Singapore is an island nation in Southeast Asia. Founded as a
British trading colony in 1819, after independence it became one of
the most prosperous countries, with the world's leading trading
port. Combining the skyscrapers and subways of a modern affluent
city with a mixed mix of Chinese, Indian and Malay influences, a
luscious tropical climate, delicious food, great shopping and
vibrant nightlife, this garden city is a great stopover or launch
pad in the region.
Singapore is a microcosm of Asia populated
by Chinese, Malays, Indians and a large number of workers and
emigrants from all over the globe (here they are called expatriates
or ex-pats, ex-pats). A notoriously authoritarian state, with
unexpected fines such as not flushing a toilet, Singapore has partly
earned its reputation for sterile predictability, which has
attracted cynically derisive descriptions like William Gibson's
"Disneyland with the death penalty" or "the world's only shopping
mall that is a member of the United Nations" . In fact, this Asian
Switzerland is for many a joyful relief from the poverty, chaos and
crime of much of the Asian continent. And times are changing, strict
orders develop into soft cultural norms. In general, if you dig into
a squeaky clean surface, you will reveal much more than meets the
eye.
Singapore's food and shops are legendary, part of the
national character. You can try to talk to a Singaporean about
politics, the weather, sports, but nothing will engage them as
vividly as your story about a new stall selling $2.50 (SGD)
vermicelli soup around the corner from the third alley of the
district bazaar. After listening carefully to you, finding out the
smallest details of the plot along the way, your interlocutor will
then definitely and in detail share the secret of the location of
the real best soup tray, cheaper by 10 cents and with less unhealthy
soy sauce. And no wonder if you, too, fall prey to the pulsating
hawker centres, 24-hour cheap food cafes from all parts of Asia, and
over-luggage by shopping in the shopping paradise of Orchard Road.
In recent years, some social restrictions have been relaxed, and
you can now garter jump from heights or dance on a bar all night
long, although alcohol is still very expensive and chewing gum can
only be bought at a pharmacy. The first casino opened in 2009 as
part of Singapore's new Fun and Entertainment program aimed at
doubling the number of tourists and extending their stay in the
country. Get ready for more indulgences in the future!
According to legend, the Srivijayan (Early Malay/Indonesian) Raja
Sang Nila Utama landed on the island in the 13th century after seeing a
strange creature that appeared to be a lion and decided to found a new
city, naming it "Singapura", the city of the Lion in Sanskrit (Old
Indian). (Singapore never had a lion, and that mysterious animal was
more likely a tiger.) Historical evidence suggests that the island was
inhabited at least two centuries earlier, and was called Temasek, "Sea
City" in Javanese (o Java is the most populated island in modern
Indonesia and in the world). However, the Sumatran Srivizhanat fell
around 1400 and Temasek, exhausted by the warring kingdoms of Siam
(Thailand) and the Javanese Majapahit raja, sunk into oblivion.
Therefore, the history of Singapore as we know it today began in 1819,
when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles entered into a treaty with the
pretender to the throne of the Sultanate of Johor, offering British
support to the heir in exchange for the right to establish a trading
post on the island. Strategically located at the entrance to the Strait
of Malacca, on the nexus of trade routes between China, India, Europe
and Australia, in a stroke of genius by Raffles, Singapore was declared
a free port, free of trade taxes and fees. Merchants seeking to escape
the burdensome Dutch taxes soon turned the trading post into one of the
busiest in Asia, drawing labor from everywhere. Along with Penang and
Malacca, Singapore became the crown jewel of the British colonial crown,
and its economic fortunes received an additional boost when palm oil and
rubber from neighboring Malaya were processed and shipped through
Singapore. In 1867, Singapore was officially separated from British
India and made into a directly administered royal colony.
When
World War II broke out, Singapore Fortress was considered an imposing
British base, with massive naval fortifications to guard against attack
from the sea. However, not only was the fortress absent from the fleet,
which had been withdrawn entirely to defend Great Britain from the
Germans, but the Japanese wisely preferred to cross Malaya on bicycles
instead of a sea attack. Despite the cannons hastily deployed in the
opposite direction, the British were completely unprepared for such a
course of events. After less than a week of fighting, on February 15,
1942, with supplies at a critically low level (including fresh water),
Singapore ingloriously surrendered, and the former rulers of the colony
were sent to Changi prison. Tens of thousands died in the brutal
occupation that followed, and the return of Mother England in 1945 to
“restore what was taken away” was far from triumphant: it was clear that
her time was up.
