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Tag: Singapore

  • 24 Fun Facts about Singapore

    24 Fun Facts about Singapore

    Singapore is a uniquely small country at the most southern tip of Thailand which is a popular destination for travellers when moving through Southeast Asia. So before visiting, here are some fun facts you can learn about before visiting Singapore.

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    Singapore City Photography | 24 Fun Facts about Singapore | Ourtwostepstart

    24 Fun Facts about Singapore

    Singapore is the only island city-state in the world

    There are 3 city states in the world which are The Vatican and Monaco whose capital is the same as the country. With Singapore being the only one out of the 3 being an island.

    The most expensive city in the world in 2022

    This includes the average cost of a car being over £60,000!! They share the crown with New York so we wouldn’t be looking to move and live in Singapore anytime soon.

    One of the Greenest cities in the world

    They pride themselves on sustainability and greenery with many parks in their country. They boast natural amentities across the country even in their airports! Singapore is the most sustainable city in Asia.

    Singapore means Lion City

    This is named from a Sumatran prince in the 14th century who encountered a lion in Singapore! Lions aren’t seen in Singapore so it’s likely to be a tiger, but nonetheless, the name still stuck.

    6th Safest country in the world

    In 2023, Singapore is named the 6th safest country in the world! They are the safest country in Asia with the leading country being Iceland.

    Chewing gum is illegal

    If you don’t know already, Singapore is a very clean country and the government believe that allowing gum will change this. Therefore, gum is banned to avoid people littering in the streets and you can be fined if you are caught with it.

    World’s Best Airport

    Changi Airport is one of the largest in the world and boasts many activities which can keep you busy for days! They have an huge shopping mall which you could walk around for hours. In certain terminals, you can enjoy a 24 hour cinema which is a great way to spend time or watch some new films while waiting for your flight.

    The main attraction is the largest indoor waterfall which is located in the centre and is surrounded by gardens which offers a beautiful aesthetic view.

    Largest Orchid garden in the world

    This orchid garden holds over 1,000 orchids with over 2,000 hybrids in the garden which is filled with colour. It’s a popular destination with 200 VIP orchids which can only be seen at this garden.

    Singapore flag hidden meaning

    The simple Singaporean red and white flag has hidden meanings showing the core values of the country. The red and white bold colours signify brotherhood & equality and purity & virtue respectively. The moon representing the growth of a young nation with the 5 stars each having individual meanings. These are peace, democracy, justice, equality, and progress

    Maximum height on Singapore buildings

    The government created a law meaning that any buildings constructed cannot exceed the height of 280 metres. However, the Tanjong Pagar Centre was granted special permission and exceeds the limit by almost 4 metres to be the tallest building in Singapore.

    Military Service is Mandatory

    It is mandatory for all Singaporeans to serve in the military for 1 – 2 years once finishing school. Not only this, but they are required to serve every year in some aspect until they reach the age of 40.

    Richest population in the world

    It is said that for every 6 people in Singapore, one is a millionaire in USD! This is why they can survive in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

    Littering is Illegal

    If you are found to drop small pieces of rubbish on the floor you are likely to be fined S$100 and larger objects including bottles can lead to community service. This would be cleaning parts of the city and wearing a bright bib which intends to embarrass the worker to onlookers to avoid repeat offenders.

    Super Hot Country

    Singapore is known to be very warm even during their winter months. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the city was in 1934 where the weather was 19.4 degrees. This can be like a summers day in Europe!

    National Tree Planting Day

    Singapore celebrate a niche holiday called national tree planting day on the 7th of November. This is where Singaporeans will take time to plant trees throughout Singapore and can even be a popular gift for weddings and birthdays.

    Durian Love & Hate

    Durian is a popular fruit that is sold and consumed in Singapore which is odd for travellers to see. However, it is illegal to consume the fruit in public areas including public buildings and public transport so make sure to eat it in private.

