Singapore Hotels & Resorts

Lying virtually on the equator, at the centre of South-East Asia, Singapore is a gateway for the millions of tourists who visit the region each year and an exciting destination in its own right, its colonial past not lost to modern development.

The people
There is a diversity of races and a variety of religions in Singapore. The Chinese make up 76 percent of the population, the remainder a blend of Malay (14 percent), Indian (8 percent) and ethnic groups including Eurasians, the descendants of families from the former Portuguese colonies of Malacca in Malaysia and Goa in India. There are also small Arab, Armenian and Jewish communities. The four official languages of Singapore are Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English. English is widespread and is the language that unites the various ethnic groups.

Nature
Singapore island measures only 42 kilometres from east to west and 23 kilometres from north to south. Despite its dense population, 40 percent of the land is covered with parklands and four percent is forest, hence the title 'Garden City'. Minutes from Orchard Road, Singapore's Botanic Gardens sprawl over 54 hectares, with manicured gardens, primary jungle and a huge variety of native and exotic plants. Cultivating orchids is big business in Singapore, and Mandai Orchid Gardens provides a year-round colourful display. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, just 12 kilometres from the city, is a tropical rainforest and wildlife haven. The 162-metre Bukit Timah is the highest point in Singapore, and a popular summit walk. Comprising 87 hectares of conserved wetlands, the Sungel Buloh Wetland Reserve is home to a myriad of plants and animals, and a stop for migratory birds.

The sights
The Merlion (a lion's head with a fish tail), a waterspouting
statue, has become the symbol of the nation and now stands at its new location at the head of the Singapore River. Another famous landmark, the former transvestite playground of Bugis Street, was demolished during the building of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), and has been rebuilt – although as a less raucous food and entertainment precinct. For a good view of Singapore, head to Fort Canning Hill. There is little remaining of the house Sir Stamford Raffles built but it is a pleasant park and is home to the Singapore Spice Garden. St Andrew's Cathedral, completed in 1862, was built by Indian convicts who used a special recipe, Madras Chunam, made from shell lime, egg white and sugar, beaten to form a paste, then diluted to make plaster which, when polished, had an impenetrable glossy sheen. Worth visiting is the Asian Civilisations Museum at Empress Place, and the Singapore Art Museum with its collection of contemporary Singaporean and ASEAN art. The recently reopened Singapore National Museum is also a must, telling the history of Singapore and her people in cutting edge interactive multimedia displays. The sprawling, sinisterlooking Changi Prison was built by the British, used by the Japanese in World War II and is still a prison today. The Changi Chapel and Museum holds records of prisoners' wartime experiences. Opened recently, Universal Studies Singapore® invites you to enter the thrilling world of movie magic and be dazzled and delighted by an entertainment experience that brings the silver screen to life. There are loads of rides for kids and adults alike to enjoy. Long before the Europeans arrived, Arab traders plied the coastlines of the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia, bringing with them the teachings of Islam. The Arab District remains a Malay enclave. There are few cars, tiny shops, and a slower pace of life. The newly-opened Malay Heritage Centre aims to promote Malay culture and arts to visitors and locals alike. Chinatown, on the other hand, is a busy place full of restaurants, shops, temples and herbalists, squeezed into an area of two square kilometres. The Chinatown Heritage Centre gives visitors an opportunity to see how the Chinese immigrants of yesteryear lived and worked in Singapore. Don't miss the Chinatown Night Market before enjoying a feast of local delicacies at nearby Food Street. Little India is also a hive of activity. Sit back on a trishaw and soak up the atmosphere as you pass ubiquitous gold and sari stores, or even have your fortune told by a parrot. Less known by visitors is Singapore's Peranakan culture – a mixture of Malay and Chinese traditions. Visit Katong and view the beautifully restored shophouses, traditional ornate jewellery and clothing before dining on traditional dumplings. The beautifully landscaped open-concept Singapore Zoo is a highlight of any trip to Singapore. As well as elephant, chimpanzee and sea lion shows, you can enjoy a jungle breakfast with animal stars. The nearby Night Safari claims to be the world's first night time park, home to some 1200 animals spread over 40 hectares of secondary jungle. The world's largest walk-in aviary, at Jurong BirdPark, houses more than 8000 birds, including toucans, flamingoes and eagles. If time allows, make the popular day trip to Sentosa Island – it has beaches, walking trails, golf courses, restaurants, hotels and fun family attractions including Underwater World, Dolphin Lagoon and the Sentosa Luge. Or spend the day at one of the city's luxury day spas including Aramsa Spa, St Gregory Marine Spa or Spa Botanica - Singapore's first outdoor garden spa. Singapore is so close to Malaysia and Indonesia, it is possible to do day tours to places like Johor Bahru, Malacca, Batam Island and Bintan.

