Upon arriving at the museum, I was already captivated by the design of the building. It was one of the most eye-catching landmarks along Armenian Street due to its colonial style and grandeur.
[Exterior of the Peranakan Museum]
When I first stepped foot into the building itself, I was in awe of the astounding ambience it carried. One would feel as if one was transported back in time, to experience the exotic flavours of the Peranakan culture personally. The layout of the museum is based on Straits Settlements bungalows, with rooms arranged around a common central hall. With the beautiful Neo-Classical and French-Renaissance architectural features of the museum, it enables visitors to enter the world of the distinct Southeast Asian culture and slowly immerse oneself in it.
Furthermore, the intricate carvings on the pillars, the gate, and various other aspects of the building reveal the immense efforts in perfecting the beauty of the museum. Also, there are stunning butterflies and flowers motifs on the walls, which compound to the overall visual treats. These motifs are also common designs on feminine products like shoes, clothes and purses used by Peranankan women.
[Butterflies Motifs] 
[Intricate Designs on the Pillars]
The Peranakan Museum boasts of the world’s most accomplished and extensive collection of artefacts, ranging from lavish exhibits such as the magnificent Peranakan beadwork and embroidery, food and feasting, to wedding, religions and the origins of the Peranakans. Indeed, with the 10 galleries each detailing an aspect of the Peranakan culture, the exhibits provide a comprehensive guide through the daily life of the Peranakans.
Besides, information provided on each exhibit was educational and informative. It enables one to have an enriched idea of the artefact’s background. There were also informative videos provided to make the experience more interesting. The interactive section in Gallery 6 merits special mention. It showcases three different telephone conversations on three different phones going across the years. This allows one to gain insight into the life of the Peranakans in an extremely unique fashion. 
[Information on Each Exhibit]
[Interactive Exhibit -1st generation telephone]
[2nd generation telephone]
[3rd generation telephone]
I was particularly fascinated by the beaded and embroidery exhibits. These exhibits are most characteristic of Peranakan women, commonly known as the Nyonyas. Every Nyonya in the past would surely have made at least one of the beaded or embroidery products. The various exhibits were so intricately designed, showcasing the fine workmanship of the Nyonyas whose skills in embroidery and beadwork are highly valued.
[Beaded Exhibits - Purses]
[Beaded Exhibit- Swans]
[Beaded Exhibit - Nipah Case]The specific artefact that caught my eye was the pair of embroidered wedding slippers with support cushions and patchwork covering. It was dated from the early twentieth century, and was an exquisite handicraft with fine stitches. Basically, the slippers were crafted for two types of purposes: celebratory and mourning occasions. Colourful beads were used with intricate patterns while dull coloured beads with simple patterns were used on respective occasions. What makes the beads unique is that they are glass beads with faceted surface that gives off a shimmer, which makes them stunning. This is the key feature that distinguishes it from new, smoother varieties.
[Beaded Exhibit - Embroided Wedding Slippers] Overall, it was an enjoyable learning journey. It is a must to make a trip down to the Peranakan Museum. For tourists, this will provide great insight to a small but significant part of Singapore’s history. As for those who have been actively catching the local blockbuster episodes of the ‘Little Nyonya’, here’s the opportunity to experience what the life of a Peranakan is like.
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