Spend five minutes with celebrity couple Dwi Sasono and Widi Mulia, and you will soon realise that nothing is more important to the pair than family. The charming actor and his quirky singer-wife are proud parents to three bubbly, highly energetic children, Dru Prawiro, Widuri Putri and Den Bagus. But between juggling their hectic schedules and meeting the demands of parenthood, the striking duo can barely manage to catch a breather.
So when a slot freed up on both mum and dad’s diaries last month, the family jumped at the opportunity to pack their suitcases, and took a long-awaited holiday with the rest of the Sasono pack. Their destination of choice? “Why, Singapore of course! For its proximity, ease of navigation and countless family-friendly attractions!”
quipped Widi. We caught up with the Sasonos to hear what else they had to say.
“Our recent trip to Singapore was very special to us. It’s been a while since we’ve taken a trip together as a family of five. Plus, it was also our youngest, Den Bagus’ first time in Singapore. We’ve heard so much about Singapore’s numerous family and kids-friendly attractions, so we were pretty excited to introduce some of these to him,” said Dwi.
Nevermind that the trip took place during the recent Zika epidemic―the family did not allow it to detract their plans to explore the Little Red Dot. “The Zika issue did not change our minds to visit Singapore, although we made sure to take several precautions. We took guidance from Singapore’s Ministry of Health, which advised members of the public to use mosquito repellent regularly, and explored many indoor attractions. That said however, we definitely did not stray away from outdoor activities. In fact, while we were in Sentosa, we even took the kids on a ride on the Mega-Zip! We were pretty much convinced that Singapore remained safe for visitors,” said mom, Widi.
From the moment they landed at Singapore’s Changi Airport on Day 1, the Sasonos wasted no time in starting their adventure. First up was lunch at Coriander Leaf in Chijmes, which offered a rich variety of Asian cuisines. Then it was straight to Keppel Centre for some artistic fun at the National Gallery. The centre is well-known for its arts education facilities, dedicated to stimulating children’s interests in art.
Then, it was time for some outdoor fun onboard Duck Tour’s amphibious vehicle, which allowed for a city-tour both in and out of water. The family took countless photographs against the Singapore River’s sun-streaked skyline! For dinner, they then proceeded to check out Indochine’s Supertree Restaurant, located at Gardens by the Bay, before catching Garden Rhapsody, an enthralling music and light showcase set amidst the Supertrees.
Day 2 saw the adventurous family take on various indoor and outdoor sports on Sentosa Island―from iFly (an indoor skydiving facility), to Flowrider, where the kids had some flowboarding fun under the watchful eyes of Widi and Dwi. But the excitement was far from over, as the family of five stopped by Kidzania and Mosh! for some educational fun, before heading down to Arteastiq, a boutique tea house cum art-jam studio. By Day 3, the kids were all psyched up for their visit to Universal Studios Singapore and Marine Cove at East Coast Park, home to various sensational rides and a three-storey play lighthouse respectively.
So after three consecutive days of family fun, what did Dad have to say about the trip? “We definitely had a blast with the kids in Singapore! As parents, we’re constantly encouraging Dru, Widuri and Den Bagus to try their hands at new experiences, and we’re happy to see them learn and grow with each such experience. Widi and I can’t wait to head back again, just so we can strike off more must-try places on our list. We strongly encourage other parents to explore Singapore and enjoy its quality, kids-friendly offerings, just like we did!”
