Singapore Art Museum

The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is housed at a restored 19th century mission school (the former premises of St Joseph’s Institution), a beautiful architecture.



Opened since 1996, it had housed numerous southeast asian as well as international exhibitions. A good place to visit when one's in a mood to be away from the hectic commercial life.
One's strongly encouraged to join their guided tour to have a quick introduction to the exhibits. One may think that what one already know or interpret what one sees as just a simple painting or artwork but with the explanations of an enthusiastic guide, then one knows the history or idea behind that painting or artwork and better appreciates it. You may then discover many more wonders as you make a tour around the museum.
SAM's Official link: http://www.singart.com/
Its address is 71 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189555 (abt 10mins' walk from City Hall MRT)
Telephone: (65) 6332 3222
Monday to Sunday: 10am - 7pm
Friday: 10am - 9pm (Free admission on Friday night, 6pm – 9pm)

National Museum of Singapore

The National Museum of Singapore, located at 93 Stamford Road, is Singapore's biggest and oldest museum, with history dating back to 1887.

With its official opening in Dec 2006 after major redevelopment, it aims to redefine conventional museum experience. One innovation is the use of a multimedia handheld device, the Companion, at the Singapore History Gallery.
You may also like to find out more about its architecture via its official web: http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/ , select About the Museum/Architecture and Design. One decoration that caught my attention during last visit is the swinging lamps near the Canyon. (I felt like I had walked into Harry Potter's movie plot :-) )

The Museum is accessible via Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut or City Hall
or via Bus: to alight before YMCA or along Stamford Road.
Bus No.17, 14E, 16, 36, 111, 124, 162, 174, 174E, 502, 77, 106, 167, 171, 190, 700, 700A

Admission fees: $10
Opening hours:
Singapore History Gallery 10am-6pm,
Singapore Living Galleries 10am-8pm.Tel: 6332 5642
Web: http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/

Kong Hiap Memorial Museum 广洽纪念馆

The art museum, located near Aljunied MRT is opened only on Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays, and every 1st & 8th of the Lunar Month (10am to 5pm). Free Admission. It houses the prized collection of the respectable late Venerable Kong Hiap.


The collection includes Chinese paintings and calligraphy works of Venerable Ying Guang (印光大师), Venerable Hong Yi (弘一大师), Feng Zi Kai (丰子恺), Qi Baishi (齐白石), Yu Dafu (郁达夫) and many others of internationally accomplished arts and literary figures of his generation.
Within the building, there is also a simple yet elegant shrine. Dharma talk & chanting sessions are also conducted by a Venerable from Amitabha Buddhist Society in Mandarin as per timetable indicated below. Time-table as per informed by the volunteers :
1st day of Lunar Month: 10am-11.30am Chanting session 大悲忏
8th day of Lunar Month: 2pm-3pm Dharma Talk, 3pm-4pm Chanting session 佛说阿弥陀经
All are Welcome to join in above sessions. :-)

The museum is located at 8 Geylang East Ave 1, S'pore 389780 (Tel: 6846 7491).
It is near main road before HDB block of the famous Kwan Inn Vegn Food, and opposite main entrance of Central Grove Condo.
Nearest MRT: Aljunied station
By bus: SBS - 2, 13, 21, 26, 40, 51, SMRT - 67, 853C (You may alight at Aljunied MRT or walk back if alight 1 stop after)

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

The temple and museum always hosts different exhibits on its level 2 exhibition hall. Today, the Sand Mandala was completed & on display.

Completed Sand Mandala displayed on the 1st level main shrine which will be dismantled on the 26th March.

On its 2nd level of museum, a section of the hall has been devoted to a brief introduction on Tibetan Buddhism, Sand Mandala and the makers of the Sand Mandala from Kopan Nunnery (Nepal) while another section displayed different representations of Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) with brief explainations.




If you are tired after viewing the exhibition, you may drop-by its well-hidden tea house at the left end corner of the hall, Lotus Heart Tea House for a relaxing tea-break.

I am glad to know that with the completion of its theatre at Basement one, they had started a series of weekend Dharma Talk programmes.

For those interested in the making of the Sand Mandala, you may like to attend this coming Sunday (23 Mar)'s talk at 3-5pm.


Please always refer to their official website: http://www.btrts.org.sg/Eng_Index.html for latest activities.

Asian Civilisations Museum-On The Nalanda Trail: Buddhism in India, China and Southeast Asia

(Sir Stamford Raffles (black statute) in front of Victoria Concert Hall) (Sir Stamford Raffles (white statute) opp Boat Quay)

In the recent Deepavali holiday, I visited ACM at Empress place with my friend.Our main target is to visit its new exhibition theme: On The Nalanda Trail: Buddhism in India, China and Southeast Asia. (2 Nov 2007 to 23 March 2008).
To be frank, this is the 1st time I visited ACM ever since its opening at Empress place & years ago since I saw & took pictures of the Black & White Sir Stamford Raffles statutes. (Do really bring back memories when we were on primary school excursions when we always visit the area. Cldn't recall if it was also the old museum site that we had visited)

(This is where the real exhibition entrance starts,. They will ask you to surrender your bags & handphone & goes thru the security scan gantry.)

Upon arrival, we headed straight to the 2nd level of ACM where we were told the theme begins. After reading some history & appreciating a few artefacts & near what we thought was the end of the hall, we thought that's the end of exhibition & when I was just going to brand it as of an average standard, we discovered that what we had seen earlier was just a starter, the main course begins from where we thought was the end of the exhibition hall.

At the real entrance of the exhibition, we were told to surrender all our bags & handphones before entering the hall. :P that means no photography is allowed.

After exiting from the exhibition, both of us were impressed by the effort put in by the museum. Apart from some small hiccups whereby the English & Chinese translation of Buddha & Bodhisattva name does not match & the staff has been notified (shall check if that's rectified in my next visit :P), we feel that the standard of Spore museum had certainly seen much improvement.
As to what's inside the exhibition, that's for you to find out. :-)

But so far feedback has been positive from friends who visited and they find it worth visiting. I intend to visit it again & spend at least half a day there as the last visit I just covered the Nalanda trail quickly & there are other sections of the ACM holding different themes that I did not explore further. It will be good to start from 12pm (Tue-Fri) as there is guided tour at that timing.
After being in the darkness for a few hours, we are glad to be out in the open & enjoy the scenery while we stroll along the Singapore river. :-)

ACM is easily accessible, you can alight from Raffles MRT & walk towards Fullerton hotel (across the cavenagh bridge) or take TIBS 75 & alight at bus-stop near Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall.
To find out more information on exhibition themes of ACM, you may visit their website at : http://www.acm.org.sg/home/home.asp