Singapore – a unique place to spend New Year’s Eve or to visit at another time of year
Singapore is rightly proud not only of its huge skyscrapers and trade centres, but is also the largest port in the world as well as being famous for the things that are banned there. It is a luxurious country and city all rolled into one. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit, make certain you do so!
A touch of history with a little British gentlemanhood mixed in
The city was founded in 1819 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles from the British Colonial Company and operated as an important colonial port and strategic location with a large military garrison until World War Two. The army has a strong position to this very day with 50,000 professional soldiers for such a “small” country!
The luxury “Lion City”
This is another of Singapore’s names. It defies the general ideas and stereotypes which are often rightly associated with the Asian continent. Its name is derived from Sanskrit and translates as Lion City. Or have you already heard names such as the Monaco of Asia, the Paris of Asia, the New York of Asia – that is possible too. Simply put, Singapore has many luxurious faces which are worth getting to know.
Dynamism and contrast
You will find here a distinct mixture of architecture, culture, cuisine, contrasts of colour and fragrances as well as unexpected dynamics.
Which places to see?
You will certainly find luxurious locations in the city centre with its colonial district and Christian churches (St. Andrew’s Cathedral and the Armenian Church etc.), in the colourful Chinatown with its picturesque temples (e.g. the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple or the Thian Hock Keng Temple), Little India with its interesting temples (Sri Srinivasa Perumal or Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman etc.) and the Muslim district with the Sultan Masjid Mosque.
You should also visit Orchard Street with its renowned hotels and shopping centres. The “Gardens by the Bay” botanical gardens will entice you to visit with their beauty. Singapore Zoo is also famous the world over. Another popular location in Singapore is the Jurong Bird Park which breeds around 400 different species of birds. The history of Singapore at the time of the Japanese occupation after World War Two is commemorated by the Changai Museum. Marina Bay offers a luxurious panorama, home among other things to the luxury Marina Bay Sands Hotel, but also the huge Singapore Flyer observation wheel.
Are you already packing your cases?
