Singapore - Introduction

Singapore is less than a three-hour flight from Bali, but it is truly a world apart. Rather than a largely agrarian and tourism-driven island in a developing country, Singapore is a modern city-state with first world infrastructure: skyscrapers, designer shopping, an efficient subway system, fast internet and tap water you can drink. It is about the size of New York City (698 sq km, or 268 sq mi) and has a population of 5.6 million. As a country it is near the top of many global rankings: third largest financial center, second busiest container port in the world, third highest GDP per capita, 4th in life expectancy, and 5th in the UN Human Development Index (Norway is #1, US is tied for 10th). It is probably the cleanest, tidiest, safest large city I have ever been to.

As an island off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula it has for centuries been an important trading port and its multiethnic population reflects the various traders and conquerors that have landed here, including Chinese, Malay and Indian. So here you’ll find Chinatown, Little India, and Arab Street. Lucky for us, English is widely spoken and the dominant written language (it’s a former British colony), but Singapore actually has four official languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. Buddhism is the most common religion, but you’ll also find Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism and (my favorite) None-of-the-above-ism. Fortunately, Singaporeans value racial and religious harmony and that has been a major factor in their success.

The Bay Marina Sands (left) and the ArtScience Museum (right)


Helix pedestrian bridge


Esplanade (Theaters)














Hindu Temple
(photo by Deborah)


Detail at a different Hindu temple



Sultan Mosque



Chinese Temple



Detail from Chinese Temple


Lots of greenery in Singapore, and not just in the many parks.






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