Learn and Appreciate: National Museum of Singapore

Photo sharing!

Just some shots taken while visiting National Museum of Singapore NMS

I have always been grateful to whoever came up with the idea of museum, it makes learning easier really, especially for people like me who can barely scan one page of book. Let alone history texts. A good museum would be one that presents knowledge in the most understandable form, I think so far Sasana Kijang was my favorite (okay not that I went to many museums), but National Museum of Singapore also has its plus points!

Too bad I wasn't able to visit their permanent exhibitions as they are under renovation. But the SG700 special exhibition was great enough for a glance at SG's long history. Of course, you might argue with me that, isn't SG's history and MY's history pretty much the same, but this exhibition has an emphasis on transformation, which I think has a rather different history from Msia's. It's something worth learning. 

  

We paid S$3 for the admission of SG700, other exhibition halls are free to enter.
Right before the entrance of SG700, there's a exhibition area that presents and explains archaeology history in Singapore, showing all kinds of tools used in excavation and examples of artifacts found. That small area is already interesting enough to take up quite some time to go through. So I suggest, please go to the museum in the morning, or at least right after lunch time. Or else you wont have enough time to visit and explore all exhibitions in detail.

The SG700 exhibition has very good visuals, I love the beautiful and artsy illustrations of historical figures and stories.  Of course there were many historical objects and replicas on display as well, together with audio recordings from people who witnessed the past. But what really made the exhibition level up was all the "scent". Yeap they actually prepared tubes of chemicals that actually give out certain smell which is related to a certain historical period. Yes It's definitely not just pleasant scents like fragrance and spices, but scents that really gives you an idea on what people actually felt at a certain place, certain point of time in history. Spoiler: There's one scent that almost made me throw up. Unforgettable, gotta praise them for recreating that sense of FEAR.  

Yep Now you Know how she get straight As haha

The Syonan-Era Area which was lit up in bright glares of red that resembles bloodshed and fear in darkness. Really love the presentation of this area. 

Loads of replicas of historical materials from the past with English translations. 

The Changi Prison section

Sorry I had to play with the mirrors haha...

Look out for the so-detailed-and-real dioramas!

Dioramas are just so nice to observe, gives you a look to everyone and everything in the picture at one moment of time.  

The museum's interior

2nd exhibition of the day, In Memoriam: Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Displays photos and explains Mr.Lee's achievements

Btw the smart but failed "battleship" telegraph by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew to hint his family about cooking steamboat was on display as well! 

3rd exhibition: The Foundation of Run Run Shaw's Cinema Empire

Another interesting exhibition to get a glimpse of the uprising film industry in Malaysia, Singapore and Asia in the past. There's also 2 screening areas with a few comfy chairs for those who wanna watch classics from the Shaw Brothers studios. 

Love this collage of vintage movie posters

Actually there were 2 more exhibitions that we've visited but I didn't really take any photos. 

After visiting all the exhibitions, I decided that I must take some decent photos at this beautiful colonial era building. The windows, the arches, the window panels, everything looks beautiful! Forgive me, vain session starts now:  

Buddy of the day: it's my dear Shinnee again

Hehe it was right after her finals and we decided we shall go explore somewhere interesting again.

I think only she's willing to go to a museum with me after studying so much for exams, as if we haven't study enough and decided we should read more history...

Will visit here again for their permanent exhibitions

NSM has really put in a lot of efforts in its exhibitions, they are informative, interactive, and interesting. The beautifully restored colonial building with modern features will be a good place to spend a quiet afternoon while taking in knowledge. Besides, learning the history in museum would certainly make you feel grateful of what we have and grateful of the fact our ancestors have to go through all the hard time to bring us this far. 

Find out more on NMS's Website:
http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/NMSPortal/

Extras:

See you next time!