SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE - the country I'm almost in love with. The country in which caning is a form of punishment and chewing gum is prohibited. You may call this hard-fisted approach, however, when you are in Singapore you will find that everything really works efficiently well. Let alone very safe, the city is spotless and dynamic. You may want to call this a despotic society but my views are real and significant. In this country, the rules are clear and breaking the law will be your nightmare. It is advisable that you rather follow and you're sure to have an experience that is like no other.

Shopping and eating are Singaporeans pastimes. Get to the Orchard Road and you're bound to have that world class shopping experience you've ever wanted. There, you will find a variety of chic and sophisticated shopping malls like the ION. Other shopping malls include the Suntec City, Paragon, Ngee Ann City, Vivo City, Plaza Singapura and Takashimaya. The food is just as haven too. From stylish restaurants to hawker centers, they're all around the island. Food is essentially a delightful experience for anyone in Singapore, tourists or locals alike. When in Singapore, learn how to say this: 'Shiok Man!' when you find something really nice like perhaps the food you just tried and it tasted so good it made you say 'Shiok Man!'

LANDMARKS IN SINGAPORE

The Merlion Park - Merlion is Singapre's national symbol. It is a half-lion-half-fish creation situated at the Marina Bay, where it sprouts water out from the mouth into the river. The lion represents Singapore's roots as the 'Lion City' and the fish represents the nation's close ties to the sea. This iconic statue along the river has attracted millions of visitors per year.





The Merlion Park stretches across the entire front of the Fullerton Hotel at Collyer Quay. Entry to the park is free. The only downside is that you will have to endure the crowd of other tourists and locals who also come to see the Merlion. Perhaps the best time to visit the place is on weekdays if you really want to minimize those unwanted figures that may appear in your own photograph.





The media often touts the Merlion as a legendary creature, however, its true nature is rather more practical. Singapore as an immigrant country did not possess any cultural creation to call its own so during the late 1950s and early 1960s, the government created the Singapore Tourism Board and Mr. Fraser Brunner, one of the members of the  Board, pictured out a character which was a combination of Singapore's traditional name 'Temasek' (from when it was a fishing village) and its new name 'Singapura' (Lion City) and there and then the Merlion was created. Immediately after that, it was successfully accepted as 'canon' by tourists and locals in Singapore. On the note, this grand statue is actually made of cement, plates and teacups.





Till today the Merlion has gained continual attention from foreigners who come to Singapore. And in fact the number of visitors has increased tremendously since its creation.

The Esplanade - Built to be the center for performing arts in Singapore, this architectural landmark with a spiky rooftop is another eye-catching creation. Dubbed by locals as 'Durians', this unique double-domed structure and somewhat fashioned after the Sydney Opera House is known for its state-of-the-art facilities and unique design that houses a 2000-seat theatre, 1600-seat concert hall, recital and theatre studios, meeting venues, library and other arts and lifestyle services. This is certainly another landmark of Singapore that sure to win not just locals but tourists as well.

The Marina Bay Sands - This is definitely the newest Southeast Asian entertainment destination set in the heart of Singapore where you could find a world class casino, sophisticated shopping outlets, accommodations and a Skypark that is shaped like a surfboard on top of the tower, where you can have a 360 view of Singapore and beyond. This new icon looks so grand, it is just a beauty to see at the heart of the city and even standing around the vicinity of the Merlion Park, its sight is just phenomenal. It is currently still undergoing completion but the hotel, casino and the Skypark are already open for visitors.

The Singapore Flyer - The Singapore Flyer is so far the world's largest and tallest observation wheel. It stands at a stunning 165m, like the height of a 42-storey building and some 30m taller than the famed London Eye. Each of the air-conditioned capsule can hold 28 passengers and complete a rotation of approxiately 37 minutes. It also offers a great view of the Marina Bay Street Circuit of the Singapore Grand Prix. Taking a flight on this wheel is a one-of-a-kind experience you surely wouldn't want to miss.