Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Family fun: blowing bubbles using balloon kits in Singapore


Singapore shops stock a bubble or 'balloon' blowing kit at a low price. For under 3 dollars you can buy a set of about 100 teeny gum dispensers which look like miniature toothpaste dispensers. Each one comes with small short straw.

How To Blow Bubbles
You cut the end of the dispenser. Squeeze out a blob of glue. Insert the teeny straw into the goo and blow air into it to create a bubble. Keep blowing. You can blow it up to the size of a small balloon.
Rena demonstrates blowing a bubble.

It is a bit mis-shapen. But enormous fun. The balloons are transparent but if they catch the light right you get an attractive rainbow effect.

One person from London, England, looked at it and commented: "It looks like inedible bubblegum."

I was shown it at the Focus club, a Toastmasters International group. Speaker Rena told us how she had visited an orphanage in Bhutan and took along the balloon kits to entertain the children. She said the balloon blowing was a great success.

I tried attaching the balloons to my hair as decoration but they did not last long. They made an amusing photo.
Here I am with two balloons.

The brand was Bestman.
Where to buy the balloon blowing kits? A stationery shop or toy shop in Singapore and other cuntries.

The set I found online was only four pieces for about ten dollars which seemed expensive. One user's feedback said you could buy them cheaper in  US store called Family Dollar.

Amazon had a pack of eight party favors, but each person receives only one tube of goo and one straw.

Ebay sold sets of 30 pc for about 20 US dollars. Another supplier on ebay had 60 pieces for the same price. But check postage to your country, if available.

I finally tracked down the brand, Bestman, and found them on Shopee for only 3 Sing dollars.

Useful websites
https://shopee.sg/Bestman-Balloon-Old-school-Classic-bubble

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30pcs-PLASTIC-BALLOONS-bubble-toys-blow-up-toy-Tube-Party-Fillers-Fun-Toys-Kids/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/60Pcs-New-bubbles-BALLOONS-TUBES-blow-up-toy-balloon-novelty-toy-bubble-blower/

https://www.familydollar.com/products-services/products

https://www.amazon.com/BLoonies-Piece-included-Straws-Colors/

To buy bubble balloons - about 10 sing dollars for 15 pieces
https://www.qoo10.sg/item/15PCS-BUBBLE-GUM-TOY-BLOWING-GLUE-CHILDHOOD-REMINISCENCE-TOYS/550620665

How to blow up a bubble balloon - demo with three children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsdjuDCBAqM

Infomation on history of US suppliers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Elastic_Bubble_Plastic

Travel to Singapore
singaporeair.com
visitsingapore.com

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

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