SINGAPORE – A MAN-MADE MARVEL
Singapore is a city-state in Southeast Asia. Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, since independence it has become one of the world's most prosperous countries and boasts the world's busiest port. Combining the skyscrapers and subways of a modern, affluent city with a medley of Chinese, Malay and Indian influences and a tropical climate, with tasty food, good shopping and vibrant night-life scene, this Garden City makes a great stopover or springboard into the region. Singapore is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world for a lot of reasons. One of which is the less stringent entry requirements.
THE LION CITY
According to legend, Srivijayan prince Sang Nila Utama landed on the island and, catching sight of a strange creature that he thought was a lion, decided to found a new city he called Singapura, Sanskrit for Lion City. Singapore prides itself on being a multi-racial country, and has a diverse culture despite its small size. The largest group are the Chinese, who form about 75% of the population. Amongst the Chinese, Southern Min/Min Nan (Hokkien-Taiwanese) and Cantonese speakers are the largest subgroups, with Mandarin acting as the lingua franca of the community. Indians form about 9% of the population. Among the Indians, Tamils form the largest group by far, though there are also a significant numbers of speakers of other Indian languages such as Hindi, Malayalam and Punjabi.
IMPECCABLE CULINARY DELIGHTS
Singapore is a melting pot of cuisines from around the world, and many Singaporeans are obsessive gourmands who love to makan ("eat" in Malay). You will find quality Chinese, Malay, Indian, Japanese, Thai, Italian, French, American and other food in this city-state. Chilli crab is a whole crab ladled with oodles of sticky, tangy chilli sauce. It's spicy at first, but the more you eat, the better it gets. Kaya is a jam-like spread made from egg and coconut, an odd-sounding but tasty combination. Served on toast for breakfast, canonically accompanied by runny eggs and strong, sweet coffee (kopi). Popiah, or spring rolls, come fresh or fried. They consist of a filling of boiled turnip, fried tofu, pork, shrimp with a slew of condiments, wrapped in a thin crepe smeared with sweet dark soy sauce and eaten like a fajita.
YOUR SINGAPORE BUCKET LIST
- Gardens by the Bay – Crowned the World Building of the Year in 2012, it is a network beautifully lit artificial trees.
- Singapore Flyer – It is the biggest merry-go-round in the world, which offers breathtaking views of the skyline of Singapore.
- Universal Studios – Hollywood themed amusement park with creative movie inspired zones and amazing roller coasters.
- Sentosa – This Island’s main attractions are the theme parks, golf courses, and fabulous beaches.
- China Town – Excellent corner for shopping crafty souvenirs and antiques in shoe-string prices.
- Night Safari – The night safari inside Singapore’s Zoo lets you meet the exotic wild animals brought in from all around the globe.
DO YOU KNOW?
A pair of soft drinks were sold in Singapore called Anything and Whatever. While each offered six flavors, the cans were identical, so you didn't know what flavor you were going to get. There is also a hug-me Coca Cola Machine in Singapore that dispenses out a free can of Coke every time you hug it.
NEAREST CHECK-IN POINTS
- Nearest Airport – Changi Airport.
