Officially the Republic of Singapore is a sovereign city-state and island country in Southeast Asia. It lies off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and is 137 kilometers (85 mi) north of the equator. The country's territory consists of the diamond-shaped main island, commonly referred to as Singapore Island in English and Pulau Ujong in Malay, and more than 60 significantly smaller islets.[8] Singapore is separated from Peninsular Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to the north, and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to the south. The country is highly urbanized, and little of the original vegetation remains. The country's territory has consistently expanded through land reclamation. Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island.
Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen: Af ) with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Temperatures usually range from 22 to 35 °C (72 to 95 °F). Relative humidity averages around 79% in the morning and 73% in the afternoon. April and May are the hottest months, with the wetter monsoon season from November to January. From July to October, there is often haze caused by bush fires in neighbouring Indonesia. Although Singapore does not observe daylight saving time (DST), it follows the GMT+8 time zone, one hour ahead of the typical zone for its geographical location.
Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil. English is the common language, and is the language of business, government, and the medium of instruction in schools.
The total population in Singapore was last recorded at 5.4 million people in 2013 from 1.7 million in 1960, changing 227 percent during the last 50 years. Population in Singapore averaged 3.11 Million from 1960 until 2013, reaching an all time high of 5.40 Million in 2013 and a record low of 1.65 Million in 1960. Population in Singapore is reported by the Statistics Singapore.
Buddhism is the most widely practiced religion in Singapore, with 33% of the resident population declaring themselves adherents at the most recent census. The next-most practiced religion is Christianity, followed by Islam, Taoism, and Hinduism. 17% of the population did not have a religious affiliation. The proportion of Christians, Taoists, and non-religious people increased between 2000 and 2010 by about 3% each, whilst the proportion of Buddhists decreased. Other faiths remained largely stable in their share of the population. An analysis by the Pew Research Center found Singapore to be the world's most religiously diverse nation.
Dining, along with shopping, is said to be the country's national pastime The focus on food has led countries like Australia to attract Singaporean tourists with food-based itineraries. The diversity of food is touted as a reason to visit the country and the variety of food representing different ethnicities is seen by the government as a symbol of its multiculturalism. The "national fruit" of Singapore is the durian. In popular culture, food items belong to a particular ethnicity, with Chinese, Malay, and Indian food clearly defined. However, the diversity of cuisine has been increased further by the "hybridisation" of different styles (e.g., the Peranakan cuisine, a mix of Chinese and Malay cuisine).
1. Chicken rice:
It’s everywhere -- at hawker stalls, food courts, luxury hotels and even at the zoo, but Singaporeans just can’t get enough of it. Chicken rice is often called the “national dish” of Singapore. Steamed or boiled chicken is served atop fragrant oily rice, with sliced cucumber as the token vegetable. Variants include roasted chicken or soy sauce chicken. Don’t miss out on the dipping sauces -- premium dark soy sauce, chili with garlic, and pounded ginger. Play around with different combinations to discover new tastes.
2. Char kway teow:
There is no stopping Singaporeans from indulging in this high-fat hawker favorite. Flat rice noodles stir-fried with lard (for best flavor), dark and light soy sauce, chilli, de-shelled cockles, sliced Chinese sausage, bean sprouts, Chinese chives and sometimes prawns and egg. Essential to the dish is good “wok hei” or breath of wok, the qualities and tastes imparted by cooking on a wok using high heat. Many now choose to omit the cockles but char kway teow will always be incomplete without the sinfully rich fried pork lard pieces.
3. Wonton or Wantan mee:
The name “wonton” literally means "swallowing of cloud" in Cantonese. Indeed, the dumplings with their flowy translucent skins resemble wispy clouds when suspended in soup. Most Singaporeans prefer the dry version of the noodles. Wonton noodles look simple but the perfect one is elusive. The thin egg noodles need to be of the right texture, the sauce has to be well-balanced, and the pork or shrimp dumplings ought to be juicy and meaty. At many places, you’ll find the sliced char siew (Chinese BBQ pork) is often papery dry and red with artificial dye but that hardly deters fans of the dish who seem to prize the noodles and dumplings.
4. Carrot cake (chai tow kuay):
No, not the sweet Western cake loaded with orange carrots. This "carrot" is more of a white radish (daikon). Rice flour and grated radish is mixed and steamed into large slabs or cakes. These are cut up into little pieces and fried with preserved turnip, soy sauce, fish sauce, eggs, garlic and spring onions. It’s amazingly good. You can have it “white” or “black” (with sweet dark soy sauce added). Also known as fried carrot cake or chye tow kueh, this grease-laden belly warmer is available at many hawker centers.
