Seismic activity

Singapore is relatively safe from seismic activity in the region, as the nearest fault line is hundreds of kilometres away in Indonesia. However, the population and buildings are prone to being only very slightly affected by any activity as tremors, which is not uncommon, but generally does not do any harm and is limited to small amounts of swaying or vibration of objects. This is a sharp contrast to many of its seismically active neighbours.

In late 2004, several parts of Asia and Africa were struck by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the resulting tsunami. Singapore was fortunate as it was protected by the Sumatra landmass, which bore the brunt of the tsunami; the effect on Singapore was limited to tremors felt in some of the common high-rise buildings there.

Tourism

The predominance of high building skyscrapers of Singapore Tourism. The heart of the city is the old colonial district. There are government buildings, churches, hotels, sports clubs, luxury houses and modern skyscrapers. The relics from colonial times to cast a bronze statue of Stamford Raffles Tomas, Neo-Gothic Cathedral of St.. Andrew and the Town Hall building. In the city there are many Buddhist temples, taoistycznych, mosques and Hindu. Interesting collections of Asian and European art can be seen in several museums (the National, Art and Asia).

Despite the dense and systematically expanding the building in Singapore, you can find a charming place to rest. For a great amusement park converted one of the islands – the island of Sentosa. Built on the Oceanarium, where you can among other things spacer przeszklonym corridor be placed under one of the major aquariums. On the island there is also a Water park entertainment, botanical garden and butterfly museum where you can watch about 60 species of live specimens. On the east coast of the main island is also krokodylarium in which the lives of more than 1,800 crocodiles coming from Asia, Africa and the United States

Military

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), currently headed by Minister Teo Chee Hean, oversees the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force, collectively known as the Singapore Armed Forces, along with volunteer private companies involved in supporting roles. The Chief of Defence Forces is Lieutenant-General Desmond Kuek Bak Chye.

The armed forces serve primarily as a deterrent against potential aggressors and also provide humanitarian assistance to other countries. Singapore has mutual defence pacts with several countries, most notably the Five Power Defence Arrangements. There is an extensive overseas network of training grounds in the United States, Australia, Republic of China (Taiwan), New Zealand, France, Thailand, Brunei, India and South Africa. Since 1980, the concept and strategy of “Total Defence” has been adopted in all aspects of security; an approach aimed at strengthening Singapore against all kinds of threats.

The recommended vaccinations, hygiene

In the entrance to Singapore are not required, no certificate of vaccination. Personal insurance is not mandatory, but because of the very high costs of hospital treatment better buy them. This can be done in reputable insurance companies operating in Poland or after arrival in Singapore in the local insurance companies. The cost of medical visits is between 30 SGD, the cost of the day in the hospital from 200 to 2000 SGD, depending on the standard of hospital and peace. Singapore has a very well-developed health services. In connection with a significant increase in the number of virus infections dengi, ukąszeniem caused by mosquitoes, it is recommended that special care. Detailed information about the virus, potential contagion effects, precautions and actions of the government of Singapore to limit its spread can be found at the specially created website: www.moh.gov.sg. There are also there for up-to-date information about potential threats of avian influenza, together with the actions of the government plan to a pandemic. Until November 2005 in Singapore have not been reported any case of infection.

Religion

In Singapore are essentially represented the following religions: Buddhism (42.5% of the total population), Islam (14.9%), Taoism (8.5%), Hinduism (4%), Christianity (14.6%, of which 4 , 8% Catholic), others with 0.7%. 14.8% of Singapore’s population profess to belong to no religion (Source: Census 2000). The activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Unification Church in Singapore is prohibited.

The city state aims to become a center of world-wide dialogue between religions are. Singapore wants to launch in 2008, a international inter-religious conference. This proposal, Minister Goh Chok Tong during his visit to the Vatican submit. Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone was the proposal to have been very receptive, the paper quoted Goh [3].

