Peranakan Museum

Tuesday we took a trip to the Peranakan museum at the suggestion of our professor in Singapore, Dr. Quek. What is a Peranakan, you ask? A Peranakan is a person who is of mixed race basically, but the term is more specific to Southeast Asia. It usually refers to Malay and Chinese or Indian marriages. This mixing of cultures created a new and unique culture, known as the culture of the Peranakans!

Isabella, Sarah, and I outside of the Peranakan museum.

The inside of the Peranakan Museum is so colorful!

In Singapore, there is a whole museum devoted to this culture. The museum is in the heart of the colonial district, close to downtown, and is filled with the most amazing artifacts! There were gorgeous beaded slippers, pieces of art,  jewelry, and more! I loved the wedding exhibit, which featured items and told of customs from traditional Peranakan weddings!

This piece of art features flowers and native birds, 

and is made ENTIRELY out of glass beads!

A closer view of the tiny glass beads used to make these shimmering tapestries.

There is also an exhibit devoted to Perankan living (food, clothes, homes, etc.) where there are ceramic bowls and plates painted with intricate patterns and pastel colors, typical of the Perankans.

A painted ceramic bowl.

A Peranakan outfit.

The museum was beautiful and informative! I explored the colonial district for a little but afterwards, but then I set off on a mission to find water shoes for Brunei. I finally found some in Marina Bay Sands mall - and I got the kids sized ones so they were not expensive! Now I'm all set to go to Brunei!