Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
The Best of
Singapore & Malaysia
A fascinating mix of contrasts, Singapore lies at the crossroads of East
and West, and as a r esult, it hums with a unique cultur e that is equal par ts oriental and
occidental. F ounded b y an adv enturer who was sear ching for the epicenter of global
trade, early S ingapore drew waves of immigrant traders, inv estors, laborers, and adv en-
turers from all corners of the world. S ome 200 years later, Singapore is still fulfilling its
original r ole, with one of the busiest shipping por ts on Ear th, a multicultural nativ e
population, and fr esh waves of ne w immigrants and expatriates fr om countries far and
wide. True to its heritage, S ingapore has always been, and will always be, a nation that
blends the best of all worlds into one nation.
It is understandable for a visitor to feel as if S ingapore has sold its Asian soul in
exchange for a Western lifestyle. On the surface, the terrain is distinctly consumer driven;
its rows of shiny shopping malls flank wide, manicured avenues dotted with McDonald's
and Starbucks. At rush hour, the flo w of office wor kers forms an endless riv er of black
business suits and B lackberries through the M ass Rapid Transit system into the do wn-
town Central Business District. A modern metr opolis, Singapore is a city on the mo ve,
with places to go and people to see.
But for those who pause to take a closer look, S ingapore's cultural hear t is aliv e and
well beneath the polished v eneer. Singapore's Chinese ar e still driv en by ancient v alues
that respect the family , authority, and success merited b y hard work. Its Malays share
openly their warm ideals of gener osity, hospitality, and jo y among friends and family .
And the city's Indians possess a culture steeped in thousands of years of traditional beauty
and passion for life. A dd to this the spirit of Arabs and Armenians, B ugis and B ritish,
various Europeans and E urasians, and many mor e—a multitude of cultur es that, com-
bined, defines what it means to be S ingaporean.
Singapore strives to honor its past while keeping one eye firmly focused on the future.
Amid its efforts to grow the nation's economy and its people's standard of living are huge
plans for tourism dev elopment. Already it hosts stellar world-class institutions, such as
the Asian Civilisations M useum, the S ingapore Arts Museum, and the awar d-winning
Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. In recent years, the city has completely r evamped the
Singapore History Museum and has added the S ingapore Flyer to its r epertoire. All of
these attractions, and many more, are detailed within the pages of this guide.
Major changes ar e on the horiz on. In the coming y ears, visitors can look for ward to
The Marina Bay Sands, which comprises a Las Vegas-style casino supported by a conven-
tion center, three hotel towers topped by an interconnected skypark, “floating” pavilions
on the bay, an Ar tScience Museum, a luxur y shopping mall, celebrity chef r estaurants,
theaters, and nightclubs. The complex is slated for opening in stages fr
om the end of
2009.
The following year another casino complex will be launched on S entosa, Singapore's
leisure destination island, just minutes fr om the downtown area. Resorts World at Sen-
tosa will include, in addition to a casino, Universal Studios Singapore, Marine Life Park,
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