SINGAPORE
GEOGRAPHY
The Republic of Singapore consists of the main island of Singapore, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula between the Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore has a total land area of 699 km² and 193 km of coastline. It is separated from Indonesia by the Singapore Strait and from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor.
Singapore consists of 63 islands, other islands. There are two man-made connections to Johor, Malaysia — Johor-Singapore Causeway in the north, and Tuas Second Link in the west. Jurong Island, Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa are the largest of Singapore's many smaller islands. The highest natural point of Singapore is Bukit Timah Hill at 166 m.
About 23% of Singapore's land area consists of forest and nature reserves. Urbanization has eliminated many areas of former primary rainforest, with the only remaining area of primary rainforest being Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. A variety of parks are maintained with human intervention, such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
LOCATION
The Republic of Singapore lies approximately 137km north of the equator off the southernmost tip of Peninsular Malaysia, separated from it by the Straits of Johor and from the Indonesian archipelago in the south by the Straits of Singapore. Its territory consists of the island of Singapore and 58 islets.
CAPITAL
Capital of Singapore is Singapore. Singapore is a parliamentary republic, and the Constitution of Singapore establishes representative democracy as the nation's political system.
LANGUAGE
The country has four official languages, English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. Malay is the national language while English is the working language. English serves as the link between the different ethnic groups and is the language of the educational system and the administration. The colloquial English used in everyday lives is often referred to as Singlish. The use of other Chinese dialects, like Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hainanese and Hakka, has been declining over the last two decades. About 60% of Singapore's Indian population speaks Tamil as their native language. Other Indian languages are Malayalam and Hindi.
DEMOGRAPHY
Singapore has a population of 4.84 million, as estimated by the last census in 2008 and is the second most densely populated independent country in the world. Singapore is a multiracial country with a majority population of Chinese, with substantial Malay and Indian minorities.
ECONOMY
A tiny island with a smart government takes the maximum advantage of the country's position as a trading crossroads to establish Singapore as the world's largest port and a major manufacturing center. Its status as a hub also made it an ideal location for petroleum and petrochemical refining, drilling rig manufacture, and ship building and repair. Singapore has 11 refineries and in terms of capacity is the world's third-largest petroleum refiner.
As a result of this dynamic success, Singapore has one of the highest living standards and home ownership levels in the world. It guarantees its citizens decent housing, health care, high standards of education and superannuation.
Manufacturing, for so long the engine room of Singapore's success, is in decline, due in large part to the rapid growth of China and India. Tourism numbers are also lagging behind other major Asian destinations. The government is now trying to remodel the economy and build up sectors like biomedical engineering and multimedia to ensure the country's future. Massive investments in tourism are also in the pipeline.
Singapore attracts huge investment in hospitality industry, especially in the hotel business. However, knowledge based industries are also its main forte. Tourists flock the hotels in Singapore, shopping centers in Singapore as well as sophisticated beaches of Singapore for fun and recreation. Singapore tourism has witnessed steady growth over the years owing to efficient economic management and judicious allocation of government funds and private capital.
CURRENCY
The unit of currency is the Singapore dollar, locally referred to as the 'Singdollar', which is made up of 100 cents. Singapore uses 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢ and $1 coins, while notes come in denominations of $2, $5, $10, $50, $100, $500 and $1000.
CLIMATE
Being close to equator, Singapore's climate is classified as equatorial, with no true distinct seasons. Owing to its geographical location and maritime exposure, its climate is characterized by uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity and abundant rainfall. The average annual rainfall is around 2,370 mm (93 in. The temperature hovers around a diurnal range of a minimum 23 °C and a maximum of 34 °C. June is the hottest month of the year in Singapore, followed by May. This is due to light winds and strong sunshine during those months. June-August is considered to be the best time to visit, but even then it rains often.
Generally, there is much more rainfall on the western side of the island than on the eastern portion of Singapore, owing to a rain shadow effect. Thus, the eastern side of Singapore is much drier and slightly hotter than western Singapore.
