Singapore, the tropical city-state situated off the southern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula, is a carefully managed combination of Western progress and Eastern and Colonial history. Clusters of skyscrapers and malls dominate the island's downtown but restored colonial buildings lay beneath Singapore's modern veneer. Singapore's downtown core is the Colonial District, where public buildings, hotels and cricket grounds were the domain of British residents.
Singapore's appealing ethnic quarters of Little India, Chinatown and Arab Street retain their own distinct flavor. Equatorial Singapore's high humidity, abundant rainfall and uniform temperature of 27ºC - 31ºC, (81ºF - 88ºF) encourages the abundance of tropical greenery found throughout the island and in it's first-rate nature and wildlife reserves.
Shaped like a flattened diamond, Singapore is 42km/26mi across and 23km/14mi north to south. Most of the four million inhabitants are descended from those arriving from China, India, Malaysia and Europe. Singapore thrives financially and has minimal unemployment; a result of Singapore's compliant population agreeing with their government to put the interest of society ahead of the interest of the individual, in return for once unimaginable levels of prosperity. Some of the ensuing regulations seem extreme: jaywalking, chewing gum and eating on public transit all carry significant fines. The outcome is that Singapore is a clean, safe place to visit, and its public places are smoke-free and hygienic.
Since the 13th C the island has been named Singapore (Singapura) or Lion City when a Sumatran sultan sheltering on the island sensed that the lion he sighted was a good omen and decided to build a new city.
Singapore remained a Sultanate until 1819, when the astute Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company arrived and quickly struck a treaty with local rulers to set up a British trading post. An influx of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Arabs and Europeans arrived at the British port and Singapore's population grew. Singapore's progress declined during World War II when the island fell into the hands of the Japanese. After the war citizens started lobbying for independence from Britain, achieving it in 1965.
Singapore receives over a million visitors annually. International cruise-ships call at the Singapore Cruise Centre on the south end of the island. Changi International Airport is situated in the east. Singapore is connected by causeway to Malaysia. Well-paved roads, on which drivers stay left, connect all parts of the island. Singapore has an excellent public transportation system but can also be toured on foot, to discover small shops, temples, or the daily scene. The entire state is compact enough to be explored in a few days.
5 Shenton Way Unit 37, Singapore, Singapore 068808, Singapore