Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, the Republic of Singapore is a diamond shaped island with a population of roughly 5,535,000 people. Singapore's history goes back to 1819, when it was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles for the East India Company. After the company's collapse, the islands were ceded to Great Britain and became part of the Straits Settlements in 1826, and were later occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Singapore gained its independence from Great Britain in 1965 and has since developed rapidly. Singapore is currently ranked fourth of Asia's most influential cities by Forbes, and thanks to my own two visits to Singapore, I know that after one day Singapore can impress anyone from anywhere. Although it may not be a usual first choice for vacation, there are a few reasons why Singapore is worth a visit.
1. Singapore is the second-safest and fifth-cleanest place in the world.
According to Nation Master, the United States is 4 times more likely to have a crime occur than Singapore. As for citizens feeling safe walking alone, Singapore is rated sixth in the world, while the United States takes 60th place. Along with feeling safe no matter where you are, everyone you meet is very friendly and willing to help you out. As for littering, if you throw something as simple as a can on the ground, you could appear in front of a court with a $300+ fine. If you're caught vandalizing, you'll end up in jail. Chewing gum is completely illegal and if you're caught you get to pay a nice $1,000 fine. These rules are how Singapore maintains their reputation of being able to eat your dinner straight off of a public sidewalk without getting a speck of dirt on your meal.
2. Singapore is a melting pot of diverse cultures.
Singapore is influenced by Malay, South Asian, East Asian and Eurasian cultures and has been nicknamed a country where "East meets West." Thanks to Singapore's past as being a trading hub for British ships on their way to India, and its close proximity to other Asian countries, Singapore has essentially become a mixing pot of multiple cultures. About 40 percent of residents are foreign, and it is filled with many different customs, languages and religions, making it an especially interesting place to be. Besides English, Singapore's main languages consist of Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. You can also find 10 major religions practiced in Singapore, including Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity, and there are multiple churches, temples and mosques throughout the country, including the famous Sultan's Mosque.
3. Due to its location, Singapore is a major trade port.
"The Best Seaport in Asia" started as a trading port for Britain, and has since become the world's busiest trans-shipment hub, and the world's second busiest port. In 2014, the Republic handled a total of 33.9 million containers, and is currently connected to 600 ports in over 120 countries. Singapore also has seven total ports located around the entire island. There are about 1,000 vessels at the Singapore port at any point in time, and a vessel leaves or arrives every two minutes.
4. Singapore is extremely advanced in its economy and architecture.
According to the Mercer Survey of 2014, Singapore has been ranked the second best place to live, play and work compared to 211 cities of the world. The BERI Report of 2015 ranked Singapore as number one out of 50 major investment destinations that examines politics and foreign exchange, making Singapore's stable political and economic environment an ideal city in which to invest in. Singapore has often been called the best business environment in Asia, allowing Singapore to become advanced in business, investments and overall economy.
Often called "Skyscraper City," Singapore has multiple architectural highlights throughout the city. One of the most prominent Singapore architecture sites is the Singapore Flyer, which is a ferris wheel that covers the same land area as 172 tennis courts or 1,120 parking lots and takes about 30 minutes to complete a full circle. Other major highlights include Singapore's famous Merlion, the Helix Bridge, Marina Bay Sands, The Esplanade, and the Cooled Conservations.
Although it has been six years since my first visit to Singapore, it is a city I will never forget. It may have been thousands of miles from home and part of a completely different continent, but I always felt comfortable and at home while exploring the city. Whenever someone asks, I immediately recommend they visit Singapore, because I know it will leave a permanent impression on them as well.
