Friday, December 9, 2011

SINGAPORE TOURISM

Singapore is the smallest country from the South-East Asia, with a surface of 630 square kilometers and with a population of 2 million inhabitants. The capital and the only city is Singapore, and the official languages are malaise, mandarin, tamil and English. It is a heavily industrialized city, but tourism is also an important branch of the economy.

The city was destroyed during the 11th century, being rebuilt in the 13th century. However, it was an unimportant city until the 18th century. Sir Stamford Raffles decided to fund a new city there, and the river where he decided to build the first home has his name from that time to today. The river Raffles continues to be the most important part of the city. You will find the main business area and the entertainment area along the river.
On the first sight, Singapore looks at the same time shocking because of the modernity, but also discrete and anonymous. Although the influences of the Chinese and English dominations are strong, Singapore is clearly an  Asian city, where old Malaysian and Indian traditions are kept alive, from Feng Shui to the religion of the ancestors. On the crowded streets of Chinatown, you will find the psychics, the worshipers of the temples, and the occult followers of the ancient gods. In Little India, you could buy the best Indian materials called sari, rare spices, and paintings with Hindu gods. In the small stores of Arab St, you will hear the strong voice of the imam in the Sultan’s Mosque. The most important tourist attractions in singapore are situated in three districts: Orchard Rd, Chinatown, and Little India.

Arab St
The center of the Muslim population, it is the district of the traditional books, of Indonesian scarves, sarongs, songkoks, hajj and silks. You will also find roses essences, and floral essences that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. The biggest and most visited mosque in Singapore can be found here, the Sultan’s Mosque, but also a small and coquette mosque called the Malabar Muslim Jama-ath. The Indian Restaurants can be found on North Bridge Street and Bussorah, offering a real gastronomical spectacle during the Ramadan.

The colonial city
Sir Stamford Raffles left a print in the center of the city, a print that can’t be erased by the Chinese dominating population or the industry. Raffles moved the business district at the south of the river, transforming the northern side in the administrative center. This way, an efficient structure that is used even today was created. One of the main tourist destinations here is the Empress Palace Building, an imposing location built in 1865 that hosts a museum now. It also has art galleries, an antique store, and also a chic restaurant. The Raffles Hotel has become a true symbol of the Oriental luxury. In the same area, you can find imposing churches, like St Andrew Cathedral and The Cathedral of Good Shepherd.

Jurong
Jurong is the industrial center of the city, but the tourists can also find interesting places to visit here: parks, but mostly the Haw Par Villa, a great themed park that gives life to the Chinese mythology.

Singapore it the perfect destination for the European and American tourists that want something new. It is the perfect place to relax, but it is also great for those people looking for some fun. Singapore is one of the most important Asian destinations for singers and artists from around the world, and the nightlife is absolutely incredible. 
Singapore Attractions
One of the things that magnetizes tourists to Singapore is the beauty of its natural attractions. The country is also filled with commercial and business establishments that mesmerize travelers. Tourists from all over the world visit Singapore year in and year out. This only proves that Singapore is continually improving on its tourism and shows to the world the beauty it has to offer. If you are to drop by Singapore, here are some tourist attractions the Singapore Tourist Guide advises that you should definitely check out.  
  1. Sentosa Island  If you are dreaming of the perfect vacation getaway, the Island of Sentosa would definitely make your fantasies come true. It is an Island resort with all the comfort you need. If you want to relax and forget about the city’s worries you can head to Sentosa to unwind. You can use the resort’s recreational facilities, golf and sport areas. The Sentosa Island is the most visited zone of the city, as it has numerous parks, museums, beaches, restaurants, facilities for sport practicing, and other tourist attractions. If you want to spend some more time here, you can easily find camping areas, bungalows but also luxury hotels. 
  2. Night Safari This is one attraction that is very unique. The Night Safari features nocturnal animals of all kinds. Most of these animals are from other parts of the world. It is a 40-hectare land and home to about 1,000 animals of almost 100 species. It only opens at night and you can experience first hand the attractions of the rainforest of Malaysia, the Jungle of India, and the amazing African Sahara. 
  3. Tang Dynasty City If you are a history buff, you can drop by a number of historical museums in Singapore. You can also drop by the Tang Dynasty City where you can literally walk through Singapore’s history and culture. It is actually a theme park where you can find old stone walls with historical remarks. You can also find a number of dining areas, temples, shop, court houses and geisha houses.
  4. Chinese and Japanese Gardens Natural lovers would find peace and serenity in the Chinese and Japanese Gardens of Singapore located at Yuan Ching Road. Beside this tourist spot, you can also find   the Jurong Bird Park. You can find classic Imperial style of gardens and feel the cool breeze of the Juron Lake. Here, you can visit the Garden of Romance, the Herb Garden or walk by the Double Beauty Bridge. 
  5. Temple of 1000 Lights If you are intrigued with the religious background of Singapore, you can visit the country’s local temples. Specifically, you can visit the Temple of 1000 lights which has been an attraction in itself. It also referred to as the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya and can be found near the Race Course.
  6. Chinatown It is the cultural center of the city, and the past speaks to the tourists trough the old temples with terraces and impressive ornaments. The voice of the past can be heard even if the modern economic activity tries to cover it, and the hundreds of shops from this part of the city can be found in a mixture with the exclusive restaurants and the expensive malls. In fact, it is maybe the only place in the world where the poorest and the wealthiest citizens of a country are living in the same place. 
Singapore Weather
There is no distinct season in Singapore as it is very likely to have a sunny weather one day and then a downpour on the next. Here in the Singapore Tourist Guide we will let you know what to expect on your visit.
The later months of November and December are a bit wet, while June and July are usually the drier months.
 Even with this dry, wet, and even wetter pattern, there is still a degree of predictability in the Singapore weather, as researched by the Singapore Travel Guide. The rain tends to start mid or late in the afternoon from October to December. This kind of weather may get most tourists irritated, while some just simply try to understand the changes in the climate which is getting very common.

