Singapore Philatelic Museum

SINGAPORE SERIES

Before Sofia and I entered the Singapore Philatelic Museum, we had no idea that it was a stamp museum. Hahaha. We were just curious about it because it's in the same area as the Central Fire Station, our normal Saturday hang-out before we head to Funan DigitaLife Mall for Sofia's pottery class. We were attracted by the banners they had advertising the Bunny Exhibit (which Tintin has taken the place of in the picture below).

Singapore Philatelic Museum

We were not really able to go in to explore because we did not have enough time to kill before Sofia's pottery class, but we saw enough for me to make a mental note that we should go back to visit it properly when we had time.

We had this opportunity when we were looking for things to do during the Chinese New Year break. The timing was perfect because most of the stores and restaurants are closed, so there's nothing much to do, and most of the museums in Singapore do an Open House event during Public Holidays where admission is free and they prepare special activities for kids. I wrote about that here.

The museum had a Fun Quiz that both kids and adults could participate in. Upon completion, you get to do a lucky draw and you win corresponding prizes.

Sofia went room to room to answer her own Fun Quiz with help from mom

The exhibit was very interactive, so the kids have fun while learning, as long as they have someone with them to explain what they're looking at.

Checking out the what's behind the closed doors

The atmosphere of the museum was very playful, but at the same time I could also see adults who were enjoying looking at the exhibits.

Hopscotch: Philatelic Version
Sofia calls this playing HipHop. Hahaha

Giant Stamp Jigsaw

One of the activities for Chinese New Year was color your own Dragon Mask

Star in your own Postage Stamp
Fif and Mom doing funny faces

The second floor of the museum has an Imagine Dragons exhibit until Dec 2012 to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. They have all sorts of of dragon stamps, trivia and activities.

Kids get to dig for Dinosaur Fossils

There is a whole library of dinosaur and dragon books for kids

Kids (and moms) can enter the dragon boat and play with the drum

One of the questions in the Fun Quiz (to be found in Sun Yat Sen's exhibit room) was what were his favorite fruits that were made into stamps.

We chose Banana and Mango (the shortest words) so Fif wouldn't have such a hard time

There was also a Heritage Room, part of the permanent gallery, where they had a nostalgic display of things from the past, which I've seen recently in other countries. Maybe it's Heritage only in Singapore.

Indian Mama's Shop which I've still seen in India
It also looks like a Sari-Sari Store to me (Neighborhood Store in the Philippines)

Wooden Sandal Shop
I've visited similar places in Vietnam

Fun Quiz Time: What drum is used for the Lion Dance? Answer: Dagu (the big one)
My little girl wants to be a drummer in a rock band!

There was also a Message Me Exhibit (until March 2012) were there are interactive displays that trace back communication from the time of Egyptian Hieroglyphs to this day and age of mobile phones and email.

Shade your name in hieroglyphs

The most advertised exhibit they had was the Tintin exhibit (until May 2012). They actually did not allow photographs to be taken in this room but everyone in the room was taking photos with their iPhones and their cameras, so I also stole a shot or two (when in Rome, do as the Romans do).

A sample of Tintin stamps

Sofia's Fun Quiz that she answered all by herself
Quiz Time: In What Tintin comic did he go to China? Answer: The Blue Lotus

Our favorite freebie from this museum were the color your own Postcards.

You could get as much as you wanted so we got a lot.
Hoarder much.

The whole experience was very educational for Sofia. When we got home, she colored the postcards and immediately asked me to help her write her message to her Gammy and Lolo (my parents) and Gammy Cherrie and Lolo Boy (my mom's twin and her husband).

Sofia's postcards

I did not realize that Singapore has different stamps (I had self adhesive 1st Local stamps at home I used for joining contests) for Local Mail, as pictured in the postcards above, and different stamps for overseas. The Singpost website says that it costs 50cents to mail a postcard to the Philippines. I also found fine print somewhere that said you can use local stamps (1st Local to make up the cost of the overseas mail).

When we tried to buy overseas stamps, the place I buy stamps from in Great World City informed me that overseas stamps are 65cents (and these are the lick version). Since I'm not sure if the guy just wanted to sell me more expensive stamps (by 15 cents!!! hahaha) or if the website was just not updated (I don't know which scenario is more irritating!) we did a little experiment.

1 postcard has 2 1st Local Stamps worth 58cents while the other postcard has 1 65cent stamp
We need to check with the recipients if they ever get the postcards

Sofia loved the whole experience of writing her postcards, licking and sticking the stamps,going to the Mail Box and dropping her own mail.

The nanny had to carry her to reach the mail slot.

The Singapore Philatelic Museum is at

23b Coleman Street, Singapore

They are open on Monday (1-7pm) and Tuesday-Sunday (9am-7pm)

Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children (free for PR children)

You can read about my post on our suggested itinerary for a walking tour of the Hill Street area which includes the Singapore Philatelic Museum here.