Singapore
Singapore: history, location, capital, climate, tourism, beaches, flag and more
Singapore is an island sovereign country, which is located in the continent of Asia, this island is made up of a total of 64 islands, its government is characterized by being a parliamentary republic.
Singapore is also referred to as a city state. At the beginning this was an English colony that was founded in 1819, but after its independence the island country has transformed into a tiger, since it has been full of much prosperity and has a port that is one of the most active It has all over the world. Singapore looks like a modern city with a very diverse culture thanks to the significant influence of the Chinese, Malays, and Indians. Singapore is a paradise of culture, good weather, lots of commerce and a beautiful nightlife.
Singapore is an island sovereign country, which is located in the continent of Asia, this island is made up of a total of 64 islands, its government is characterized by being a parliamentary republic.
Singapore is also referred to as a city state. At the beginning this was an English colony that was founded in 1819, but after its independence the island country has transformed into a tiger, since it has been full of much prosperity and has a port that is one of the most active It has all over the world. Singapore looks like a modern city with a very diverse culture thanks to the significant influence of the Chinese, Malays, and Indians. Singapore is a paradise of culture, good weather, lots of commerce and a beautiful nightlife.
Singapore history
The island of Singapore from the moment the first humans settled in approximately the second century, has been part of different regional empires. Current Singapore was founded by Thomas Stamford Raffles as part of the British East India Company. Subsequently, the island passes into the hands of the United Kingdom making it one of the British Strait Colonies. Then, during World War II it is occupied by the Japanese. Finally, the island becomes independent from the United Kingdom and becomes part of Malaysia, for years after separating from it, and it is from that moment that the island has become one of the four Asian tigers, thanks to the prosperity it has had.
We can say that the historical records of Singapore, the first, date from the second and third centuries, in which there is a slight reference of the island in Greek texts where the name of Sabana was granted and in Chinese texts where it was granted the name of Pu Luo Chung. As it is said, Sang Nila Utama, the prince of Srivijaya, arrives on the island because he could glimpse a strange creature that he believed was a lion, so that he himself decides to found a city he named Singapura that later It would be City of the Lions. However, in Singapore there were never lions or anywhere else in Malaysia, so it is said that perhaps the beast that the prince thought he saw was only a tiger or a wild boar. Other records of the history of the island say that it was colonized at least two centuries before and that it was named Temasek, in Javanese City of the Sea and was also a very important port for the Srivijaya kingdom of the island of Sumatra. Subsequently, Srivijaya falls around the year 1400 and Temasek which was spoiled by war kingdoms of Siam and Majapahit of Java, fall into oblivion.
Singapura is soon of great relevance for the Sultanate of Malacca as a center for commerce, later also for the Sultanate of Johor. However, the settlement of these is destroyed by the Portuguese so that Singapura is forgotten.
The island of Singapore from the moment the first humans settled in approximately the second century, has been part of different regional empires. Current Singapore was founded by Thomas Stamford Raffles as part of the British East India Company. Subsequently, the island passes into the hands of the United Kingdom making it one of the British Strait Colonies. Then, during World War II it is occupied by the Japanese. Finally, the island becomes independent from the United Kingdom and becomes part of Malaysia, for years after separating from it, and it is from that moment that the island has become one of the four Asian tigers, thanks to the prosperity it has had.
We can say that the historical records of Singapore, the first, date from the second and third centuries, in which there is a slight reference of the island in Greek texts where the name of Sabana was granted and in Chinese texts where it was granted the name of Pu Luo Chung. As it is said, Sang Nila Utama, the prince of Srivijaya, arrives on the island because he could glimpse a strange creature that he believed was a lion, so that he himself decides to found a city he named Singapura that later It would be City of the Lions. However, in Singapore there were never lions or anywhere else in Malaysia, so it is said that perhaps the beast that the prince thought he saw was only a tiger or a wild boar. Other records of the history of the island say that it was colonized at least two centuries before and that it was named Temasek, in Javanese City of the Sea and was also a very important port for the Srivijaya kingdom of the island of Sumatra. Subsequently, Srivijaya falls around the year 1400 and Temasek which was spoiled by war kingdoms of Siam and Majapahit of Java, fall into oblivion.
Singapura is soon of great relevance for the Sultanate of Malacca as a center for commerce, later also for the Sultanate of Johor. However, the settlement of these is destroyed by the Portuguese so that Singapura is forgotten.
Temasek, Singapura ... for the fourteenth century it is baptized as Singapore by Prince Paramésuara, during that century the island regains its importance, however, it is destroyed by the Javanese leaving the island deserted until 1819, when Stamford Raffles a Briton arrives and He founded a settlement just where the modern city is today.
So, the story that is known today of Singapore begins in 1819, when, as mentioned earlier, Sir Stamford Raffles arrives, he makes a deal with a successor to the throne for the Sultanate of Johor, this deal it was that the British would support their reign in exchange for a place to establish a trading center on the island. This is how the Sultan of Johor rents the place to the British East India Company, subsequently the island is finally transferred to the British East India Company for the year 1824.
This action provoked a protest on the part of the Dutch, however, the realization of the Anglo-Dutch treaty of that same year, 1824, in which the Malay world separates in different territories with English and Dutch influence which give the result of the borders that currently exist in Malaysia-Indonesia and Singapore-Indonesia, terminates the conflict. For the Dutch renounce their protest for Singapore and give their colony established in Malacca to the English, in exchange for the latter giving up the colonies they had established on the Sumatra Island to the Dutch.
By 1826, the island of Singapore joins Maca and Penang, so that their control is under a government with an Indian presidency and a residence in Penang. By 1830, they meet under the presidential command of Bengal and the residence for Singapore.
The island of Singapore being well located at the entrance of the Strait of Malacca, that is, just in the way of trade routes that existed between India, China, Europe and Australia, a good idea by Raffles was to declare the Singapore Island as a free port that had no duty in commerce. As many merchants begin to escape high Dutch taxes, the free port of Singapore begins to be one of the ports with the most traffic in all of Asia. In this way, Singapore, together with Malacca and Penang, becomes one of the narrow settlements in a relic for what was the British crown. This was a great boost in the economy of the island, and it should be added that, this economy is also boosted when you start sending through Singapore what is palm oil and rubber from Malaysia. By 1867, the control of Singapore, Malacca and Penang goes from being under the Indian Government to being under the control of the English minister of colonies, that is, that the island separates from British India and becomes a colony that It was directed directly by the British crown.
Later they are integrated to the islands that were under the command of the governor of the Strait Colonies and the Cocos Islands are incorporated to Singapore in 1900, the Christmas island in 1903 and the old colony of Labuán in 1907 Singapore in 1912 is established as a separate colony, and is only used as a naval base until the Japanese arrive to occupy it.
When World War II arrives, the fortress that was established in Singapore was seen as a fairly good military base, as it had large naval fortifications that were responsible for protecting the island from assaults that could occur by the sea mainly protected from the Germans However, they were not sufficiently prepared or rather they were not alert to any attack on land, so very wisely the Japanese decide to seize the opportunity and attack the island by land.
As said before, this was something for which the British fortress was not prepared, and then, by February 15, 1942, with very little advantage over the occupation of the Japanese in less than a week the British leaders, They finally give up. The rulers of the island at that time were imprisoned in Changi prison, and many people die at the moment when the Japanese finally occupy the island.
In short, during the beginning of the Second World War, Singapore falls into the hands of the Japanese, who attacked by land taking advantage of the precarious defense through the same that the British had. This action meant a very great humiliation for the English suffered during a war, and not only in the military sense, but also meant a heavy blow to what was the domination of Westerners in the Asian continent.
By 1945, British rule in the islands returns, which means a great triumph for these.
It is not until 1955, when the island of Singapore is granted independence. It joins the Malaysian Federation for a short period of time in 1963 after Lee Kuan Yew of the Popular Action Party, who had been elected as prime minister in 1959, proposes this idea, when the English meet they leave the island, however, because their majority Chinese population was seen as a threat to the Malays this is expelled from the Federation in the year 1964, this is how in the year 1965 on August 9, Singapore, it becomes a country, the only one that obtains an independence against its will in all the history of the world.
The four decades of government of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the island of Singapore, is part of a great economic growth, this country is fast becoming one of the most developed and richest countries in the Asian continent despite It does not have many natural resources, Singapore, it is one of the East Asian tigers. Currently the country is under the direction of Lee Hsien Loong, the son of Lee Kuan Yew who died in 2015. What is the Popular Action Party continues to lead the domain of politics today occupying a total of 81 of 87 seats in Parliament.
Location
The island of Singapore is located just south of Johor, on the peninsula of Malaysia, it is also north of the islands of Indonesia from which it is separated simply by the Singapore Strait. This island is the smallest country in the southeast of the Asian continent. Its territory has grown due to its land gained from the sea.
Singapore map
Geography
Singapore borders Malaysia to the north and Indonesia to the south, that is, the island is located between these two countries. This is made up of a total of 64 islands that include the main island called the island of Singapore or Pulau Ujong. The island of Singapore joins the Malay Peninsula through two bridges, one that leads right to the city of Johor Bahru that is located in Malaysia and the other that is located further west, which is connected in the same way with another point from the city of Johor Bahru right in the neighborhoods that are in the Tuas region within that city of Malaysia. Various reservoirs of drinking water are irrigated throughout the island, these allow for some autonomy on the island in terms of water supply, all in the event of a war with the neighboring country of Malaysia.
