Thursday, February 04, 2010

I love museums (part two)

The Malay term 'Peranakan' which means 'locally born' refers to communities that developed in Southeast Asia like the Chinese, Chitty Melaka and Jawi Peranakans.

The Peranakan Chinese are descendants of Chinese traders who settled in Malacca and around the coastal areas of Java and Sumatra, as early as the 14th century. In the 19th century, the Peranakan Chinese, drawn by commerce, migrated to the bustling ports of Penang and Singapore.

The Chitty Melaka, or Peranakan Indians, descended from unions between South Indian Hindu merchants and local women, from the time of the Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century. Linguistically, the Peranakan Indians speak a type of vernacular Malay which incorporates some Tamil words.

The Jawi Peranakans (or Jawi Pekan) are descendants of intermarriage between South Indian-Muslim traders and women of the local community. The Jawi Peranakans clustered around urban centres, particularly in the trading port of Penang.

With that knowledge in mind, we headed to THE PERANAKAN MUSEUM to explore the rich culture of this community.




This boutique museum had quite a comprehensive display with state-of-the-art audio and visual effects. It focused on every aspect of the Peranakan lifestyle. I was truly impressed with its interactive presentation of its vast collection.

The Peranakan Museum
39 Armenian Street, Singapore 179941.

Opening hours:
Monday: 1pm to 7pm
Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30am – 7pm
Friday: up to 9 pm

Admission:
Adult: 6.00 S$
Group of 20 pax or more: 5.00 S$
Friday Night (7 - 9pm): 3.00 S$

*Photography WITHOUT Flash is permitted*

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