Shopping in Singapore

Clarke Quay has a Sunday flea market and on other days is a fun place to look for antiques and home furnishings, kitschy souvenirs and t-shirts.
Suntec City is Singapore’s second largest mall with over 77,000 square meters that boasts about 150 stores in all, from international chains to exclusive boutiques.
Little India with plenty of brightly-painted shop houses and wonderful aromas, saris and jewelry, spices and incense is exotic and exciting. Note worthy places to see here are Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, the Tekka Centre with a bountiful array of fresh fish, meat, vegetables and flowers, and the Mustafa Centre, a 24-hour mall with a surprisingly vast selection of goods, ranging from electronics to perfume.
VivoCity is Singapore’s most modern and largest mall at over 92,000 square meters with big name retailers, 40 eateries, 15-screen, 24-hour cinema, an amphitheater and a massive pool on the roof.
Sim Lim Square is six floors of electronics dealers crammed under one roof selling PCs, digital cameras, cell phones, software, DVDs and more.
Arab Streets the heart of Singapore’s Muslim community with stalls and quaint little shops brimming with a vast array of goods, from baskets and camel skin bags to cloisonné boxes and fishing tackle. The main trade is in textiles: bolt upon bolt of fabric in every color and pattern imaginable, handmade batiks, French chiffons and Chinese silks, also found in plentiful are woven rugs.
Chinatown a national heritage site has many restored shop houses that feature unique shops selling Chinese medicines and trinkets. Malls here are populated with shops offering Chinese fashions, crafts and foods.
Esplanade Mall is sleek and attractive, with several shops devoted to different aspects of the arts: records and musical instruments, fine art, jewelry and more.
Holland Village shelters everything from quaint curio shops to trendy music stores and buzzing coffee shops, a wet market and several upscale restaurants and pubs.
Orchard Road with high-street fashion, upscale boutiques and quirky local labels is Singapore’s main shopping drag with pleasant, air-conditioned underground walkways.
Companies offering car hire in Singapore include Sixt, Expedia, Avis, Hertz and Budget.

The various place of interest in Singapore

The first word that comes to the mind talking about Singapore is ‘exotic’. True in every sense, Singapore is the ultimate holiday destination at any given point of time. There’s so much to do around and so many places to be in. the economy of Singapore itself depends on the tourists, so the administration has tried hard and succeeded in employing every mean to increase the traffic flow.

The country started out as a small fishing village but now it is a cosmopolitan with manmade landscapes and buildings. The most popular places around is probably the Singapore Zoo. The zoo houses around 3,600 species of birds, mammals and reptiles which include some of the endangered species. The orangutan breeding program in the zoo has produces excellent results for the species.

If you are searching for a perfect place to stay in Singapore, try Sentosa. It’s a island resort, purely idyllic and providing excellent means of entertainment both during the night and day. Situated in a lush green surrounding the resort comprises of a huge 18-hole golf course with dancing fountains adding to the scenic beauty. The annual festivals celebrated in this place are Sentosa Sandsation, Zouk Out Dance Festival and Black Moon Foam Parties.

For the perfect entertainment and shopping experience, head to Chijmes. The Art museum and the botanical Gardens are the other places that you got to be in for at least once in your Singapore visit. To get the taste of the ancient tradition, drive to Chinatown. The culture of the place will show you the real essence of the ancient civilization.

Nightclubs, lounges and bars are all over the place which presents the tourists with varied and vibrant venues. For food lovers, Singapore is a paradise. There is no type of dish that is not available in Singapore. Food festivals are held each year which present a mix of the British, Indian, Malay, Chinese, Tamil, and Indonesian cuisine.

Singapore is a wonder in itself

The state of Singapore is the fourth leading financial centre of the world. Evidently it is a business place from the first lines but there are wonderful attractions all over which make the state one of the hottest destinations in the world. The country is situated in the southern point of the Malay Peninsula. Majority of the population is Chinese with a substantial mix of Indian and Malay communities.

