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Singapore
Summary: Singapore is a group of islands in southeastern Asia between Malaysia and Indonesia and has a terrain that is mostly lowlands, with a central plateau that houses a nature preserve and catches rainwater, and is home to the world’s biggest water port based on raw tonnage. Founded in 1819 as a British colony to inspire trade within the island archipelago of south Asia, Singapore has a healthy economy that rivals in GDP those of Western Europe built on international trade, stable inflation and an overall corruption free political and fiscal environment.
Capital: Singapore
Time Zone: UTC + 8
Population: 4,608,167
Languages: Chinese, Malay, Tamil, English
Power: 230 V, 50 Hz
Currency: Singapore Dollar
- Currently 1 SGD = 0.7973 USD $
Climate: Singapore has a tropical climate and tends to be hot, humid, and rainy, with a dry northeastern monsoon from December to March and a wet southwestern monsoon from June to September.
- Currently 91º, Mostly Cloudy
Recent Headlines:
IMF To Host Sovereign Wealth Fund Meeting In Singapore - Nasdaq - Jun 20 11:32 AM
Mundra growth impresses Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce team - The Hindu - Jun 20 12:33 PM
24-Hour Room Service: Naumi Hotel, Singapore - Independent - Jun 20 4:18 PM
Singapore urged to move faster to develop clean energy - People's Daily - Jun 20 5:12 PM
Singapore Dollar Sets 2-day High Against Greenback - Nasdaq - 1 hour, 43 minutes ago
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 Singapore: Singapore City sits on the southern tip of the island and has a colonial district influenced by the British, with the Victoria Concert Hall honoring Queen Victoria, the National Museum and the Singapore Art Museum certainly worth your time. By the Singapore River, take a picture of the statue of Sir Stamford and then spend the evening walking along the Boat Quay riverfront, or visit the stately Raffles Hotel, which dates from 1887 and will be on many of the postcards you find in the city, and also serves the island’s drink, the Singapore Sling. |
 Pulau Ubin: Pulau Ubin, literally Island of Granite, evidently has more than just rocks to offer for the ecotourist or naturalist. Ubin Village is your starting point, where the cheap ferry ride from Changi Village will leave you and where you can rent a bike to make exploration easier. Bird watching of munias, zebra doves, bats, woodpeckers and kingfishers is plentiful, and hiking and mountain biking are always popular, and finish your day by camping on the beach if the resorts are not your style. Villagers rely on electricity often provided by generators, so be prepared for a new experience. |
 Parklands: Some of Singapore's parks are rich with life and beauty, worth a side trip to enjoy if possible. Among the brightest, Sentosa Island, to the south of Singapore, is the most visited attraction with the whole gamut of gardens, museums, and beaches along the southwestern coast, with accommodations and great sporting and eating facilities. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is about 8 miles from Singapore City and, like Rio de Janeiro, is a rainforest preserve within the cities boundaries. The walking paths will lead you past hundreds of species of plants, along with pythons, lemurs, macaque monkeys and butterflies, and up to Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore’s highest point at 533 feet. |
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Security: Singapore can be considered quite safe, as an extra eye kept on your wallet in tourist areas and other crowded places is the only thing required to make the journey enjoyable.
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Local Customs: Respect the individual cultures that exist in the area, by removing shoes when entering a mosque or temple and dressing modestly in public. As you are subject to the local laws, avoid the mistake made by Michael Fay, who was caned for drawing graffiti, by playing it safe: don’t jaywalk, litter, spit, and definitely don’t get involved with drugs.
Costs: Traveller’s checks, credit cards, and ATMs all make it easy to pay for your purchases, and note that the Brunei dollar is honored at face value in Singapore.
When To Visit: The weather is Singapore is fairly consistent, with a slightly drier time of December to April and a slightly wetter period from late June to September, so it may be the festivals that set your schedule: Thaipusam in February, the Singapore Food Festival in April, the Singapore Arts Festival and the Great Singapore Sale both held in June may help make up your mind.
Phrases: Yes = dui (pronounced: dway), no = bu dui (pronounced: boo dway), hello = ni hao (pronounced: nee how), please = qing (pronounced: cheeing), thank you = xie xie (pronounced: syeh syeh)
Tipping: Some locations will include a 10% service charge in your bill already. Otherwise, there is no additional tip required or expected.
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