Singapore

From its rocky beginnings in the 1960’s, no one could have predicted how massively successful the city-state of Singapore would become today. As one of the East Asian Tigers, Singapore enjoys a highly developed and massively successful free market economy. The country itself is remarkably clean and corruption-free, thanks to its strict laws penalizing everything from chewing gum to littering.

However, even this nanny-state has not prevented Singapore from having a huge tourism industry as the main city is clean, bright, and attractive. There are numerous attractions in Singapore and a huge industry devoted to visitors. Come and see what makes Singapore so unique among its Asian cousins.

In the more urbanized parts of Singapore, many of the country’s ethnicities (mostly of Chinese, Indian, and Malay descent) are represented in distinct sectors. Arab Street is Singapore’s Muslim center, selling traditional textiles like batiks, silks, sarongs and shirts from Indonesia as well as rosaries, perfumes, hajj caps, songkok hats, baskets, and rattan goods. The area also is the site of two noteworthy mosques, Sultan Mosque and the much smaller Malabar Muslim Jama-ath Mosque. Along North Bridge Road and Bussorah Street is choice Indian Muslim dining.

Chinatown is, self-evidently, the Chinese neighborhood of Singapore, filled with traditional temples, shops, and restaurants. Unfortunately, this area is slowly industrializing, with more gentrified restaurants and establishments encroaching upon the ethnically flavored area.

Of course, the Indian population has to have their neighborhood as well and that place is Little India, a modest but beautiful area of the city filled with shops and establishment that provide a somewhat quieter and more traditional atmosphere than the rest of the city.

For a more Western taste, stop by Colonial Singapore in the central heart of the city, first brought to life by Sir Stamford Raffles. Sights around the area include the Empress Place Building, a Victorian structure erected in 1865. It houses a museum, art and antique galleries, and an upscale restaurant. There is also the famous Raffles Hotel, synonymous in Singapore for luxury. A few cathedrals dot the area such as St. Andrews and the Cathedral of the Good Shepard.

For high class shopping, Orchard Road is the biggest tourist draw, dominated by only the best hotels, shopping centers, nightspots, restaurants, bars, and lounges. This is where the elite of Singapore mingle and the whole area is profoundly capitalist and pricey.