Tourism is the heart and blood of Singapore as it is the major earner of their GDP. The prominent places of interest that you got to drive to include Victoria Theatre, Parliament House, Singapore Cricket Club, Singapore Art Museum, Supreme Court and City Hall, Singapore Philatelic Museum, Singapore Mint Coin Gallery, Asian Civilizations Museum, Republic of Singapore Air Force Museum, Changi Museum, Singapore Navy Museum, Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park Night Safari, the Botanical Gardens, Little, Chinatown, and Kampong Glam among many others.

Travel network is the most reputed in this part of the world with modern vehicles and latest technologies in use. Light Rail Transit and Mass Rapid Transit are the most preferred means and they connect the whole city. There are buses that can take you to the convenient locations. Apart from the luxury that you would get in your own vehicle or for that matter in a rented one, there is no reason that you shouldn’t opt for these local means of transport. Not that they are very costly, but the car hires would too take a substantial amount of your vacation budget.

The restaurants and nightclubs around are a specialty and the nights are equally lively as the days. For a more natural pleasure opt for the exotic beaches and treat yourself to one of the spas. There is a hint of forest in the reserve parks. Also don’t miss the world famous oceanarium.

Singapore’s Melting Pot

Singapore is a small island nation situated at the tip of Malaysia. It was first established as a British trading post in South-East Asia when an English representative signed a treaty with the Malay sultan on behalf of the British East India Trading Company. It was shortly occupied by Japanese forces during the Second World War. After their surrender it was retaken by the British. Then, the country started aiming for complete independence from both British and Malay interference. This happened in 1965 when the Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew signed the country’s independence.

Singapore has about five million people that makes in the world’s second most densely populated country after Monaco. The majority is Chinese 75%, then Malays 14%, Indians 9%, and the rest are Eurasians and Arabs. The country is considered a global melting pot because many different peoples melt together to form one basic cultural norm based on the most predominant one. Approximately 40% of the population is foreigners.

The first official language it the country is English, then come Malay, Mandarin Chinese and Tamil. Most Singaporeans are bilingual. This forms a culture that is mostly influenced by British, Chinese, Malay and Indian norms and mentality. A local phenomenon is Singlish- an English-based colloquial language that takes its vocabulary from many neighboring Asian languages and mixes them with English and American slang. The most popular religion in Singapore is Buddhism followed y Islam, Christianity, Taoism and Hinduism. About one-seventh of the population is atheistic.

Singapore leads the world’s rankings as the most globalized country. This entails technology, personal contacts, finance and goods and services. Nowhere else in the world is this variety so balanced. This is considered to be due to the country’s high levels of trade, heavy international phone traffic, and the great amount of international travelers.

What makes Singapore a captivating place to visit is the convergence of not only different cultures but of traditions and modernity as well. You can spend countless hours walking from the traditional Chine Town, Colonial District, and Little India to the modern sim-lim square, Raffles Hotel, Sun-tech City and the modern architecture.

When it comes to national pass times food and shopping are the two religions all Singaporeans share. The local cuisine is a bright example of the country’s diversity. It has significant influences from British, Chinese, Indian, Malay, Tamil and Indonesian cooking. Typical is considered the satay, nasi lemak, fish and chips and chicken rise. Singapore is considered a shopping paradise where you can find clothes from every corner of the world and all global brands.

The idea behind a melting pot is celebrating commonalities opposed to differences. As a result this new national culture will be stronger, more resilient, adaptive and peaceful. This model has worked quite successfully so far in this extraordinary nation. There have been many accusations about the prevailing influence of the Chinese minority. Moreover, there have been frequent moves towards multiculturism as opposed to melting pot ideas. Only time will tell if this truly globalized country will set the pace for the future world.