    Greenest Country

    Singapore host a whopping 400 parks and 4 nature reserves across it’s small landmass. This is perfect for nature lovers and travellers to wind down in after being in the busy streets.

    Man Made Lakes

    All of the lakes in Singapore are manmade. They have been made to store fresh water. This means there are NO natural lakes at all in Singapore.

    Unnatural Beaches

    Not only do they have man made lakes, but also beaches! Singapore have been known to purchase sand from neighbouring countries. Therefore, some of the beaches you visited might just be a mix from countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

    Lowest Crime Rates

    We know already that Singapore is the safest country in the world but it also has one of the lowest crime rates! There are strict penalties for any offenders to stop anyone even thinking about it!

    Sentosa Island dark history

    Sentosa island is a popular island at the south part of the country. The island hosts tourist attractions like Universal studios, SEA Aquarium, luxury hotels and so much more! However, in 1942 it was used during the war and earned it’s nickname ‘The Island of Death From Behind’. Creepy right!

    Using others WIFI is Illegal

    Yes, this is right! If you are caught using someone else’s WIFI you may be given a fine as it is Illegal to do so in Singapore!

    Singapore Kindness Movement

    This movement was started to teach kids and parents the correct manners and etiquette to Singaporeans. This is created by the government to create a better atmosphere in Singapore so people are more friendly and respectful of others.

    Crazy High Reward for Paris 2024 Olympics

    The Olympics is very popular in Asia and the countries are known to be very successful. Singapore however is a small country that doesn’t often win medals so they have created an incentive for any Singaporeans to win a gold this Olympics. The reward is a staggering £700,000 which is one of the highest awards in the whole Olympics. They really want the best don’t they!

    Now that’s all for the fun facts on Singapore. Now you are ready to visit the beautiful country and learn more when you are there! Just make sure not to litter at all or try to use others WIFI as you may be there longer than expected.

    If you did enjoy this blog do check out our other blogs including the best activities in Singapore or any of our Southeast Asia content! Also, a like would be very helpful to support us with our blogging journey.

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  • The Best Things to do in Singapore

    The Best Things to do in Singapore

    Singapore is a very small country location in South East Asia which not notoriously known as a travel location.Travellers usually skip over the country into Thailand or on their way down to Indonesia, but they are missing out!

    As a South East Asian country, it is different to their neighbours by being really expensive. It’s pricing is similar to western countries like England and the US (which for the area can come as a shock).

    If travellers are to visit Singapore, they would tend to book 3/5 days to quickly see the sights, and leave before spending their total budget. Even though it is a small country, it is so rich in activities that it could definitely deserve to be a longer trip.

    Here, we have compiled the best and most important things to see and do in Singapore.

    1. Gardens By The Bay

    These are the infamous gardens you likely would’ve seen on social media, which is a nature park of 101 hectares with ‘super trees’ spanning the size of small buildings! People are able to go to the top of these supertrees and walk across interconnected bridges for spectacular views of the nature park, with the huge skyscrapers in the distance.

    This is one of the most popular attractions in Singapore, and is free to enter. There are costs however for some activities, including going to the bridge, or seeing any attractions in the park.

    At night, once it gets dark, the trees offer a display of bright lights and music for entertainment. The trees change from shade to shade, lighting up the park and creating a marvel for viewers.

    2. Marina Bay

    The Marina Bay is a 5 minute walk from the Gardens of the Bay, and is alive at night with people. A water show is shown each night at the bay with lights, music and water used to stop people in their tracks to marvel at the Bay.

    The view covers the whole Marina in the background and usually gets thousands of people watching every night.

    During the day, it is a popular spot for lunch, and is a place you can just soak up the beautiful scenery of where the gardens, buildings and bay all meet.

    3. Jewel Changi Airport

    This well-known location is known as the best airport in the world, and is a must do in Singapore! This airport is huge and has some amazing areas, including a 24 hour cinema, canopy bridges, mazes, thousands of shops and food outlets, and a waterfall and gardens in the centre. It truly is a marvel – one we witnessed by arriving at the airport and staying there overnight. It was so large we got lost in it, and slept in a small area on a small bench (the cinema was in another terminal!!!).

