Singapore Travel Guide
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- Official name: Republic of Singapore
- Language: English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
- Religion: Buddhism 42.5%, Christianity 14.6%, Islam 13.9%, Taoism 8.5%, Hinduism 4%, Other religions 1.6%, No religion 14.8%
- Currency : Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Singapore Sights and Museums
WHAT TO SEE
- Little India embodies the vibrant and colourful culture of the local Indian community. Small shops abound, selling glittering silks, garlands, gold jewellery and spices that are ground in front of you.
- Jurong Bird Park and Singapore Zoo. Singapore's beautiful open-concept zoo has captured international attention. The Jurong Bird Park has 20 hectares of beautifully landscaped parklands housing thousands of colourful birds.
- Chinatown. Here amidst narrow streets of picturesque shops and restaurants, the idol carvers, herbalists, calligraphers, traders and trishaw drivers pursue a way of life that has changed little for generations. Much of Chinatown has recently been renovated, but old traditions endure.
- Sentosa. Apart from superb beaches, Sentosa offers two golf courses, swimming lagoons, and an Asian village featuring ethnic foods, arts and crafts from all over the region, plus thrilling rides. There are museums highlighting maritime history and Singapore's early days, including the years of World War II.
Singapore Entertainment
EVENTS
- End of February: Singapore River Raft Race. At this annual event, you will find teams competing on anything that floats, and quite possibly some that do not. Nevertheless, you will be amazed at the creativity and design of some of these contraptions.
- March-April: Singapore International Comedy Festival. The Singapore International Comedy Festival storms into town with performances, running the gamut from cabaret to stand-up and theatre.
- April: Singapore Million Dollar Duck Race. Racing ducks for a worthy cause
- July: Singapore Food Festival: if you want to give your tongue a complete new taste, Food Festivals of Singapore are the right choice. From Singaporean cuisine to local food delight; you have numerous choices at your fingers. www.singaporefoodfestival.com
- 25 May- 24 June: Singapore Arts Festival. Established as a national celebration for the arts, the Festival offers a myriad showcase of world-class and internationally-acclaimed arts productions, and has a strong trademark for presenting several world and Asian premieres. www.singaporeartsfest.com
- August 9th: National Day Parade. To conmemorate Singapore Independence.
- August-September: Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. The Chinese honour the restless spirits that they believe roam around the world for one month, when they are temporarily let out of hell to stretch their legs.
- June: The Dragon Boat Festival. Commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet and tateman of the 4th century BC, sho drowned himself in protest against political corruption.
Singapore Transports
- The efficient and clean public transportation in Singapore makes getting around the Republic a breeze. Singapore's transportation network offers access to every corner of the island, either by bus, MRT (Singapore's underground rail network), taxis, rented cars and motorbikes or even by foot.
HOW TO GET THERE
- By plane: Singapore is an excellent place to enter or leave Asia, with planes going to every possible directions and cheap prices. From / to the airport, public bus No36 is the best bet at $1.50 (no change given). There is a stop near the cheap GH of Bencoolen St. Otherwise, the airport shuttle to most of the hotels cost $7.
- By Land: Singapore was once part of Malaysia. Frequent buses connect the Queen's Street Bus Station with Johor Bahruu, a major travel hub in Malaysia. Long distance buses also operates from St Lavender Street Bus Station. Trains is also possible from Thailand and Malaysia.
- By sea: It is possible to reach Singapore from Indonesia (boats regularly connect Medan with Penang and Dumai with Melaka) and Malaysia (ferrys from Changi Village and Tanjung Belungkor. From March to October, Tioman Island is a faster option.
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