 If you are planning a vacation and want to travel internationally, you should consider visiting ‘Singapore’, an island city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.
Singapore was originally a Malay fishing village at the mouth of the Singapore River. Today it is highly cosmopolitan and diverse with Chinese people forming an ethnic majority with large populations of Malay, Indian and other people. English, Malay, Tamil, and Chinese are the official languages. In 2009, the EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit) ranked Singapore as the tenth most expensive city in the world in which to live—the third in Asia.
Singapore’s cosmopolitan nature may cause some to dismiss it as a premier vacation destination. This city is a perfect combination of when east meets west. Moreover, it offers travelers an array of attractions from shopping to safaris.
Some of Sights to See in Singapore
Shopaholics
Singapore is a shopper’s paradise where you can purchase everything from designer clothing to basement bargains.
If you are looking for designer clothes and luxury consumer products head to Orchard Road. For interesting or unusual items such as textiles, antiques, exotic furniture and spices head to Little India, Chinatown and Arab Street. If you want souvenirs or gifts for family and friends, you will find electronics, jewelry, artifacts, pewter ware and more at the Royal Selangor Pewter Centre. Singapore also has a 24-hour shopping mall ‘Mustafa Centre’ to delight to hardcore shoppers.
If you are planning a trip between May to July, you should check out the Great Singapore Sale.
Budding Botanists
Singapore is known as the ‘Garden City’. It has full of lush gardens, parklands and tree and shrub line expressways and bridges. It is one of only two cities in the world to have a significant area of primary rainforest ‘Bukit Timah Nature Reserve’ within its boundaries.
Singapore is also home to dozens of gardens and reserves including the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a tropical island's park with 4,000 species of plant life and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore's first designated wetland nature reserve and a major stopping-off point for migrating birds.
Wildlife Enthusiasts
If you are enthusiastic about birds and animals than Singapore has many treats for you from the internationally acclaimed open-concept Singapore Zoo with more than 2,000 animals to Jurong Bird Park, one of the world's largest aviaries, which is a refuge to over 8,000 birds of 600 different species.
You can also enjoy a Night Safari and get a closer look at over 110 exotic species including leopards, striped hyenas and single-horned rhinoceros.
Adventure Junkies
If adrenaline is your thing then get thrill of your lifetime, diving with sharks at Underwater World on Sentosa. You can also take a ride on the adventure side by mountain biking around Bukit Timah, rock climbing, water skiing or wakeboarding on the Kallang River.
Club Hoppers
Singapore has a pulsing nightlife that is hopping until dawn. There are three main areas to dance the night away — Boat Quays, Clarke Quays and Robertson Quays. There are also some excellent clubs and pubs at Sentosa and St James Power Station.
Whether you are a shopaholic, an avid wildlife enthusiast, a budding botanist, an adventure junkies or a club hopper, Singapore is perfect for you. |
