Parenting is a hotbed of monotony, so in order to spice up my life, I resolved to take my children to places I had never been before and explore the island I call home. Brownie points if these places offer free entry.

The first weekend saw us at a dinosaur-themed playground at Fu Shan Garden. I brought along a dinosaur storybook for good measure. I liked how the different dinosaurs had been woven into the design of the playground, accompanied with informative boards. Good for reinforcing words like diet and predators in an authentic setting.

This trip wasn’t without its disappointments. We came here, lured by the promise of seeing flashy-looking Stegosaurus and Triceratops, but it seemed that the newer edition of the dino-themed playground had been demolished. Pity.

Nonetheless, it was an eye-opener, and I actually felt proud that my country isn’t all concrete with zero soul.