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It is well-known for being one of the richest, most well organised, efficient countries in the world with a very high standard of living and an excellent skyline by the water. Singapore is an island with "1000 shopping malls" or so they say. Despite the hot climate, it is a tropical paradise for most tourists. This great diversity of lifestyles, cultures and religions thrives within the framework of a regulated society. Singapore's "FINE" city reputation is well-earned, and in fact, many will admire at once the clean, modern metropolis. Surrounded by artificially 'ordered' parks, its tall housing projects are populated by more than 80% of the population - whose smiling native charms often belie underlying tensions of the way the island is progressing after 30 years of development. Highlights of Singapore include some of the ethnic parts of town: Arab street, Chinatown, Colonial District, Orchard road and Little India.
South of Singapore are a few beautiful islands that are well worth visiting. The most visited is Sentosa island. It is a playground for people of all ages. See the Sentosa island section for more information.
The main island of Singapore is about 42 km from east to west and 23 km from north to south. The total land area (including that of the smaller islands) is 697.1 square km. The main island is 617.1 square km.
Among off shore islands, the larger ones are Pulau Teking (2365. hectares), Pulau Ubin (1023.9 hectares) and Sentosa (460 hectares).
Singapore has an equatorial climate, which is warm and humid all year round. Rain is felt throughout the year. Singapore experiences two distinct monsoon seasons - the wetter Northeast Monsoon season from December to March and the drier Southwest Monsoon season from June to September. During the inter-monsoon months, winds are light and variable with afternoon to early evening showers, often accompanied by thunder.
As the settlement grew in the 1840's, forest were cut down to cultivate crops such as nutmeg, gamlier, clove, pepper and cocoa. In 1877, the first rubber trees were successfully planted. Many endemic plant species, including more than 50 species of mangrove-inhabiting orchids, gradually disappeared with deforestation. The effect on wildlife, especially large mammals, was more severe. As the city spread, species of birds more common in urban areas replaced forest and woodland species.
Forest reserves were set up at the turn of the century. Today, the National Parks Board (NParks) manages nearly 3,000 hectares of Natural Reserves - the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and the Laborador Nature Reserve.
Places of Interest:
The Muslim centre of Singapore is a traditional textile district, full of batiks from Indonesia, silks, sarongs and shirts. Add to this mix rosaries, flower essences, hajj caps, songkok hats, basketware and rattan goods, and you have a fair idea of the products haggled over in this part of the city. The grand Sultan Mosque is the biggest and liveliest mosque in Singapore, but the tiny Malabar Muslim Jama-ath Mosque is the most beautiful. There's fine Indian Muslim food along nearby North Bridge Rd and the foodstalls on Bussorah St are especially atmospheric at dusk during Ramadan.
Chinatown
Chinatown is Singapore's cultural heart and still provides glimpses of the old ways with its numerous temples, decorated terraces and its frantic conglomeration of merchants, shops and activity. Gentrified restaurants and expensive shops are gradually overtaking the venerable incense-selling professions.
Colonial Singapore
The mark of Sir Stamford Raffles is indelibly stamped on central Singapore. By moving the business district south of the river and making the northern area the administrative centre, Raffles created the framework that remained the blueprint for central Singapore through generations of colonial rule and the republican years of independence. Places of interest include: Empress Place Building, an imposing Victorian structure, built in 1865, that houses a museum, art and antique galleries and a chic restaurant; the incongruous Padang, where flannelled cricketers once caught, bowled and batted in the searing heat; Raffles Hotel, a Singaporean institution which has become a byword for oriental luxury; and any number of imposing churches, such as St Andrew's Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
Jurong Town, west of the city centre, is a huge industrial and housing area that is the powerhouse of Singapore's economy. This might seem an unlikely spot for a number of Singapore's tourist attractions but it is home to the Haw Par Villa (an incredibly tacky Chinese mythological theme park), the beautifully landscaped Jurong Bird Park, Chinese Garden and the hands-on Singapore Discovery Centre.
Little India
This modest but colourful area of wall-to-wall shops, pungent aromas and Hindi film music is a relief from the prim modernity of many parts of the city. This is the place to come to pick up that framed print of a Hindu god you've always wanted, eat great vegetarian food and watch streetside cooks fry chapatis.
Dominated by high-class hotels this is the playground of Singapore's elite, who are lured by the shopping centres, nightspots, restaurants, bars and lounges. A showcase for the material delights of capitalism, Orchard Rd also possesses some sights of cultural interest where a credit card is not required.
Sentosa Island
The granddaddy of Singapore's parks, Sentosa Island is the city-state's most visited attraction. It has museums, aquariums, beaches, sporting facilities, walks, rides and food centres. If a day isn't enough to take in all the sites and activities, the island has a camping ground, hostel and luxury hotels.
Last edited by Gary (4:45, 06 January 2006)
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