Endowed with self-government in 1955, Singapore
joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, with the departure of the
British. But after violent party and national divisions, he was
effectively expelled because of the threat to Malay dominance from the
Chinese townspeople. Officially, the island itself left the federation
with the approval of the federal government, and became a state on
August 9, 1965. The next forty years of ruthless rule by Prime Minister
Lee Kuan Yew saw Singapore's economy take off, and the country quickly
became one of the richest and most advanced in Asia. Now led by Lee Jr.,
Lee Hsien Loong, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) continues to
dominate the political arena. She holds 82 out of 84 seats in
parliament, with more than half won by "elections" from one candidate,
and opposition politicians are regularly bankrupted by defamation suits.
However, social restrictions have been loosening in recent years and the
government is trying to shake off its austere image. How the delicate
balance between political and social freedom will develop is the real
question of the future.
Climate
Only one and a half degrees north of the equator,
there are no seasons, and the weather is usually sunny. It usually
rains almost every day in the form of sudden heavy showers that
rarely last more than an hour. However, most precipitation occurs
during the northeast monsoon (November to January), sometimes with
long periods of continuous rain. Spectacular thunderstorms happen
regularly, usually in the afternoon, so it makes sense to carry an
umbrella all the time, both for shade from the sun and as shelter
from the rain.
Between May and October, forest fires on the
neighboring Indonesian island. Sumatra can cause a thick haze, but
it is unpredictable and comes and goes quickly. See the National
Environment Agency website for current data.
Average monthly
temperatures:
26 °C during the day - 24 °C at night in
December-January
31°C during the day - 26°C at night during the
rest of the year.
High temperatures and humidity, combined
with a lack of wind and almost equally hot nights, can take their
toll on tourists from the colder parts of the planet. Keep in mind
that spending more than 1 hour outdoors can be very exhausting,
especially when combined with extra exercise. Singaporeans
themselves are shying away from the heat, and for good reason. Many
live in air-conditioned apartments, work in air-conditioned
institutions, ride air-conditioned subways to air-conditioned malls
connected by underground passages, and exercise in air-conditioned
fitness clubs.
Follow their lead to avoid discomfort.
Districts
Singapore is a small country on a small island, but
with four million people, it is a densely populated city. Consisting
roughly of Orchard, Riverside and a chunk of Chinatown, the city
center in cut-throat Singapore is called CBD (CBC), Central Business
District, Central Business District.
Balestier, Newton, Novena
and Toa Payoh are inexpensive accommodations and Burmese temples not
far from the center.
Bugis and Kampong Glam is Singapore's old
Malay district, now mostly filled with large department stores,
although Arab Street within Kampong Glam is well worth a visit for
its eclectic mix of quirky shops and restaurants.
Chinatown
(China-city) - the area originally set aside for the Chinese
settlement by Stamford Raffles.
East Coast (east coast) - in the
predominantly bedroom eastern part of the island is the Changi
airport and many famous zucchini. Katong is famous for its Peranakan
dishes such as laksa. Joo Chiat has several well-restored Peranakan
houses with characteristically elegant architecture.
Little India
(little India) - a piece of India north of the center.
North and
West - also known as Woodlands and Jurong respectively, make up the
residential and industrial areas of Singapore.
Orchard Road -
Kilometers upon kilometers of shops, department stores and malls
Riverside - Museums, statues, theaters, not to mention restaurants,
bars and clubs
Sentosa is a separate island, systematically
developed into a resort, the Singapore cousin of Disneyland.
Language
Singapore has 4 official languages: English, Chinese
(Putonghua), Malay and Tamil. Residents of the country, in addition
to their native language, almost always speak English and sometimes
in addition another language.
How to get there
Singapore Airlines flies daily on the
Moscow-Singapore route (just over 10 hours).
In addition, you can
take advantage of the regular flights of Emirates Airlines (daily, via
Dubai), Qatar Airways (three times a week, via Doha), Thai Airways
(three times a week, via Bangkok), Etihad Airways (three times a week,
via Abu- Dabi).
It is also possible to fly via Frankfurt
(Lufthansa plus Singapore Airlines), Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam
Airlines), Seoul (Korean Airlines), Shanghai (China Eastern) or Tokyo
(Japan Airlines).
Qatar Airways, Emirates Airlines, Etihad
Airways and China Eastern also fly from Belarus and Ukraine to
Singapore.
Singapore has very strict laws against drugs:
illegal trafficking is punishable by death, which also applies to
foreigners. As elsewhere, travelers should be vigilant about their
luggage. Paranoids should also note that in Singapore it is a crime to
have any drugs in the body, even if they were consumed outside the
country.
