Lying almost on the equator, Singapore is a thriving city-state that has overcome its dearth of natural resources to become one of the juggernaut economies of Asia. In the crowded streets of Chinatown, fortunetellers, calligraphers and temple worshippers are still a part of everyday life. In Little India, you can buy the best sari material, freshly ground spices or a picture of your favorite Hindu god. In the small shops of Arab Street, the cry of the imam can be heard from the nearby Sultan Mosque.

Singapore may have traded in its rough-and-ready opium dens and pearl loggers for towers of concrete and glass, and its steamy rickshaw image for hi-tech wizardry, but you can still recapture the colonial era with a gin sling under the languorous ceiling fans at Raffles Hotel. It is this carefully stage-managed combination of Western modernity and treasured Eastern and colonial past that makes Singapore such an accessible slice of Asia.

For more information about Singapore,

Singapore InfoMap

Uniquely Singapore

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The Republic of Singapore is made up of the main island of Singapore and 60 other smaller islands.

With a total area of 253 square miles (655 square kilometers), the main island resides a population of 3.87 million. Singapore measures a maximum 26 miles (42 km) from East to West and 14 miles (23 km) from North to South.

Lying close to the southern part of Malaysia, the two countries are linked by 2 causeways.

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Singapore lies close to the southern extremity of the Eurasian tectonic plate and the northeast extension of the Sumatra-Java oceanic trench.

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English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil

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3.87 million

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Foreigners holding travel documents issued by certain countries require either a Business or Social visa.

(For more information, please visit the Singapore Immigration website : http://www.ica.gov.sg

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Travelers enjoy Duty-Free concessions if they:

• are at least 18 years old

• have arrived from countries other than Malaysia

• have been away from Singapore for at least 48 hours

The Singapore Customs and Excise Department collects a 3% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on all goods imported into Singapore.

GST relief is given for all new purchases as a tourist or returning Citizen/Permanent Resident of Singapore.

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The unit of currency is the Singapore dollar. Most shops and entertainment outlets accepted major credit cards and travelers' checks.

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There is a 5% Goods and Services Tax imposed in major shops and departments, with an additional of 10% service charge in restaurants, 1% government tax is also added in hotels.

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There is no need to tip if a 10% service charge is already added to the bill. If not, tipping is up to one's preferences.

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Most public phones accept coins or phone cards purchased from bookstalls and newsagents, with a minimum value of S$2.00.

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Mobile phone network in Singapore is GSM 900/1800 and CDMA.

Check with your mobile phone company before leaving home about international auto roam services available in Singapore.

In general, the opening hours of most stores are Sunday to Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday to Saturday 10.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Most shops welcome all credit cards.

With shopping as one of Singapore's major attractions, the government has instituted several consumer's laws protecting buyers.

Shopping districts includes Colonial Singapore Area, Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street.
However, the main shopping district is the Orchard Road situated at the heart of the city, with major department stores and malls stretching up to 1.2 miles (2 kilometers).

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Banking hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.

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Majority of the offices is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

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GMT +8 There is no summer time clock change.

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Singapore has a relatively uniform temperature ranging from 250C to 320C (770F to 89.60F) throughout the whole year. Humidity ranges from an average of 66%. More showers are expected from November to January and are usually sudden but brief.

For more information,

National Environment Agency (NEA)

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Dressing is informal and casual at most occasions.

Smart casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants and nightspots. Include a waterproof jacket if rain is expected.

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Electricity is supplied throughout Singapore at 220-240 volts, 50 cycles AC system.

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Medical facilities in Singapore are of high standard.

Tap water in the hotel is potable and if desired, may be boiled prior to consumption using the facilities provided in-room.

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To maintain the clean and green city, there are strict laws against littering of any kind. First-time offenders face a fine of up to S$1000. For repeat offenders – it is a fine of up to S$2000 and a Corrective Work Order (CWO). The CWO requires litterbugs to spend a few hours cleaning a public place, for example, picking up litter in a park. The litterbugs are made to wear bright jackets, and sometimes, the local media are invited to cover the public spectacle. Naturally, the authorities hope that the public shame will make diehard litterbugs think twice about tossing their scrap paper or cigarette butt on the roadside.

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As an extension of the “NO LITTERING” mantra, the import, sale and possession of chewing gum is banned. You are also not allowed to bring in chewing gum for your own consumption. In short, no chewing gum whatsoever. This rule was introduced because of the high cost and difficulty in removing stucked chewing gum from public premises. In particular, chewing gum stuck on the MRT train doors stopped the trains from moving. It happened a few times and those were few times too many.

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Smoking is not allowed in public buses, taxis, theatres, cinemas, government offices, and in all air-conditioned eating places and shopping centers. First-time offenders face a maximum fine of S$1000. Smoking is allowed in air-conditioned pubs, discos, karaoke bars and most nightspots

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The death penalty is mandatory for those convicted of trafficking, manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 15 gm of heroin, 30 gm of morphine, 30 gm of cocaine, 500 gm of cannabis, 200 gm of cannabis resin and 1.2 kg of opium. Possessing these quantities is deemed as prima facie evidence of trafficking. In other words, if you possess these quantities (and possession means you had control of them), you are deemed to be a trafficker and therefore subject to the death penalty. The law has been effective in keeping out drugs in this country. There is a maximum of 10 years’ jail or fine S$20,000 or both.

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