As part of National Day celebration, entrance to all exhibitions in museums under National Heritage Board is free for local residents this month. So we gladly listed museum visit in our agenda this morning. We chose to go to Peranakan Museum and Philatelic Museum, since we have never visited those before. A shame, really, given that we've been here for over a decade.

The two museums are located very close to each other, with a car park in between, making the visit very convenient. We reached Peranakan Museum at around 10.30am, when it was still quite vacant. Upon ID verification we were then given the museum brochure, complete with directions and a warm welcome.

Emily of Emerald Hill - Singaporean Identity on Stage is currently exhibited in the museum, and there was a panel discussion that took place at 11am. So we went to the gallery first to take a quick look around before moving on to the other galleries.

There are 5 galleries at level 3, each with different theme: nonya, religion, public life, food & feasting, conversations. The 4 galleries at level 2 are all about the intricate details of Peranakan wedding. The only gallery in level 1 showcased portraits of Peranakan people and screened a short clip about Peranakan origins.

There are some interactive displays and also embossing stations located all over the galleries. It was quite fun to collect them all :)

A short stroll down on Armenian Street brought us to Philatelic Museum. One bright red letter box is placed right next to the entrance, and it is still in operation. In one of the displays in the museum I later learned that it is called a red pillar post box that was used in 1965-1971.

At first level, there are 2 galleries: orange room and purple room. Visitors can learn how stamps are designed, conceptualized, printed and then circulated.

Moving on to level 2, there are heritage room and room or rarities. The heritage room is designed to resemble a shop house, complete with neighbourhood shop displays, coffee stall, herbal shop and their paraphernalia.

"Imagine Dragons" is the current special exhibition. It is intended for children, with comic-like dragon pictures, wooden boat with drum, "dragon lair", and an activity table with dinosaurs' "fossil", complete with sand and brushes.

I am impressed by the Philatelic Museum - it is colorful, informative and interactive, with many interesting things to keep children entertained and occupied.