Sentosa Island in Singapore is considered the southernmost point of the entire continent of Asia, which is somewhat controversial, since both the main island of Singapore and Sentosa Island are connected to the mainland by bridges and dams.
The island of Singapore has an area of 697 square kilometers, which places it in position number 191 in the sizes of the countries. Its highest point is the Bukit Timah.
Weather
Singapore has an equatorial climate, it does not have stations that can be distinguished. The island has a very uniform pressure and temperature, in addition to having high humidity and constant heavy rains. The months where it is warmest are April and May and its wettest months are from November to January, from July to October there is a kind of fog caused by the constant forest fires in Indonesia.
Since Singapore is only 1.5 degrees north of the equator, as stated before, the weather is usually sunny and has no seasons. However, rainfall during most of the year occurs daily, generally it is a heavy and sudden rains that do not exceed one hour. However, mostly these rains occur in the course of the northeast monsoon that occurred between November and January, sometimes with long continuous hours of rain. Wonderful storms can happen during the course of the year, at any time, so it is always recommended to carry umbrellas at any time, either to cover the sun or to cover the sudden rains.
The forest fires that occur constantly on the Sumatra Island that belongs to the neighboring country of Indonesia, cause between the months of May and October the appearance of a very dense fog, although this fact cannot be predicted and usually disappears and appears with sum speed.
The average temperature of the island can be 32 degrees Celsius in the course of the day and 25 degrees Celsius during the night between the months of December and January, and for the rest of the year it can be 33 degrees Celsius in the day and 26 degrees Celsius overnight.
The high temperatures together with the humidity that exists on the island, mixed with the fact that the breeze is scarce and the fact that these temperatures and humidity are maintained during the night is usually exhausting for visitors who come from the most World cold. In this way, it must always be kept in mind that staying outdoors in Singapore can be uncomfortable due to its climate, which is not particularly favorable if it is combined with an exercise routine. The heat that exists on the island is not pleasant for its inhabitants, for that reason most of them have air conditioners in their homes, in their jobs, and even take the subway to the shopping centers since they have air conditioning these are they connect through tunnels in which it is possible to shop, eat, and even exercise in some gyms that also have air conditioning. The use of these can make the stay in Singapore a little more bearable.
Flora and fauna
As for the natural vegetation, that is, the flora of Singapore, it has been seen in a great way because of the activities of humans. The central hilly area of the island still maintains the native jungle and also in some coastal parts some mangroves can be found, it is also very normal to find some areas with weeds.
As for the fauna, on the island you can find a lot of diversity in terms of bird species, such as swallows, which are very frequent in populated areas. You can also find an indigenous fauna of the island, among which you can mention, which are very important are reptiles such as cobras and lizards, among the mammals that stand out are the scaly anteater, the long-tailed macaque and the night lemur
Singapore Botanic Garden
This garden located on the island of Singapore is a botanical garden, which has a total of 63.7 hectares of the island of Singapore, this garden also has inside the National Orchid Garden which translated is the National Orchid Garden that It is an extension where more than 3,000 different species of orchids can be found. The Singapore Botanic Garden can also find a path that crosses a small rainforest and there is also a spice garden. The garden is also part of the BGCI and can be identified internationally as a botanical institution, and its acronym is SING.
For the year 2015 in the month of July it is declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
This garden is located throughout the Cluny Road extension and is delimited by the Bukit Timah Road and Napier Road roads.
It should be noted that this garden is established in the year 1859. This botanical garden is well known within the population of Singapore, and it is also among tourists is a magnificent landscape that everyone can enjoy.
In the place you can find two lakes the Swan Lake and the Symphony Lake where you can enjoy various free concerts offered by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra every Sunday.
Inside the garden is also the headquarters of the ANtional Parks Board, where a French restaurant is located right in a colonial house. A cafeteria and a restaurant called Ginger Garden can be found inside the garden.
Currently the Botanical Garden is undergoing a deep remodeling, in order to include the construction of an underground parking for vehicles and a restoration in the interior gardens. The construction of a garden called Jacob Ballas Children’s is also carried out.
Population
By 2015, the estimated population of Singapore was 5 535,000 people, of which 60.9 percent, that is, 3 375,000 people were citizens and the rest, 39.02 percent, that is, 2 160 000 people were permanent residents of which 1 632 300 were foreigners. According to a census conducted in 2010, approximately 23 percent of people residing in Singapore were born outside the country, that is, born abroad, which means that 10 percent of citizens are naturalized born outside of Singapore, this without counting the non-residents of the island, which would convert that percentage to 43 percent. This same census also gave the information that 74.1 percent of the residents were descendants of Chinese, another 13.4 percent descended from the Malays, another 9.2 percent from India and 3.3 percent were from other Eurasian ancestry. Before that year, people could only register in the census as a member belonging to a single race that in that case the one required was that of the father, that is, that people with a mixture of races were grouped only in the race that It belonged to his father. But later there was the opportunity to register with a multiracial classification, where he is allowed to place the breed mix.
Of the residents' homes, at least 90.3 percent of them own their own homes and in each household there is an average of 3.43 people. Even so, because of the small area of land that the island has, approximately 80.4 percent of its inhabitants live in apartments. 75.9 percent of the island's residents live in houses with a size equal to or much larger than a single-family home with approximately 4 rooms.On the island there is the lowest average birth rate of 0.80 children per woman, which is a big problem for the country, since this percentage is very low compared to what is needed to replace to the population that is 2.1 children per woman. In search of solving this problem, the government of the island of Singapore has invited foreigners to reach the island in recent years. This has been of great help, since it has been possible to prevent the population number from plummeting. The average age that predominates on the island is 39.
The gentilicio of the island is Singaporean.
Culture
The island of Singapore is characterized by being a country with multiple races, in addition to having a great cultural diversity despite the fact that it does not have a very large area. The largest race on the island is that of the Chinese, and there are also a large number of foreign immigrants on the island.
So it can be said that the culture found in Singapore results from the mix between Chinese, Malaysian, Indian and British culture, all this due to the great immigration history that the island possesses. As is known, Singapore for almost two century was the port of British Malaysia and was governed at some point by Johor and later was occupied by the English who build a port and colonize the island, at the time that the British take control and build The previously mentioned port immigrants begin to be more noticeable on the island. Also after World War II, the island becomes an independent nation.
As said before, the population that constitutes Singapore with more than 5 million people has origins of great diversity, among them the Malays, the Indians, the Chinese, the Caucasians and the Eurasians. It should also be noted that at least 42 percent of the population present on the island are foreigners, this causes Singapore to be sixth in the countries with the largest number of immigrants in the world.
It was said before that among the cultures that influence the island are those of the Malays who usually descend from the original settlers of the island or are immigrants from Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, these form 14 percent of the inhabitants; Another influential culture is that of the Indians, which make up approximately 9 percent of the population of Singapore, among these Indians the largest group is the Tamils, there is also the numerous existence of Indians who speak Hindi, Malayam and Punjabi . As for the rest of the cultures that influence are the Eurasian, which is about the mixture of European and Asian culture among which there are many Burmese, Thai Japanese among others.
There are also quite a few people of Filipino origin, most of whom do domestic services.
Language
In Singapore, there are 44 different languages that are official, these are English, Malay, Tamil and Mandarin. As for English, it is used as a common language, a language that is used for business, by the government, and it is also the language used in schools. In some public bodies on the island, such as the entire Singapore Public Service, the language they use is English, so that all documents written in another of the official languages are normally translated into English so that they are accepted at the time of presentation.
On the other hand, the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore is written entirely in English, so if you intend to go to a court within Singapore where a different language is spoken in English, an interpreter is needed.
It can be said that English is the native language of only a part of Singaporeans, a quarter of Malaysians, and at least half of the Indians who speak English as a mother tongue. In another small percentage, he does not read or write in English.
The majority of Singaporeans are bilingual, with the English language being the common language of the nation and normally as a second language would be what is known as the mother tongue, so that it is taught at school in order to maintain identity and ethnicity values of each of the people.
As mentioned before the official languages of Singapore are English, which approximately 80 percent of the population knows; Mandarin which 65 percent know; Malay with 17 percent of inhabitants knowing him and finally the Tamil with only 4 percent.
The English spoken on the island of Singapore is based on the magnificent British English, therefore the form of Singapore English is extended from a standard English to one that is a much more colloquial way of English which is known as Singlish , which was not approved by the government.
On the other hand, there is Mandarin, which is a language attributed to it as the mother tongue, and much of the inhabitants of Singapore. The Singaporean Mandarin within the island is a much more common version originally from the Chinese, and approximately 1.2 million people possess this language as the native language. Of these there are a large number of people who manage to speak some varieties of the language such as Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese. However, the main ones are usually English and Mandarin.