When traveling to Singapore, choose the summer months when the sun is up most of the day, although rains may still occur from time to time. The changes in the Singaporean weather are attributed to global warming. However, even that shouldn’t discourage tourists to come by and just have fun in the country. When it comes to the Singaporean weather, tourists are forewarned that anything may happen in any given day. Weather is an  ever-changing phenomenon. The only absolute is the amount of fun you can have while on vacation. According to statistics, August is the busiest month for tourism in Singapore.
The climate is Equatorial, generally wet and warm, with temperatures between 23 and 31 degrees Celsius the monsoon season lasts from November to march, with the most humid month being December.

Singapore Shopping
You may not believe it, but there are tourists and travelers who frequent Singapore just to do one thing – to shop! Singapore is world famous for its shopping centers that caters to people of all kinds. Whether you are someone who loves to shop for branded items and signature clothes or a budget shopper and a bargain finder, you can find a Singapore shop that would suit your needs and your budget. Here in the Singapore Tourist Guide are some places where you can buy fab finds!
  1. Orchard Road The Orchard Road has a line of shopping boutiques that can offer shoppers a wide variety of choices. You can go to Centerpoint to look for cheap products or you can drop by Delfi Orchards if you are inclined to buy some art collection. If you want to look for gadget, like cameras, you can go to Far East Plaza. If you brought your kids along, you can shop at the Forum for toys or for Guess? clothing for kids. If you want to shop for branded clothes like Gucci, Mont Blanc.. you should definitely visit the exclusive shop of Paragon or the 313@somerset which is considered as the first major fully integrated retail developments undertaken by Lend Lease in Asia. This place attracts the lovers of the luxury life, being the center of the elite zone of the city, with high class hotels, commercial centers, nightclubs, restaurants, and bars that can satisfy even the demands of the most demanding Occidental tourist. 
  2. Heritage District and City Centre Shopping Just beside the Orchard Road, you can find the Heritage District where you can shop for a lot of fun stuff. You can drop by the Park Mall or the Chijmes for some interesting antique finds. For great computer finds, you can visit the Funan Center beside the Excelsior and Peninsula Hotel. If you want to watch a movie and shop at the same time, the  Marina Square Shopping Mall is worth a look.  
  3. Riverside When you chance upon River Valley Road in Singapore, you are in for a shopping experience. You can check out China Square Central, Clarke Quay and the Great World City, which is one of the most popular flea markets in the area. If you are scouting for the best jewelries, the Pidemco Center is the place to be. 
  4. Chinatown As in any other country, the influence of China to Singapore is very much noticeable. A district called Chinatown offers the best buys in Singapore. If you are a budget shopper and love to purchase discount goods, you would fall in love with Singapore’s Chinatown. You can drop by People’s Park Complex, Chinatown Point and Yue Hwa Chinese Store. 
  5. Little India Little India is a quaint little shopping area in Singapore. If you are to shop here, you are in for an adventure. You can immense yourself with India’s culture and buy great finds that you can bring home with you. You can shop in Mustafa Center and the Zhujiao Market. Little India is a modest but colorful area, with one shop after another, where the air is refreshed by the rare spices and perfumes. You will hear the music of the true Indian movies, offering a well deserved relaxation. Don’t forget about the traditional vegetarian food that is truly delicious.