SINGAPORE - Small but Strong
Updated: Dec 30, 2018
"Urban design as a discipline barely exists in most American and Canadian cities. In Singapore, there are innovative transportation strategies at work." Moshe Safdie
Singapore is officially known as the Republic of Singapore, it is a Southeast Asian island city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula 147 kilometers (85 mi) north of the equator. Singapore is a very small nation (a city state) ranks 189th in the world for its size. Malay, Chinese and Tamil are official languages but English is widely spoken so there is no problem of communication.
The total Area is 710 Sq km (274 sq mi), a combined size of Brooklyn and Queens borough of New York City . An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to its south. The country is highly urbanized with very little primary rainforest remaining, although more land is being created for development through land reclamation.
Even though it is a small nation but it ranks 8th in terms of most expensive city (According to Forbes).Visitors and even Singaporeans complain that besides shopping, dining and the movies, there’s not a lot you can do here. Well, don’t listen to them, there are a lot of things to do even if you are one day visitor. The moment you land at Singapore Changi International Airport to the streets of Singapore; there are a bunch of things to do and see.
Here are some things to do and see:
1) Singapore Botanic Gardens
2) Chinatown Heritage Center
3) Haji Lane (Arab street)
4) Little India
5) The Singapore Flyer
6) ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands
7) Waterfront Promenade
8) Merlion Park
9) Esplanade - Theaters on the Bay
10) National Museum of Singapore
11) Civilian War Memorial
TIPS:
Transportation
Singapore Metro is very convenient and cheap. There is S$1 deposit every time you buy a ticket. In addition, if you are looking for going to Malaysia by road, there are bus services; you can skip the traditional transit at Kranji MRT station and instead hop on-board any of the direct bus services from other more convenient locations such as Jurong East, Woodlands, Yishun and even Changi Airport!
FOOD AND DRINKS
Singaporeans are simply passionate about eating, for the best food, they will queue endlessly, they will navigate the island, and they will eat at all hours. As Anthony Bourdain has said:
"You have an impeccable argument if you said that Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo are food capitals. They have a maximum amount of great stuff to eat in the smallest areas."
There are places for exclusive dining to budget travelers. Little India, Orchard Street and Geylang area has some of the finest cuisines from India, Vietnam, Cambodian and Chinese. Some of these are a must try:
Hokee Prawn
Mee goreng
Yong tau Foo
Fish Head
Nasee Lemak
Dried Hor Fun
Chicken Satay with Ketupat
Accommodation
If you are on a budget, areas like Orchard Road and Marina Bay are expensive, you can find cheap and affordable accommodations in Little India and Geylang. Good thing about Geylang area, local food and its available 24 hours, cab fare from the airport would only be S$14 (US$10) or 7 stops away from the airport (fare: S$2.50).
Weather
Singapore is near the equator, therefore, it is always hot and humid. Nothing called winter exists but every afternoon (between 1 pm – 5 pm) it rains so keep an umbrella.