    We spent the first few hours, even though it was past midnight, walking around the gardens and seeing the infamous waterfall in the middle. Even though the shops were closed, you can just imagine how busy and chaotic the airport can be.

    I feel like you could stay in the airport for 2/3 days and still find unexplored areas and activities you have not done! It truly is unique and one we will definitely return to.

    4. Little India

    As you might of guessed, it is like someone picked up a small part of India and placed it somewhere in Singapore. It is filled with street vendors, Indian heritage, museums and history – almost making it their own. The streets were lined with colours and decorations, with music playing in the distance, locals dancing and enjoying themselves.

    The buildings were wearing every colour of paint perfectly designed for maximised beauty. It was such a different style of busy you are used to across the whole of Singapore.

    This is the perfect place to find some local food, look around the amazing hand-crafted stools and quaint shops, and just immerse yourself in their culture.

    The people here are so friendly, and welcome people into the culture… it’s definitely something we would recommend to see. If you are lucky, you may time it perfectly to stumble upon a festival while you are there (which are supposed to be unmissable)!

    5. Universal Studios

    When you are travelling to South East Asia, it’s often that people are missing home and it’s hard to enjoy the simple things in life! However, Universal Studios was the breath of fresh air for us to enjoy a sense of normality. It was almost like teleporting back home to a theme park (and it was very much welcomed)!

    The park was huge and full of films we all love! Including transformers, sesame street, Jurassic Park, Shrek and more. It was a perfect break for the backpacking life – we just spent the day going on rides and exploring the park. Unfortunately, the Madagascar section was under maintenance which I wanted to see but nonetheless, the park was a nice change to our travels and something I would recommend to go visit. The park is perfect for people of all ages, with a lot of theme park rides (some scary), and some younger attractions, making it perfect for the whole family.

    It’s good to arrive early as the park is usually really busy and they have cool events in the evenings once the park closes dependant on the time of year you go.

    Also, outside is a massive mall which can be a great place to quench your thirst and eat some well deserved food when leaving/entering the park!

    6. National Museum of Singapore

    The museum of Singapore is beautifully surrounded by local parks, and is rich with Singaporean history. They have many things on show including wars, fashion, currency, politics and more. They also offer shows and attractions to learn more about the country.

    It is fascinating to learn about the country and it’s unusual history. It’s a great place to get out of the sweltering heat to learn more about the culture of this wonderful nation.

    7. Sultan Mosque

    The Sultan Mosque is a religious spectacle in the heart of the city. There are hundreds of people visiting each day around the Arabic Quarter. It’s a perfect way to understand and witness other cultures and prayers.

    As with any mosque, you are required to take off your shoes and socks, and wear an outfit provided to cover your legs as a sign of respect. The mosque is eliquently built and full of architectuaral beauty.

    Outside the mosque, is loads of restaurants – mainly mediterranean restaurants – which are a perfect spot to grab some lunch!

    Around the corner is a few narrow streets which are brought to life with small, independent shops and bustling people, which is perfect if you like to wander and explore. There is so much to offer- and is the place I got my tarot cards read. I’m not much of a reader, but sometimes it’s good to see what happens! There’s a lot to do in this area and is a perfect place to wander and look at people’s work.

    Our thoughts on Singapore

    All in all, we would recommend 5/6 days in Singapore which would be a rather busy time! There’s so much to do and see that it would be hard to see it all with less time.

    It’s understandable that the cost of the country can limit the time spent, so it is best to find independent/street food spots to save money. However, it is definitely a country I would visit again, and would recommend to anyone who is debating visiting!

    We hope you liked our overview of the best things to do in Singapore! If you would like to see more blogs, please subscribe to our newsletter for daily blogs and follow our journey on our Social Media down below!

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