Singapore’s Economic Miracle

An Asian Tiger

Singapore, together with Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, is one of the Four Asian Tigers. They were dubbed tigers because of their exceptional economic growth and industrialization rates during the latter part of the 20th century. Now, they are already considered developed countries with high incomes. Singapore is ranked number four by purchasing power parity[1] in the world. This makes it one of the richest countries in the world. All of this was achieved in a short period of time since its independence in 1965.

The Economic Miracle

Singapore is a small island country on the tip of Malaysia without any resources or even arable lands. It is an exciting mixture between roughly five million Chinese, Malays, Indians and Caucasians. Since its independence from Malaysia 45 years ago the country transformed completely from an ex-British trading post into a modern business hub covered by glass skyscrapers. This huge progress is mostly credited to big business leaders and strong political will. The country reached exception growth rates that even now are among the highest among developed nations.

The basis for the success of the little nation is its location. The country has been an important port ever since its establishment by the British in the 19th century. The traditional reasons quoted for the success of the country are Chinese industriousness, strong will, exceptional commercially minded people, a strong sense for respect for authority, and a talent to make money.

More practical lessons can be taken from the actions of the government. Strong influence of the Japanese model development, limited labor union power, strict legislation, planned industrial development, wage control, attracting foreign investment, no import/export duties, and most importantly- long-term economic planning are credited as very strong factor in this process.

Singapore and the Financial Crisis

As a result of the Financial Crisis and the consequent global recession there was a big downfall in the technology sector of Singapore which led to a 2% contraction of the country’s GDP. The government formed a special committee The Economic Review Committee to come up with and implement special policies to alleviate the situation. Since then, the country has recovered as part of the global recovery and has returned to economic growth rates of about 8%.

Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew is a legendary statesman in Singapore. He was the first prime minister from 1959 to 1990 and founder of the country’s ruling party- People’s Action Party. He was the person to sign Singapore’s independence in 1965. During the ruling of his successor he was a Senior Minister and during the ruling of the third prime minister (who is his eldest son) he was named Minister Mentor. He is famous for saying that Singapore’s main resource is its people and their work ethic.

Car rental services in Singapore are provided by all the major car rentals companies such as: Avis and Hertz.


[1] Purchasing power parity per capita – method for comparing how well people live by taking a certain basket of goods considering inflation and exchange rate differences

Top trends of buying beauty products at Singapore Airport

EYE, a media expert at Singapore’s Changi International Airport, consisting of over 200 static, digital and ambient advertising opportunities across the 5 terminals, discloses the mindsets and trends of Eye Flyers in airport beauty shopping, after carrying out the research of the year’s 1st quarter.

The Head of the Marketing Singapore, Junice Liew says that “the advertisements at the airport are a strong tool which not only encourages the level of spending in that particular area but also enables the advertisers to influence the trends besides offering clear communication messages to the customers.”

It displayed the following data by giving an in depth look where the advertisers makes most out the spending habits of the customers.

The research depicts that passengers of around 92%, ought to buy something and nearly 80% of them are influenced by the advertisements at the airport. 85% of the Eye Flyers, who have bought Cosmetics and Perfume are influenced by the advertising and out of them 58% of people says that advertising influences them to buy one brand rather than the other.

Most of the travelers aged 25 to 39, of which 45% are males, urge to buy Perfumes and Cosmetics from the airport.

It is also found that different levels of appeal are held at various airport grounds, where around 77% of passengers at the departing area, 73% at the arriving retail area and 45% at the check-in area are influenced by the advertising in airport.

Stunning Singapore

The Republic of Singapore is an island city state, a highly cosmopolitan world city and the world’s fourth leading financial centre.

Its diverse population is made up of Chinese, Malays, Indians, Asians and Caucasians of various ethnic origins.

Formerly just a humble fishing village Singapore today is a bustling cosmopolitan city with high-rise buildings and landscape gardens that blend culture, cuisine, arts and architecture.

