Singapore

Out of all the countries in Southeast Asia, Singapore is considered as one of the most interesting, cleanest and safest – with a wide array of entertainment options to boot. Located in the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore is a former British trading post and colony. Instead of being let down by its past experience, the country has actually boomed into becoming one of the leading financial centers in the world with an open, competitive and innovative economy.

Singapore’s population is a little over five million, which consists of Chinese, Asians, Caucasians and Indians – people from various ethnic origins which make the country the melting pot of cultures that it is. Its nickname of being the “Lion City” is derived from the Malay word sing which means lion, and pura which corresponds to city.

The moniker is so appropriate because over the years, Singapore has developed into a city-state with a roaring economy and a vibrant tourism industry.

Don’t be Fooled by Singapore’s Unexciting Reputation

If you’ve never been to Singapore, perhaps the one impression that you’ll have of it is its being an unexciting city where citizens are fined for throwing gum on the street. This may be a way for the government to turn the city into one of the safest and cleanest in Southeast Asia, but the endless entertainment options that you will get to enjoy while visiting Singapore is anything but unexciting.

To start right off, there are the ever-popular merlion icons which are in several strategic locations in Singapore. Perhaps the most popular is the merlion at Merlion Park near Marina Bay. There’s another gigantic replica of the statue in Sentosa Island, as well as a couple more at the Tourism Court and Mount Faber’s Faber Point. The statue is a combination of a lion’s head and a fish body, which has become a virtual symbol of everything exciting about the city-state of Singapore.

Shopping, Dining & Other Entertainment Options in Singapore

As progressive as it is, Singapore is in fact a fairly crowded city because of its being a small island which is packed with more than five million people. Some of the must-travel districts for tourists who are visiting Singapore include:

• Riverside
  Also known as the Civil District, Riverside is home to Singapore’s colonial core where there are plenty of museums, statues, bars, clubs and other modern entertainment options.

• Singapore’s Old Malay District
  Bugis and Kampong Glam used to be Singapore’s Malay district, but it is now populated with shopping establishments.

• North and West Singapore
  The North part of Singapore is also called Woodlands, while Jurong is located in the West. This is basically the residential and industrial part of Singapore.

• East Coast
  Another residential district in Singapore which is home to the Changi Airport is the East Coast, where there are also famous beach attractions.

• Sentosa
  Sentosa used to be a military port which is now developed into a resort. It is currently home to the newly-built Universal Studios.

• Orchard Road
  If you cannot visit a new country without getting your fill of shopping options, Orchard Road is the place to be. The street is literally lined with miles and miles of shopping establishments where you can buy local and imported goodies.

• Little India and Chinatown
  Part of Singapore’s colorful culture is its obsession with food – so Little India and Chinatown are a must-visit if you want to tease your palate with culinary treats.

When you compare Singapore to a dish, it is a delightful blend of what Asia is all about – with a hint of China, Malay and India pleasantly thrown in the mix. If you are putting Southeast Asia as part of your travel itinerary, you should definitely not pass up on the opportunity to visit the city-state of Singapore.