5. Chili crab:
: Another national signature, chili crab is one of the most requested dishes for anyone who comes to Singapore. There are more than a dozen ways to do crab (black pepper, salted egg yolk, cheese-baked, etc) but chili crab remains the bestseller. It’s certainly not something to be consumed daintily. The spicy chili-tomato gravy tends to splatter, but crab enthusiasts love it so much, they’ll mop everything up with mini mantou buns.
6. Bak kut the:
Bak kut teh, meaning "pork rib tea" is most likely of Hokkien or Fujian origin. Meaty pork ribs are lovingly boiled for hours with lots of garlic, pepper, medicinal herbs and spices. Early 20th century port coolies often relied on this as a tonic to strengthen bodies and health. These days, bak kut teh is simply enjoyed for its taste. There are two styles -- the clear, peppery Teochew broth and the darker, more herbal Hokkien stew. You tiao (fried crullers) are the perfect croutons for soaking up the soup, and a hot pot of Chinese tea (ideally Tieguanyin) helps dissolve or wash down the fats ever present in the meaty ribs.
7. Sambal stingray:
Singaporeans love their seafood and they love their spices. Sambal is a versatile chili paste blended with spices, shallots, candlenuts and often belachan (fermented shrimp paste). Sambal-coated cuts of stingray are wrapped in cleaned banana leaves and grilled to smoky perfection. The sweet, tender flesh is a perfect canvas for all the complex spices and BBQ flavor.
8. Fried Hokkien mee:
Yet another dish favored by hardworking laborers of the past. Thick yellow egg noodles mixed with rice vermicelli are cooked in a rich seafood stock, and tossed with prawns, squid, small strips of pork belly and deep-fried lard pieces. A small kalamansi lime is always given should you prefer some tangy juice to cut through the greasiness of the dish.
9. Rojak:
Rojak is actually a Malay word used to describe something made from a random mix of unrelated things. But any derogatory undertones are erased when one refers to the fruit salad that bears the same name. Rojak does have an odd mixture of ingredients. Bite-size pieces of fruits, vegetables, dried tofu, fried you tiao (dough fritters) and cured cuttlefish are tossed in a prawn paste sauce topped with crushed peanuts. Grated bunga kantan (pink ginger buds) add a sensuous fragrance. The result is a wild mix of sweet, spicy, sour and savory flavors.
10. Bak kwa:
This chewy snack is like salty-sweet BBQ jerky. Bak kwa (dried meat) is made from pork although now halal versions made from chicken exist. These squarish BBQ meat sheets are popular as gifts for friends and relatives at Chinese New Year. Throngs will form at shops despite elevated prices. Bak kwa can be eaten on its own, with bread or with home cooked food.
Singaporean residents also travel by foot, bicycles, bus, taxis and train (MRT or LRT). Two companies run the public bus and train transport system – SBS Transit and SMRT Corporation. There are six taxi companies, who together put out over 27,000 taxis on the road. Taxis are a popular form of public transport as the fares are relatively cheap compared to many other developed countries.
Travel across the Island with SMRT
The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is probably the fastest way to get around Singapore besides taxis. Besides being one of the cleanest transport systems in the world, the MRT provides scenic views of our heartland and city areas, with great access to almost every part of Singapore.
Buses:
SBS Transit is Singapore’s major public bus service operator. Operating convenient bus services all around Singapore, SBS Transit services also ply destinations that are less accessible, such as areas beyond the city centre and the heartlands. Most of their buses are equipped with air-conditioning and provides trunk, feeder, Express, Town link and Premium services.
If you’re a night owl and would like to discover Singapore’s bustling nightlife, SBS Transit also provides special bus services called the Nite Owl, which operate on Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of Public Holidays.
Taxi:
You should be able to hail a taxi without any problems in most parts of Singapore. However, do remember that taxis are only allowed to pick up or alight passengers at designated taxi stands in the city centre. Hotels and shopping centre taxi stands are always good places to hail a taxi.
If you’re travelling in a group, carrying a lot of shopping or luggage, or unable to find a taxi for any other reason, you may want to book a taxi to get to your desired destination. A booking fee is applicable for taxi bookings and charges vary for different taxi companies. Most concierge services will also be happy to call a taxi for you.
Resorts World™ Sentosa Singapore is Asia’s ultimate destination, offering a whole new world of truly rewarding experiences. Resorts World™ Sentosa Singapore is the first ever integrated resort on Sentosa Island Singapore, bringing with it highly anticipated and exciting new attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore™and FestiveWalk™, and the yet to open Marine Life Park™.
