Dean Dastrup does Singapore--post #4

As a family, we had not yet done the Peranakan Museum, though it was on our list.  So, it was perfect to take Dean there to see some "formal" culture.  Peranankan's are local born where the father is Chinese (typically) and the mother is Malay (but not Muslim).  So, they mixed a lot of Chinese, Malaysian, and European cultural ideas (European because Singapore was under British rule).  They continued their Chinese traditions to follow auspicious dates animals, and rituals.  However, they added in European florals and products (glass beads) and Malaysian colors.  This is seen best in the table covering and in the dishes.  Each level of the pagoda below is a separate food serving tray and the "people" in a wedding procession.  I loved the two "dishes" sitting under the table legs.  The bottom saucer would be filled with an oil and then the other saucer placed on top.  The top saucer would protect the leg of the table and the bottom saucer (with the oil) would keep the ants from coming up the table to eat the food.