HEY, SINGAPORE!

The Merlion can be heard singing the blues in a deep baritone these days. Blinking its beady blue eyes, the hybrid creature laments its fate as Singapore's national icon. "I'm so famous abroad / But here I'm ignored," raps the confused beast. This Merlion doesn't stand still near the Singapore River but comes alive in a five-minute video at the Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC), which has reopened after almost two years of redevelopment.

This thread of irreverent fun - plus a highly hands-on slant on Singapore's past, present and future - runs through the centre's latest games and exhibits.

Keeping with the times

When the two-level SDC first opened in 1996, it functioned like a museum. Its upper floor was based on key milestones in Singapore's history; military-related exhibits dominated its lower level.

To stay fresh and relevant to its regular visitors, plans to revamp the centre began as early as 1998. They were realised with the generous support of the Singapore Totalisator Board, which funded its entire renovation.

The job of reshaping the centre fell on Ralph Appelbaum Associates, expert museum planners whose past clients include the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.

The centre now has five main galleries on eight different themes. They provide what COL (NS) Jordan Woo (left), SDC's General Manager, calls "a broad picture of the total Singapore story".

Some of its walls are printed with witty comments from visitors, who are welcome to offer their thoughts for display.

"Here, there's a greater sense of ownership," said COL (NS) Woo. "Guests don't come here just to see; they are also able to contribute."

It hopes to draw 300,000 people this year. About 30 per cent of its visitors are students, while tourists make up another 20 per cent.

What visitors say

Mdm Choy Kah Yen (right) visited the new SDC, which officially opened on 18 Jul and unveiled a new logo, and had one word for it - "impressive".

"Previously, it was difficult to move around the place," said the Jin Tai Primary School teacher. "Now it's very systematic. It's also more interactive because the children get to be involved and learn at the same time."

Nine-year-old Wesley Wong, a Greenridge Primary School pupil, liked what he saw and found the centre's exhibits "exciting and interesting".

Mrs Lenie Cho (left), Deputy Principal of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), felt it had "an excellent programme for National Education".

"It has all the elements of Total Defence," said Mrs Cho. "The messages are the same, but the approach is fresh. There's also an element of fun in the exhibits."

"I will certainly encourage every ACS student to visit the centre at least once. And the teachers, too."

The SDC is open from 9am to 6pm from Tuesdays to Sundays; it stays open till 8pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Mondays, except during school and public holidays. General admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children. Log on to www.sdc.com.sg for more information.

Best of the best
High-tech displays and interactive games distinguish the new SDC. Here are just four of its highlights:

- Build It
Create your own neighbourhood with building blocks and pull-out segments. But beware - land is scarce in Singapore.

- On Location Reporter
Ever wanted to be a broadcaster? See yourself on TV covering the first National Service call-up and other landmark events in Singapore's history.

- Crisis Simulation Theatre
Watch - and feel - the impact of a bomb blast in an MRT station, re-enacted here in a realistic five-minute video.

- Visionarium
Design your dream city in this multi-player console game. Inside a giant globe, up to 120 people can team up to make creative choices and see the results on the 360-degree wrap-around screen. The SDC's main attraction.