Singapore : the city-state

City-state, the former Singapura, Lion City in Malay, is now an economic tiger whose roar of satisfaction resulting in an unprecedented economic prosperity. However, behind the glass facades of skyscrapers and shopping malls, this gateway to Asia remains a good summary of the continent in its commitment to the traditions Malay, Chinese and Indian.

Entrenched in the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula as a diamond, Singapore is about seven times the size of central Paris, 693 km2. Conquered from the water, its territory continues to expand and could still win 100 km2 polder 2030.

The main island, composed of volcanic rocks in the center, but rather flat (the highest point is 160 m ...), is 40 km from east to west and 18 km from north to south. Sixty smaller islands surrounding it, including Jurong, Sentosa or Pulau Tekong. They also belong to this city-state, a former British colony which became independent from the Malaysian federation in 1965.

Today, over 5 million people, 77% Chinese, 13% Malay and 8% Indian. The country has four official languages, Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English.

This diversity is associated with a commercial offer to satisfy all age brackets. Sentosa Island, formerly pirate hideout boasts a superb zoo and a local replica of Disneyland. On the east coast, the amusement park can reconcile the pleasures of the beach with many sports and contemplation.

tropical, hot and humid, it does not reserve you a big surprise. In November, December and January, it rains nearly two out of three days. The rest of the year, sporadic rain hardly affect the daily life. The thermometer is consistently around 30 ° C during the day and 24 ° C at night. Under these conditions, the timing of holidays and festivities seem more important than the climate for the timing of a trip to Singapore. The Chinese New Year is celebrated in January or February; In November, during Deepavali, Little India is celebrating and shining brightly. Every two years, runs the interesting Singapore Arts Festival.

The least that can be said is that the obsession with economic wealth left in the background of cultural life. However, Singapore has no pretensions in that direction and believes, perhaps rightly, that its surprising mix of languages, cultures and colors well worth museums. Chinese opera (wayang) and the Lion Dance, performed during Chinese festivals and accompanied by drums and cymbals, as the Malay opera (bangsawan) have in recent years found some favor. Remember to go to the cinema, an experience that guarantees its share of emotions, even if it's more in the room than on the screen !

No other piece of land permits to travel through space and time as Singapore. To make this journey, you have to go to Serangoon Road in Little India, Chinatown and Arab Street to where the street names, Baghdad, Jeddah and Kandahar, smack so good the east. If you are interested in the city history, your steps will lead you inevitably to the colonial district, houses in the Palladian style, rich in Doric and Corinthian columns sprinkled with a touch of gothic. Finally, the 32-acre Botanic Garden are not to be missed. Admire acres of rainforest and in the Orchid Enclosure, over 250 species of orchids.

Greedy, not to abstain. Indeed, Singapore allows you to taste all the culinary specialties of the planet. Take an English breakfast, an Indian or Chinese lunch followed by a Malaysian or Vietnamese dinner. Especially since these dishes sold in foodcourts (locally called hawkers centers) are very affordable. Chinese chicken rice, chicken rice with chilli sauce, ginger and soy are the most common. The chicken can be eaten the Malaysian way with a sauce made from coconut milk and spices (rendang). Crab (chili crab or black pepper crab) is another popular dish, like the ubiquitous fried Hokkien meel, local noodles fries.

Source : http://www.alibabuy.com/