SoutheastAsia

The Artist's House (The Artist's House) is a centuries-old house turned gallery in Thonburi, across the Chao Phraya River. Owned by Khun Chumpol Akkapantanon, it’s an excellent spot to escape from the city’s modern buildings and hectic traffic for a day. Baan Silapin (and its neighbourhood) dates back to the 1800s. A boardwalk leading to the gallery is lined with shops, cafes, local restaurants, and a temple. You can also spot many unusual and human-sized statues painted in white, red and black sitting by the water. The Artist's House has a tall, white stupa dating back to the Ayutthaya period standing in the backyard. You can see plenty of traditional paintings, masks and, puppets throughout the building. It’s most popular for hosting traditional Thai puppet shows, where intricately-made puppets are manipulated by artists dressed in black. Shows take place on a small wooden stage every day at 2pm, except Wednesdays. It’s a good idea to call in advance as the theatre sometimes performs in other parts of the city, usually during special events. http://www.bangkok.com/magazine/artist-house.htm

If you have time to visit only one place to learn about the history and culture of Singapore, this is probably it. The National Museum of Singapore tells you the intriguing story of this country in a manner that is both fun and rewarding. Imagine standing in the midst of a vast darkened space surrounded by a massive video montage showing everyday life in Singapore while a rousing symphony plays in the background. That’s just a taste of the immersive experience you can expect here. The museum hosts a dynamic range of events throughout the year—from art installations and festivals to performances and film screenings—in addition to presenting exhibitions involving historically and culturally important collections of artifacts. One of the latest immersive art installations – Story of the Forest by teamLab allows visitors to experience the treasured collections of the Museum being brought to life through a spectacular digital presentation. http://www.visitsingapore.com/see-do-singapore/history/history-museums/national-museum-of-singapore/

A museum on money established by the country’s central bank, the Bank Negara Malaysia located in the Sasana Kijang Complex. Here you can learn all about money through interactive and computerised games, as well as interesting facts and information on money. There is an Economics Gallery, Islamic Finance Gallery, Numismatics Gallery and Children’s Gallery. You will also be able to view the Central Banks art collection of renowned Malaysian contemporary artists in the Art Gallery. Guided tours can also be arranged for groups of visitors from schools, universities and non-profit organisation. http://www.visitkl.gov.my/visitklv2/index.php?r=column/cthree&id=106&place_id=888