Ideas for a Rainy Day

Our Local Expert Says:

If you only visit one museum in Singapore, make it this one - a great way to learn the entire history of the city-state in one go.

Description:

The National Museum of Singapore re-opened in 2006 to world-wide acclaim, its dusty archaic exhibition of old replaced by the modern, high-tech attraction that stands proudly today.

The main focus of the museum is the Singapore History Gallery, which allows visitors to walk through the country's history, starting in the 14th century, and taking you through the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles and his influence, the difficult times of World War II and the Japanese occupation, and on to the building of modern Singapore. The excellent Audio Companion provided to each visitor supplements the visual displays with interviews, dramatised scenarios and personal accounts.

Free guided tours of the Singapore History Gallery are held at 11am and 2pm on Monday to Friday, and at 11.30am, 2pm and 3.30 pm on Saturday & Sunday.

Accompanying the History Gallery, there are four Singapore Living Galleries, which celebrate Singaporean society and culture through the years through Food, Fashion, Photography and Film respectively.

The 2003-2006 refurbishment saw a new modern extension, built entirely of glass, added to double the size of the original colonial building which dates from 1887. A one-hour guided tour of the museum gives more insight into its impressive architecture – these are held every second and last Saturday of the month at 2.30pm.

OPENING HOURS
Singapore History Gallery 10am - 6pm, daily (last admission, 5.30pm)
Singapore Living Galleries 10am - 8pm, daily (last admission, 7.30pm)
Free admission from 6pm - 8pm, daily

Our Local Expert Says:

A moving and humbling experience.

Description:

The Changi Museum is dedicated to the memory of all those who suffered incarceration during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore from 1942-45, and is probably the most harrowing collection of stories in all the war museums of Singapore.

This incredibly moving exhibition is put together based on interviews with former inmates, Prisoners of War and their families, with direct quotations used where possible. Personal accounts of torture and humiliation at the hands of the Kempeitei are interspersed with stories of the hardship of rationing and high inflation, and the struggle for survival. Just as shocking are the brutal statistics that accompany the personal memories – such as the 16,000 Prisoners Of War who died from hunger, physical abuse and tropical disease whilst being forced to labour on 'Death Railway', a railway line being built by the Japanese to cross the Thai/Burmese border.

Entrance to the Chapel and Museum is free, but it is well worth paying for the personal audio tour which really brings the exhibition to life with additional stories and actual interviews with survivors.

Our Local Expert Says:

A fascinating insight into the rich history and culture of Buddhism.

Description:

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is located in the heart of Chinatown. The magnificent temple building comprises five floors and a roof garden and was designed to incorporate the best of the Tang Dynasty and the Buddhist Mandala.

The Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic Chamber is the most revered part of the temple and can be found on the 4th floor. Its importance is evident in the magnificence of the room, complete with gold floor tiles surrounding the solid gold stupa. The roof garden houses the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pavilion with its large Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel, while the excellent Buddhist Culture Museum can be found on the 3rd floor. This houses an impressive collection of rare Asian Buddhist artefacts, which accompany a display on the life story and teachings of Lord Buddha. The 100 Dragons Hall on the ground floor is where the daily ceremonies take place, when the chanting monks and congregation add to the air of reverence.

Description:

The Chinatown Heritage Centre provides a fascinating journey through the lives of the Chinese immigrants who flooded into Singapore throughout the 19th century.  Divided between the maze-like warrens of three restored shophouses, the exhibitions explore the harsh conditions which forced many Chinese migrants to flee their home country in search of a better life, and the further perils they faced on arrival in Singapore.

The Four Evils: prostitution, drinking, gambling and opium-smoking are well documented here, and personal accounts by former immigrants help bring the exhibition to life. In contrast, the museum also celebrates the Golden Years of Chinatown during the 1950s with its vibrant street stalls and food markets. One of the highlights of the museum is the re-creation of cubicle living endured by the ever-increasing numbers of immigrants pouring into an already cramped Chinatown.