Further contrasts that prevent true all-year uniformity are the monsoon seasons which happen twice each year. The first one is the Northeast Monsoon which occurs from December to early March. The second is the Southeast Monsoon season which occurs from June to September.
For those who enjoy the sun and the beach, Singapore is an ideal place for beach lovers, as you get the hot sun throughout the year. So when you're in Singapore, just bring along your cooling apparels and hats.
FOOD
Singapore is well loved for its range of ethnic food available. There are Chinese, Indian to French, Italian to Malay food. It is no surprise that the island has a reputation as the food capital of Asia for its huge variety of superb restaurants. Although the cuisine of virtually every country is on display, the best way to get a taste of real Singapore is from a hawker stall. Official public health controls in Singapore are very strictly enforced; ensuring that food in a restaurant or from a stall is of the highest standard. It may be a small country but the choice of food available is always an eye opener for first timers to Singapore. Ban mian, Curry chicken noodles, Oyster omelette, Indian rojak, Tandoori, Thosai, Mee goring, Curry puff, Chili crab, are some of the delicacies which one should not miss.
TRAVEL DETAILS
A country with a fusion of the traditional and the modern, Singapore's dynamics is unique and incomparable. A melting pot of cultures, Singapore's population includes Malays, Chinese, Indians, Filipinos, Thai and ethnic groups. The different ethnic quarters in Singapore like Little India, Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Geylang Serai further display the variety and assortment of cultures and ethnicity in Singapore.
Singapore is a magnificent land of innumerous skyscrapers, state-of-the-art architecture, delicious cuisine, breathtaking locations, many museums, temples and above all extremely warm and amiable people.
HOW TO REACH
By Air
Getting to Singapore is smooth and hassle free by air .There is many airlines which are operating flights to Singapore. Singapore Changi Airport is a place where East meets west. These terminals are connected by Sky train monorail. The major airlines are: Air France, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Bangkok Airways,British Airways, Cathy Pacific, China Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Quantas, SAS Airlines, Thai Airways and United Airlines. The airports are well managed and are connected to the downtown by various means of communication.
By Train
Malaysia Railways runs three intercity trains between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and an overnight train, Express Timuran, running between Singapore and Tumpat. The trains arrive and depart on Singapore Train Station. E and O Services operate Orient Express between Chiang Mai and Singapore via Bangkok. Therefore trains in Singapore are very much helpful in getting to Singapore.
By Bus
Buses run between Singapore and Malaysia and Singapore and Thailand. The stations are: Ban San Terminal at Arab and Queen Streets, Lanender Street Terminal off Kalang Bahru, and the Golden Mile Complex at Beach Road. Traveling by bus between these countries is rather cheap than any other conveyance. More than 25 routes are there for bus transportation. The major routes are: Singapore-Johar Express), Singapore-Malacca Express and Singapore-Kuala Lumpur Express
By Car
The Woodland causeway is spread across the Straits of Johor linking Singapore with Johor Bahru, Malaysia. This crossing is popularly known as Second Crossing. While crossing this causeway tolls should be paid and Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and ERP card should be presented. Thus car is one of the most convenient means for getting to Singapore.
By Water
This is one of the most wonderful ways to reach Singapore. The beauty of island can be very well appreciated once you get in one of the cruise ships. The main passenger port in Singapore is Singapore Cruise Center. More than ten lines are docking in Asia Pacific around the year. Apart from cruise ships ferries are also be taken to reach Singapore. There are many ferries departing from Cruise Center for ports in Kukup, Tionman and Sebona,Malaysia. Ferries are departing daily from the terminal at Tanah Merah to the Indonesian resort islands of Bintan and Batam in the Riau Archipelago.