While in many countries is inconceivable, institutions of various religions in close proximity to each other to find this in Singapore because of its limited land are not uncommon. Hindu temples or Islamic mosques are located as well as Buddhist temples or churches side by side or directly opposite each other. Conflicts because of the narrowness does not exist. As easy as reaching harmony, is the result of years of effort, equality and mutual respect be guaranteed. For example, the canteens of all state schools to halal requirements – the halal dishes will be separated from the others. The pupils or students, however, eat together, they bring only their dishes after meals to other places back. This is just one of many approaches in Singapore, the close interactions between people of different religion, while each of the space for his own religion guarantee. The Sri Mariamman Temple in the heart of Chinatown is another example of the strange coexistence of people in Singapore.

First settlement

The first records of settlement in Singapore are from the 2nd century AD. The island was an outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya empire and originally had the Javanese name Temasek (’sea town’). Temasek (Tumasek) rapidly became a significant trading settlement, but declined in the late 14th century.

There are few remnants of old Temasek in Singapore, but archaeologists in Singapore have uncovered artifacts of that and other settlements. Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, Singapore island was part of the Sultanate of Johor. During the Malay-Portugal wars in 1613, the settlement was set ablaze by Portuguese troops.^[15] The Portuguese subsequently held control in that century and the Dutch in the 17th, but throughout most of this time the island’s population consisted mainly of fishermen.

Etymology

The name Singapura comes from the Sanskrit singha (“lion”) and pura (“city”).^[10] According to the Malay Annals, this name was given by a 14th century Sumatran prince named Sang Nila Utama, who, landing on the island after a thunderstorm, spotted an auspicious beast on the shore. His chief minister erroneously identified as a ’singha’ or lion. However, recent studies of Singapore indicate that lions have never lived there (not even Asiatic lions), and the beast seen by Sang Nila Utama was likely a tiger, most likely the Malayan Tiger.

When to Go

Go anytime. Climate is not a major consideration, as Singapore gets fairly steady annual rainfall. Instead, coordinate your visit with one of the various festivals and events: Thaipusam is a spectacular Hindu festival, occurring around February. If shopping and eating are major concerns, April brings the Singapore Food Festival and the Great Singapore Sale is held in June.

The Downtown Core

The Downtown Core is a 266-hectare urban planning area in the south of the city-state of Singapore. The Downtown Core surrounds the mouth of the Singapore River and southeastern portion of its watershed, and is part of the Central Area, Singapore’s central business district. It is one of the most dense areas in Singapore, even more than other divisions in the Central Area, to the extent that much of it is filled with skyscrapers. As it name implies, it forms the economic core of Singapore, including key districts such as Raffles Place and key administrative buildings such as the Parliament House, the Supreme Court and City Hall as well as numerous commercial buildings and cultural landmarks.

Singapore

Singapore is an island nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia’s Riau Islands. At 704.0 km² (272 sq mi), it is one of the few remaining city-states in the world and the smallest country in Southeast Asia.

The British East India Company established a trading post on the island in 1819. The main settlement up to that point was a Malay fishing village at the mouth of the Singapore River. Several hundred indigenous Orang Laut people also lived around the coast, rivers and smaller islands. The British used Singapore as a strategic trading post along the spice route.^[4] It became one of the most important commercial and military centres of the British Empire. When it was occupied by the Japanese during World War II, Winston Churchill called it “Britain’s greatest defeat”.^[5] Singapore reverted to British rule in 1945. In 1963, it merged with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia. Less than two years later it split from the federation and became an independent republic on 9 August 1965. Singapore joined the United Nations on September 21 that same year.

Since independence, Singapore’s standard of living has increased. Foreign direct investment and a state-led industrialization drive based on plans drawn up by the Dutch economist Albert Winsemius have created a modern economy based on electronics manufacturing, petrochemicals, tourism and financial services alongside the traditional entrepôt trade. Singapore is the 17th wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita.^[6] This small nation has foreign exchange reserves of US$171.7353 billion. ^[7]

The population of Singapore is approximately 4.68 million.^[2] The Chinese form the majority of the population. English is the administrative language of the country.

The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore established the nation’s political system as a representative democracy, while the country is recognized as a parliamentary republic.^[8] The People’s Action Party (PAP) dominates the political process and has won control of Parliament in every election since self-government in 1959.