 |
|
|
Singling Out Singapore |
|
|
|
|
|
Though physically small, Singapore is an economic giant. It has been Southeast Asia's most modern city for over a century. The city blends Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian and English cultures and religions. Its unique ethnic tapestry affords visitors a wide array of sightseeing and culinary opportunities from which to choose. A full calendar of traditional festivals and holidays celebrated throughout the year adds to its cultural appeal. In addition, Singapore offers luxury hotels, delectable cuisine and great shopping!
The island nation of the Republic of Singapore lies one degree north of the Equator in Southern Asia. The country includes the island of Singapore and 58 or so smaller islands. Because of its efficient and determined government, Singapore has become a flourishing country that excels in trade and tourism and is a model to developing nations. The capital city, also called Singapore, covers about a third of the area of the main island.
Located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore's tropical climate welcomes both leisure and business travelers year round. The island republic's excellent infrastructure enables visitors to enjoy its many sites and attractions in a safe, clean and green environment. Award winning Changi Airport provides airlinks to major cities around the world. The train and subway systems are clean, fast and efficient. In addition, its state-of-the-art cruise terminal has established Singapore as one of the premier cruising centers of South East Asia and an exciting port of call on any Asian cruise itinerary.
In the city, there is no need for a car. Public transportation is excellent and walking is a good way to explore the city . All major attractions are also accessible by tour bus. Since the city is only 60 miles (100k) from the equator, the tropical temperatures do not vary much. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed through the year. No matter when you choose to visit, warm weather will be abundantly available. The visitor is struck immediately by Singapore's abundance of parks, nature reserves, and lush, tropical greenery.
Singapore's progress over the past three decades has been remarkable, yet the island has not been overwhelmed by development. Visitors will discover a wealth of historical treasures from the past, in the beauty of older buildings, values and traditions that have survived in the face of profound social and geographical change.
Lacking any noteworthy natural resources, Singapore's early prosperity was based on a vigorous free trade policy, put in place in 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles first established it as a British trading post. Later, mass industrialization bolstered the economy, and today the state boasts the world's second busiest port after Rotterdam, minimal unemployment, and a super efficient infrastructure. Almost the entire population lives in upscale new apartments, and the average per capita income is over US$12,000. Singapore is a clean, safe place to visit, its amenities are second to none and its public places are smoke-free and hygienic.
Forming the core of downtown Singapore is the Colonial District. Each surrounding enclave has its own distinct flavor, from the aromatic spice stores of Little India, to the tumbledown backstreets of Chinatown, where it is still possible to find calligraphers and fortune tellers, or the Arab Quarter, whose cluttered stores sell fine cloths and silks
North of the city, are two nature preserves, Bukit Timah and the Central Catchment Area, along with the splendid Singapore Zoological Gardens. The east coast features good seafood restaurants set on long stretches of sandy beach. In addition there are over fifty islands and islets within Singaporean waters, all of which can be reached with varying degrees of ease. Day trips are popular to Sentosa, the island amusement arcade which is linked to the south coast by a short causeway and cable car. Music, theater, nightlife: all are abundant in this remarkable city. Singapore used to be considered a "stop over" on the way to larger Asian cities. This is no longer true! Visitors seek out Singapore for business and finance and also for a fascinating and satisfying vacation for the whole family.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
In the midst of dynamic growth as a fast paced modern commercial center, Bangkok manages to preserve its cultural heritage to a marked degree. The soaring roofs and gleaming spires of the Grand Palace and the city's many historic temples: Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Temple of Dawn and other shrines present the visitor with a picture of medieval Oriental wonder; as in an Eastern fairytale.
Metropolitan Bangkok covers 612 sq mi of southern Thailand, and is located in the center of the most fertile rice producing delta in the world. A network of natural and artificial canals crisscross the city. They feed to and from Thailand's hydrological lifeline, the broad Chao Phraya River, which winds through the city providing transport for passengers and cargo.
With an easy access to the river provided by the new skytrain, travelers who stay in the city can now enjoy the highlight of any visit to Bangkok, a boat cruise along the Chao Praya River.
 Bangkok is divided in two by the main north-south train line. Old Bangkok, where a large number of the city's temples and palaces and its Chinese and Indian districts are found, lies between the river and the railway. East of the railway, comprising the main business, tourist and sprawling residential districts, is 'new' Bangkok. Outside of these general classifications, Bangkok sprawls in all directions with a mixture of commercial, industrial and residential areas.
Outside the city center are new high-rise neighborhoods where most of the city's approximately ten million inhabitants reside. Bangkok is the region's most exotic and, at the same time, most noisy and most chaotic capital city.
Bangkok is both an ancient and a modern city, where the network of klongs (canals) offset a steady stream of automobile traffic, where giant outdoor markets compete with glittering shopping malls, and where modern buildings rise in the city that grew around the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It is the financial capital of one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Bangkok continues to prosper in spite of a major economic setback in 1997, and the ongoing problem of some of the worst air and water pollution in the world.
Boats of all sizes and shapes cruise the Chao Phraya River day and night. Ferries run up, down, and across the river, carrying commuters to work, children to school, and saffron-robed monks to temple. Rice barges pull mountains of rice, gravel, sand, lumber, vegetables, and the countless families who make them their homes. The Royal Barges, long, graceful, gilded crafts, usually seen on display only in museums, make appearances on parade once or twice each month to celebrate the arrival of visiting dignitaries or to herald other special events.
The strangest, most frequently seen boat on the river is the hang yao, or long-tailed water taxi, a long, thin, graceful vessel, powered by an automobile engine connected by a long, exposed shaft (tail) to the propeller.. These water taxis carry passengers throughout the maze of klongs and are vital in transporting fresh food from upriver farms and fresh fish from coastal villages to Bangkok.
 Shopping is a popular activity in Bangkok. The best known market is the one held on Saturdays and Sundays at Chatuchak from 7 in the morning to 5 or 6 in the afternoon. Even if you have nothing on your shopping list, it is still worth the trip to see what is offered. An amazing array of items can be found, such as: military surplus, clothing, crafts, jewelry, art work, live animals, antiques, old books, the list is endless! And it is only a short trip by Sky Train from the city. If you have time, take a day to visit the authentic floating market at Damnoen Saduak, about 48 miles southwest of Bangkok in Ratchaburi Province.
Bangkok offers unrivaled shopping for Southeast Asian handicrafts, antiques, silk, and jewels. It also provides a vibrant, exciting nightlife with Thai classical dance, jazz, discos, caberets, pubs, and dinner cruises.
Bangkok has one of the greatest concentration of luxury hotels of any city in the world, and, as the capital of Thai cuisine, offers some of the best dining options. Visitors find that in the midst of the masses of people, cars, and constant activity, there is a tradition of a gracious welcoming of them; of special kindness and friendliness to children; of caring and taking time to help them feel at home.
The intertwining of Thailand's many cultural influences manifests itself in everything from the architectural splendor of the ornate palaces and temples to the delicate lines of the ancient arts. Indian, Khmer, Chinese, European, and Thai histories collide in the design of the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaeo, and Wat Po, as well as in the superb collection of priceless items on display at the National Museum. There are gardens and other outdoor attractions to explore that will delight even the youngest members of the family. The zoo, Marine Park and Safari World are just a few examples.
Everywhere one travels in this city of contrasts, the senses and the imagination are heightened by the great beauty and vivid color of the landscape, by the grace and gentle spirit of the culture, by the strength and resilience of the silken threads that run through the fabric of the masterpiece that is Bangkok.
|
|
|
|