WHEN TO VISIT
The climate here being equatorial is almost unpredictable. It is characterized by heat and humidity throughout the year. So climate is not a deciding factor to visit this place. Festivals and local sightseeing is what attracts the tourists most. One of the most spectacular is Chinese New Year, when shops and houses are brilliantly decorated with streamers and lights, and lion and dragon dances are accompanied by a riot of drums and gongs. This is followed by the Chingay Procession a week or so later, with floats (chingay) accompanying the dances, to mark the end of the New Year Festival. In June there is the Dragon Boat Race, famous (and emulated) throughout the world, attracting top international teams of longboat oarsmen and drummers, plus the biennial Singapore Festival of the Arts, the biggest in South-East Asia, attracting international performers both to the festival and to its contemporary 'fringe' counterpart. Other festivals like Good Friday, Labor Day, National Day, Deepavali and a lot more are ideal time to visit Singapore.
PLACES TO VISIT
Night Safari
When in Singapore, don’t miss the award winning Night Safari. First of its kind in the world, this nocturnal zoo has received a number of awards such as the top ten best family attractions, the best leisure attraction in Singapore and more. It encompasses a total area of forty acres with 120 species and a total number of 1040 animals, out of which 29% are endangered species.
This open air zoo, which is open only at night, is set in a humid tropical forest and is divided into 8 zones which can be surveyed on foot or by taking trails and trams. There are a number of itineraries which include creatures of the night show shown by Leopard trails and tram journeys. Cultural performances are a regular feature at the safari, and include tribal dances, blowpipe demonstrations and fire eating displays. Creatures of the Night Show are a performance presented by the animals in the Night Safari.
The various attractions in the park include Fishing Cat Trail, Forest Giant’s Trail, and Himalayan Foothills, Nepalese River Valley, Giant Flying Squirrels, Bat Mangrove Walk and more. Be greeted by extraordinary sights of the cape giraffe, bongo, blue sheep, striped hyena, golden jackal and the rare greater one-horned rhino. Whatever you do, this is going to be one wildlife experience that you would unlikely to forget!
There are a number of food and beverage outlets in the Night Safari which include Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant, Bongo Burgers, and Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop. Visitors can also experience dining on the move with the Cocktail Safari Express and Gourmet Safari Express
Sentosa Island
One place you cannot afford to miss visiting is the Sentosa Island. Sentosa is Singapore's premier island resort getaway with multi-faceted appeal, teeming with events all year round. A canopy of secondary rainforest covers 70 per cent of the 500-hectare island and is home to monitor lizards, monkeys, peacocks, parrots as well as other native fauna and flora. Accessed by cable car, bus, taxi or car, the island is open for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Once you step afoot the island, you can find your own slice of paradise among the many exciting attractions - history and culture come alive, entertainment by day and night, lush green surroundings to explore, manicured gardens, dancing fountains and two challenging international 18-hole golf courses with scenic undulating views. There is no end to the excitement on this island. To name a few major things one shouldn’t miss are:
Songs of the Sea
Get ready to fall under the spell of a new nightly extravaganza set in the sea. "Songs of the Sea", an awesome show is staged by the sea. With creative choreography of colorful lights and lasers, visitors will be in awe of the fiery flames, powerful geysers and mist effects coupled with sound. Meet the singing and dancing octopus and jellyfish and the beautiful Princess Pearl who will cast her spell on you with her siren song. Thanks to amazing special effects - a combination of state-of-the-art lasers and computer graphics, water jets and fiery flames - your Magical Sentosa experience will be quite unforgettable. It is the world’s only permanent show set in the sea - boasting spectacular pyrotechnics displays, a live cast and an open-air viewing gallery which can comfortably accommodate 2,500 visitors.
Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon
Underwater World is an oceanarium located on the western part of Sentosa. The living museum has more than 2,500 marine and fresh-water animals of 250 species from different regions of the world. The oceanarium is underground and has an 83 meter long travelator that moves visitors along a submerged glass-windowed tunnel from which they can look at an array of marine life including a coral reef, stringrays, moray eels, turtles, sharks, and other fishes. In the 'Dive-with-the-Sharks' program visitors can scuba dive in the large oceanarium, even if they are not qualified scuba divers?