Another language that is official in Singapore is Malay, which was elected as a national language by the miso government of Singapore after it became independent from the British in 1960, to thereby avoid the friction that existed with neighboring countries that also speak Malay Indonesian and Malaysia. This language is somewhat more symbolic within the island than functional. Some of the samples of this language can be found in the national anthem, in some order appointments, in some military commandos and in some decorations in Singapore. Normally this language is spoken more frequently in the Malay community that is within the island with only a percentage of 17 percent and with 12 percent using it as a mother tongue.
There is also another 3 percent of inhabitants, equivalent to an estimated 100,000 people who speak the Tamil language, and have it as their native language. This language is official within the island.
Religion
For the government of Singapore to maintain a certain order within the island, every ten years, in this one a census is carried out where it is possible to measure the ethnicity and religion of each of its inhabitants, in order to have some idea of the great diversity that exists in the territory in the religious aspect and also the evolution of this in the settlers.
Freedom regarding religion is guaranteed by means of some article present in the Singapore Constitution. On the island there are religions such as Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Taoism, and others to a much lesser extent such as Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha'is and Jainists. Another part of the population simply has no religion.
Buddhism, is considered the most practiced religion within Singapore, for a total of 42 percent of the population most of these have Chinese origins which practice the three main aspects of the religion that the Thevada, the Mahayana and the Vajrayana, being Mahayana Buddhism, the most practiced, Therayada is also popular as is Tibetan Buddhism and Japanese Soka Gakkai. As reflected by some statistics on the growth of population Buddhism in Singapore, it increases at least 10 percent each year.
Islam is the second most practiced religion in Singapore, especially this religion is practiced by the influence of the Malay ethnicity on the site, this group represents 14.9 percent. Its percentage has been stable since it has remained between 13 and 14 percent.
Then we have Christianity in all its branches as Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox, which has 14.6 percent of the population which has been growing in each census from one to two percent.
Another religion practiced in Singapore is Taoism, 8 percent of the population, the practice of this religion if it has had a very considerable decline since before it had at least 30 percent of the population with this religion, then under 22 percent and finally reached only 8 percent, which is a very notable decrease. People who study this situation believe that the reason for this great decline in the practitioners of religion is because many Singaporeans are dedicated to practicing this religion in conjunction with Buddhism, but at the time of conducting the census they place that they are Buddhists. the fact that this is a much better known and organized religion. There are other people who say yes, Taoism represents a Chinese national religion and forms the cultural identity of China, because Buddhism also does it in its own way and is not exclusively of Chinese culture. Even so it is known that Buddhism is much more practiced in mainland China itself.
In Singapore, despite having such diversity in religions, it should be noted that the Unification Church and Jehovah's Witnesses are illegal, they are strictly prohibited from preaching their word and distributing their protest material, since these are considered by the Government as very destructive sects.
However, with the exception of the above, Singapore has been characterized as a country since historical times where great religious tolerance can be found. So, what are the institutions of government and educational institutions, are responsible for promoting a teaching about tolerance and coexistence that should exist between religions, there are even places in which practitioners of different religions pray All together, a clear example is the Loyang Tua Pek Temple, which is a very relevant place as Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim people gather.
Singapore although it is characterized as a very industrialized and cosmopolitan place, what is religion is a very important issue among its inhabitants, and many of the buildings with greater size and importance are usually religious centers and temples. Administrative organization
The Republic of Singapore is organized in five different Community Development Councils, these are:
Central Community Development Council
Northeast Community Development Council
Northwest Community Development Council
Southeast Community Development Council
Southwest Community Development Council
In addition, the republic has another 64 small islands, the most relevant being the so-called Jurong Island, which is an artificial island, Sentosa Island, rural Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong, the largest natural island.
Districts
As you know, Singapore is a small island that has a country, with a little more than 5 million population, it is a fairly densely populated island, only Monaco exceeds Singapore in population density. Despite this, unlike other countries that have a high population density, Singapore has more than 50 percent of its territory full of vegetation and also with more than 50 parks and 4 nature reserves, this is a Very nice and lovely garden island. Large residential cities have been established throughout the island. The city center is located to the south that has a commercial area, a Marina area, a financial district where there are many skyscrapers.
Riverside, this is a civic district, in this area you can find the colonial center of the island, there are museums, theaters, statues, there are also some food establishments, some bars and some discos.
Orchard Road, this area is characterized by having a large number of shopping centers.
Marina Bay, this is a new area in Singapore, the most relevant in the area is the Marina Bay Sands complex and also the Marina dam. There you can find a series of gardens which make up a large and beautiful public park that has two conservatories the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, there is also a large set of huge trees.
Bugis and Kampong Glam, this is a very old Malay district, which today is largely dedicated to commerce.
Chinatown, in this area a Chinese settlement was established by Raffles, it is currently an area with a rich Chinese culture that can be seen in its streets, in addition to being very popular among visitors.
Littles India, this is a small area where you can observe a lot of India and is located in the north of the city center.
Balestier, Newton, Novena and Toa Payoh, these places are some Burmese-type accommodations and temples that are located very close to the center.
North Singapore, this area that is also known as Woodlands, is located north of the island, and has large industrial and residential areas.
West, this is the western part of the island, where you can find many residences.
East Coast, this is about the eastern part of Singapore, it is a residential place, Changi Airport is also located, there are many kilometers of beaches with many renowned restaurants. In this area there is also a large Malay settlement, the Geylang Serai.
Sentosa, it is an island, which at one time was a fort and later became a tourist place.
Other areas such as Jorong, North East, Tampines and North West are located in Singapore.
Politics
The Constitution of Singapore has been made based on the English parliament. The people who are part of the only parliamentary chamber that exists on the island are those who represent the different constituencies. The executive power is mostly under the control of the cabinet, which is headed by the prime minister who is currently a man named Lee Hsien Loong. Although the president is only a symbolic figure, he has been given the right to stop some matters, such as the use of financial reserves and also the election of judges.
On the other hand, the legislative body of Singapore is in the hands of Parliament in general. Normally, parliamentarians are a simple bridge between the Government and the community and also ensure that the voice of their constituents is always taken into account in Parliament. The Parliament of Singapore currently has a total of 101 members, of which 89 are elected, 9 are appointed and 2 are appointed without any constituency.
Despite the fact that the Republic of Singapore claims to be a country with a multi-party democracy, the Popular Action Party has led the political life of the island since independence took place. Although the elections are supposedly free, there is no authority to supervise this and it can be said that the Government has a great influence of repressive character on the media.
Hybrid Regime, thus qualifies the Economist Intelligence Unit to the Singapore Government system, which has some democratic characteristics but also some authoritative characteristics. On the other hand, Singapore is classified as a partially free country, this qualification is given by the Freedom House, since according to them human rights in Singapore are systematically violated, in addition to a restriction on freedoms of civilians and in expression. Singapore is also qualified with a defective democracy by The Economist.
Currently, the island of Singapore is part of ASEAN, this organization includes countries that are located in southern Asia.
The father of the homeland of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, who was the prime minister from 1959 until 1990, is when he decides to leave office and let the next generation of politicians make an appearance. Goh Chok Tong assumes this important position and also begins to create a ministry without portfolio to Lee Kuan Yew and this Senior Minister is appointed. However, later, Goh Chok Tong makes a decision very similar to that of Lee Kuan Yew and decides to leave the next generation in charge of power, that's when Lee Hsien Loon arrives, who is the son of Kuan Yew, he assumes the As prime minister, his father goes from being Senior Minister to Mentor Minister and Goh Chok Tong becomes Senior Minister.
Armed forces
The armed forces of Singapore are composed of the Singapore Army, the Singapore Navy and the Singapore Air Force. The Army has a total of 50 thousand soldiers, about 1250 armored vehicles, 1122 infantry vehicles, 400 shells, 372 tanks, 162 tanks, 62 mortars and 18 rocket launchers. The Navy has a total of 20,500 soldiers and 37 warships. The Air Force has a total of 13,500 soldiers and 422 aircraft.
Foreign affairs
It is with 175 countries that Singapore has diplomatic relations, although it still does not have many commissions or embassies in many of those countries with which it has relations. Singapore is part of the United Nations Organization (UN), the Commonwealth, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and also the Non-Aligned Movement. Moreover, for purely geographical reasons, Singapore has close and important relations with its neighboring countries, Malaysia and Indonesia, despite the fact that the policy that these countries have in their interior could disturb bilateral relations.
Singapore also has close relations with many countries located on the European continent, such as the countries Germany, France and the United Kingdom, countries with which it relates through the Five Power Defense Arrangements, together with Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia. It can be said that, Singapore, also maintains very good relations with the United States, the Government of Singapore, perceives this country as one with a great stabilizing power since it performs the role of counterbalance of the territory.
Singapore has a very active role in what is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations organization of which it is a founding member, since it supports what is regionalism in the southeast of the Asian continent. Singapore is also part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, this organization has its secretariat on the island of Singapore.
In addition, the country also has good relations with Brunei where it retains some military facilities.
Flag
The flag of Singapore, has 5 stars in it which represent each of the ideals that Singapore has, these ideals are: progress, peace, justice, equality and democracy. As for the crescent that it has, it is representing the growing nation.
