Singapore is one of the most enjoyable Southeast Asian tourist destinations. As you drive from the marvellous Changi airport, along the lush tree-shaded expressway or on the zippy MRT train line, you will soon realize that this is no traffic-logged Bangkok.

Any time is a good time to go to Singapore. Singapore’s mouth-watering food is perhaps its biggest draw card. A night at a bustling hawker centre will not only introduce you to a fantastic range of Asian dishes but will also be light on your pocket. The term ‘hawker’ was once used to describe food vendors who moved their wares around in mobile carts. In Singapore, hawker-style food is hugely popular and the covered markets and food courts where you will find it are also known as hawker centres. If you want to indulge, then Singapore also offers some of the most innovative and stylish restaurants in the region and a range of top-class hotels culminating in Raffles, a timeless symbol of colonial luxury. Singapore has many places for entertainment such as the Jeurong Bird Park, Singapore Science Centre and Snow City, Santosa Island which is the city’s favourite resort getaway and The Underwater World which is Santosa’s most popular attractions. Adventure activities include diving with the sharks and dolphins at the Underwater World in Santosa, mountain biking around Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the various amusement parks and of course, the night safari, playing with and feeding the animals at the Singapore Zoo.

The wide variety of religions found in Singapore reflects the diversity of races living here. The Chinese mainly follow Buddhism and Shenism (deity worship). Malays are overwhelmingly Muslim. Besides the Chinese, Singapore mostly has Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians and Buddhists. Despite increasing westernization, traditional religious beliefs are still held by the large majority. Moving a little away from religion, Singapore has strict laws defining appropriate public behaviour. Spitting, chewing gum or even failing to flush the toilet can cause you to pay a fine!

Singapore is undoubtedly the easiest city in Asia to get around. It has an extensive bus service. You rarely have to wait for more than a few minutes for a bus and they will take you almost everywhere you want to go. There are television programmes aired on many buses to keep the passengers entertained. Then there is the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). The ultramodern MRT subway system is the easiest, quickest and the most comfortable way to get around Singapore. The system operates from six in the morning to midnight and the trains run every three to four minutes. If you can cope with the heat and sometimes the fast moving traffic, then getting around Singapore by bicycle is also not a bad idea.

Singapore must be visited by everyone, especially those with young children since it is a safe and healthy country and it is easy to get around. Singapore is an amazing getaway that provides non-stop entertainment.

Sanya Kansal

The Viewspaper

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