The main attraction is DUGONG, sea cow that entertains visitors with its acrobatic movements. You may observe them through a series of interactive, feeding and training sessions specially designed to demonstrate their natural abilities of tail-walking synchronization.
The Dolphin Lagoon is a home to some Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, also known as the pink dolphins. Several "Meet-the-Dolphins" sessions are held daily to allow visitors to enter the waist-deep pool and interact with the dolphins at close proximity. A more involved "Swim-with-the-Dolphins' program, where visitors can interact extensively with the dolphins, is also available.
Tiger Sky Tower
The Tiger Sky Tower is free-standing observation tower on Sentosa. At a height of 110 meters above ground and 131 meters above sea level, it offers visitors a panoramic view of Sentosa, Singapore, and the Southern Islands. At ground level, visitors enter a large disc-shaped air-conditioned cabin fitted with glass windows all round. The cabin then revolves slowly as it ascends the column of the tower. The cabin has a capacity of 72 visitors.
Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom
The Butterfly Park is a landscape garden with over 15,000 live butterflies, representing more than fifty species. Housed in a cool outdoor conservatory, these butterflies range from the 25 mm in size to the 150 mm. The Insect Kingdom houses some 3,000 species of rare insects from around the world, including a 160 mm Dynastes Hercules beetle.
Sentosa 4D Magix
The Sentosa 4D Magix is Singapore's first and Southeast Asia's original 4-dimensional theatre. The theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art Digital Projection and DTS 6.1 sound system. The highlight of the theatre is the special seats. Each seat is equipped with special effects: in-built speakers, seat vibration, leg ticklers, water features and base shaker features. The fully-automated show lasts just 15 minutes.
Merlion
The Merlion statue recalls the story of the legendary Sang Nila Utama, who saw a lion in Singapore while hunting. The 37 metre (12 storey) high statue can be entered through the ground floor, and one can take the lift up to 12th floor to view the city state. It is the tallest Merlion in the whole Singapore.
Mount Faber Cable Car to Sentosa
Mount Faber Cable Car to Sentosa is simply superb. This cable car is the link from Mount Faber to the island of Sentosa. The cost of a round-trip cricket is SGD 18.90. It is a splendid cable car ride to Sentosa. Sentosa is a paradise and its view through the cable car is special. Enjoy the breeze in the cable car and look at the heavenly abode below. Mount Faber of Singapore provides the ideal view of Singapore. The car provides a complete ride of the Sentosa Island.
Beaches
Apart from the amusing things to do, Sentosa has a stretch of sheltered beach of more than two kilometers in length on its southern coast, divided into three portions: Palawan Beach, Siloso Beach, and Tanjong Beach. These beaches are artificial, reclaimed using sand bought from Indonesia and Malaysia. Many places of the beaches are used to play volleyball and other outdoor activities such as canoeing, skim boarding, mountain biking or rollerblading.
Merlion Park
The Merlion Statue is a symbol of Singapore depicting a half lion and half fish creature. Its name combines "mer" meaning the sea and "lion". The unique structure of the Merlion with the lion head and the body of a fish resting on a rest of waves is Singapore's icon for the world. The Merlion statue faces the east which is an auspicious Feng Shui There are 5 official Merlion statues in Singapore namely at the tourism court in Tanglin, two are at Merlion Park, one is at Mount Faber and the one at Sentosa is a taller replica of the original one.
Merilon Park is one of the main attractions of Singapore among the parks category. The area also comprises a promontory with terraced seating, and a viewing deck to hold up to 300 people as well as a boat landing point that allows visitors to disembark from river taxis. The viewing deck provides photographers with unrivalled vistas of the Merlion against the city skyline and the scenic Marina Bay, including landmarks such as The Fullerton Singapore and Esplanade Theatres on the Bay.
One can get beautiful views of Singapore’s colonial district when strolling in Merlion Park. There is a souvenir shop within its precincts that sells Merlion T shirts as well as other gift items. Travour welcomes you to the booming tourist attraction island of South East Asia, the irrepressibly exciting and pulsating island nation of Singapore!
