asian reporter trisha takanawa visits singapore's museums

to make up for its otherwise rather infamous sighs, singapore invested quite a chunck into its museums and it amazes how a country that has no rich history can make it attractive for outsiders.

let's take national museum (although asian civilization museum is probably more exciting). it's divided into four mediums - through photography it tells the development of family relationships, through fashion - female emancipation, film exposes to entertainment while food gives some history on the street life. you can literally spend hours playing with all multimedia installed, scenting different spices or listening to the best of singaporan rockenroll of the 60s.

although the history writen by any (authoritarian) country is forged, singapore manages not to fall into the realms of naked propaganda. well, except for the fact that the recent decades are put under 'reaching prosperity' headline. and although you feel that there is not so much content, you leave museums impressed.

on the other side of the bridge, historical malay capital melaka hosts a daily sound and light show. let's first read the description from a flyer that some malaysians gave me out in the street:

'As you are well aware, the Melaka Light and Sound Spectacle, which is located in the Melaka Heritage Complex in Banda Hilir, is the only show of its kind in Southeast Asia. It takes audience on a journey down memory lane covering Melaka's 600-year history from its origin under the famed Melaka tree right through to Malaysia's Independence. All this is done via a mesmerizing interplay of multi-coloured lights and crystal clear sound. The Show has enchaned the hearts of hundreds of thousands of local and foreign audience since it was opened in 1998'.

ok, the sound might have been crystal clear but cd went on a loop a couple of times which meant a few locals running around trying to fix and the whole foreign audience laughing. i don't know who wrote the script for the 'journey down memory lane' but i took a good nap between sixteenth and twentieth centuries. and then there is this security guy helplessly trying to convince the locals not to cross the square where the multi-coloured lights project.

i am in favour of nice form over a messy content.