Singapore Travel Guide Information and Singapore Tourism Destination

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.

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.

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.