Gastronomy
In Singapore gastronomy you can find a great mix of the diversity of culture and ethnicities that exist on the island. So in Singapore cuisine you can find a lot of what is the influence of cultures, Chinese, Indian and Malaysian, also being located the island in Southeast Asia has some western influence, because as you know the Island was occupied by English for a good time. One of the clear examples of the fusion of the diversity of styles is that of the Hawker stores in Singapore, which are a type of food court, in those places you can see how a chef of Chinese origin, you can make Indian dishes, while these Indian chefs prepare some Malaysian dishes. You can say that Singaporean food is one of its biggest attractions.
You can say that the kitchen is a very legendary kitchen, on the island you can find many centers where street vendors abound, you can also find many cafes open to the public 24 hours a day, in which you can buy a large Variety of Asian food with very affordable prices. All the budget that is taken with the purpose of spending can be done in the shopping centers that are located on the island such as the well-known Suntec City and Orchard Road.
As expected Singapore is characterized as a gastronomic paradise where a fusion of different types of cuisine, such as Chinese, Thai, Indian, Malaysian and even Italian, among others.
Some dishes are:
Laksa, it is a soup that contains noodle, some prawns, coconut milk and tends to have a spicy flavor.
Chili Crab, this is a large crab which comes from Sri Lanka that is bathed in a spicy sauce, it is a very rich dish, although it costs a little to eat it.
On the island of Singapore, you can find many restaurants where you can taste the delicious dishes that constitute the typical food of the island, most of these restaurants are located within the shopping centers. Also along the island you can find many fast food and street stalls. These food sites are very controlled in terms of hygiene, and according to their cleanliness they can be classified from letter A to letter D.
In Singapore, alcoholic beverages are really expensive, due to the high taxes paid for them. However, there is the local beer called Tiger Beer, which has won very important international awards, since this beer is of very good quality.
sports
On the island of Singapore, there is the Singapore Soccer Team, the S. League.
Singapore, since 2008 became the venue for a race of the Formula 1 world championship, which stood out for a night time with a lot of artificial lighting, this being the first time a history of said sport. Fernando Alonso a Spaniard was the one who won that race, and another relevant event was the accident that Nelsinho Piquet had a Brazilian.
Singapore also hosted the first Youth Olympic Games.
Economy
Singapore is considered as one of the largest centers of world trade, is one of the main global cities, the city of Singapore is located in the third place of the largest financial centers and also the second port with more movement of goods. Its global and diverse economy depends mainly on the manufacturing and commerce sectors. As far as purchasing power is concerned, Singapore ranks as the number three country with the highest per capita income worldwide, and it is also positioned among the first countries that are on the international level lists in terms of areas of education, of health, of political transparency and regarding the economy.
The economy of Singapore is free market, it is characterized by being prosperous thanks to its open environment. On the island you can find relatively stable prices and besides that it is one of the highest GDP per capita in the world. Singapore is known as one of the four Asian tigers, accompanied by South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Mainly this economy depends on the exports and imports that are carried out mostly in industry and electrical sectors. As for the manufacturing sector, 26 percent of the country's GDP was constituted by it in 2005, and from there it has branched out to sectors such as oil refining, the chemical sector, mechanical engineering and of biomedical sciences, among other sectors. The most important and largest refinery in the Asian continent is the one located in Singapore.
The island of Singapore has a seaport, which controls the largest volume of cargo per year, both in weight in tonnage and in the number of containers worldwide. In this way, Singapore is also one of the most important countries since it is an international financial center, it has a quarter of the forex market that is the largest in the world, after Tokyo, London and New York.
The economy of Singapore is one of the most comfortable in the world, so on the island there are many immigrants working in companies that are multinationals.
For the year 2001, the technology sector suffered a fall so that Singapore was really affected its GDP fell by two percent. With the beginning of the SARS epidemic in 2003, the global recession increases, so that the Government to slow down the situation starts a plan where it establishes an economic surveillance committee, the results of this surveillance are given in February. Where the head of the Department of Economy discusses the economic model of the country which was that of Puerto Rico.
Currency
The currency that circulated on the island during the 19th century was purely foreign, especially the currencies that circulated were those of 8 Spanish reals, that of 5 French francs and Austrian talents and Brazilian reis. But for its circulation to be legal, these coins should be stamped on a brand that says "Singapore" in Chinese. And every coin that had that mark had the value of 1 silver tael.
Education
In Singapore the language they use to teach is English. The citizens of Singapore are all obliged to attend school at least until the sixth grade of primary school, until the children generally turn 12 years old. Before elementary school, there are many children who go to kindergarten or also known as kindergarten. People’s Action Party and its ruler are primarily responsible for providing education to infants through their division in the community.
Although the language used to teach in the basic sciences such as mathematics and natural sciences, there are students within a community who have the opportunity to go to schools of the Special Help Plan, such as Chung Cheg High School and also Nan Chiau High School where they have the necessary extra resources so that they can teach both in English and in Chinese.
Regarding academic degrees, these are established by the Ministry in charge of education. The division between public and private schools does not have a very clear situation in terms of some characteristics such as the degree of autonomy, the process of entering students, the resources granted by the government to the institution and in what which is the payment of the tuition by the students.
Singapore has 4 autonomous institutions that are responsible for offering university studies, these are:
The National University of Singapore or NUS
The Nanyang Technological University or NTU
The Singapore Management University or SMU
The Singapore University of Desing and Technology or SUTD.
Among other institutions that are of great relevance is the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, this is the most serious arts institution in the country.
One of the most popular attractions in Singapore is the commercial district named after Orchard Road.
The Government as a way to attract many more tourists to the island, made the decision to legalize the game, and allowed the construction of two different casinos, in addition to some tourist centers that are located in the Marina South area and also in the Sentosa Island This also decides to place some lights on the facades that belonged to public buildings and also in private buildings in the central area to make the place much more exciting, it is also a tactic to compete with the cities of Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai and Tokyo. It has also been responsible for promoting the cuisine of the island as an attraction for tourists, so that every year in July, the Singapore Food Festival takes place.
Another thing that attracts foreigners to the island is medical care, it has increased considerably in recent years, at least 200,000 foreigners arrive on the island in order to be treated by doctors on the island. It is also estimated that a large number of foreigners arrive on the island in search of job opportunities.
Tourist places
Singapore is characterized by being a place that has many attractions for tourists, this island has wonderful buildings, incredible parks, offers a safari where you can see fantastic and exotic animals, in addition there are very beautiful ancient temples.
Sentosa Island: this is a small island that measures at least about 500 hectares or 5 square kilometers of the island of Singapore, to reach this island you can use the cable car or you can reach it by road. This small island receives at least about 5 million tourists annually, among its main attractions are a large beach that is two kilometers long, there is also the Siloso Fort, there are golf courses, luxury hotels, and also a leisure center that It's called World Sentosa, which is a theme park at Universal Studios Singapore.
Singapore Botanic Garden: this place is one that nobody can miss when visiting the island of Singapore, it is a wonderful park that has a garden where there is a wide variety of orchids. This is an amazing place that every person who is passionate about nature will love. This place is open every day from 5 in the morning until 12 at night, access to the park in general is free, however, to access the orchid garden if you have to pay a fee.
Chinatown: This place is a Chinatown that is located on the island of Singapore. In this neighborhood you can find various Buddhist temples and hundreds of shops, there is also the temple named Sri Mariamman.
Relic Temple of the Tooth of Buddha: this temple can be located within the Chinatown of Singapore, the temple is said to originate from the times of the Tang dynasty.
Little India: This site is an Indian neighborhood, in which you can also find many Indian temples. In this neighborhood you can find many small shops where they sell all kinds of objects, especially Indian objects. On this site you can also find the Mustafa Center shopping center, which serves 24 hours a day. On Sundays, this neighborhood is filled by Hindus, since that is the day when Hindus have free so that they meet there.
Arab Street: this place is an Arab neighborhood, where you can locate a kind of mosque that is surrounded by many shops and palm trees.
Singapore Zoo and Night Safari: something that no visitor can stop doing is doing the night safari at the Singapore Zoo, this activity is one of the main attractions that the place has for tourists, where you can see wonderful exotic animals.
Orchard Road: this site is the main commercial area of Singapore, in addition there are many skyscrapers and shopping centers.
Singapore River: this wonderful river is surrounded by many skyscrapers and small houses, there is the possibility to take a boat trip, in which you can see the Merlion, which is a statue that is a lion that has A mermaid's tail, this statue became a symbol of the island. You can also see the esplanade of a building shaped like the eyes of flies.
The Clarke Pier: This site is very popular for the many nightclubs and of course for the excellent restaurants located on the pier. This is located a little above the site where the Singapore River flows. His name is due to the second governor of Singapore, Sir Andrew Clarke.
Singapore Flayer: this is an immense wheel of fortune that measures 165 meters in altitude and has a wonderful view. It is the largest fortune wheel in the world.
Marina Bay Sands: This site was opened in 2010, and has a record since it is the most expensive building in the world, to build it spent about 5.7 million dollars. On this site you can find many commercial stores, a museum and a huge convention center, the largest in the continent of Asia.
Gardens of the Bay: this is a group of gardens, these are: Gardens of the South of the Bay, Gardens of the East of the Bay and the Central Gardens of the Bay, in these you will find the Dome of the Flowers, also this the Cloud Garden and a garden for children to enjoy good adventures.
