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Singapore Travel Guide
 Singapore is at the crossroads
of Asia . It is a vibrant metropolis where close
to 3 million Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians
live and work side-by-side. This colourful mix of
cultures, spiced with Western influences, creates
a wonderful blend. The uniqueness of each culture
is celebrated here in its own special way. No matter
what their ethnic background, each citizen calls
themselves a Singaporean.
A traveller's first and last encounter
with Singapore usually leaves a good impression. On
arrival you are exposed to Singapore's clean, efficient, world-class
atmosphere . Within ten minutes of landing one
realizes that everything looks new. Yet, the true character
of this city is somehow lost in massive shopping malls
and high rises, world-record setting fountains, and
numerous theme parks. This is the side that most people
see: a shopper's paradise , a pleasant business
trip, a "safe" destination for first-time visitors
to Asia.
In truth, Singapore is at its most
remarkable in its little alleyways and colourful
shops in Chinatown ; its incense-filled temples
and noisy street operas of Little India. The whole
place is a colourful, living, breathing, hum of intriguing
activity. Equally fascinating are the lavishly decorated
Indian temples and the mosques and textile shops along
Arab Street. The old colonial-style buildings in
the heart of town impart a charm that the newer structures
lack. Each historic district has its own story, its
own magic to discover as one walks along their back
streets.
 Another way to discover Singapore is to sample its
many flavours. The Asian passion for food finds new
expression here, with restaurants lining almost every
street. The influx of foreigners, both tourists and
the growing expatriate community , has brought
even more international cuisines. New European, Middle
Eastern, and even fusion cuisines are now being represented.
The hi-tech, user-friendly Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
system makes getting around and doing business simple,
safe 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. |
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Climate
Located just 1 degree north of the equator ,
Singapore enjoys a warm tropical weather that is relatively
calm and consistent throughout the year. The average
daily temperature is 26.7 ?C. Relative humidity often
exceeds 90 percent at night and in the early hours of
the morning shortly before sunrise. Rainfall is most
abundant during the Northeast Monsoon season from November
to January. Much of the rain falls in sudden showers.
February is usually the sunniest month while December
is often the wettest. However, July and August are the
hottest months when average temperatures are at their
peak. |
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History
Singapore was first mentioned in a 3rd Century Chinese
account , which described it as Pu-luo-chung or
island at the end of the peninsula. In the 7th Century,
a Malayan Buddhist Empire was established on the island
of Sumatra.
 Temasek (Sea Town), as Singapore was then known, was
a prosperous trading outpost of this empire.
However, it is said that in the 13th Century, a member
of the Royal family, Sang Nila Utama, was searching for
a site to build a new city. Arriving at the sandy
shores of the island, he mistook a tiger for a lion.
Taking this as a good omen, he decided to build his new
city here, naming it Singapura, the Sanskrit words for
Lion City. Singapore's modern name was thus born.
Singapore remained an obscure fishing village under
the possession of the Sultanate until a fateful day in
January 1819. Sir Stamford Raffles , an official
of the British East India Company, had combed the Straits
of Malacca for a small trading station to counter the
Dutch influence in the area. The tiny fishing village
of Singapore was perfect because it was at the crossroads
of the East and West .
He signed an agreement with the Sultan of Johor, giving
the British the right to establish a trading port on
the island and to proclaim it a free port. It was against
this political backdrop that Sir Stamford Raffles established
Singapore as a trading station. The policy of free trade
attracted merchants from all over Asia and from as far
away as the United States and the Middle East.
 The main trade items were tea and silk from China ,
timber from Malaya and spices from Indonesia. The colony
also imported opium and fabrics from India, as well as
English-manufactured goods from Britain. By 1824, just
five years after the founding of modern Singapore, the
population had grown from a mere 150 to 10,000.
During World War II in 1942, the security was
rudely shattered when the Japanese invaded North Malaya
and advanced towards Singapore. The British administration
in Singapore surrendered on February 8, 1942. Under the
Japanese ruling, Singapore was renamed Syonan (light
of the South), and commerce plummeted.
After the war, in August 1945, Singapore became a Crown
Colony. In 1959, however, full elections were held and
self-government under a new constitution was granted
in Singapore. It joined Malaysia to become one country
in September 1963 but differences between the leaders
became serious enough for a separation. Singapore became
an independent nation on August 9, 1965. It
has since enjoyed one of the highest standards of living
in all of Asia, second only to Japan. |
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