Singapore

 “In Singapore’s banana-lemon …”, as the classic song goes, there is so much that deserves attention that it is difficult to focus on one thing. The state of Singapore has a long history that was not easy for the former colony. Until the beginning of the 19th century, Singapore was under the control of various major powers in the region, then gradually went under the control of the British Empire, becoming its colony in 1867. The Second World War also made its own adjustments to the fate of this country. Singapore proclaimed independence in 1965, after leaving Malaysia, with which it had long-standing historical ties. The exit was relatively painless due to the fact that the small poor state was not of much interest to the neighbors.

 From this point on, the most interesting stage of the country’s development began – Singapore Miracle. Several enthusiasts led by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew chose Singapore’s strategy to become a major international financial center, and consistently implemented it. Until now, economists and political scientists around the world have cited this program as a canonical example of modernizing the economy according to the “from zero to hero” principle. The key elements of a consistent policy were as follows: creating a truly comfortable investment climate for international corporations, eradicating traditional corruption, setting up an attractive tax system for international business, creating an independent court.

 Among the favorable factors, significant investment can also be attributed to the education of the population, as well as the eradication of organized crime. By the beginning of the new millennium, Singapore had become one of the world leaders in economic efficiency and the standard of living of the population. Personally, I am particularly impressed with such elements of reforms as the elimination of ambiguities in laws, the simplification of all legal procedures and the creation of an independent judicial system, attracting lawyers of international level to their posts.

 

Speaking of travelling, it is worth mentioning Singapore’s geographical and transportation advantages. Changi International Airport is a major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, and is itself a landmark – it’s practically a city with a lot of entertainment, from cinemas and shops to a park and massage parlors. In order not to be puzzled by the visa issue, you can stay in Singapore for about 4 days without a visa in transit mode, following the transit to another country. We went there a few years ago, following the path to Thailand, and we are still impressed by what we saw. We are sure that over the years, Singapore has developed even more, and we really want to go there again.

One of the iconic places is the Museum of Art and Science, built under the guidance of the famous Canadian architect Moshe Safdi in the main tourist bay – Marina Bay. The main idea of the building is a lotus flower with huge 10-meter petals of high-tech material. The museum area is about 6 thousand square meters, where the expositions are located on three levels, allowing you to get acquainted with the latest achievements of science and technology, in the vicinity of works of classical artists of the past. Particularly beautiful is the panorama of the museum from the height of the huge Ferris wheel – another world-famous attraction reaching the height of a 55-storey building.

 

Also, there is a hotel which has the status of a landmark in Singapore – Marina Bay Sands (the same “hotel – ship”). Despite the fact that this hotel is one of the most expensive in the city, it is worth staying in it at least for a day. For this, you can, for example, use the hotel price monitoring option on the mashup site Hotel Scanner, and select the period of the most profitable accommodation. At the top level (which is built in the shape of a gondola) there are various places of entertainment, as well as a panoramic pool with breathtaking views. Previously, it was possible to get there without being a guest of the hotel, but more recently, due to the influx of tourists, only guests have been allowed to go.

 

I should also mention Sentosa Island, one of dozens of islands forming the territory of Singapore. It contains the Universal Studio amusement park, hotels, a casino, restaurants, an aquarium, and also has a beautiful beach area. The island is located next to the main part of Singapore, and you can reach it not only by taxi, but also by cable car or monorail. Only this one island with many amusement parks can be explored for a week, not to mention the main city. Therefore, if travelers in Singapore are in transit for a couple of days, then it is still worth considering going to Sentosa, there is a lot of everything there.

 

As in any Asian metropolis, Singapore has its own shopping center Orchard Road. There is a cluster of luxury shops, and I cannot say that prices are decent. However, still worth visiting the area of lights and super-malls, it also reflects the spirit of the city. Of particular value for tourists are the areas of Boat Quay and Clarke Quay along the promenade, where restaurants, bars and other places of entertainment are located. There are, of course, many tourists, but this is completely justified.

 

Even more vivid impressions can be acquired by visiting the Singapore Zoo. The animals there are kept in an environment as close as possible to the natural one. And you never know who will sneak up on you the next moment.

 

Since the city is modern and technologically advanced, skyscrapers there are common. Often, restaurants and bars are located on their upper floors, and visiting such places leaves an unforgettable impression for the years ahead. For example, we visited the restaurant Equinox, located in the Swiss Hotel tower, and spent most of the time looking up from the panoramic windows, the view was so impressive.

 

Given the modern style of the whole city, finding historical buildings there is not so easy. One of these is the Fullerton hotel, built in the colonial style, named after the 19th century local governor. This building has a rich history by local standards (it has even been the post office), and now, as you might guess, it is a hotel.

 

In general, the list of Singapore sites is indefinite. This state has developed and introduced many modern technologies in all spheres of life, and the tourism sector also bears the imprint of a local style. Places for entertainment of tourists are constantly expanding and improving. And, having been there once, you can be sure that in a few years there will definitely be something to be surprised about.

 

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