Sights:

The Singapore Zoo is as one of the world’s most spectacular zoos with over 3,600 mammals, birds and reptiles, including rare and endangered species. The Zoo’s orangutan breeding program has helped the survival and growth of this gentle endangered species.

Sentosa an idyllic island resort has entertainment by day and night, lush green surroundings to explore, and manicured gardens, dancing fountains and two challenging international 18-hole golf courses with scenic undulating views. Sentosa Sandsation, Black Moon Foam Parties, and Zouk Out Dance Festival are annual festive international events.

CHIJMES is an attraction offering an exciting dining, shopping, and leisure and entertainment experience in the back drop of the restored CHIJMES chapel.

The Singapore Art Museum has 13 galleries and is home to the national art collection of Singapore. Singapore has 9 other museums displaying collections from philately to pewter.

Singapore Botanic Gardens close to the centre of the city is a combination of untouched primary forest and specialty gardens.

Little India is the focal point of Singapore’s Indian community.

Chinatown is full of contrasts and fascinating details, where the historic buildings have been lovingly conserved and old beliefs still prevail.

Jurong Bird Park lets the visitor come face to face with some 8000 birds most colorful an enthralling.

The Raffles Hotel built in 1887 is a favorite retreat of writers and movie stars and home of the Singapore Sling, a celebrated cocktail.

The over 15 parks and gardens of Singapore from the Chinese garden to the Bukit Batok Nature Park satisfy the interest of the curious visitor to the nature lover alike.

Singapore’s Central Shopping Belt extending from Tanglin Road all the way down Orchard Road and Bras Basah Road to Marina Bay provides an unforgettable experience of theme designer boutiques, local and international department stores, specialty shops and bargain counters compete with outdoor cafes and gourmet restaurants.

Eating, along with shopping, is said to be the country’s national pastime, and with the Singapore Food Festival held every July showcasing the best of Singapore’s cuisine a blend of  British, Chinese, Indian, Malay, Tamil cuisine, and Indonesian cuisine.

Nightclubs, bars and lounges, and live entertainment venues provide nightlife vibrant and varied.

Changi International Airport is a major aviation hub in Southeast Asia and has been rated as one of the best international airports.

Singapore- An Asian wonder

Singapore, an island city-state, is the world’s fourth leading financial centre situated at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Lying almost on the equator, the city is a real cosmopolitan society, where the Chinese form the majority of the population, along with extremely large Malay and Indian communities, forming an aggregate population estimate of around 4.99 million people. Singapore is a thriving city-state ranked as the fourth wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP. Apart from that, it’s a wonderful city to explore with a multi ethnic culture and diverse range of architechtural wonders that offer a complete tourist experience.

CLIMATE

As the country lies on the equator, Singapore experiences a typical equatorial climate with extremely hot summers. Humidity is high in this region. The country experiences rainfall during November to January. Thunderstorms are a frequent occurrence.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Singapore is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations which is the reason why tourism contributes greatly to its economy. The main attractions are the Parliament House, Victoria Theatre, Singapore Cricket Club, Supreme Court and City Hall, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore Philatelic Museum, Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore Mint Coin Gallery, Republic of Singapore Air Force Museum, Singapore Navy Museum, Changi Museum, Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park and the Botanical Gardens, Chinatown, Little, Kampong Glam and many more…

TRANSPORT

Transport in Singapore is easy and affordable as the country holds a reputation of having one of the best travel networks in the world. The Mass Rapid Transit and the Light Rail Transit are the best modes of transportation that offer excellent services to both locals and tourists. Apart from these one may opt for the buses, which are otherwise slower when compared to the metro nevertheless offer convenient conveyance to various places. The other options are trishaws, taxis or boats.

AIRPORTS

The main international gateways into the country are the Changi Airport and the Seletar Airport that offer all the facilities that are expected out of international airports. In fact the Changi airport might even exceed expectations.

The airports provide car rental services operated by all the major car rentals companies such as: Avis and Hertz.

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