Orchard road
Tourist attractions of Singapore are diverse. Orchard Road draws out at about 2.5 km and it is well known for the largest numbers of shopping malls and areas. Tourists visit this place as wide varieties of shops where all kinds of goods starting from clothes to household items to accessories are available in a wide range. Business flourished but the kind of trade changed as advanced shopping malls and departmental stores replaced the fruit orchards. The glittering advanced shopping malls give the place a new tinge. The road is elaborately decorated and lit up each year for Christmas.
Ngee Ann City is the largest shopping mall on the road and there are several malls and shops here including the Plaza Singapura with a Cineplex, the Wisma Atria which has an aquarium and a food court, the Paragon which is a high end shopping mall, the Hilton Singapore with a number of boutiques and more. There are also several museums, restaurants and eateries situated on the street.
China Town
Singapore's Chinatown evolved around 1821 when the first Chinese junk arrived from Xiamen, Fujian province in China. The passengers, all men, set up home around the south of the Singapore River which is known today as Telok Ayer.
Chinatown is full of contrasts and fascinating details. A place where the historic buildings have been lovingly conserved, where century-old beliefs are still practiced, and, in a manner true to the New Asia -Singapore spirit, where fashionable new ideas have taken root. During Chinese New Year, the whole of Chinatown is lit up and buzzes with activity as stalls sell a variety of festive goods.
South, across the river, the monolithic towers of the Financial District cast long shadows over Chinatown, whose row of shop-houses stretches for around one kilometer, as far as Cantonment Road. Singapore's World Trade Centre is a fifteen-minute walk southwest of the outskirts of Chinatown, and from there cable cars run across to Sentosa.
Chinatown draws tourists for shopping and eating. Antique shops abound, specializing in everything from large furniture and decorative pieces to small jewelry, porcelain and jade. Haggling, bargaining, whatever you call it, is the rule of the day with shopkeepers.
In Chinatown alone, there are many places of interest, including mosques, temples, markets, parks, and shop houses. Here you will find the Chinatown Heritage Center which is located in Pagoda Street. This is a museum where you will learn all about the history of Chinatown and also how the early Chinese immigrants live in hard lives. The Thian Hock Keng Temple is Singapore’s oldest Hokkien temple. It is wonderfully decorated. Sri Mariamman Temple is Hindu and the city’s oldest. The entrance tower is colorful and covered with deities and floral designs. The peaceful co-existence of the different places of worship in the same area, even until today, reflects the racial and religious harmony in Singapore.
For an authentic taste of Chinese culture, try visiting a teahouse and the Thong Chai Medical Institute, then take a peek into a typical middle-class Chinese home in the 1920s at the Chinaman Scholar's Gallery. Don't forget to stop by Food Street for an alfresco meal and the various Chinese pastry shops for home-made tarts and cakes and try the famous dim sum.
Little India
It represents the vibrant and colorful Indian culture and community in Singapore. There are several small shops selling clothes, gifts items, temple garlands, jewelry and even spices. The main places of attraction in the Little India of Singapore includes the Serangoon Road one may find the Tekka Center, the Tekka Mall, the Little India Arcade, Serangoon Plaza and the Mustaffa Center. Mustafa Centre is the most popular shopping place in this area.
The other attractions include the temples, mosques, Sikh temples and churches. In the little India of Singapore it would be a time to enjoy the ethnic cuisine, as there are many restaurants that cater Indian cuisine. One can also witness the application of henna on the palms and the feet of the ladies, the Ayurveda the traditional Indian medicine and the venders weaving flowers into garlands.
Singapore is in fact one of the most enjoyable cities in Southeast Asia. As you zoom in from one of the world's best airports along the lushly tree-shaded expressway or on the zippy MRT train line, and as you stroll through the fashion emporiums of Orchard Rd, poke around antique shops in Chinatown or take a walk around one of the dozens of beautiful city parks you will enjoy every moment of the trip.
Click to Hide