Raffles Hotel: This is a historic hotel, well known for having wonderful spaces with great luxury and also having excellent restaurants. This hotel is visited by famous writers, by the way, such as Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling, etc. This hotel has a history museum on the third floor.
Singapore Beaches
Singapore has developed in a very impressive way. This step from being a very little advanced country with scarce resources, to being one of the most important financial, industrial and commercial centers in the world. Despite all that, both the inhabitants and the government have known how to keep the entire island in good standing, especially its islands.
Here are some of the best beaches that Singapore has:
Palawan: a beach with a very beautiful, natural appearance and beautiful sands, has magnificent views. This is located on Sentosa Island, and despite its natural appearance, it is an artificial beach, but without a doubt, it is one of the best in the country.
Changi: this wonderful beach where you can enjoy with your family has great blue waters and beautiful white sands. On this beach you can do other recreational activities. In addition, it is said that this beach is haunted, because at the time that World War II was happening, it was there that some 66 people were executed.
Kusu Island: among the best beaches that Singapore has, it is necessary to include the beaches that the island of Kusu has, which is made up of different islets, its beaches are fantastic and you can also find wonderful lagoons.
Isla de las Hermanas: the beaches that are found on these islands that are called that because they are located very close to each other, are simply wonderful. Also here it is possible to snorkel and enjoy the spectacular reefs that are in place.
Transport
Since Singapore is an island that has a high density in terms of population, the number of private cars that circulate in its streets have restrictions, this with the aim of controlling a little what is the congestion that is large flow can cause. So that each person who wishes to acquire a car is obliged to pay fees that are equivalent to the value and a half of what the car cost and also pay a Entitulation certificate that is a kind of permit for the car to transit For about ten years. This certificate has such a high value that it can be compared to the price of a Porshe Boxster. Car prices are really high compared to the price in other countries, which is why only one in ten people living on the island owns a car.
The inhabitants of the island generally travel on foot, or by buses or by bicycles, they also travel by taxi and train. There are two bus companies and there is the train system. There are much more than a dozen companies that provide taxi services, so there are about 25,000 taxis on the road. Taxis are a popular means of transport within the island, since the rates for their services are really cheap.
Singapore roads cover a total of 3 356 kilometers. On the island of Singapore, there is a Licensing Scheme of the area which was established in 1975, and which is the first such scheme in the world of what is the price for congestion, in this scheme things are included as some complementary measures that are characterized by traffic ownership fees and some for improving traffic. With this system some electronic collection posts, electronic detections and also video surveillance technology are introduced.
Singapore Harbor
It should also be noted that the island of Singapore is a very large knot of what is the international transport of the continent of Asia, this is a relevant point through which many commercial routes both sea and air pass. The port of Singapore which is managed by PSA International and Jrong Port, this port of Singapore was the second port that obtained more traffic worldwide in 2005, in terms of loads that was 1150 million tons and in terms of to container traffic that was 23.2 million twenty-foot containers. In this way this port is also one of the most important in the world being surpassed only by Shanghai.
Singapore airport
Singapore is also characterized as an area where air connections to Southeast Asia occur and it is also used as a technical stopping place on what is the Kangaroo route that exists between London and Sydney. In Singapore there are a total of 8 different airports. The most important airport is the Singapore Changi Airport where around 80 different airlines work, which makes Singapore connected to around 200 cities in 68 different countries.
This airport has been included as one of the best internationally in the international travel magazine. This airport won a prize for the best airport in the world in 2006.
It should be noted that this airport is very modern. In it you can find different areas to expect that they have computers with internet connection totally free, there are even some that have webcams and microphones that can be used to make videoconferences, and there is also a waiting room that has video game consoles, Xbox, What makes waiting something very entertaining.
Some facts and curiosities
During your stay in Singapore, you do not have to worry about being incommunicado due to lack of internet, because on this island there are many possibilities to stay online. A very practical and economical way to access the internet is in the various Internet cafes that are located throughout the island. Although these are not used much by the inhabitants, since most have this service in their homes, or in their jobs and even in schools. It should be noted that in Singapore there is a free Wi-Fi system, this system is a highly developed one, however, a password is required, but there are also options to obtain Wi-Fi for free and you are visiting various establishments.
In Singapore there are also many alternatives for shopping, the main one is to visit the fairly long street called Orchard Road, this is undoubtedly a shopping paradise, you can find everything from clothes to electronic devices, also in this street there are many centers commercial. There are also other sites that can be visited for shopping such as Chinatown, Arab Street or Little India. The Mustafa Center is a great shopping center that has its doors open all 24 hours a day and there are wonderful prices.
Another curiosity of the island is that in it you have the possibility to learn to say hello in many languages, especially in Mandarin, in Hindu, in Malay, in English. It is a very culturally diverse city.
Singapore has a high employment rate. In addition, thanks to its wonderful economy in Singapore you can lead an excellent standard of living, even this place is ranked number 9 on that list.
One of the safest cities in the world is that of Singapore, this thanks to the set of laws that are quite strict, and the strong punishments that occur if an infraction is committed, according to the infraction that is committed, you can even receive the death penalty and even whipping with a stick. In Singapore, there are also fines, for any type of negative situation, such as committing the bad action of simply throwing a gum on the floor, or dirtying the streets with any garbage, be it papers, wrappers or cigarette butts, for urinating in where it is not due, among another long list of situations that harm the environment.
Another thing that is very important in Singapore is that there is a law of total respect. This law has the power to punish anyone who performs any action that is capable of disturbing the peace that usually characterizes the streets of the island. Although Singapore gets used to something busy, there is a very friendly atmosphere tolerant of any kind of culture and races. However, that does not imply that immigrants should not adapt to some of their forms as a sign of respect. For example, in the streets of Singapore, you can not be screaming as is customary in Latin America, this can be understood as a public scandal and then you will have to stick to the consequences. In Singapore, you have to have a lot of respect for the diversity of religious beliefs that can be found on the island, Singapore is a very rich area in religious cultures, up to 30 different cultures coexist on the island. And at all times you have to respect the culture and religion of others no matter how much you disagree that you may be, otherwise you will have problems.
Later they are integrated to the islands that were under the command of the governor of the Strait Colonies and the Cocos Islands are incorporated to Singapore in 1900, the Christmas island in 1903 and the old colony of Labuán in 1907 Singapore in 1912 is established as a separate colony, and is only used as a naval base until the Japanese arrive to occupy it.
When World War II arrives, the fortress that was established in Singapore was seen as a fairly good military base, as it had large naval fortifications that were responsible for protecting the island from assaults that could occur by the sea mainly protected from the Germans However, they were not sufficiently prepared or rather they were not alert to any attack on land, so very wisely the Japanese decide to seize the opportunity and attack the island by land.
As said before, this was something for which the British fortress was not prepared, and then, by February 15, 1942, with very little advantage over the occupation of the Japanese in less than a week the British leaders, They finally give up. The rulers of the island at that time were imprisoned in Changi prison, and many people die at the moment when the Japanese finally occupy the island.
In short, during the beginning of the Second World War, Singapore falls into the hands of the Japanese, who attacked by land taking advantage of the precarious defense through the same that the British had. This action meant a very great humiliation for the English suffered during a war, and not only in the military sense, but also meant a heavy blow to what was the domination of Westerners in the Asian continent.
By 1945, British rule in the islands returns, which means a great triumph for these.
It is not until 1955, when the island of Singapore is granted independence. It joins the Malaysian Federation for a short period of time in 1963 after Lee Kuan Yew of the Popular Action Party, who had been elected as prime minister in 1959, proposes this idea, when the English meet they leave the island, however, because their majority Chinese population was seen as a threat to the Malays this is expelled from the Federation in the year 1964, this is how in the year 1965 on August 9, Singapore, it becomes a country, the only one that obtains an independence against its will in all the history of the world.
The four decades of government of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the island of Singapore, is part of a great economic growth, this country is fast becoming one of the most developed and richest countries in the Asian continent despite It does not have many natural resources, Singapore, it is one of the East Asian tigers. Currently the country is under the direction of Lee Hsien Loong, the son of Lee Kuan Yew who died in 2015. What is the Popular Action Party continues to lead the domain of politics today occupying a total of 81 of 87 seats in Parliament.
Location
The island of Singapore is located just south of Johor, on the peninsula of Malaysia, it is also north of the islands of Indonesia from which it is separated simply by the Singapore Strait. This island is the smallest country in the southeast of the Asian continent. Its territory has grown due to its land gained from the sea.
Singapore map
Singapore borders Malaysia to the north and Indonesia to the south, that is, the island is located between these two countries. This is made up of a total of 64 islands that include the main island called the island of Singapore or Pulau Ujong. The island of Singapore joins the Malay Peninsula through two bridges, one that leads right to the city of Johor Bahru that is located in Malaysia and the other that is located further west, which is connected in the same way with another point from the city of Johor Bahru right in the neighborhoods that are in the Tuas region within that city of Malaysia. Various reservoirs of drinking water are irrigated throughout the island, these allow for some autonomy on the island in terms of water supply, all in the event of a war with the neighboring country of Malaysia.
