Introduction
Though physically small,
Singapore is an economic giant. It has been Southeast Asia's most modern city
for over a century. The city blends Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian and English
cultures and religions. Its unique ethnic tapestry affords visitors a wide
array of sightseeing and culinary opportunities from which to choose. A full
calendar of traditional festivals and holidays celebrated throughout the year
adds to its cultural appeal. In addition, Singapore offers luxury hotels,
delectable cuisine and great shopping! The island nation of the Republic of
Singapore lies one degree north of the Equator in Southern Asia. The country
includes the island of Singapore and 58 or so smaller islands. Because of its
efficient and determined government, Singapore has become a flourishing country
that excels in trade and tourism and is a model to developing nations. The
capital city, also called Singapore, covers about a third of the area of the
main island.
Located at the tip of the Malay
Peninsula, Singapore's tropical climate welcomes both leisure and business
travelers year round. The island republic's excellent infrastructure enables
visitors to enjoy its many sites and attractions in a safe, clean and green
environment. Award winning Changi Airport provides airlinks to major cities
around the world. The train and subway systems are clean, fast and efficient.
In addition, its state-of-the-art cruise terminal has established Singapore as
one of the premier cruising centers of South East Asia and an exciting port of
call on any Asian cruise itinerary.
In the city, there is no need
for a car. Public transportation is excellent and walking is a good way to
explore the city . All major attractions are also accessible by tour bus. Since
the city is only 60 miles (100k) from the equator, the tropical temperatures do
not vary much. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed through the year. No
matter when you choose to visit, warm weather will be abundantly available. The
visitor is struck immediately by Singapore's abundance of parks, nature
reserves, and lush, tropical greenery.
Singapore's progress over the
past three decades has been remarkable, yet the island has not been overwhelmed
by development. Visitors will discover a wealth of historical treasures from
the past, in the beauty of older buildings, values and traditions that have
survived in the face of profound social and geographical change.
Lacking any noteworthy natural
resources, Singapore's early prosperity was based on a vigorous free trade
policy, put in place in 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles first established it as
a British trading post. Later, mass industrialization bolstered the economy,
and today the state boasts the world's second busiest port after Rotterdam,
minimal unemployment, and a super efficient infrastructure. Almost the entire
population lives in upscale new apartments, and the average per capita income
is over US$12,000. Singapore is a clean, safe place to visit, its amenities are
second to none and its public places are smoke-free and hygienic.
Forming the core of downtown
Singapore is the Colonial District. Each surrounding enclave has its own
distinct flavor, from the aromatic spice stores of Little India, to the
tumbledown backstreets of Chinatown, where it is still possible to find
calligraphers and fortune tellers, or the Arab Quarter, whose cluttered stores
sell fine cloths and silks.
North of the city, are two
nature preserves, Bukit Timah and the Central Catchment Area, along with the
splendid Singapore Zoological Gardens. The east coast features good seafood
restaurants set on long stretches of sandy beach. In addition there are over
fifty islands and islets within Singaporean waters, all of which can be reached
with varying degrees of ease. Day trips are popular to Sentosa, the island
amusement arcade which is linked to the south coast by a short causeway and
cable car. Music, theater, nightlife: all are abundant in this remarkable city.
Singapore used to be considered a "stop over" on the way to larger
Asian cities. This is no longer true! Visitors seek out Singapore for business
and finance and also for a fascinating and satisfying vacation for the whole
family.
Singapore is both an island and
a country, but perhaps its best description is that of city-state. Like the
great city-states of the past, it offers civilization and order in the highest
degree. Its combination of Western-style development and Eastern-style calm
seems to present the best of both hemispheres: It's a modern metropolis where
you feel safe walking the streets, and it's an Asian business center that's a
model of efficiency. Singapore is also a multicultural city, and close to
one-quarter of its population are expatriates or foreign workers from all over
the world. Known for its desire to become the technology hub of Asia, Singapore
is the most wired country in the region.
Singapore shares another trait
with historical city-states: Its authorities strongly believe that they can
safeguard the status quo with regulations against almost anything and
everything that - in their view - could possibly upset the sense of tranquility.
In reality, visitors will find the place is not as restrictive as the long
lists of hefty fines for such things as littering and jaywalking suggest. Some
visitors to Singapore leave singing the praises of a society that
"works," while others feel the government's near-compulsive fixation
on cleanliness and order makes Singapore sterile in every sense of the word.
No comments:
Post a Comment