"IMPREXXION: SINGAPORE" Top 5 Page for this destination Singapore by xuessium

Singapore Travel Guide: 13,344 reviews and 25,370 photos

..."The place which an ex-President of Indonesia coined "That Little Red Dot". 75% Chinese, 14% Malay, 9% Indians and the remaining 2% spread among all other races. A collection of religions (Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Catholicism etc), believes and customs co-exist on this little isle. A big melting pot united by a common neutral first language left behind by Singapore's ex-colonial master, England - English, a burning passion for good food & cuisines, a terrible fear of losing out to others aka "Kiasu-ism" and the insidious respect of "the big stick" - the government aka "Kiasee-ism". The national sports are eating & shopping. Yes, we should be gold medal contenders at the Olympics but alas...We invented our own language - "Singlish", much to the chagrin of the government and to the exasperation of the expats living here. All males serve 2 years of National Service. 75% of the population lives in public housing. We watch plenty of American TV, speak the Queen's English when we need to and yet in some ways remain Asian at heart (and more Asian as one gets older). And I am kidding, the most loved sport in Singapore is soccer. A city masquerading as a country, buzzing with the trappings of modern living. Material comforts we have. Nature? Not so much. The crashes of old & new and east & west are happening everyday, for better or worse. Distractors called it confused. I call it "MY HOME"...

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A quick stroll through history:

Pre-1819: Was known by a bevy of names: Temasek & Singapura among others. A small (thriving, some historian suspected) fishing outpost.
1819: Modern Singapore entered history. "Founded" by Sir Stamford Raffles on behalf of the British East India company. Purchase island from the Sultan of Johor.
Till 1942: British colony.
1942-1945: WW2. Annexed by the Japanese who renamed the island "Syonan-to".
1945-1959: British colony once again.
1959: Gained self-governance.
1963: Joined Malaya to form independent Malaysia.
1965: Booted out of Malaysia and independence forced upon.
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Walk off the beaten path and see my country from other angles.

For more photos, do access my personal website: IMPREXXUESSNISM

Drop me a comment if you think that this page has been useful. Thanks!

Please also feel free to browse through my brother DARKRAY's page on Singapore.

NOTE: This is my most heavy-going VT page. Guess living here tends to make you want to list everything down. I'm trying my best to condense the page to prevent a heavy-going burgeoning page. If you feel overwhelmed, just focus on the areas you are looking for. Cheers!

Pros and Cons

Pros:A paradise of cuisines! Eating is the National sport.
Cons:A nation of Kiasu & Kiasee believers!
In a nutshell:There's more to Singapore than the (groan) Merlion and that "Fine City" Tag

Intro Updated Sep 13, 2009
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Reviews (106)

Have a Taste of Singapore Restaurants (14)

If you wish to chomp on local delights but yet not willing to lap up the humidity and sweat it all out, have a few... more travel advice

Learn About Peranakan Culture: Peranakan... Things to Do (20)

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Budget accommodation in the heart of the... Hotels (8)

"Comfortable air conditioned rooms with attached bathroom; TV; telephone - in a convenient central location" claims the... more travel advice

Want to see piles of history? Off The Beaten Path (21)

The Thieves' Market (also affectionately called Sungei [Pronounced "soon-nye") Road Mkt or "Kek Sng Kio"/"Frosting... more travel advice

Local Customs (3)
See All Traditional Chinese Wedding Cakes
Warnings Or Dangers (9)
See All Smoking Rules & Laws in Singapore
Shopping (5)
See All Warehouse sales @ The Expo
Favorites (13)
See All What's Happening In Town In A Nutshell:...

Transportation (11)
See All Onward Bound to Hat Yai & Beyond,...
Sports & Outdoors (1)
Public Pools
Tourist Traps (1)
No discovery at the Discovery Centre
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Comments (28)

tremendopunto Dec 11, 2009 at 9:30 AM Report Abuse

Hey mate, today I received yr giant postcard, as big as a durian I would say ;-) Thanks a lot!!! You´re already back from Myanmar?
xuessium Nov 21, 2009 at 11:33 PM Report Abuse

My reply to "Spinex": HI, fellow countryfolk! For a while there, I wasn't sure which tip you're referring to. To each his, or her own taste buds, but of course. Cheers!
spinex Nov 20, 2009 at 6:12 PM Report Abuse

The original old shop is at 24 Foch Road. I think original shop soup taste better.
alycat Nov 6, 2008 at 9:02 PM Report Abuse

Terrific work on restro's...hope to use them on my Singa tour!
wabat Aug 6, 2008 at 6:43 AM Report Abuse

Hi - Hotel advise me they are closing down on 31 October. Land takeover by the Government.
Helenbb Aug 4, 2008 at 2:09 AM Report Abuse

i made a mistake.. i should read yr pages here first... i totally 4got SG is your hometown la :) will back to read more .
volopolo Apr 14, 2008 at 6:40 AM Report Abuse

One of the most beautiful cities in the world!
Pinoy_Traveller Feb 7, 2008 at 9:24 PM Report Abuse

Thanks a lot for the SIN accommodation info. Really appreciate it...
Toshioohsako Feb 6, 2008 at 1:34 AM Report Abuse

must be a lot of fun to walk here.
ellielou Jan 11, 2008 at 5:22 PM Report Abuse

I'm coming back for three days to EAT (ok, visit people and see more sights too) & had to look at your foodie "cheat sheet," in the event I find myself alone in some food court, and just can't decide what I really want! and SUPERB page overall!