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The Singapore Lions playing against the Indonesia Garudas at Jalan Besar Stadium during the 28th SEA Games.
Chingay is an annual multicultural street parade to celebrate the Chinese New Year and includes performances by local and regional talents.
Buskers in Singapore showcase their skills outside shopping malls, MRT stations and in underground walkways. Some of the more popular buskers have a following on social media.
To counter Dutch trading monopolies in the East, Thomas Stamford Raffles signed an agreement with the younger brother of the Sultan of Johor allowing the British to establish a trading post on Singapore and leasing the island in perpetuity for an annual payment of 4,000 silver dollars. Thus began Singapore’s modern era. Within three years of Raffles’ landing in 1819, the population numbered more than 10,000, of which 60 per cent were Malays. By 1860, at the first census, the population exceeded 80,000 and was mostly Chinese. Other migrants seeking success included Tamils, Ceylonese, Bengalis, Gujuratis, Punjabis, Javanese, Bugis, Balinese and Sumatrans, as well as Europeans. The foundations were laid early on for Singapore’s remarkable growth.
After Raffles, Singapore prospered for many years under the British. In 1929, however, tin and rubber prices collapsed and thousands lost their jobs in the Great Depression. Although considered impregnable by the British, during World War II Singapore was quickly overrun by the Japanese. After peace came in 1945, Singaporeans began planning for independence. Under a new constitution, David Marshall was elected first chief minister in 1955 and he lobbied Britain unsuccessfully for full independence. Meanwhile, a young Straits-born Cambridge graduate led a group of lawyers, teachers and journalists in forming a left-wing political party whose rallying cry was ‘Merdeka!’ (Freedom). In the 1959 elections, Lee Kuan Yew and his People’s Action Party swept to power. After failing to become part of Malaysia in 1963, Singapore became fully independent in 1965. Lee became the first prime minister and stayed in that position for 31 years, stepping aside in 1990 to allow a younger generation to take the political reins. His vision, intellect and integrity have earned him a place in history. With his passing in 2015, Singapore entered a new era.
The Marina Bay area comprises not only the financial district but also dining and shopping options, hotels and attractions like the Singapore Flyer and Gardens By the Bay.
Former Red Bull driver David Coulthard displays his driving prowess in an hour-long stunt showcase at Orchard Road to generate interest in the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Music festivals such as St Jerome’s Laneway have been held in Singapore, featuring international and local music acts like Enterprise (pictured).
Siloso Beach on Sentosa Island is a popular weekend getaway.
Orchard Road has more than 5,000 dining and shopping outlets.
The newly refurbished Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall has been gazetted as a National Monument and is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Singapore’s tallest skyscrapers are capped at 280 metres because of their proximity to Paya Lebar Airbase.
Post-colonial Singapore is an astonishing success story. The People’s Action Party, in power to this day, began alleviating poverty early. Infrastructure has always been a high priority. Low-cost, high-rise housing replaced overcrowded downtown areas, and most Singaporeans now own their homes. The container port is one of the world’s busiest and most efficient. The Mass Rapid Transit system is the envy of other nations. Business travellers consistently rate Changi Airport the best in the world. Manufacturing industries fuelled much of the initial growth for many years, aided by the famous Singaporean work ethic. Tourism, too, has been encouraged and is a thriving industry, as has the banking and financial sector.
The costumes of Singapore’s multicultural population include sarongs and shoulder cloths, bright colours and intricate beadwork. Many borrow elements from each other’s costumes.
The Dynamic Melting Pot of Asia
Since the 1970s, Singapore has been a peaceful, multicultural society composed of ethnic Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasians and others.
Who are the Singaporeans? Early in the nineteenth century, Malays formed the majority of Singapore’s population. Now the balance has shifted and Singaporean Chinese are in the majority. They form 78 per cent of the population, followed by Malays (15 per cent) and Indians (7 per cent), with Eurasians, Westerners and others making up the balance. You can hear people speaking Hokkien, Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Malay (still the official national tongue and the language of the national anthem), Tamil, Hindi, Portuguese and English—not to mention Singlish, the local dialect, a mix of all the above languages. Some Singlish words have recently been added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Such diversity makes for a fascinating blend of cultures.
Participants at the River Hongbao celebration at The Float@Marina Bay usher in the Lunar New Year.
The crew working at the St Jerome’s Laneway Festival in Singapore.
Once a mainstay of public transport, trishaws are now largely popular with tourists. Trishaw tours around Singapore can be arranged from Trishaw Uncle.
Near Serangoon Road, Chinese chess players battle it out on a five-foot way, as the covered sidewalks are still generally called in Singapore.
The ambition of these Muslim boys will be to earn the right to wear the white head-wear as adults that indicates they are Haji, men who have undertaken the all-important pilgrimage to Mecca.
These Peranakan women are wearing the traditional sarung kebaya (Malay for sarong and embroidered blouse). The Peranakan are ethnic Chinese whose culture and language are influenced by the Malays.
Family is everything in Singapore, where ties between members are still exceptionally strong.
A free night-time outdoor concert at Esplanade– Theatres on the Bay, where performances range from classical music to rock concerts.