SINGAPORE
Area: Singapore


Location:
In SE Asia, at S tip of Malay peninsula. Changi international airport 13 miles E of city centre.

Telephone code from UK:
65

Website:
http://www.newasia-singapore.com

Position:
1 degree N of equator, a flat diamond-shaped island linked to Malaysia by 2 road causeways and a railway.

Description:
An island roughly 28 miles E_W and 18 miles N_S where all development seems to have radiated out from the city centre at the mouth of the Singapore River in the S. Most of Singapore is built up _ skyscrapers and high-rise blocks are ubiquitous _ but pockets of greenery exist throughout and it is more than just a concrete jungle. The Botanic Gardens, the Zoological Gardens and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, as well as a number of parks, all provide respite from the noise and bustle of the city. The traditional heart of colonial Singapore is the Merlion statue (half lion, half fish), an emblem of the city by the river and harbour, close to City Hall, Parliament House, the Padang (sports ground of the famous Singapore Cricket Club) and the renovated restaurants and bars of Boat Quay. Pockets of interest lie in what is left of Old Chinatown, including the ornate Sri Mariamman Hindu temple, as well as in Little India and Arab Street _ a mainly Muslim area dominated by the Sultan Mosque. A varied ethnic mix _ Chinese (80 per cent), Malays and Indians _ coupled with its history as a British colony makes for fascinating variety. Numerous Buddhist and Hindu temples and mosques can be found plus vestiges of British colonial times, before and after the Second World War. Often described as "sanitised", Singapore is clean and relatively crime-free; one of the few cities in SE Asia where you can feel at ease moving about both day and night, though it is still wise to keep an eye on your valuables at the airport and in bars and hotels. It is also called a "fine" city, as fines are levied for spitting, jaywalking, littering and smoking in air-conditioned public places including restaurants. The sale and importation of chewing gum is also banned. Most Singaporeans do not live in the city centre, but in vast high-rise government housing estates spread around the island and rarely visited by tourists. The water is safe to drink. Drugs are illegal and there is an automatic death penalty for drug traffickers.

Suitability:
Something for everyone _ local traditions, history, cultural mix; a restful holiday or just shop-till-you-drop _ you're never more than 5 minutes away from a shopping centre. Society is family-orientated and welcomes visitors. International commerce draws regular business visitors and it is a popular convention venue. The country is well-suited to those looking for a gentle introduction to Asia _ it is completely Westernised _ but may seem a bit sanitised and too tame for those who prefer tradition or a more raw ethnic experience.

Accommodation:
Hotels are mainly located in the area from Orchard Road through to Marina Square. Most are high-rise (at least one has over 70 floors) and the broad choice ranges from the famous Raffles hotel to cheaper options in Chinatown and Little India.

Shopping:
Orchard Road is a shopper's heaven. Around a mile of glossy shopping centres sell all big designer names (but often for similar prices as UK) as well as cheaper imitations. Shops selling cameras, watches and stereo systems abound. To see the real Singapore, visit People's Park in Chinatown (Chinese department stores and cheaper shops), Little India and Arab Street. Most shops open mid-morning and close around 9pm, 365 days of the year.

Beach:
Most are in East Coast Park area and on surrounding islands such as Sentosa. Not extensive; often man-made. Unlikely to attract many tourists.

Entertainments:
Daytime: golf (most courses are private but green fees for visitors can usually be arranged), public tennis and squash courts, privately run gyms. Spectator sports including football, cricket, rugby and horse racing. Water sports _ wind surfing, canoeing, sailing and water-skiing along the SE coast, Changi and Punggol. Nightlife: in larger hotels, plus bars, coffee shops and UK-style nightclubs attracting big-name DJs from London and New York, theme bars (happy hour can often last until 10pm). The Esplanade theatre complex, a futuristic double-domed structure, hosts concerts, theatrical performances and opera. Chinese theatre/Asian shows for a wide spread of local culture. Frequent festivals celebrating different cultures _ street processions or Chinese opera (rather an acquired taste). Above all else, the main entertainment is eating out.

Eating:
Food capital of Asia. Food, or hawker, centres are a must for visitors. Dozens of stalls serve a variety of food at low prices; informal, shorts-and-T-shirt places, usually open-air. Most notable are Newton Circus and Bugis Street. The Old Bugis area was notorious for local colour but today is a tame tourist trap. Food courts are also popular _ slightly more expensive than hawker centres and they tend to be air conditioned. Conventional restaurants serve a vast range of Asian and international food. Eating out is a national pastime so prices are generally reasonable. Wine is not cheap. Smoking is prohibited by law in all air-conditioned buildings.

Public-transport:
Regular cheap, air-conditioned buses link all parts of the island. Taxis are cheap and plentiful. Surcharges may apply for journeys from airport and after midnight. Star of the transport system is the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport): with clean, cheap, modern, air-conditioned trains, mostly underground, it covers many tourist spots and hotel districts and connects with Changi airport. Picturesque trishaws are strictly for tourists and not cheap. Car hire is expensive and probably unnecessary for most visitors _ a surcharge is levied to discourage entry into city centre. Smoking prohibited on all public transport.

Local-excursions:
Half day: tours for all tastes and budgets; many places, however, can be covered just as easily unguided. Cruises including "bumboat" jaunts upriver and twilight junk trips among the islands; city tours _ Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street. Orchid Gardens; Zoo and Night Safari; Haw Par Villa _ theme park with Chinese mythological characters; Jurong Bird Park; Crocodile Paradise; Botanic Gardens; Tang Dynasty (replica) village. Kukup fishing village built on stilts (Malaysia). Full day: Sentosa Island, billed as Singapore's answer to Disneyland, featuring an aquarium, dolphin show, Asian Village plus many other attractions. Malacca (Melaka) in Malaysia, an old Portuguese port.