Singapore, or often referred to as the Lion or Garden City, is a city-state in Southeast Asia that although it is relatively smaller compared to other Asian countries, is a nation of economic freedom, urbanized way of living, competitive education system, top-notched healthcare facilities and innovative infrastructure and technology. Home to more than 5 million people, Singapore is a cultural hotpot for Malay, Arab, English, Chinese, and Indian cultures, making the city-state very unique on its own way. Singapore has been a favourite tourist and business destination for people around the world who want to experience the different, but modernized, cultures that this nation can offer to the world. From food, religion, tourist spots, business advancements, and even languages – which vary from English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil – Singapore is the destination for different cultures that mix together in harmony, making the city-state a household name for everyone, tourists and businessmen alike.
Singapore in details
As part of Southeast Asia, Singapore’s climate is basically hot and humid throughout the year, with occasional rains that do not generally last too long. Temperature in Singapore varies from 20°C or 68°F during the night and climbing up to 30°C or 86°F during the day. The city-state is generally jam-packed from June to August, as this is said to be best time to visit, however rainy, but generally, Singapore is really a favorite destination whichever month of the year it is. Visitors can get a mixed of tropical and cosmopolitan feel when in Singapore because they can go to the beach and bask under the sun and still get the taste of modern culture throughout the year. Due to smaller landmass, as compared to other Southeast Asian countries and only 647.5 square kilometers in measurement, everything in Singapore is relatively close to each other. The main city’s attractions, Orchard Road for shopping, Chinatown for a dose of Chinese culture and food, Little India for people who want to taste the Indian culture, and Sentosa Island for amusement parks and other exciting activities, are situated closely together so one can go around them by bus, boat, or private cars. On the other hand, Singapore’s Central Business District spreads across the central and southern parts of the city-state. Beautiful high-rise buildings that are really unique and modernized in design adorn these parts of Singapore so one can immediately know if they have reached the city’s business district.
Singapore cuisine is like the nation’s cultural diversity as well, unique with hints of elements from several ethnic groups brought about by different immigrants in the city-state. Malays, Chinese, Indonesian, Indian, and Western culture have deeply influenced the Singaporean cuisine. For this very reason, Singaporean cuisine has become a national identity for its locals, unifying the cultural diversity in one nation. Hawker centers, or food courts, are famous dining destination in Singapore, both for the locals and the visitors. Hawker centers offer a wide range of food selections, from Chinese to Indonesian to Western foods, in a much affordable price. Hawker centers are where one can really taste the different cuisines Singapore has to offer. Kaya Toast, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Naan, and Laksa are the crowd’s favorite, from locals to visitors alike. Restaurants are also in every corner of the street, catering to those who prefer a more high-end Singapore cuisine. Due to this diverse culinary offering that Singapore takes pride in, it is said that Singaporeans like to talk about food in general, food is also one of the main reasons, and Singapore’s trademark, as to why tourists choose the city-state as their top tourist destination.
Moreover, Singapore is not only known for its tourist destinations, cultures, and business hubs, as the education system of the city-state is truly remarkable, not to mention successful, as well. Singapore education system is said to be highly-scripted and uniform across all levels and subjects which helps the students learn in a straightforward and undeviating way. With this kind of teaching, where teachers rely heavily on textbooks, drills, and practices, students are prepared for factual and procedural knowledge and fro national high stakes examinations that put the city-state at par among the world’s best schools and colleges. This kind of teaching that is unique to Singapore,
influenced as well by its mixed cultures, transmission of knowledge and technique to other countries is particularly difficult as well, which makes the system uniquely Singaporean.
Politics in Singapore is unique in nature as well, as they are practicing a parliamentary democratic government whereby there is president, who heads the state, a prime minister, who heads the government, and a cabinet from the parliament who exercises the executive power. However, like most government systems, Singapore has three branches as well, legislature, executive, and judiciary, where the legislative power is exercised both in the government and the parliament systems. It is evident that this kind of government, a parliament democratic, works well for Singapore. Businessmen, investors, and other countries, are initiating deals with the city-state for partnership because they are secured on what the government can offer to them, no corruption, business security, and more opportunities. With this kind of system, the government of Singapore was able to make a name for their nation; Singapore is widely known to be a nation of no corruption, stricter rule of law, and economically free which makes it a preferred business and trade destination.
To wrap it up
In conclusion, Singapore, known to most, is nation of cultural diversity, and in a good way possible, as it makes the city-state unique, competitive, and very much appealing to the world. Singapore proves that although they are smaller in terms of landmass and demography, the city-state has so much to offer to everyone – from tourists, to businessmen, to migrants, even to students. Interestingly, despite the cultural diversity that ranges from Western to Asian, the Singapore Government, as well as its locals, were able to work the together the differences in a very harmonious way, creating a nation that is strong, unified, advanced, and truly unique.