area to escape the crowd and just see what they have there. Escape the crowd? There is no way to escape the crowd in Penang! Anyway, it's the average shopping centre, nothing much to shop but there's J.Co for the kids and the kids section at AEON (1F) as usual has an arcade and also a small kids play area. We spent about 1 hour at AEON, nothing much but the kids seemed happy so we are also happy. 

Will we come again to Penang for a holiday with the kids? I doubt it will be anytime soon. Maybe, when they are bigger so that we go Penang only for makan and not to entertain the kids and when the traffic condition improves!