Where to stay
There is a range of accommodation readily available in Singapore, from the luxurious to backpacker hostels. Traditional and historic or high-rise with every mod-con, small boutique hotel or world-class resort, they're all here, mostly found around the CBD, Orchard Road and Marina areas. The new Naumi Hotel even offers women's only floors, ideal for female corporate travellers.

Getting around
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is the most convenient way to travel, with trains running every three to eight minutes from 6am to midnight. Singapore has a good bus network with frequent services and a ready supply of metered taxis. Taxi Tour Guides are also a fantastic way to see the sights of Singapore. Taxis displaying the Tour Guide stickers are professionally trained guides as well as drivers. Hiring cars or bumboats (motorised boats that ply the Singapore River) is easy, and there are regular ferry services and luxurious junk tours. Tri-shaws have disappeared from Singapore's main streets, but can still be found operating in Chinatown, Little India and back streets. Agree on a fare beforehand.

Food and entertainment
Singapore is the food capital of Asia. Chinese, Indian, Malay, Indonesian and Western foods are all on offer, and some of the tastiest creations are those from the colourful hawker (street) stalls. Peranakan or Nonya cooking is a local variation on Chinese and Malay food, mixing Chinese ingredients with local spices such as lemongrass and coconut cream. The spicy, coconut-based soup laksa is a popular Nonya dish. Singapore is also a great place to discover tropical fruits, such as rambutan, mangosteen, durian, jackfruit, pomelo, starfruit, buah duku and chiku. The dizzying variety of cuisines can be sampled at casual, open-air hawker centres, quaint old Chinatown tea houses, thatched-roof pavilion restaurants, or an elegant restaurant in a skyscraper with views over the islands of Indonesia. From Chinese opera and street performances to Malay and Indian dances, jazz clubs, discos, English-style pubs and Japanese-style karaoke lounges, Singapore has it all. The Esplanade Theatres on the Bay rivals the world's best Opera Houses and offers a program of international and local performers year-round. The newly opened Singapore Flyer offers views across the city from self-contained capsules in which you can enjoy champagne and canapés. Check out the newly revamped Clarke Quay or head to St James Power Station to party the night away in one of the many clubs.

Activities
Walking is one of the best ways to see all that the compact city district offers, while sporty types will enjoy golf, computerised bowling alleys, archery, canoeing along the East Coast and the lagoon at Sentosa Island. Nature-lovers can visit parks and trek through reserves, and aquatic sport enthusiasts can waterski, windsurf, jet ski, and wakeboard.

Shopping
In Singapore, shopping is not just a casual activity to fill in time; it is the mainstay of the culture. Orchard Road offers a dazzling array of stores, including ION Orchard the newest shopping complex. There's also Chinatown, Arab Street and Little India – home to the Mustafa Centre – Singapore's first 24-hour department store. The east coast suburb of Katong is 15 minutes from town, and the yuppie haunt, Holland Village, 10 minutes away. Shops open from 10 am to 9 pm seven days and, whether you're after a Chinese kite, a piece of jewellery or a designer outfit, you're sure to find it here. Singapore's newest shopping hub – VivoCity – is the largest shopping centre in Singapore and home to over 300 specialty stores.

Climate
The climate is hot and tropical year round. Cool, loose fitting summer clothes are recommended.

Currency
Singapore dollars and cents. Tipping is not generally expected at hotels or restaurants as they have a 10% service charge.