This South East Asian hub of Singapore, a former a British colonial outpost, is a highly developed techno savvy and relatively wealthy city state. Linked to the south of Malaysia peninsula by a causeway and bridge this country is primarily one island, with around 60 smaller islands clustered around it. With a population of around 4.8 million, this is a melting pot of religions and cultures with beliefs ranging from Taoism and Christianity. There are a range of cultures too with the population mainly made up of Chinese, Malays and Indians, although English is actually the first language of this multicultural nation.
Away from the sky scrappers one of the places to go and relax is Jurong Bird Park, it boasts 8000 birds made up of 600 different species. With 1.7km of trails this is the place to go if you want to peruse flamingos, penguins and pelicans. Singapore Zoo is another haven for animal lovers with 28 hectares and not a single cage in sight. If you’re looking for a quick induction to culture then the bustling Chinatown and Little India both house vibrant communities and are worth days of exploring for curious tourists. The Kampong Glam, Malay quarter, is also a dynamic community.
If you’re suffering from sunburn or want to cool down after a few days of humidity then Snow City, an indoor snow centre is the perfect place to get out of the heat, lob a few well aimed snowballs and rekindle your love of skiing and snowboarding. The Science Centre and Singapore Discovery Centre can keep you busy if you’re a museum junkie, and the Botanic Gardens or a bumboat ride in the Singapore River are the perfect escape from a tough day sightseeing in the city. If it is history that gets your pulse racing then the Battle Box, a network of bunkers winding under Fort Canning Hill and built during WWII, is the best place for you to spend an afternoon. Travel to Sentose by cable car to experience another aspect of this vibrant place. Whether you want to check out the fish at the aquarium or play on the waterslides in the waterpark, this is the perfect place to take the kids, or indeed the adults.
There are festivals here to cater for every taste, whether you are a shopper, in which case the Great Singapore Sale between May and July might be up your street, or you love pyrotechnics, and then there is the Singapore Fireworks Festival in August. Chinese New Year, held between Jan and Feb is the biggest holiday, due mainly to the large Chinese population. Other great festivals include The Festival of Hungry Ghosts, held between July and September, The World Gourmet Summit will get your taste buds excited in April, Singapore Arts Festival is held in July for the culture hunters, for a flavour of the country Singapore Dragon Boat Festival is held in Bedok Reservoir Park in June and dates back to over 2000 years ago.
Singapore is a beautiful little country with a range of attractions to cater for a wide range of tastes. With traditional if sometimes conservative values embedded into the culture here you are likely to receive a friendly welcome.
Last Edit by HTexpert on 16/11/2011 EDIT NOW >>
