Cheapskate got free membership for a year! =)

29 August 2020

In conjunction with Singapore National Day, the National Gallery was giving out free memberships to citizens and permanent residents up to the end of August 2020. (Update: The promotion has been extended to 31 October 2020). Being a super cheapskate, I just couldn't give up the opportunity even though I might not be have the best understanding of South East Asian art or even call myself an art enthusiast in general XD.

The day started with lunch at Funan just a couple of streets away. A little place called Fireless Kitchen specialising in sous vide cooking.

The 12-Hours Sous Vide BBQ pork belly was really good but I was slightly disappointed with the sweet potato mash, which was purple instead of the orange that I was expecting. The texture was also baby-food mushy instead of mashed potato mushy - totally not what I was expecting. T___T

Bought my after lunch dessert from Yanmie which was conveniently located next door - Mango Yoghurt. The shop's decor just makes you feel all cheery. I tried the recommended purple rice yoghurt the last time and this was just as good. Too bad that I couldn't take my time with it since I was feeling self conscious walking around without a mask while sipping on my drink.

Finally, my first time to the National Gallery~

It was quite crowded so either people here are big on culture or there's really not many places you can go to in Singapore. Apparently a lot of people go to there just to check-in and take profile shots (while also giving people the impression that they are very artsy and cultured?)

After redeeming our free memberships, we being non-conformists, went in the opposite direction to the Supreme Court Wing first, with the intention to circle over to the City Hall Wing later. We also didn't bother to join the winding queues for some of the exhibitions.

The foundation stone of the building was laid in 1937

A plaque to show that the Supreme Court was declared open in 1939

It is well worth a visit to the building just to admire the lovely architecture and feel the grandness of the space.

Wandering through the exhibits and saw this artistic depiction to remind me of Negaraku.. Scary yet attention grabbing. Some parts of the Supreme Court Wing had that eerie feeling you sometimes get in old buildings, but still nowhere close to the holding cells at St George's Hall in Liverpool or the Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh (oh, I have not put that on record have I? One day, I shall catch up recording my memories #crossfingers).

the Proclamation of the Republic of Singapore is on display

So is the Proclamation of Malaysia

(bila boleh balik kampung?????)

Also saw a handwritten letter from Tunku Abdul Rahman

Too bad the Rotunda Library was cordoned off to the public due to limited space for social distancing (stupid COVID-19), I was told it is quite beautiful inside.

I honestly found the Supreme Court Wing to be much much more interesting compared to the City Hall Wing, but it was more crowded at the latter due to more open and bright spaces for people to take their glamour shots. There was a lady there who spent more than half an hour at the same location on the steps posing for photos. How do I know? She was there when we entered the place and still there when we left after going through several exhibitions!

You can get a nice view of Esplanade, Singapore Flyer and MBS from the City Hall Wing

After a whole afternoon of walking, we wanted to go somewhere for a tea break and faced the same issue that I had during National Day weekend - every single place was full, even the atas places like P.S. Cafe -____- 

Ended up at Godiva with a tasty but not very thirst-quenching - Oolong Tea Dark Chocolixir - kind of regret going with no whipped cream since it would have added to the aesthetic value. oh well...

Put this here to remind myself of my one-year National Gallery membership lest I forget and totally fail to use it at least once within the next year (which is quite likely unless they suddenly have some super interesting exhibition that would pique my interest - they once had Monet and Renoir on display, no idea why I missed that!).