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The best of Singapore
Written by: Anita Lišková & Todd Shaw
Photo by: allphoto images
Southeast Asia's great melting pot, Singapore is a cultural potpourri
that leaves the unsuspecting visitor dazzled. A happy collision
of opposites, the antiseptically clean inner city is never far
from rainforests, unique night safaris, or a bumboat's ride from
Changi jetty.
David Green
Sales manager central, eastern and southern Europe, Shell
Aviation
Favorite hotel: Hotel New Otani, 177A River Valley
Rd, tel.: +65 6338 3333
- nice hotel with great views, shopping center below
Favorite restaurant: Boat Quay - great area for restaurants
with lots of seating, either outside or in semi-open areas
Favorite attraction: Sentosa island
There are sandy beaches, and an aquarium. I would recommend
going by cable car and coming back by boat.
Best-kept secret: Singapore zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Rd, tel.: +65
6269 3411
Night Safari in the zoo is amazing. You can get really close
to the animals, and if you have a good camera you can get great
shots.
Favorite shop: Sim Lim Square, 1 Rochor Rd, tel.: +65 6336
3922
Good destination if you are looking for electronic goods. Favorite
place for window shopping is Orchard road, even if a little
expensive. |
Jana
Stejskalová
representative, Nemo & Selecta
Favorite hotel: Sheraton Towers
Singapore, 39 Scotts Rd, tel.: +65 6737 6888
Favorite restaurants: House of Mao Hunan Hot Pot, 442
Orchard Rd, Orchard Hotel Shopping Arcade, tel.: +65
6733 7667
Tung Lok Seafood Gallery, 1000 East Coast Parkway, Building
B 2/F, East Coast Recreation Centre,
tel.: +65 6246 0555
Favorite attraction: Jurong BirdPark, 2 Jurong Hill,
tel.: +65 6265 0022
National Orgid Garden, 1 Cluny Rd, tel.: +65 6471 7808
Best-kept secret: Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Rd,
tel.: +65 6269 3411 - the night safaris
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Jan Papež
director, Marco Polo International
Favorite hotel: Merchant Court, 20 Merchant
Rd., tel.: +65 6235 2498
- hotel on the Singapore River embankment
Favorite restaurant: The Blue Ginger, 97 Tanjong Pagar Rd,
tel.: +65 6222 3928
- near Orchard Road Blvd.
Favorite night club: Harry's bar, 28 Boat Quay, tel.: +65
6538 3029
blues, soul, jazz music
Favorite attraction: Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Rd, tel.:
+65 6269 3411
NIght safari - it's great concept. Animals do live after
dark!
Best-kept secret: Pulau Ubin island between Singapore and
Malaysia, with its narrow streets and original buildings
is a great picture of how the city looked 30-40 years ago.
Advice: Travel by ferry boat to the Malaysian Tioman Island
to experience the coral sea and tropical jungle. |
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Basic facts
Area: 659.9 sq km (254.8 sq miles)
Population: 4,131,200
Population density: 6,260.3 per sq km
Capital: Singapore City.
Capital population: 3,340,500
Language: The four official languages are Malay,
English, Chinese (Mandarin) and Tamil. Most Singaporeans
are bilingual and speak English, which is used for
business and administration.
Religion: Taoist, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and
Muslim.
Time zone: GMT + 8.
Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plug fittings
of the three-pin square type are in use. Many hotels
have 110-volt outlets.
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Where on the web?
For further information, we suggest the following websites dedicated
to Singapore:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_east_asia/singapore/ - the folks from Lonely Planet offer a down-to-earth synopsis of
the city
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/cityguide/ - news and info created
in, for, and about the region
http://www.singapore-hotels-travel.net/ - the URL says it all:
accommodation, discounts, reservations, etc.
http://www.economist.com/cities/ - visit the world map here, choose
your destination, and read data and articles with The Economist's
signature slant
Economy
· Vibrant economic activity more than compensates for Singa-pore's
lack of natural resources. The economy relies on entrepôt trade,
shipbuilding and repairing, oil refining, electronics and information
technology, banking and finance and, to a lesser extent, tourism.
High-technology manufacturing, particularly computer and telecommunications
equipment, and financial services, mainly banking and insurance,
form the kernel of the economy. There is also an important oil-refining
industry, and a recent influx of pharmaceutical firms.
Source: www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
Business
· English is widely spoken in business circles. Appointments should
be made and punctuality is important. Chinese people should be
addressed with their surnames first, while Malays do not have surnames
but use the initial of their father's name before their own. Visiting
cards are essential, although it is policy for government officials
not to use them. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1400-1700,
Sat 0900-1300.
· Singapore is the top convention city in Asia and ranks among
the top 10 meetings destinations in the world. There are many
hotels with extensive conference facilities, including the latest
audio-visual
equipment, secretarial services, translation and simultaneous
interpretation systems, whilst Raffles City, a self-contained convention
city,
can accommodate up to 6000 delegates under one roof.
· The following organizations can offer advice: Singapore International
Chamber of Commerce, 10-01 John Hancock Tower, 6 Raffles Quay,
Singapore 048580 (tel: 6224 1255; fax: 6224 2785; email: general@sicc.com.sg;
website: www.sicc.com.sg), or Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, 101 Cecil Street, Tong Eng Building, Unit 23-01/04,
Singapore 069533 (tel: 6224 6634; email: sicci@sicci.com; website:
www.sicci.com)
Source: www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
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OVERVIEW
Geography: Situated off the southern
extremity of the Malay Penin-sula, to which it is
joined by a causeway carrying a road, railway and
waterpipe. The Republic of Singapore includes some
64 islets.
Climate: Warm and
fairly humid summer temperatures
throughout the year (approximately
30°C/86°F during the day and 23°C/74°F
in the evening). There is no distinct
wet/dry season. Most rain falls during
the northeast monsoon (November to
January) and showers are usually
sudden and heavy.
Government: Republic.
Gained full independence from the
UK in 1965. Head of State: President
Sellapan Ramanathan since 1999. Head
of Government: Prime Minister Goh
Chok Tong since 1990.
Currency: One Singapore
dollar (SGD 1) = CZK 15.17; EUR .48;
GBP .32; USD .58 (conversion rates
as of press time)
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