Singapore

Singapore

The smallest nation in south-east Asia, Singapore is an island country located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Less than 140km north of the equator, Singapore's climate tropical rainforest climate has no distinctive seasons.

Singapore is a lively, multi-ethnic city-state where east amalgamates with the west and tradition merges with modernity. The population of all of Singapore is just under 5 million - or about two thirds of Greater London. Though Singapore is highly cosmopolitan and diverse, ethnic Chinese form the majority of the population. English is the administrative language of the country.

The Central Business District, between Chinatown and the Singapore River, is the financial pulse of the City. However, I thought the jungle of concrete and glass felt a bit sterile. Certainly, this would be quite different in Little India, the Arab Quarter and Chinatown?

As expected, Little India was an assault on my senses. Its spice-scented streets are vivid with ethnic jewellery, jasmine garlands and silk saris and tantalizing scents of spices drift out from restaurants. Colourful temples co-exist side by side with churches and mosques. The most famous Hindu temple is the lavishly decorated Sri Mariamman Temple which dates back to 1827.

As the name suggests, Chinatown holds a concentrated ethnic Chinese population. However, since the largest ethnic group in Singapore is actually Chinese (approx. 75% of the population), Singapore's Chinatown is considerably less of an enclave than in other cities. A walk down on of the main roads took me past colourful shop fronts filled with Chinese medicines, tailors and charmingly crummy souvenirs. Although a bit touristy, Chinatown is still a great place to grab some food from one of the many food stalls. In close proximity lies the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple which is the largest Buddhist cultural complex in the region.

Today, Singapore's Malays continue to converge in the Arab Quarter because the city's largest mosque, the Sultan's Mosque, is located here. The nearby Arab Street offers rattan baskets and Afghan carpets as well as exquisite pieces of silk.

The Merlion is an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The fish body recalls of Singapore's ancient name when in was once a fishing village while the lion head represents Singapore's original name, Singapura - or lion city.

Sentosa Island

At the western tip of Sentosa Island

Central Business District

stands the preserved Fort Siloso which guarded the western approaches to Singapore during World War II. Built by the British in the 1880s it is now the only surviving coastal gun battery from the twelve such batteries that made up Fortress Singapore at the start of the war. The ammunition bunkers, barracks and gun emplacements are now open to visitors and an excellent exhibition explains the history of Singapore with a focus on the 20th century.

Pulau Ubin

This small island is one of the last areas in Singapore that has been preserved from urban development and concrete buildings. It can be reached from the main island of Singapore after a 10-minute bumboat ride from the Changi village jetty. Pulau Ubin's wooden jetty and house villages, abandoned quarries and untouched nature make it one of the last rural areas to be found in Singapore.

Singapore is certainly the handiest city I ever saw, as well planned and carefully executed as though built entirely by one man. It is like a big desk, full of drawers and pigeon-holes, where everything has its place, and can always be found in it."

William Hornaday

Singapore Tourism Board

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