The duty-free allowance for alcohol is 1 liter of
spirits, 1 liter of wine and 1 liter of beer per person. Cigarettes
cannot be imported duty-free at all, apart from one open pack.
Foreigners can choose to either pay the fee or leave it to customs for
safekeeping until departure; locals have only a choice between paying
for or witnessing the destruction of cigarettes.
Transport
Getting around Singapore is easy: the transport system is one of the
best in the world. The main types of metro are MRT (Mass Rapid Transit)
and LRT (Light Rail Transit). Inexpensive and reliable, their network
covers almost all points of interest for tourists. Pay only with a smart
card, which can be bought from machines or at the cashier, the price
depends on the distance and varies from 0.80 to 2.00 Singaporean
dollars. Transfers are free. Please note that in Singapore "subway"
means "underpass".
By bus
Buses connect various corners of
Singapore. You can pay in cash, but you need to change, so it's easiest
to use a card. When boarding, in front of the bus, you need to touch the
card to the counter, and the maximum fare will be charged from it. When
exiting, you need to touch again, and then the price difference will be
returned. Controllers sometimes work on the lines.
By taxi
Taxis are relatively inexpensive, but with a complex system of
surcharges for calling by phone, at night, driving through the center,
holidays, rush hours, etc. - they all show on the meter. Credit cards
are not always accepted and the service costs an additional 15%.
Tricycles with a cart (traishaw, trishaw) are designed mainly for
tourists, and hunt them in Kitay-gorod and along the river. You won’t
bargain here much: a short trip costs 10-20 Singapore dollars, and an
hour of a city tour is all 50. It is not recommended for targeted
movements.
By steamboat
Tourist bumboats glide along the
river, with good views of the city center. Ferries take you to the
uninhabited southern islands for picnicking and swimming in the
backwaters.
On foot
Singapore is the most walkable city in
Southeast Asia. Classic walks include trails along the river from the
Merlion Sea Lion statue to Quays Piers, and Chinatown, Little India and
Bugis. The only inevitable obstacle is the tropical heat and humidity.
Carry handkerchiefs to wipe off sweat, and be sure to drink water. Break
up your walk with air-conditioned cafes, shops and museums. Avoid the
peak of the daytime heat by walking in the morning and afternoon.
Crossing the street in the wrong place can be punished by imprisonment.
Addresses
In the center of Singapore, the address system is
familiar, for example, 17 Orchard Road (Sadovaya Street, 17), but in new
residential developments on the outskirts, it can be taken aback at
first: a typical address looks like “Blk 505 Jurong West St 51 #01-186”.
Here “Blk 505” is the number of the apartment block, “Jurong West St 51”
is the name of the street, and “#01-186” means the first floor,
apartment or trading place 186. .) The first digit of the number of both
the block and the street is the number of the subdistrict (in this case,
5), which simplifies the search. A six-digit postal code, given the size
of the island, usually corresponds to exactly one building. For example,
"Blk 9 Bedok South Ave 2" is "Singapore 460009" or "S460009". A useful
way to look up addresses is the free Singapore Street Directory on the
web. Most taxis have a street directory for the unlikely event that the
driver doesn't know how to take you.
Holidays
Due to its diverse population, Singapore celebrates
Chinese, Muslim, Indian and Christian holidays. The year kicks off with
a bang with the European New Year and is celebrated, as in the West,
with fireworks and parties at every holiday spot in the city. The
frenzied fun with wet foam on the beaches of the resort island of
Sentosa is especially famous - at least in those years when the
authorities condescendingly allow such relative debauchery.
However, thanks to the influence of the Chinese majority, the biggest
event is by far the Chinese New Year (or, politically correct, Lunar New
Year), usually held in February. The festival lasts for at least 42
days, but the wild anticipation of the climax occurs on the eve of the
night of the new moon, with exclamations of "gon zi fa cai"
("congratulations and prosperity"), red tinsel, tangerines, oranges,
ubiquitous pictures of the zodiac animal and crowds of buyers in queues
of Kitay-gorod. The next two days are spent with the family, and most of
the island dies out, and then life returns to normal ... except for the
final splash of Chingay (Chingey) - a colorful parade along Sadovaya
Street ten days later.
In 2007, the parade is held on February 24
at 19:00, starting from Sadovaya Orhcard Road. Like last year, there
will also be a preview on February 23 at 7:30 pm – in fact, giving away
two parades. After the parade on the 24th, Orchard Road will be divided
into three festive zones. Between Paragon and Ng Ann City there will be
samba and belly dancers. Between Heeren and Meritus Mandarin is hip-top.