Sentosa Island in Singapore is considered the southernmost point of the entire continent of Asia, which is somewhat controversial, since both the main island of Singapore and Sentosa Island are connected to the mainland by bridges and dams.
The island of Singapore has an area of 697 square kilometers, which places it in position number 191 in the sizes of the countries. Its highest point is the Bukit Timah.
Weather
Singapore has an equatorial climate, it does not have stations that can be distinguished. The island has a very uniform pressure and temperature, in addition to having high humidity and constant heavy rains. The months where it is warmest are April and May and its wettest months are from November to January, from July to October there is a kind of fog caused by the constant forest fires in Indonesia.
Since Singapore is only 1.5 degrees north of the equator, as stated before, the weather is usually sunny and has no seasons. However, rainfall during most of the year occurs daily, generally it is a heavy and sudden rains that do not exceed one hour. However, mostly these rains occur in the course of the northeast monsoon that occurred between November and January, sometimes with long continuous hours of rain. Wonderful storms can happen during the course of the year, at any time, so it is always recommended to carry umbrellas at any time, either to cover the sun or to cover the sudden rains.
The average temperature of the island can be 32 degrees Celsius in the course of the day and 25 degrees Celsius during the night between the months of December and January, and for the rest of the year it can be 33 degrees Celsius in the day and 26 degrees Celsius overnight.
The high temperatures together with the humidity that exists on the island, mixed with the fact that the breeze is scarce and the fact that these temperatures and humidity are maintained during the night is usually exhausting for visitors who come from the most World cold. In this way, it must always be kept in mind that staying outdoors in Singapore can be uncomfortable due to its climate, which is not particularly favorable if it is combined with an exercise routine. The heat that exists on the island is not pleasant for its inhabitants, for that reason most of them have air conditioners in their homes, in their jobs, and even take the subway to the shopping centers since they have air conditioning these are they connect through tunnels in which it is possible to shop, eat, and even exercise in some gyms that also have air conditioning. The use of these can make the stay in Singapore a little more bearable.
Flora and fauna
As for the natural vegetation, that is, the flora of Singapore, it has been seen in a great way because of the activities of humans. The central hilly area of the island still maintains the native jungle and also in some coastal parts some mangroves can be found, it is also very normal to find some areas with weeds.
As for the fauna, on the island you can find a lot of diversity in terms of bird species, such as swallows, which are very frequent in populated areas. You can also find an indigenous fauna of the island, among which you can mention, which are very important are reptiles such as cobras and lizards, among the mammals that stand out are the scaly anteater, the long-tailed macaque and the night lemur
Singapore Botanic Garden
This garden located on the island of Singapore is a botanical garden, which has a total of 63.7 hectares of the island of Singapore, this garden also has inside the National Orchid Garden which translated is the National Orchid Garden that It is an extension where more than 3,000 different species of orchids can be found. The Singapore Botanic Garden can also find a path that crosses a small rainforest and there is also a spice garden. The garden is also part of the BGCI and can be identified internationally as a botanical institution, and its acronym is SING.
For the year 2015 in the month of July it is declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
This garden is located throughout the Cluny Road extension and is delimited by the Bukit Timah Road and Napier Road roads.
It should be noted that this garden is established in the year 1859. This botanical garden is well known within the population of Singapore, and it is also among tourists is a magnificent landscape that everyone can enjoy.
In the place you can find two lakes the Swan Lake and the Symphony Lake where you can enjoy various free concerts offered by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra every Sunday.
Inside the garden is also the headquarters of the ANtional Parks Board, where a French restaurant is located right in a colonial house. A cafeteria and a restaurant called Ginger Garden can be found inside the garden.
Currently the Botanical Garden is undergoing a deep remodeling, in order to include the construction of an underground parking for vehicles and a restoration in the interior gardens. The construction of a garden called Jacob Ballas Children’s is also carried out.
Population
By 2015, the estimated population of Singapore was 5 535,000 people, of which 60.9 percent, that is, 3 375,000 people were citizens and the rest, 39.02 percent, that is, 2 160 000 people were permanent residents of which 1 632 300 were foreigners. According to a census conducted in 2010, approximately 23 percent of people residing in Singapore were born outside the country, that is, born abroad, which means that 10 percent of citizens are naturalized born outside of Singapore, this without counting the non-residents of the island, which would convert that percentage to 43 percent. This same census also gave the information that 74.1 percent of the residents were descendants of Chinese, another 13.4 percent descended from the Malays, another 9.2 percent from India and 3.3 percent were from other Eurasian ancestry. Before that year, people could only register in the census as a member belonging to a single race that in that case the one required was that of the father, that is, that people with a mixture of races were grouped only in the race that It belonged to his father. But later there was the opportunity to register with a multiracial classification, where he is allowed to place the breed mix.
The gentilicio of the island is Singaporean.
Culture
The island of Singapore is characterized by being a country with multiple races, in addition to having a great cultural diversity despite the fact that it does not have a very large area. The largest race on the island is that of the Chinese, and there are also a large number of foreign immigrants on the island.
So it can be said that the culture found in Singapore results from the mix between Chinese, Malaysian, Indian and British culture, all this due to the great immigration history that the island possesses. As is known, Singapore for almost two century was the port of British Malaysia and was governed at some point by Johor and later was occupied by the English who build a port and colonize the island, at the time that the British take control and build The previously mentioned port immigrants begin to be more noticeable on the island. Also after World War II, the island becomes an independent nation.
It was said before that among the cultures that influence the island are those of the Malays who usually descend from the original settlers of the island or are immigrants from Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, these form 14 percent of the inhabitants; Another influential culture is that of the Indians, which make up approximately 9 percent of the population of Singapore, among these Indians the largest group is the Tamils, there is also the numerous existence of Indians who speak Hindi, Malayam and Punjabi . As for the rest of the cultures that influence are the Eurasian, which is about the mixture of European and Asian culture among which there are many Burmese, Thai Japanese among others.
Language
In Singapore, there are 44 different languages that are official, these are English, Malay, Tamil and Mandarin. As for English, it is used as a common language, a language that is used for business, by the government, and it is also the language used in schools. In some public bodies on the island, such as the entire Singapore Public Service, the language they use is English, so that all documents written in another of the official languages are normally translated into English so that they are accepted at the time of presentation.
On the other hand, the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore is written entirely in English, so if you intend to go to a court within Singapore where a different language is spoken in English, an interpreter is needed.
It can be said that English is the native language of only a part of Singaporeans, a quarter of Malaysians, and at least half of the Indians who speak English as a mother tongue. In another small percentage, he does not read or write in English.
The majority of Singaporeans are bilingual, with the English language being the common language of the nation and normally as a second language would be what is known as the mother tongue, so that it is taught at school in order to maintain identity and ethnicity values of each of the people.
As mentioned before the official languages of Singapore are English, which approximately 80 percent of the population knows; Mandarin which 65 percent know; Malay with 17 percent of inhabitants knowing him and finally the Tamil with only 4 percent.
On the other hand, there is Mandarin, which is a language attributed to it as the mother tongue, and much of the inhabitants of Singapore. The Singaporean Mandarin within the island is a much more common version originally from the Chinese, and approximately 1.2 million people possess this language as the native language. Of these there are a large number of people who manage to speak some varieties of the language such as Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese. However, the main ones are usually English and Mandarin.
Another language that is official in Singapore is Malay, which was elected as a national language by the miso government of Singapore after it became independent from the British in 1960, to thereby avoid the friction that existed with neighboring countries that also speak Malay Indonesian and Malaysia. This language is somewhat more symbolic within the island than functional. Some of the samples of this language can be found in the national anthem, in some order appointments, in some military commandos and in some decorations in Singapore. Normally this language is spoken more frequently in the Malay community that is within the island with only a percentage of 17 percent and with 12 percent using it as a mother tongue.
There is also another 3 percent of inhabitants, equivalent to an estimated 100,000 people who speak the Tamil language, and have it as their native language. This language is official within the island.
Religion
For the government of Singapore to maintain a certain order within the island, every ten years, in this one a census is carried out where it is possible to measure the ethnicity and religion of each of its inhabitants, in order to have some idea of the great diversity that exists in the territory in the religious aspect and also the evolution of this in the settlers.
Freedom regarding religion is guaranteed by means of some article present in the Singapore Constitution. On the island there are religions such as Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Taoism, and others to a much lesser extent such as Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha'is and Jainists. Another part of the population simply has no religion.
Buddhism, is considered the most practiced religion within Singapore, for a total of 42 percent of the population most of these have Chinese origins which practice the three main aspects of the religion that the Thevada, the Mahayana and the Vajrayana, being Mahayana Buddhism, the most practiced, Therayada is also popular as is Tibetan Buddhism and Japanese Soka Gakkai. As reflected by some statistics on the growth of population Buddhism in Singapore, it increases at least 10 percent each year.
Then we have Christianity in all its branches as Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox, which has 14.6 percent of the population which has been growing in each census from one to two percent.
