Plimoth outing on Sunday, 15 Sept

Last Sunday, we drove more that 1 hr to Plimoth Plantation in our first family outing despite the slight drizzling and overcast sky since we got the car in Cambridge. For those who have been there before, one should know this is an outdoor museum where one needs to walk on rough grounds to visit the exhibits as in a 17th century reenactment. We decided to go ahead despite the bad weather because I have gotten a discount pass from the Cambridge Public library for an entrance fee of $5 instead of the $28. However, the visit was a big disappointment as we saw only 3 people role-play as 17th century Englishmen and only 3 Wampanoag (native Indians) as opposed to what they promised in their website where one can meet many of them. The exhibits were bare with little explanations. Both K and me think that Sturbridge Village which is a similar outdoor museum of 18th century American life in Boston is much better. At least, we managed to spend 3 hours there as compared to barely1 hr at Plimoth. No wonder, my friend, H felt that she was being ripped off when her family and her visited the place in May.

Taking a family portrait while waiting for the orientation film to begin.

Ry taking a walk while the sky turned clear for a short time.

The native Wampanoags who speak from a modern perspective, explaining their lifes to us.

Ry and daddy posing with the 17th century farming tool.

Fortunately, we had a wet weather plan. After a quick lunch, we decided to drive to Imagination Island, which is an indoor playhouse fitted with giant blown up structures for kids to bounce about and many different toys and themes for role-playing. Although we paid 11 bucks for Ry to enter, we actually spent a good whole 2 hrs there where Ry totally enjoyed himself and refused to leave after that. Too bad that I have no photos to show as the batteries in my camera went flat - my fault not to recharge the batteries beforehand. Following that was grocery shopping at Walmart opposite the playhouse.

Speaking about this, I must say the libraries here have a wonderful system to promote library awareness and family bonding. The libraries provide activities like toddler sing a long, baby lapsit and book reading to older kids. Also, members can reserve and sign out a museum pass once a month. Some of these passes allow a family to visit the museums for free like those for Children Museum and the zoo and some would offer a very good discount like the one I sign out for Plimoth. So one of our weekend activities for our time here is to go museum visiting once a month on these library passes.

After experiencing these benefits, I begin to wonder why S'pore libraries do not offer such services to their members to promote family bonding and also maybe greater art appreciation and more reading awareness. I see that Ry is getting very comfortable with books since I have been bringing him to the library every Mon morning before the toddler sing-a-long. Also, I realised that the museums here attract greater local visitorship and most locals I speak to can tell me about the special attractions in the different museums, unlike most Singaporeans, who hardly know about their museums. To increase greater art and culture appreciation, better English and stronger family bonding (maybe more babies), maybe the libraries at home should provide such services.

Not forgetting that Sunday was also the 15th of the lunar month - the Mooncake festival. Although we did not have any mooncakes and also no full moon to view due to the bad weather, we actually did a mini celebration with Ry. We brought out the Spongebob lantern, courtesy of my brother's fiance, C for Ry to carry around in the house as we dimmed the lights.