Between Faber House/Somerset MRT and Orchard Plaza/Killiney Road is a
children's carnival. These zones will be open from 21:30 to 23:30.
Purchases
Prices
Singapore uses the Singapore dollar (SGD).
Sometimes Brunei dollars can also be found in circulation, they,
according to interstate agreements, go in Singapore on a par with their
own Singaporean money at the denomination indicated on the banknote,
without exchange.
In January 2013, 1 US dollar ($) was equal to
approximately 1.22 Singapore dollars (S$).
Food
Chinese
cuisine, seafood dishes, sushi are popular in the country. Popular
national dishes: nasi lemak (coconut pulp, scrambled eggs, anchovies,
cucumber wedges and some chili paste wrapped in wrapping paper or a
banana leaf), eh tarik (clove milk tea), chendol (coconut milk drink
with brown sugar , pieces of green starch and red beans). For an example
of prices, 400 ml of beer in restaurants along the riverfront costs 7-8
S$, one omelette is 3 S$,
Leaving a "tip" in Singapore is
optional. However, no one will refuse them. Most hotels and restaurants,
not relying on the awareness of customers, themselves include an
additional 10-15% "for service" in the bill.
Indian and Malay
food should only be eaten with the right hand. Chopsticks are never left
in a plate of food, but placed on a special stand or on a table near the
plate. If the serving includes two spoons, you need to eat with a
porcelain spoon, and with a silver one - only serve food.
Where
to stay
There are no bad hotels in Singapore, even 2-3☆ are quite up
to par. City-type hotels: without territory, multi-storey, with
conference rooms equipped with the latest technology. All the world's
hotel chains are represented in the country, plus the Chinese chain
Oriental and the southeastern Shangri La. But in the China Town area
(Chinese City, a few blocks from the center) you can find a series of
small hotels with very "modest" amenities. For example, the G Hotel has
double rooms with an area of about 9 square meters. meters completely
without windows. The room has a double bed, a bedside table, a
shelf-table on the wall, air conditioning and a TV (5 channels of local
TV of medium quality), there may be a stool-chair. There is a shower
with toilet and washbasin. There is no food, in the morning you can make
tea or coffee in the Internet room. The cost of such a room in December
2011 is 120 USD (160 S$)!
Precautionary measures
The moon is visible from the equator in the
supine position. On the coat of arms of Singapore, he is depicted like
this: see paper money and coins.
Singapore has the nickname “fine
city”, which means both “beautiful city” and “city of fines”: the word
“fine” has two meanings. The city has strict laws regarding even minor
offenses that usually get away with it in other countries. For example,
it is forbidden to cross the street not on the transition or at a red
light, to eat and drink in public transport, to spit, to litter. This
has made Singapore as clean and safe, even at night, as it is, although
in recent times the indulgence is also felt in the field of law
enforcement.
Toilets usually have at least one "Asian" toilet -
flush with the floor. It is believed to be healthier.
Driving is
on the left, be careful when crossing the streets: cars turn from an
unexpected direction!
Bringing drugs into Singapore is punishable
by death. In addition, the import of chewing gum into the country is
prohibited: violation of this ban can result in a fine or even
imprisonment for up to a year. It is forbidden to chew gum on the
street, and especially spit it out on the sidewalk. This can result in a
huge fine. Since the beginning of 2009, a customs duty of about SGD 7
per pack has been levied on the import of cigarettes, the receipt of
payment must be kept until the end of the trip. At Singapore's Changi
Airport, the rule is strictly observed: one person - one piece of hand
luggage. Gambling and chewing gum are prohibited in the country. For
garbage thrown on the street, a fine of 500 SGD is due, and for a second
violation, they may well be sent to prison. Smoking in closed public
places, buses, elevators, cinemas, theaters, government offices,
restaurants and shops is prohibited by law, the fine is even steeper -
1000 SGD. And on the street, smoking is allowed only in specially
designated places, usually either where it is written, or near green
bins with an ashtray in its upper part. Smoking on the go is prohibited.
The fine for crossing the road in the wrong place is 500 SGD, the same
amount will have to be paid for driving in a car without a seat belt
fastened.
Connection
electricity – 230V/50Hz (English socket)
phone code - +65
time zone — UTC +8, Moscow +4h
Embassy of the
Russian Federation in Singapore: Postal address: 51 Nassim Road,
Singapore 258439
Phones: (65) 6235 1832; (65) 6235 1834 - on duty
(24 hours) (65) 6737 0048 - Consular Section (working days, from 10:00
to 12:00 h.h.)
Fax: (65) 6733 4780