S E Asia Tour in a Nutshell? - Holiday Singapore
Things to Do in Orchard Rd, Little India, Arab St, and Chinatown
Feb 17, 2009
From the moment the visitor arrives at Changi Airport, he or she knows Singapore must be a special place. It’s one of the best-run and most attractive airports around and features tropical plants, especially the Singapore Orchid, everywhere.
The ¾ hour drive into the city on straight, shrub and flowered lined boulevards is one of the most attractive airport-city runs in the world. An amazing little-known fact is that all the shrubbery is readily removable, and that wonderful strait can serve as an emergency runway, should the airport suffer a catastrophe.
Where is Singapore?
Singapore is a small island on the very tip of Malaysia and connected to Malaysia by a land bridge. It is surrounded by Indonesian islands. At 682.7 sq.km (according to the CIA World Factbook) it is slightly smaller than New York City and has approximately half the population.
Singapore is 13588 km from the US (20:30 hours flying time) and 10849 from Britain (12:40 hours flying time). Consequently, it makes an excellent stopover to break the ultra-long flight times to Australia and New Zealand.
History-Sketch of Singapore
In modern times, Singapore has been a British colony (1819-1959), including a period under Japanese occupation (1942-1945) during the Second World War, and was briefly a part of the Federation of Malaysia (1963-1965).
On its forced secession from that Federation, became an independent city-state in 1965, from which time it has thrived and become a great modern commercial centre, leading port and fascinating city.
Singapore Attractions
Singapore has not dismissed its colonial past, but rather cherishes its wonderful colonial buildings, and old churches. The grand Raffles Hotel, named for the English founder of the colony, is as much tourist attraction and Singapore national treasure as it is accommodation for the rich and famous.
Spread out along a busy river where bum boats offer tours, this city is a curious blend of old and new - modern skyscrapers of gleaming glass and steel rub shoulders with colourful Chinese shop houses, Chinatown markets and the sari stalls of Little India. No money has been spared on public buildings: the Singapore Opera House, shaped like the island’s famous durian fruit, rivals the Sydney Opera House for style. The National Library is also a fascinating place to visit and the National Museum.
The Singapore tourist should be sure to visit, however briefly, the very distinct areas of Singapore, which cater for its ethnic diversity. According to the CIA World Facts site, the Singapore population is 76.8% Chinese, 13.9% Malay, 7.9% Indian and 1.4 Other, which includes many British and Australian ex-pats. Thus, it is not surprising that there is a definite China Town, colourful Little India, Arab Street, and Malayan Bugis Street.
Singapore - Things to Do
Singapore has two of the best zoos in the world – the Singapore Zoo, which incorporates a night zoo for watching predators on the move, and the Jurong Bird Park, which has the largest captive bird population in the world.
Singapore, itself an island, has its own island holiday playground, Sentosa, where beaches and theme parks abound. Most tourists find so much to do in Singapore proper that they just don’t get to Sentosa, which is only minutes away.
Singapore has delightful tropical gardens everywhere, but specifically has a magnificent Botanical Garden, featuring many species of orchids and ginger plants. The Gardens are well worth a visit and offer a respite from the steamy weather. There is no winter whatever in Singapore as it is almost right on the equator.
Shopping in Singapore
Shops in Singapore vary with the area – that is what makes shopping in Singapore so exciting. Singapore’s famous Orchard Road has everything from bargain basements, and enormous food courts, to European fashion designers - and it is renowned for electronics bargains.
Little India has all things Indians, especially saris and jewellery. The 24 hour Mustapha, Singapore multi-floor department store is like no other. Arab Street and Kampong Glam is the local Muslim heartland so has traditional items such as songkok (men’s headgear), prayer mats, batiks and Malay foods. Chinatown has a wealth of small stalls and large emporiums selling all manner of clothing and knickknacks.
Singapore is small enough to get around readily, using its excellent underground rail and bus system, yet has so much packed into the business area, that the Singapore tourist will never see it all. While Singapore makes a great and relaxing stopover, it deserves to be a destination in its own right. So, go visit Singapore and grab some bargains!
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