Welcome To Singapore

Home to a little over four million souls, the island nation of Singapore attracts more than twice that number in visitors every year. And nearly every one of them finds the city is nothing like what they expected. The island of Singapore is not big, in fact, it’s tiny – a spot on the map - wedged between Malaysia and Indonesia. The two neighbours dwarf Singapore in both geographical size and population, and one could be excused for thinking Singapore’s position in the region may be limited to the following role rather than the leading one. This assumption however could not be further from the truth. Singapore is today the leader of South East Asia in most respects, leaning on its history as a melting pot of ideas and cultures converging here from all over the world to produce a dynamic, modern city. As far as city-states go, this is one of the best examples ever. In fact, while it’s easy to assume many things about Singapore based on what you’ve heard or read, the one piece of advice that you should keep in your top pocket at all times is that you should never assume anything. This is one city that will surprise you at every turn. Singapore derives its nature from its earliest days as a free trade port, established by its early Temasek rulers and modernised for the British Empire by Sir Stamford Raffles. Traders and merchants were enticed here by the safe harbour and geographical position at the crossroads of the world, and with these advantages the outpost quickly became a town and then a city. Still today Singapore’s port is one of the busiest in the world, vying each year with Hong Kong for top honours. Sir Stamford Raffles - the man that started it all. But the city and its governments over the years have had more foresight than just port maintenance. When independence was gained by separation from Malaysia in 1965, a blueprint was drawn up to make sure the tiny infant nation could survive on its own. An airport was built with the aim of becoming the best in the world – which it has duly done over and over, year after year. Oil refineries were built and industries such as electronics encouraged to flourish, while affordable housing sprang up for a population growing in confidence as world beaters. Today Singaporean companies and products are known the world over. Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Girl are household names not just in Asia, but everywhere, while much of the world’s oil is refined here and the financial market in Singapore is a significant cog in the world economy. The city is in a state of constant change and business growth with a backdrop of airplanes landing and taking off at Changi International Airport and ships coming and going from the Ports of Singapore. It really is a well-oiled machine – some call it Singapore Inc., others just call it a huge success story for a tiny nation. But the city of Singapore is not just a pragmatic mix of business, growth charts and finances. It is also a diverse mix of cultures, brought together from all over the world, building a city that is clean and modern, yet also dynamic and creative. The indigenous Malay population lives alongside the Chinese majority and a large Singaporean Indian community. Then there is the product of these three races, the Eurasians and the Peranakan people and of course the large expat communities from all over the world. It is this environment, where the best of each culture adds its little piece, that makes Singapore such a fascinating place. If you don’t believe it, take a walk in Chinatown where each year Chinese New Year is welcomed in emphatic fashion with dragon dances, roast duck and fireworks. In the middle of it all, you’ll find a European selling sausages and an Indian temple – now that’s an odd mix! It doesn’t stop there however – each year the whole country takes turns to celebrate the various religious and cultural festivals, each race showing respect to the others. For someone new to Singapore, this can be like having Christmas four times a year - the Indians with Deepavali, the Chinese with the Lunar New Year, the Christians with Christmas and the Muslims with Hari Raya. With this mix of cultures also comes the two national obsessions of food and shopping. With each new cultural touch, a new flavour or style is born. At hawker centres like Lau Pa Sat on the edge of Chinatown, Indonesian, Malay, Chinese and Indian foods are practically merged into one, while on Orchard Road saris and cheongsams are melded into new fashion styles befitting a country with no class or racial boundaries. The food in Singapore is to die for. Ask any Singaporean living overseas what they miss most about home and they will tell you it’s mealtime. It’s the Chilli Crab or Black Pepper Crab, it’s the Bak Kut Teh or Char Kway Teow, it’s the Rojak or Roti John… or maybe it’s a simple plate of Hainanese Chicken Rice… whatever it is, you can be sure to see the eyes water and lips drool when you mention any of them to a homesick Singaporean. Also, because of this mad food culture, you’ll find some of the best dining areas in Asia in Singapore. Along the Singapore River you’ll find idyllic spots like Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Empress Place and Riverside Point, all with views of bumboats snaking along the inky black evening river complete with playful Chinese lanterns, and complete with international star culinary casts. You’ll also find that as each area tries to outdo the others, the standards keep rising, making Singapore not just a melting pot of cultural ideas and tastes, but also a city of world-class dining and nightlife possibilities. To mention one area, restaurant, bar or club here would be to do a disservice to its competition as there are just too many restaurants, bars, pubs and nightclubs that would make a “best-of” list. Matching this culinary obsession, the Singaporean love for shopping is legendary. Orchard Road, once a tree-lined avenue from which lazy driveways meandered their way to stately plantation mansions, has become a mass of shopping malls catering to every product under the hot Singapore sun. And it doesn’t stop there, with shopping malls like Raffles City at City Hall merging into the underground CityLink Mall, leading you to the massive Suntec City, Marina Square and Millenia Walk complex. Many Singaporeans would say they don’t exercise much – but one look at these massive shopping areas betrays signs of some intense power-walking sessions with added hand-weights for good measure. And if that’s not enough retail therapy for you, every year the Great Singapore Sale comes along for two months of shopping heaven, with retailers offering discounts of up to 70 per cent on items nationwide. If you can’t find it here, then what you’re looking for probably doesn’t exist. But even Singaporeans sometimes feel the need to get away from all the crowds and city streets, and that’s where Singapore suddenly shows a side of itself that surprises many. Despite its lack of land, Singapore is also known as the greenest city in Asia. You will notice this traveling to and from the airport, as trees line the ECP expressway to form a lush green canopy. At the centre of the island, the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the MacRitchie Reservoir dominate a series of nature reserves, while Pulau Ubin and Sentosa lead a cast of island getaway spots that have Singaporeans seeking some quiet time during weekends. Throw in the world class Botanic Gardens, the remote Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, some great golf courses and excellent water sports, and this is a city adept at changing its personality to suit your needs. So welcome to Singapore, a city and nation punching well above its weight. A city and nation that mixes cultures seamlessly, giving it a competitive edge that was once enjoyed by other great world cities like New York or London. A city that is obsessed with shopping and food, but still has time for the arts and nature. A city that attracts curious visitors every day that almost always leave muttering phrases like “…well I never expected that!”