Singapore's strategic location at the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula has ensured its importance, which is greater than its size might seem to justify. Singapore consists of the island of Singapore and some 63 islets within its territorial waters. The main island is about 26 mi/42 km from west to east and 14 mi/23 km from north to south. It's a mostly undulating country with low hills (the highest, 540-ft/166-m Bukit Timah Hill, is to the northwest of the city).
Singapore is one of the busiest seaports in the world.
Like most of Southeast Asia, Singapore is generally hot and humid. It's warm and humid year round, with the temperature almost never dropping below 20°C (68°F), even at night, and usually climbing to 30°C (86°F) during the day. Singapore is a cosmopolitan society where people live harmoniously and interaction among different races are commonly seen. The pattern of Singapore stems from the inherent cultural diversity of the island. The immigrants of the past have given the place a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences, all of which have intermingled. The four official languages of Singapore are Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English. English is the most common language used and is the language which unites the different ethnic groups. Many of the city's attractions are clustered closely together. Orchard Road, the shoppers' haven, is located in the northern part of the city center. Chinatown, where you'll find Boat Quay, is just to the southeast of Orchard Road, while Little India is northeast. Sentosa Island, with its many amusements, is directly to the southwest of the city center. These frequently visited neighborhoods, as well as more suburban areas, remain a bustling hive of pedestrian activity well into the evening.
Some Major Tourist Attractions
The Asian Civilisation Museum
The Asian Civilisations Museum's core collections, which are based on the rich multi-ethnic heritage of Singapore and the South-east Asian region, explore the ancestral cultures of Singaporeans
Housed at the old Tao Nan School, the museum displays exhibits on both Peranakan and Chinese culture. Temporary exhibitions are showcasing other aspects of Asia are also held regularly.
The second wing of the museum at the Empress Place Building will be completed in the second half of 2002. This will allow the museum to present a more comprehensive story of the cultures and civilisations that have shaped Singapore's cultural identity.
The Asian Civilisations Museum is a National Museum and an institution of the National Heritage Board.
Jurong Bird Park
Located at the west end of Singapore, the Jurong Bird Park is the largest and most remarkable bird park in Southeast Asia. The success of the Jurong Bird Park is attributed to its physical structure - one that resonates the original habitat of these winged creatures.
The Waterfall Aviary is home to 1,500 free flying birds from over 60 different species. Visitors are able to take a ride on the Panorail, the world's only monorail that runs through an aviary. There are other interesting highlights that visitors surely would not want to miss such as the Penguin Parades, World of Darkness and Lunch with the Birds. All entertaining features of the park that will keep you occupied till the end of the trip.
Merlion
Standing tall at 8.6 metres high and weighs as heavy as 70 tonnes, it was designed since 1964. It is originally located at the mouth of the Singapore River. This Merlion is made of cement fondue, its skin from porcelain plates and eyes from small red teacups.
The history of the merlion goes back in Singapore's ancient times, where Singapore was known as Temasek. A Javanese prince discovered a mystical beast which he later learnt was a lion. Then he named this island "Singapura" in Sanskrit which means Lion City. The fish tail of the Merlion represents Singapore's earliest beginnings as a fishing village.
Night Safari
The Night Safari is the first wildlife park built especially to be viewed at night unlike the traditional nocturnal houses elsewhere. The Night Safari occupies 40 hectares of land, with some free ranging animals from South America and other parts of Asia, such as the Indian rhinoceros to tarsiers.
Inside this zoological garden, animals are kept in landscaped premises with fences that are virtually invisible to visitors. A total of 920 animals are found in the park, of which 30% of the animals are endangered species. A moon light effect illuminates these areas, and a guided tram takes you across "regions" that correspond to various global ecosystems: African jungles, Himalayan foothills and Southeast Asian tropics. Some of the animals will approach your tram, coming very close. The tour takes 45 minutes and covers 3.5 kilometres, with frequent stopovers to rest or walk along the trails for a close encounter with the smaller inhabitants. The Fishing Cat Trail consists of ferocious fishing cats, here seen preying on the fishes with great intensity. Other inhabitants of this trail include other Asian animals such as the Asian mouse deer, Indian gharials, the noisy and playful little clawed otters and the highlight of this trail is the Malayan flying fox - the largest bat in the world. |
