singapore is situated in southeast asia
just off the southern tip of malaysia
one of the smallest and most densely
populated countries in the world
singapore is a breeze to explore
nothing is more than an hour away from
the central business district
built at the crossroads of maritime
trading routes for well over a century
singapore was the jewel in britain's
empire
when the city became a republic in 1965
few thought a country with so few
resources and of vastly different ethnic
groups could succeed but succeed it has
on an unimaginable scale
singapore today is one of the four asian
economic tigers a futuristic bridge
between east and west
yet despite blossoming into one of the
great global cities
singapore is a nation that still
cherishes its asian traditions
once filled with trading houses and
opium dens chinatown's historic shop
houses have been transformed into
restaurants boutique hotels and gift
shops
pick up a good luck charm in the pagoda
street market
or find a few moments of quiet
reflection at the buddha tooth relic
temple
across town little india crams all the
colours scents and gods of the indian
subcontinent into just a few city blocks
while in the nearby malay and muslim
quarter of kampong glam the streets are
a treasure trove of handicrafts from the
arabian world
one thing unites all singaporeans
food
it's the national obsession for an
authentic singaporean makhan experience
follow the satay smoke to the nearest
hawker centre
for more upscale dining head to the
bright lights of boat and clark keys
despite singapore's high urban density
the island is incredibly fertile
they say if you stick a broom handle
into the soil it will flower overnight
escape the heat and enter a world of
colour at the singapore botanic gardens
and the national orchid garden
for a slightly wilder experience explore
the jungle paths of the bukatima nature
reserve
singapore's animal residents are a
pretty diverse bunch too
famed for its forest setting the
singapore zoo is home to over 300
species including the world's largest
captive colony of orangutans
while the jurong bird park has been
bringing human beings and bird life
closer together for over 40 years
singapore enjoys a hot tropical climate
when the cooling afternoon rains come
indulge in that other singaporean
obsession shopping
orchard road offers miles of retail
indulgence
for a change of pace head to the bugis
markets to really rub shoulders with
bargain hunting locals
when it's time to unwind climb aboard a
cable car to sentosa an island
playground filled with resorts theme
parks beaches and bars
at sentosa's western tip is fort soloso
a vivid reminder of singapore's darkest
days during world war ii
closer to town is singapore's big
backyard east coast park
this 10 mile recreational park is lined
with bike paths and beaches and is proof
that busy singaporeans do know how to
kick back and relax
a little further east is changi beach
from here catch a bumboat to the island
of pulau ubin for a taste of kampung
life that has all but vanished on the
mainland
pulau ubin's quiet beaches mangroves and
wetlands are a world away from the buzz
of modern singapore
but you don't need to ride a bum boat to
head back in time
simply step through the doors of raffles
hotel and order a singapore sling
many of history's greatest adventurers
and writers have cooled off in raffle's
legendary bars
in the 21st century singapore is
attracting the world's most adventurous
architectural minds
marina bay shines like something from a
science fiction blockbuster while
gardens by the bay shows the endless
possibilities of mankind's flowering
imagination
welcome to singapore
where the future is only ever a few
steps away from the past
a destination that proves that with
unity diversity and daring even the
smallest of places can grow into a giant
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