"Hello to all." Singapore by seagoingJLW

In the seventh century Singapore was Temasek or "Sea Town," a trading center of Sumatra's ancient Srivijaya Empire. By the 13th century it had become one of its three kingdoms. Legend tells us that when Sang Nila Utama, the Prince of Palembang, landed on the island, he encountered a strange animal ("very swift and beautiful, its body bright red, its head jet black") which he mistook for a lion but which was more probably a native tiger. And so the name Singa Pura ("Lion City" in Sanskrit) came about.

In the 14th century the empires of Java and Siam struggled with the Chinese Imperial Fleet under Admiral Cheng Ho. Within the next hundred years, Singapore wasdestroyed and reclaimed by the jungle.

In 1811 a hundred Malays from Johore led by the local chief, the Emenggong settled at the mouth of the Singapore River. Then, in 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles selected the island as a British maritime base. The Sultan of Johore ceded full sovereignty to the British in 1827.

For 110 years British colonial rule flourished. Then, in 1942, victorious Japanese forces took Singapore.

With the end of the war, a new generation of Singaporeans demanded self determination. On June 3, 1959, Singapore became a new self=governing state under Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore remained part of the Malaysian Federation until August 9, 1965 when it became an independent republic.

Miscellaneous Inoformation

Singapore consists of a main island and over 60 islets. It is situated one degree north of the Equator at the tip of the Malaysian Peninsula to which it is linked by causeway. Singapore has a total land area of 647.5 sq km, almost half of which is set aside for forest reserve, marsh and other non built up areas. There are three reservoirs in the center of the island.

Singapore has a warm tropical climate with sunshine all year round. The temperature is relatively stable averaging between 24 and 32 degrees C. Humidity is exceptionally high, averaging 84.4%. Rainfall is abundant (2,333mm per year average.) The rainy season occurs during the northeast monsoon from December to January.

Singapore is thirteen hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

There are four official languages: English (which is the administrative language and the lingua franca), Mandarin, Tamil, and Malay (which is the national language).

Restrooms can be found in shopping centers, department stores, restaurants, and hotels.

The electric current is 220-240V 50 cycles AC. Most hotels have 110-120 V 60 cycles transformers.

Singapore Tourist Promotion Boards is located in Raffles City, Stamford Road, Singapore 0617. Telephone: 235 6611

In an emergency dial 995 or call the hotel doctor.

I have been to Singapore three times and each time I find more to see and do. Singapore is a very livable city. It is clean and safe. Even chewing gum is not allowed into the country.

Pick up a copy of the Singapore Visitor or This Week Singapore both of which are available free at hotels.

Customs and Taboos

Chinese like things in even numbers. A gift of two Mandarin oranges on the Lunar New Year would be appropriate. Lucky numbers are: 2 (yi=easy), 6 (lok=wealth), 8 (patt=prosper). Do not use 4. The meaning is sei which equals death. Do not give clocks (zhong=funeral), handkerchief (which are associated with tearful partings,) or umbrellas (which are associated with mishaps.) Red is a good color. Black is frowned upon.

Muslims do not eat pork and do not drink alcohol. Always dress modestly around Muslims.

Hindus don't eat beef. Some are strict vegetarians. (So are some Buddhists.) When going to a funeral, small tokens of money (odd amounts wrapped in white or brown packages) are the norm.

Take off your shoes at the front door when visiting someone.

• Pros:Ultramodern, cosmopolitan city
• Cons:Traffic
• In a nutshell:It would be so easy to live heere. It is so clean.