It would help . . .

I know I am not good at directions.  Really if you have read any of my postings, I am sure if you didn't already know that about me, you know it now.  I think some people are wired to be good at it (like M) and others are around to make those that are good at it look even better (me).  So I have some strategies that I use to help me get around Singapore.  Most days, the girls and I are on our own so I have got to have a plan.  I have my phone, however reception is spotty at best and when I am counting on getting an exact signal for the map, I can't get it.  I need a back up plan.  I have this great book with maps but honestly, I lug around a fair amount of stuff for us each day, so I don't need a large book in my bag too (and really, I think I might as well wear dark knee-high socks with tennis shoes and an "I love Singapore t shirt."  Or maybe I could just wear a sign that says, "hey, I am a tourist").  So I take a picture of the place we are going to from my great book.  It includes directions, address, and a very tiny map.  That way, if I can't get a map signal from my phone, I have a way to try to navigate (although I really like the blinking dot showing what direction I am going in so I am sure it is the right way.) 

So last week, we head to the Singapore National Museum.  That is what prompted last week's Question of the Week.  I have gotten to the point that I don't always look at the map before we leave the apartment (Obviously a false sense of security though.)  Many mornings I have two things in mind to do and then decide that morning what feels best.  So that particular day, I take my pictures from my book for maps, directions and we are off.  We get off the MRT at the stop that I believe is right and I can't get a signal on my phone.  (No problem, since I am prepared for just this type of situation.)  So while Keylime is playing in a street-side park that had butterflies floating around, I am standing in the blazing sun looking at my phone maps and photos of addresses and maps trying to figure out where to go.  It looks confusing, different than when I was at the apartment this morning.  The two pictures I had taken were of two different venues, completely different.  No wonder it all wasn't making sense.  Finally I figured it out and after losing gallons of water via sweat, we got to the Singapore National Museum.  (BTW, the majority of you answered that I didn't find the museum at all.  Sadly, that could have just as easily been the answer. Oh well.)  Note to self, it would help if I actually took pictures of the right map and directions! 

The girls are the tiny munchkins under the middle arch! 

This museum is considered the people's museum.  It was filled with interesting hands-on exhibits so you could see, hear, and smell the information.  One exhibit had a room filled with different food and the spices used in the local food.  You could even smell many of them.  The girls loved the room about the history of music, particularly rock and roll, and how it entered Singapore.  They listened to the music on the headsets until I had to drag them out of there. 

The museum had a special display that was a compilation of wishes that people had for Singapore and the future.  So they wanted you to put your wishes on a box and add to the collection.  One of the categories was work and what you wanted to be when you grew up.  The girls picked this one and Tie Dye drew an artist and Keylime drew a teacher.  The museum employee then explained that the exhibit was in the shape of Singapore (wow, I would have never been able to figure that one out.) and you should place your box in the geographic area that you wanted to.  (Ok, good thing this girl doesn't know about the mess up with the phone pictures on the way here, cause otherwise she would have known she was wasting her time with me.)  Honestly, even after she explained the different areas, I had no idea.  We just found random spots we liked and put them there.   Oh well.  The girls loved it! 

New Question of the Week is posted now!  You can find it at the bottom of the home page of the blog.