Lying almost on the equator, Singapore is
a thriving city-state that has overcome its dearth of
natural resources to become one of the juggernaut economies
of Asia. In the crowded streets of Chinatown, fortune
tellers, calligraphers and temple worshippers are still a
part of everyday life. In Little India, you can buy the best
sari material, freshly ground spices or a picture of your
favourite Hindu god. In the small shops of Arab Street, the
cry of the imam can be heard from the nearby Sultan Mosque.
Singapore may have traded in its rough-and-ready opium dens
and pearl luggers for towers of concrete and glass, and its
steamy rickshaw image for hi-tech wizardry, but you can
still recapture the colonial era with a gin sling under the
languorous ceiling fans at Raffles Hotel. It is this
carefully stage-managed combination of Western modernity and
treasured Eastern and colonial past that makes Singapore
such an accessible slice of Asia.
Singapore is known by many different names, all with a
certain fondness to their titles, such as "Surprising
Singapore", "Garden City", "Golden City" and even "Instant
Asia." All these descriptions fit and anyone who visits will
soon agree. With its truly international atmosphere, all in
just under 618 square km it has all the attractions a
visitor could wish to find.
It is a vibrant metropolis where close on
3 million Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians live and
work side-by-side. It has a thriving business and financial
centre, is the world's busiest port and its airport serves
more than 60 major airlines, including the country's own
international carrier, Singapore Airlines, daily.
Communications and transport, including its hi-tech Mass
Rapid Transit system and taxis make getting around and doing
business simple and convenient.
Singapore has an astonishing mix of old
ethnic areas, modern offices and shopping complexes. It has
over 70 world-class hotels, 18 lush golf courses, and a host
of tourist attractions. From classical symphonies to Chinese
operas, jazz to ballet, rock to Hollywood's latest hits,
Singapore offers unlimited entertainment.
There is so much to do whether you are a
sport enthusiast or interested in leisurely activities. Hire
a sailboard at the East Coast Parkway, or bike along the 8
km track. Swim at a sandy beach, feast on seafood at a
clutch of nearby restaurants, or try your hand at kite
flying. Catch a ferry to the outlying islands of St John's
and Kusu, where swimming lagoons and cool, shady groves
combine to make for a relaxing day out of the city. Drop
into the Bukit Timah Turf Club for a day of horse racing at
one of Asia's most beautiful courses, or watch a polo match
at the Singapore Polo Club. You can play a round of golf, or
brush up on your tennis at the hotel courts or nearby public
facilities. All in all Singapore offers a world of
attractions.
Singapore is an island of 646 sq. km, about the size of
Chicago. It is located at one of the crossroads of the
world. Singapore's strategic position has helped it grow
into a major center for trade, communications, and tourism.
Its geographical location is 96km north of the equator,
between longitude 103 degrees 36' East and 104 degrees 25'
East. Singapore is often touted as a concrete jungle with
close to 90% of the population living in flats and an
ever-changing skyline of monumental buildings. Government
and private enterprises also conduct an orchestra of
automation that makes Singapore one of the world's most
efficient societies. Yet Singapore has also been known as a
green city. There is a wealth of flora and fauna here that
is beyond our own imagination.
Two causeway bridges link Malaysia, which
is just north of Singapore. The key islands of the Riau
Archipelago of Indonesia are also just a quick ferry trip
away, whereas Thailand and the Philippines are a short plane
journey away. Singapore, with an airport served by more than
69 airlines, is very much the gateway to Southeast Asia
Singapore's climate is warm and humid,
with temperatures ranging from 23 degree Celsius to 31
degree Celsius. This makes it ideal for those who enjoy
sunbathing, swimming, sailing, and other water sports. For
those who do not enjoy the tropical climate, Singapore is
sheltered from the worst effects of the sun with
air-conditioning in almost all of its buildings, including
restaurants. Rain falls throughout the year with more
consistent rain during the monsoon season from November to
January. Showers are usually sudden and heavy, but brief and
refreshing.
Singapore is 8 hours ahead from GMT.
Economists describe Singapore as a modern miracle because it
has built its success on only one resource, its people.
Lacking natural resources, Singapore's strength is its
hardworking, adaptable, goal-oriented, and resilient
population. In fact, it is highly regarded by the Business
Environment Risk Intelligence as one of the best labor
forces in the world.
Singapore's population of approximately
3,612,000 (June 1996) comprises 77.3% Chinese, 14.1% Malays,
7.3% Indians, and 1.3% people of other descent. Singapore's
indigenous people were the Malays, but after the arrival of
Sir Stamford Raffles and the establishment of a British
trading post, Singapore became a magnet that drew thousands
of migrants and merchants. It still retains its special
multiracial quality acquired from its early days when Arabs,
Chinese, Europeans, Indians, and Straits-born Chinese (or
Peranakan) came to live side by side with the indigenous
Malays. Though inter-marriages have taken place over the
years, each racial group within Singapore has retained its
own cultural identity while developing as an integral part
of the Singapore community. It is a country where the three
main races (Chinese, Malay, and Indian) complement and
supplement each other.
There are four official languages in
Singapore: Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and English. The working
language is English and it is widely spoken and understood.
Most Singaporeans are bilingual, speaking both their mother
tongue and English.
With this mixture of people, Singapore is
also a mixture of religions. Its skyline boasts the
distinctive minarets of mosques, spires of gothic
cathedrals, intricate figurines of Hindu temples, and
distinctive roof architecture of Chinese temples. The main
religions are Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,
Sikhism, Judaism, and Zoroastrians.