Another religion practiced in Singapore is Taoism, 8 percent of the population, the practice of this religion if it has had a very considerable decline since before it had at least 30 percent of the population with this religion, then under 22 percent and finally reached only 8 percent, which is a very notable decrease. People who study this situation believe that the reason for this great decline in the practitioners of religion is because many Singaporeans are dedicated to practicing this religion in conjunction with Buddhism, but at the time of conducting the census they place that they are Buddhists. the fact that this is a much better known and organized religion. There are other people who say yes, Taoism represents a Chinese national religion and forms the cultural identity of China, because Buddhism also does it in its own way and is not exclusively of Chinese culture. Even so it is known that Buddhism is much more practiced in mainland China itself.
In Singapore, despite having such diversity in religions, it should be noted that the Unification Church and Jehovah's Witnesses are illegal, they are strictly prohibited from preaching their word and distributing their protest material, since these are considered by the Government as very destructive sects.
However, with the exception of the above, Singapore has been characterized as a country since historical times where great religious tolerance can be found. So, what are the institutions of government and educational institutions, are responsible for promoting a teaching about tolerance and coexistence that should exist between religions, there are even places in which practitioners of different religions pray All together, a clear example is the Loyang Tua Pek Temple, which is a very relevant place as Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim people gather.
The Republic of Singapore is organized in five different Community Development Councils, these are:
Central Community Development Council
Northeast Community Development Council
Northwest Community Development Council
Southeast Community Development Council
Southwest Community Development Council
In addition, the republic has another 64 small islands, the most relevant being the so-called Jurong Island, which is an artificial island, Sentosa Island, rural Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong, the largest natural island.
Districts
As you know, Singapore is a small island that has a country, with a little more than 5 million population, it is a fairly densely populated island, only Monaco exceeds Singapore in population density. Despite this, unlike other countries that have a high population density, Singapore has more than 50 percent of its territory full of vegetation and also with more than 50 parks and 4 nature reserves, this is a Very nice and lovely garden island. Large residential cities have been established throughout the island. The city center is located to the south that has a commercial area, a Marina area, a financial district where there are many skyscrapers.
Riverside, this is a civic district, in this area you can find the colonial center of the island, there are museums, theaters, statues, there are also some food establishments, some bars and some discos.
Orchard Road, this area is characterized by having a large number of shopping centers.
Marina Bay, this is a new area in Singapore, the most relevant in the area is the Marina Bay Sands complex and also the Marina dam. There you can find a series of gardens which make up a large and beautiful public park that has two conservatories the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, there is also a large set of huge trees.
Bugis and Kampong Glam, this is a very old Malay district, which today is largely dedicated to commerce.
Littles India, this is a small area where you can observe a lot of India and is located in the north of the city center.
Balestier, Newton, Novena and Toa Payoh, these places are some Burmese-type accommodations and temples that are located very close to the center.
North Singapore, this area that is also known as Woodlands, is located north of the island, and has large industrial and residential areas.
West, this is the western part of the island, where you can find many residences.
East Coast, this is about the eastern part of Singapore, it is a residential place, Changi Airport is also located, there are many kilometers of beaches with many renowned restaurants. In this area there is also a large Malay settlement, the Geylang Serai.
Sentosa, it is an island, which at one time was a fort and later became a tourist place.
Other areas such as Jorong, North East, Tampines and North West are located in Singapore.
Politics
The Constitution of Singapore has been made based on the English parliament. The people who are part of the only parliamentary chamber that exists on the island are those who represent the different constituencies. The executive power is mostly under the control of the cabinet, which is headed by the prime minister who is currently a man named Lee Hsien Loong. Although the president is only a symbolic figure, he has been given the right to stop some matters, such as the use of financial reserves and also the election of judges.
On the other hand, the legislative body of Singapore is in the hands of Parliament in general. Normally, parliamentarians are a simple bridge between the Government and the community and also ensure that the voice of their constituents is always taken into account in Parliament. The Parliament of Singapore currently has a total of 101 members, of which 89 are elected, 9 are appointed and 2 are appointed without any constituency.
Hybrid Regime, thus qualifies the Economist Intelligence Unit to the Singapore Government system, which has some democratic characteristics but also some authoritative characteristics. On the other hand, Singapore is classified as a partially free country, this qualification is given by the Freedom House, since according to them human rights in Singapore are systematically violated, in addition to a restriction on freedoms of civilians and in expression. Singapore is also qualified with a defective democracy by The Economist.
Currently, the island of Singapore is part of ASEAN, this organization includes countries that are located in southern Asia.
The father of the homeland of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, who was the prime minister from 1959 until 1990, is when he decides to leave office and let the next generation of politicians make an appearance. Goh Chok Tong assumes this important position and also begins to create a ministry without portfolio to Lee Kuan Yew and this Senior Minister is appointed. However, later, Goh Chok Tong makes a decision very similar to that of Lee Kuan Yew and decides to leave the next generation in charge of power, that's when Lee Hsien Loon arrives, who is the son of Kuan Yew, he assumes the As prime minister, his father goes from being Senior Minister to Mentor Minister and Goh Chok Tong becomes Senior Minister.
Armed forces
The armed forces of Singapore are composed of the Singapore Army, the Singapore Navy and the Singapore Air Force. The Army has a total of 50 thousand soldiers, about 1250 armored vehicles, 1122 infantry vehicles, 400 shells, 372 tanks, 162 tanks, 62 mortars and 18 rocket launchers. The Navy has a total of 20,500 soldiers and 37 warships. The Air Force has a total of 13,500 soldiers and 422 aircraft.
Foreign affairs
It is with 175 countries that Singapore has diplomatic relations, although it still does not have many commissions or embassies in many of those countries with which it has relations. Singapore is part of the United Nations Organization (UN), the Commonwealth, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and also the Non-Aligned Movement. Moreover, for purely geographical reasons, Singapore has close and important relations with its neighboring countries, Malaysia and Indonesia, despite the fact that the policy that these countries have in their interior could disturb bilateral relations.
Singapore also has close relations with many countries located on the European continent, such as the countries Germany, France and the United Kingdom, countries with which it relates through the Five Power Defense Arrangements, together with Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia. It can be said that, Singapore, also maintains very good relations with the United States, the Government of Singapore, perceives this country as one with a great stabilizing power since it performs the role of counterbalance of the territory.
In addition, the country also has good relations with Brunei where it retains some military facilities.
Flag
The flag of Singapore, has 5 stars in it which represent each of the ideals that Singapore has, these ideals are: progress, peace, justice, equality and democracy. As for the crescent that it has, it is representing the growing nation.
As expected Singapore is characterized as a gastronomic paradise where a fusion of different types of cuisine, such as Chinese, Thai, Indian, Malaysian and even Italian, among others.
Some dishes are:
Laksa, it is a soup that contains noodle, some prawns, coconut milk and tends to have a spicy flavor.
Chili Crab, this is a large crab which comes from Sri Lanka that is bathed in a spicy sauce, it is a very rich dish, although it costs a little to eat it.
On the island of Singapore, you can find many restaurants where you can taste the delicious dishes that constitute the typical food of the island, most of these restaurants are located within the shopping centers. Also along the island you can find many fast food and street stalls. These food sites are very controlled in terms of hygiene, and according to their cleanliness they can be classified from letter A to letter D.
In Singapore, alcoholic beverages are really expensive, due to the high taxes paid for them. However, there is the local beer called Tiger Beer, which has won very important international awards, since this beer is of very good quality.
sports
On the island of Singapore, there is the Singapore Soccer Team, the S. League.
Singapore, since 2008 became the venue for a race of the Formula 1 world championship, which stood out for a night time with a lot of artificial lighting, this being the first time a history of said sport. Fernando Alonso a Spaniard was the one who won that race, and another relevant event was the accident that Nelsinho Piquet had a Brazilian.
Singapore also hosted the first Youth Olympic Games.
Economy
Singapore is considered as one of the largest centers of world trade, is one of the main global cities, the city of Singapore is located in the third place of the largest financial centers and also the second port with more movement of goods. Its global and diverse economy depends mainly on the manufacturing and commerce sectors. As far as purchasing power is concerned, Singapore ranks as the number three country with the highest per capita income worldwide, and it is also positioned among the first countries that are on the international level lists in terms of areas of education, of health, of political transparency and regarding the economy.
Mainly this economy depends on the exports and imports that are carried out mostly in industry and electrical sectors. As for the manufacturing sector, 26 percent of the country's GDP was constituted by it in 2005, and from there it has branched out to sectors such as oil refining, the chemical sector, mechanical engineering and of biomedical sciences, among other sectors. The most important and largest refinery in the Asian continent is the one located in Singapore.
The island of Singapore has a seaport, which controls the largest volume of cargo per year, both in weight in tonnage and in the number of containers worldwide. In this way, Singapore is also one of the most important countries since it is an international financial center, it has a quarter of the forex market that is the largest in the world, after Tokyo, London and New York.
The economy of Singapore is one of the most comfortable in the world, so on the island there are many immigrants working in companies that are multinationals.
For the year 2001, the technology sector suffered a fall so that Singapore was really affected its GDP fell by two percent. With the beginning of the SARS epidemic in 2003, the global recession increases, so that the Government to slow down the situation starts a plan where it establishes an economic surveillance committee, the results of this surveillance are given in February. Where the head of the Department of Economy discusses the economic model of the country which was that of Puerto Rico.
