Singapore is one of the busiest cities in the World. It combines western and oriental life. You will find modern skyscrapers and shopping malls next to traditional Chinese temples and colonial style buildings. A stay of one or a few days in Singapore on your way to down under is enjoyable for most travellers.
The Chinese make up 76% of the population, the remainder consisting of a blend of Malay (15%), Indian (6.5%) and ethnic groups including Eurasians who are descendants of families from the former Portuguese colonies of Malacca in Malaysia and Goa in India. There are also small Arab, Armenian and Jewish communities.
Sights & Attractions
One
of Singapore's most famous attractions is Merlion Park with its monument
of the mythical Merlion which has become a symbol of the nation.
Another
'institution', Bugis Street, was rebuilt in 1991 and is now a popular
outdoor and entertainment spot offering beer gardens and excellent food.
Fort
Canning Park is a sacred site where early Malay kings lived and where Sir
Stamford Raffles built his bungalow. Today Singapore's first Government
House, Fort Canning Centre, is a centre for the arts. Another colonial
experience is the recently restored Alkaff Mansion which was a stately
home built for the wealthy Alkaff family in the 19th century.
St
Andrew's Cathedral, completed in 1862, was built by Indian convicts who
used a special recipe, Madras Chunam, made from shell lime, egg white and
sugar, beaten to form a paste, then diluted to make plaster which, when
polished, had a glossy impenetrable sheen.
Worth a visit is the National Museum and Art Gallery with its collection of contemporary Singaporean and ASEAN art and the Seiwaen Arts Centre in Eu Tong Sen Street which is housed in a national monument once known as the Thong Chai Medical Institution.
History and war buffs will be interested in visiting Changi Prison Chapel and Museum which records the lives of Allied prisoners during the Japanese occupation.
Arab
Street was a separate ethnic area established by Sir Stamford Raffles.
Today its streets and lanes still retain their old charm offering
colourful shopping.
Chinatown is an area of just over two square kilometres which captures the essence of old Chinese life with temples, shops, herbalists and restaurants.
The beautifully landscaped open-plan Singapore Zoological Gardens is a highlight of any trip to Singapore. As well as elephant, chimpanzee and sea lion shows, you can have breakfast or high tea with an orang-utan.
The
Night Safari is home to some 1,200 animals from 110 exotic species housed
in a zoo environment with the vastness of a national wildlife park spread
over 40 hectares of secondary jungle.
Jurong Bird Park, the world's largest aviary has more than 600 species of birds, including hornbill and toucan exhibits, penguins, flamingos, eagles and rare nocturnal birds.
Nearby,
Jurong Crocodile Paradise has 2,500 crocodiles and offers underwater
viewing areas and a crocodile wrestling show.
The
New Ming Village has replicas of priceless ancient porcelain from the Sung,
Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties with craftsmen demonstrating age-old
decorative techniques.
Tang
Dynasty City is the largest historical and cultural theme park in Asia. It
has re-created the era of grand palaces and towering pagodas, brought to
life with displays of martial-arts-inspired stunts and acrobatics.
Day trips to islands such as Sentosa are extremely popular and Singapore is so close to Malaysia and Indonesia that it is possible to do day tours to places like Johore Bahru, Malacca, Batam Island and Bintan.
Facts
- Full country name: Republic of Singapore
- Area: 620 sq km (239 sq mi)
- Population: 3.5 million (growth rate 1.15%)
- People: 76% Chinese, 15% Malay, 6% Indian
- Language: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil
- Religion: 31% Taoist, 28% Buddhist, 18% Muslim, 10% Christian, 4% Hindu
- Government: Parliamentary democracy
- President: SR Nathan
- Prime Minister: Goh Chok Tong
- Major industries: Shipping, banking, tourism, electrical & electronics, chemicals, oil refining
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