Dive into Marine Life Park™ and be inspired by the myriad marine wonders of our blue planet. Explore a world thriving with ocean life at the S.E.A. Aquarium™ and plunge into wet and wild fun at Adventure Cove Waterpark™. Get up close and personal with some of our majestic creatures and fall in love with the spectacular ocean animals all at Marine Life Park™, Resorts World™ Sentosa Singapore!
The Singapore Flyer is a giant Ferris wheel in Singapore. Described by its operators as an observation wheel, it opened in 2008, construction having taken about 2½ years. It carried its first paying passengers on 11 February, opened to the public on 1 March, and was officially opened on 15 April. It has 28 air-conditioned capsules, each able to accommodate 28 passengers, and incorporates a three-storey terminal building. The Flyer has an overall height of 165 meters (541 ft) and was the world's tallest Ferris wheel until the 167.6 m (550 ft) High Roller, which is 2.6 m (9 ft) taller than the Flyer, opened on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, US, on 31 March 2014.[8] The previous record holder, the Star of Nanchang, in Jiangxi, China, is 160 m (525 ft) tall, although its 153 m (502 ft) diameter wheel is larger than the Flyer's 150 m (492 ft) wheel.
Just 15 minutes away from the city centre is Sentosa, an idyllic resort island with pristine beaches, world-class attractions, sea sports, golf and retreats. At Sentosa, there are endless activities to indulge your every interest. Our biggest attraction, Imbiah Lookout offers something for everyone; thrill seekers can take a ride on Skyline Luge Sentosa, nature lovers can explore the walking trails and wonders of Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom or learn about flora and fauna on a guided tour of Sentosa Nature Discovery. For some culture, try Images of Singapore. The sporty side of you can enjoy a game of beach volleyball on Siloso Beach, ride the barreling waves at Wave House Sentosa and at night fall, be awed by Songs of the Sea, a multi-sensory extravaganza. Feeling hungry? Our food for the gourmet soul comes to you in over 50 restaurants from casual to classy, and in every taste.
Trick Eye Museum is finally here in Singapore. Get ready to let your imagination march into a miraculous dimension of original 3D artworks. Trick Eye is short for ‘Trick of the eye’, which refers to an art technique that turns two-dimensional paintings into three-dimensional images through the use of optical illusions. With that, 2D paintings on the museum walls, floors and ceilings appear to pop out of the surface and come to life. Visitors are more than welcome to explore the various themed galleries with their eyes, hands and even cameras. Step inside the paintings to complete a visual narrative with your creative poses, and watch a “tricky” story unfold before your camera. At Trick Eye Museum, you’ll be creating unforgettable memories with friends and family amid fun and laughter, with a dash of educational and cultural enrichment. Resorts World™ Sentosa Crane Dance: Watch the magical love story between a pair of mechanical cranes and how their love for each other transforms them into real birds. Combining groundbreaking audio and visual technologies, astounding light and water effects, be awed by the cranes' graceful courtship ritual. The sheer size of the steel cranes moving deftly in the midst of water illusion and play of light is one not to be missed. Catch the cranes before they fly away, every evening at the Waterfront.
Easily the Most Scenic & fun Way to get to Sentosa Island is Via Singapore 1.6 Km Long Cable Car. The Suspended Lift System starts at Mount Faber Station and stops at Harbour Front Station & Sentosa.
If you are accustomed to a life of luxury on every level, you might be hard-pressed finding another experience that lives up to the Marina Bay Sands®. Marina Bay Sands® is a magnificent destination for entertainment, business and shopping, delivering once-in-a-lifetime experiences. This landmark building is situated in the heart of Singapore’s central business district. With a luxury hotel, state-of-the-art convention and exhibition facilities, theatres, and some of the best shopping and dining in the region, Marina Bay Sands® is an experience that indulges your every fancy.
Located on levels 55 and 56 and at an impressive 218 meters, ION Sky is the new focal point of the city. A must-visit destination offering an unrivalled 360-degree view from the highest point on Orchard Road, it houses an observatory, event space, and the Salt grill & sky bar. Merlion Park: A landmark of Singapore is a major tourist attraction at One Fullerton, Singapore, near the Central Business District (CBD). Two structures of the Merlion are located at the park. The original merlion structure measures 8.6 meters tall, whilst a Merlion cub located near the original statue measures 2 meters tall.
The hotel offers a snack bar/deli. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast. An Internet point is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary.
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