Currency
The currency that circulated on the island during the 19th century was purely foreign, especially the currencies that circulated were those of 8 Spanish reals, that of 5 French francs and Austrian talents and Brazilian reis. But for its circulation to be legal, these coins should be stamped on a brand that says "Singapore" in Chinese. And every coin that had that mark had the value of 1 silver tael.
Education
In Singapore the language they use to teach is English. The citizens of Singapore are all obliged to attend school at least until the sixth grade of primary school, until the children generally turn 12 years old. Before elementary school, there are many children who go to kindergarten or also known as kindergarten. People’s Action Party and its ruler are primarily responsible for providing education to infants through their division in the community.
Although the language used to teach in the basic sciences such as mathematics and natural sciences, there are students within a community who have the opportunity to go to schools of the Special Help Plan, such as Chung Cheg High School and also Nan Chiau High School where they have the necessary extra resources so that they can teach both in English and in Chinese.
Singapore has 4 autonomous institutions that are responsible for offering university studies, these are:
The National University of Singapore or NUS
The Nanyang Technological University or NTU
The Singapore Management University or SMU
The Singapore University of Desing and Technology or SUTD.
Among other institutions that are of great relevance is the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, this is the most serious arts institution in the country.
One of the most popular attractions in Singapore is the commercial district named after Orchard Road.
The Government as a way to attract many more tourists to the island, made the decision to legalize the game, and allowed the construction of two different casinos, in addition to some tourist centers that are located in the Marina South area and also in the Sentosa Island This also decides to place some lights on the facades that belonged to public buildings and also in private buildings in the central area to make the place much more exciting, it is also a tactic to compete with the cities of Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai and Tokyo. It has also been responsible for promoting the cuisine of the island as an attraction for tourists, so that every year in July, the Singapore Food Festival takes place.
Tourist places
Singapore is characterized by being a place that has many attractions for tourists, this island has wonderful buildings, incredible parks, offers a safari where you can see fantastic and exotic animals, in addition there are very beautiful ancient temples.
Sentosa Island: this is a small island that measures at least about 500 hectares or 5 square kilometers of the island of Singapore, to reach this island you can use the cable car or you can reach it by road. This small island receives at least about 5 million tourists annually, among its main attractions are a large beach that is two kilometers long, there is also the Siloso Fort, there are golf courses, luxury hotels, and also a leisure center that It's called World Sentosa, which is a theme park at Universal Studios Singapore.
Chinatown: This place is a Chinatown that is located on the island of Singapore. In this neighborhood you can find various Buddhist temples and hundreds of shops, there is also the temple named Sri Mariamman.
Relic Temple of the Tooth of Buddha: this temple can be located within the Chinatown of Singapore, the temple is said to originate from the times of the Tang dynasty.
Little India: This site is an Indian neighborhood, in which you can also find many Indian temples. In this neighborhood you can find many small shops where they sell all kinds of objects, especially Indian objects. On this site you can also find the Mustafa Center shopping center, which serves 24 hours a day. On Sundays, this neighborhood is filled by Hindus, since that is the day when Hindus have free so that they meet there.
Arab Street: this place is an Arab neighborhood, where you can locate a kind of mosque that is surrounded by many shops and palm trees.
Orchard Road: this site is the main commercial area of Singapore, in addition there are many skyscrapers and shopping centers.
Singapore River: this wonderful river is surrounded by many skyscrapers and small houses, there is the possibility to take a boat trip, in which you can see the Merlion, which is a statue that is a lion that has A mermaid's tail, this statue became a symbol of the island. You can also see the esplanade of a building shaped like the eyes of flies.
The Clarke Pier: This site is very popular for the many nightclubs and of course for the excellent restaurants located on the pier. This is located a little above the site where the Singapore River flows. His name is due to the second governor of Singapore, Sir Andrew Clarke.
Singapore Flayer: this is an immense wheel of fortune that measures 165 meters in altitude and has a wonderful view. It is the largest fortune wheel in the world.
Marina Bay Sands: This site was opened in 2010, and has a record since it is the most expensive building in the world, to build it spent about 5.7 million dollars. On this site you can find many commercial stores, a museum and a huge convention center, the largest in the continent of Asia.
Gardens of the Bay: this is a group of gardens, these are: Gardens of the South of the Bay, Gardens of the East of the Bay and the Central Gardens of the Bay, in these you will find the Dome of the Flowers, also this the Cloud Garden and a garden for children to enjoy good adventures.
Raffles Hotel: This is a historic hotel, well known for having wonderful spaces with great luxury and also having excellent restaurants. This hotel is visited by famous writers, by the way, such as Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling, etc. This hotel has a history museum on the third floor.
Singapore Beaches
Singapore has developed in a very impressive way. This step from being a very little advanced country with scarce resources, to being one of the most important financial, industrial and commercial centers in the world. Despite all that, both the inhabitants and the government have known how to keep the entire island in good standing, especially its islands.
Here are some of the best beaches that Singapore has:
Palawan: a beach with a very beautiful, natural appearance and beautiful sands, has magnificent views. This is located on Sentosa Island, and despite its natural appearance, it is an artificial beach, but without a doubt, it is one of the best in the country.
Changi: this wonderful beach where you can enjoy with your family has great blue waters and beautiful white sands. On this beach you can do other recreational activities. In addition, it is said that this beach is haunted, because at the time that World War II was happening, it was there that some 66 people were executed.
Isla de las Hermanas: the beaches that are found on these islands that are called that because they are located very close to each other, are simply wonderful. Also here it is possible to snorkel and enjoy the spectacular reefs that are in place.
Transport
Since Singapore is an island that has a high density in terms of population, the number of private cars that circulate in its streets have restrictions, this with the aim of controlling a little what is the congestion that is large flow can cause. So that each person who wishes to acquire a car is obliged to pay fees that are equivalent to the value and a half of what the car cost and also pay a Entitulation certificate that is a kind of permit for the car to transit For about ten years. This certificate has such a high value that it can be compared to the price of a Porshe Boxster. Car prices are really high compared to the price in other countries, which is why only one in ten people living on the island owns a car.
Singapore roads cover a total of 3 356 kilometers. On the island of Singapore, there is a Licensing Scheme of the area which was established in 1975, and which is the first such scheme in the world of what is the price for congestion, in this scheme things are included as some complementary measures that are characterized by traffic ownership fees and some for improving traffic. With this system some electronic collection posts, electronic detections and also video surveillance technology are introduced.
Singapore Harbor
It should also be noted that the island of Singapore is a very large knot of what is the international transport of the continent of Asia, this is a relevant point through which many commercial routes both sea and air pass. The port of Singapore which is managed by PSA International and Jrong Port, this port of Singapore was the second port that obtained more traffic worldwide in 2005, in terms of loads that was 1150 million tons and in terms of to container traffic that was 23.2 million twenty-foot containers. In this way this port is also one of the most important in the world being surpassed only by Shanghai.
Singapore is also characterized as an area where air connections to Southeast Asia occur and it is also used as a technical stopping place on what is the Kangaroo route that exists between London and Sydney. In Singapore there are a total of 8 different airports. The most important airport is the Singapore Changi Airport where around 80 different airlines work, which makes Singapore connected to around 200 cities in 68 different countries.
This airport has been included as one of the best internationally in the international travel magazine. This airport won a prize for the best airport in the world in 2006.
Some facts and curiosities
In Singapore there are also many alternatives for shopping, the main one is to visit the fairly long street called Orchard Road, this is undoubtedly a shopping paradise, you can find everything from clothes to electronic devices, also in this street there are many centers commercial. There are also other sites that can be visited for shopping such as Chinatown, Arab Street or Little India. The Mustafa Center is a great shopping center that has its doors open all 24 hours a day and there are wonderful prices.
Singapore has a high employment rate. In addition, thanks to its wonderful economy in Singapore you can lead an excellent standard of living, even this place is ranked number 9 on that list.
One of the safest cities in the world is that of Singapore, this thanks to the set of laws that are quite strict, and the strong punishments that occur if an infraction is committed, according to the infraction that is committed, you can even receive the death penalty and even whipping with a stick. In Singapore, there are also fines, for any type of negative situation, such as committing the bad action of simply throwing a gum on the floor, or dirtying the streets with any garbage, be it papers, wrappers or cigarette butts, for urinating in where it is not due, among another long list of situations that harm the environment.
Another thing that is very important in Singapore is that there is a law of total respect. This law has the power to punish anyone who performs any action that is capable of disturbing the peace that usually characterizes the streets of the island. Although Singapore gets used to something busy, there is a very friendly atmosphere tolerant of any kind of culture and races. However, that does not imply that immigrants should not adapt to some of their forms as a sign of respect. For example, in the streets of Singapore, you can not be screaming as is customary in Latin America, this can be understood as a public scandal and then you will have to stick to the consequences. In Singapore, you have to have a lot of respect for the diversity of religious beliefs that can be found on the island, Singapore is a very rich area in religious cultures, up to 30 different cultures coexist on the island. And at all times you have to respect the culture and religion of others no matter how much you disagree that you may be, otherwise you will have problems.
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