Description:

The Singapore Art Museum houses the world's largest public collection of modern and contemporary South-East Asian art. With over 7,000 Singapore and South-East Asian artworks, the collection includes paintings, sculptures, multimedia installations, drawings, prints, and photographs.

The collections are split between two closely located buildings. The main collection is housed in a grand 19th century building, formerly the home of a Catholic all-boys mission school, boasting high ceilings, inner courtyards and trickling fountains. Its permanent collection is displayed on a rotational basis so you should always find something new to admire, and the remainder of the 18 galleries are used to showcase travelling exhibitions.

Across the road is the newer 8Q SAM, which focuses more on experimental art forms. Its changing exhibitions encompass all forms of contemporary art - ranging from painting and sculpture, to installation, film & video, photography, new media, performance art and sound art. The dedicated Children's Gallery on the ground floor displays artworks from the permanent collection which are particularly suited to children.

Our Local Expert Says:

The best place in Singapore for one-stop shopping.

Description:

Paris has the Champs-Elysees, New York has Fifth Avenue, and Singapore has Orchard Road. This 2.5km stretch of road is said to have the largest concentration of shopping malls in the world, and that's not hard to believe. It's all about brands here, and the newer and flashier the mall, the better.

ION Orchard at the top is one of the biggest, and it would be easy to lose yourself in this eight storey shopping Mecca for hours – its impressive food court on level B4 will offer some welcome sustenance. Other standout malls include designer brand-filled Ngee Ann City and Paragon, and the more independent boutique-laden Mandarin Gallery.

Our Local Expert Says:

An impressive collection of artefacts in a modern and interactive exhibition.

Description:

The excellent Asian Civilisations Museum is housed in the Empress Building, a beautiful colonial building that presides over the Singapore River. The museum was set up to promote a better understanding of the rich cultures that make up Singapore's multi-ethnic society, so the eleven themed galleries explore Singapore's different ancestral groups, originating from China, South East Asia, South Asia and West Asia. The exhibition occupies over 14,000 square feet and safeguards over 13,000 artefacts.

A series of multimedia and interactive elements, including virtual hosts, add interest and fun to the experience, while interactive ExplorAsian zones help bring the galleries to life for children.

Description:

Images of Singapore gives a broad round-up of Singapore history and culture through a series of waxwork model-heavy displays. The Singapore Adventure exhibition walks you through the different eras of Singapore's history, from the rainforest of the island's origins, past Sir Stamford Raffles as he signs the treaty giving the British colonial rule, and through the jungle of World War II before ending with the walk towards independence. Singapore Celebrates highlights the festivals celebrated by Singapore's multi-ethnic population, by allowing you a glimpse inside family homes during these festive times.

Description:

'Peranakan' is a Malay word meaning 'child of' and refers to people of mixed ethnic origins. With Southeast Asia being a crossroads of trade throughout history, many foreign traders married local women and it is their children who are the Peranakans. The Peranakan Museum mainly focuses on the Peranakan Chinese (the descendents of Chinese traders who settled in Malacca) and showcases their fascinating cultural heritage through the most comprehensive collection of Peranakan artefacts in the world.

Description:

Underwater World on Sentosa is home to more than 2,500 fish and sea creatures from 250 species, and is one of Singapore's most popular attractions for families. Highlights include the Touch Pool, where you can feel your way around colourful starfish, smooth-skinned stingrays and rough-skinned bamboo sharks; Ray of Fun, where you can stroke and hand-feed five different species of rays; and Jelly World, where changing coloured lights will have you transfixed by these graceful floating creatures glowing in the dark.

The pièce de resistance however is The Tunnel, with its travelator that winds through an 83 metre acrylic tunnel. Hop on to admire an impressive array of fish, eels, rays and sharks as they swim overhead and around you. Feeding times are spaced throughout the day so you can catch the fish in feeding frenzy action – especially popular is shark feeding time in the Reef and Ocean Colonies.