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| SINGAPORE AT DUSK |
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| SINGAPORE |
∙ Land Mass/Continent: Maritime Southeast Asia; located off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula (a “peninsula” is a piece of land, bordered by water on 3 sides, but connected to land)
∙ About Singapore: The Republic of Singapore is an independent island country, made up of 63 islands, including the main island of Singapore Island (aka Pulau Ujong)
∙ Estimated Population: 5 million
∙ Distance From Home (San Diego, CA): 8,871 miles
∙ The Water That Got Us Here: Singapore is separated from Malaysia (to the north) by the Straits of Johor and from Indonesia (to the south) by the Singapore Strait
∙ ITS PLACE IN HISTORY/INTERESTING FACTS
∙ Currency: The Singapore dollar (SGD)
∙ Official Language: There are 4 official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, but Chinese and Malay are most prevalent, with a steep increase of English in recent years
∙ Local time:
∙ Average annual gross income: $23,972, per http://www.worldsalaries.org/singapore.shtml
∙ The British obtained sovereignty over the island in 1824
∙ It was occupied by the Japanese during WWII and reverted to British rule after the war
∙ It became internally self-governing in 1959
∙ It briefly joined other former British territories to form Malaysia, but became fully independent in 1965
| SINGAPORE'S CENTRAL POST OFFICE |
∙ Since then, Singapore’s wealth has massively increased; it is one of the “Four Asian Tigers” (along with Hong Kong) and the world’s 4th leading financial center
∙ The world’s 2nd biggest casino gambling market
∙ The world’s top 3 oil refining center
∙ Its port is one of the 5th busiest in the world
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| THE SINGAPORE FLYER |
∙ The most business-friendly economy in the world
∙ Home to more millionaires per capita (15.5%) than any other country
∙ Their unemployment rate is only 2%; poverty levels are low
∙ The government provides housing and financial assistance to poorer people
∙ Like the US, it is a representative democracy, but has a unicameralism form of government (i.e., having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber, considering a 2nd chamber unnecessary) – unlike the US, which has the House and the Senate
∙ Like the US, its legal system is founded in the English Common Law system, with modifications such as removal of trial by jury in 1970 (judges decide all of their cases)
∙ Punishment can include corporal punishment, such as caning (flogging, whipping, strapping) of males under 50, or delinquent male military - for a (and I warn you) graphic depiction of this practice, see www.liveleak.com/view?i=3c9_1304013159
∙ Parents are permitted to use corporal punishment on their children
∙ There is a mandatory death penalty for murder and certain drug-trafficking and firearms offenses
∙ It is consistently ranked one of the least corrupt countries in the world
∙ The PAP (People’s Action Party) has won every election, with large majorities, since the British grant of internal self-governance in 1959
∙ Its population is diverse and made up of 77% Chinese, 15% Malays (the original settlors) and 7% Indians
∙ Although about 23% of Singapore’s land consists of forests and natural reserves, urbanization has eliminated most of its rainforest
∙ Its military is the most advanced in Southeast Asia
∙ Buddhism is the most widely practiced religion in Singapore, but there are many races and cultures in the country; it’s considered the most “globalized” country in the world
∙ Singapore has one of the most efficient health care systems in the world (compulsory health care for 85% of the population, with government-funded insurance for the poor and 32% of health care paid for by the government); life expectancy is 79 for males and 83 for females
∙ It has the best quality of life in Asia and 11th overall in the world
∙ Media is tightly controlled, and strong action taken against those who criticize government officials; MediaCorp owns most TV and radio
∙ Travel videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/bestdestination#p/search/0/va9awWNjInE and http://www.youtube.com/user/TravelVideoSource#p/u/37/EeTMo-hclOg and http://www.youtube.com/user/TravelVideoSource#p/u/38/oBSI3DhQrSk
∙ CLIMATE
∙ Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate, with no distinct seasons, high humidity and abundant rainfall; April and May are the hottest months
∙ Average low for March: 75
∙ Average high for March: 88.9
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| SINGAPORE CIVIL & CULTURAL CENTER |
∙ HIGHLIGHTS/THINGS TO SEE
∙ The famous Raffles Hotel
∙ Kranji War Memorial
∙ Bright Hill Temple
∙ Changi Prisoner of War Camp
∙ Singapore’s Chinatown
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