Singapore is not just one island but a main island with over
60 surrounding islets. However, its compact size belies its
economic growth. In just 150 years, Singapore has grown into
a thriving center of commerce and industry. Its former role
as an entrepot has diminished, as the Republic increased its
manufacturing base.
Singapore is the busiest port in the world
with over 600 shipping lines sending super tankers,
container ships, and passenger liners to share the busy
waters with coastal fishing vessels and wooden lighters.
One of the world's major oil refining and
distribution centers, Singapore is also a major supplier of
electronic components and a leader in shipbuilding and
repairing. It has also become one of the most important
financial centers of Asia with more than 130 banks. Business
dealings are facilitated by Singapore's superb
communications network, which links the Republic to the rest
of the world via satellite, 24-hour telegraph, and telephone
systems. Singapore's strategic location, excellent
facilities, fascinating cultural contrasts, and tourist
attractions contribute to its success as a leading
destination for both business and pleasure.
Singapore lies just 1.29oC (145
km) north of the equator. As such the weather is tropical -
uniformly hot and sunny with intermittent showers year
round. Days are almost universally 12 hours long with
sunrise is around 7.00 am; sunset at 7.00 pm The daytime
temperature averages between 27oC to 32oC
( 80oF to 90oF ) however humidity is
quite high - a sticky 75% so often times it feels much
hotter.
Singapore doesn't seem to have the more
extreme tropical monsoons of its neighbors but you can
expect more rain in November, December and January. (Monsoon
refers to the wind, not the rain). However even during the
wettest December there's a better than even chance that it
will be sunny for a good part of the day. Weather wise May,
June and July are generally considered the best. As such
loose and light summer clothing (preferably natural fabrics)
is recommended, especially for outdoor activities like
bazaar shopping and sightseeing.
The currency unit is the Singapore dollar (S$).
Approximately S$1.80 = US$1.
Coins are in denominations of: 1, 5, 10,
20, 50 and 100 cents.
Notes are in denominations of: $1, $5,
$10, $20, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 and $10,000.
Brunei notes are interchangeable with
Singapore notes and are quite common.
Population: 2,700,000
Capital: Singapore
Flag: Two
equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white (bottom); on
the hoist side of the red band is a white crescent that is
partially surrounding a circle of five white, pointed stars.
Shop Hours:
Shop hours vary, although Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm
are the most common. Some department stores, Chinese
Emporiums, and stores that cater solely to tourists stay
open as late as 9pm seven days a week.
Bank Hours:
Generally10am to 3pm, Mondays to Fridays and 11am to 4:30pm,
Saturdays.
Holidays:
January 1 - New Year's Day
January 31 ~ February 1 - Lunar New Year
March 3 - Hari Raya Puasa
April 14 - Good Friday
May 1 - Labor Day
May 10 - Hari Raya Haji
August 9 - National Day
October 23 - Deepavali
December 25 - Christmas Day
Time: Singapore Standard Time is 8 hours ahead of
Greenwich Mean Time, 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard
Time, and 16 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time.
Tipping:
Tipping is not very common in Singapore. It is prohibited at
the airport and discouraged at hotels and restaurants, as
most have already added a 10% service charge to the bill.
Taxis: Taxis drivers do not get tipped.
A visa is not required for U.S., European and Australian
citizens for a stay of up to 14 days. All visitors are
required to have a valid passport and onward ticket.
BE FORWARNED, DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Duty - Free Items: Personal effects and food
preparations not exceeding $50 in value. Visitors over 18
and not coming from Malaysia are allowed to bring in
duty-free 1 liter of spirits, 1 liter of wine and 1 liter of
beer, also 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of
tobacco.
* Singapore.
Before Singapore assumed self-government in 1959 and became
a fully independent Republic in 1965, the island was a
British colony. Indeed, beneath the futuristic skyscrapers
which embody modern Singapore, much of the grand colonial
charm still remains, about which Joseph Conrad and Somerset
Maugham waxed lyrical. The heart of colonial Singapore
straddles the mouth of the Singapore River, where
Raffles first landed. A cluster of architectural
legacies such as the Parliament House, Victoria
Theatre. Boat Quay is arguably Singapore's best place to
'chill out'. With a good mix of high end restaurants and
alfresco dining and lively bars and pubs.
Travel guide
*
Chinatown.Just
behind the soaring skyscrapers of Singapore's financial
district lies Chinatown. Bound by Upper Pickering Street,
Cantonment Road, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road, this
crowded and colourful network of streets and alleyways has
changed little over the decades. Here, Chinese merchants
engage in business from the ground floor of quaint pre-war
shophouses much as they have for generations. Try the
Tanjong Pagar area for traditional teashops, clog and kite
makers, painted masks, waxed paper umbrellas, lacquerware
from China, handicrafts and artefacts from all over Asia.
Travel guide
* Kampong Glam
The little streets in this area form
the historical focal point of Muslim life in Singapore.
Nothing beats the surroundings for bazaar-style shopping
with true ethnic character. Here you can browse in
hole-in-the-wall shops, haggle to your heart's content and
come away with the most delightful purchases at bargain
prices. The most visible items for sale are
the baskets and other cane, straw, rattan and pandan leaf
goods spilling out onto the pavements.
Travel guide
* Little India.Today,
Little India is the focal point of Singapore's Indian
community. Its spice-scented streets beckon you to a
treasure trove of silverware, brassware, ethnic jewellery,
jasmine garlands and silk saris. During Deepavali, the
Indian Festival of Lights, Little India is transformed into
a fairyland of gaily decorated, brightly lit streets
bustling with shoppers. Don't miss the Little India Cultural
Corner (next to the food court in the Little India Arcade)
which transports you back in time through an archival
display.
Travel guide
