Exploring Ghibli

I went to the Ghibli Museum today at the Singapore ArtScience Museum, and honestly, the decorations were pretty decent! But wow, the crowd was something else. I get it—it's impossible to stop people from coming to events like this, but sometimes I wish I had the power to freeze time. Imagine sneaking into the museum when it’s completely empty: I’d take all the photos I want, soak in the magical atmosphere, and just enjoy it at my own pace.

But nope, the reality is that there’s always someone right behind you, so you’ve got to keep moving. That’s just Singaporean culture—being in a rush. And since Singapore is small, whenever there’s something fun going on, everyone flocks to it. Unfortunately, my ticket was during peak hours (thank you, work life), so it was extra crowded. Even snapping a photo with one of the iconic Ghibli scenes meant standing in a queue for at least 45 minutes. Like, really?!

I know what people would say: “I paid $39 SGD for the ticket, so of course, I’ve got to make it worth it!” But honestly? I just couldn’t bring myself to wait that long for a picture in the same pose as everyone else. Sorry, but that’s a bit too mainstream for me. You can call me lame if you want, but I’ll stick to my unconventional ways, thank you very much.

One thing that really disappointed me was the lack of attention given to my favorite Ghibli movie, Whisper of the Heart. At the entrance, there was a brief introduction, and I got my hopes up, but throughout the entire exhibition—nothing! It’s so sad that they focused only on the super-famous ones. I get it, popularity sells, but honestly, some of those “famous” ones don’t even have much depth to their stories (in my opinion, at least).

Whisper of the Heart

Like, there are a few Ghibli movies where I’ve finished watching and thought, What on earth was that supposed to mean?! I’ve even rewatched some of them—once as a kid and again as an adult with (supposedly) more sophisticated storytelling instincts—but nope, still nothing. Even after Googling online interpretations, I’m left scratching my head like, Wait, people actually got that from the movie?! It just doesn’t click for me.

But Whisper of the Heart? Now that’s a movie with heart and meaning. I wish they had showcased it more. It deserves so much better than just a passing mention at the entrance! 

It’s been raining non-stop in Singapore these past few days. Luckily, when I went out earlier, the rain stopped for a few hours, which was such a relief. But now, as I’m typing this, the rain is back, and it just keeps getting heavier. It’s like the rain has no plans to stop anytime soon.

I have mixed feelings about rainy days. If I’m at home, I love it—it’s cozy and relaxing to listen to the rain. But if I have to go out, it’s a completely different story. I can’t stand getting my clothes wet, and wet shoes are the worst.

I really hope the rain stops tomorrow morning. I need to walk to work, and the thought of my shoes getting soaked is something I’d rather avoid.

Money, pls come to mama!