This charming, island state, located at the southern-most tip of Continental Asia and the Malay Peninsula, holds the appeal and legend of Koh Samui but without the sleaze and smut of Bangkok. Home to two of the world’s three most expensive buildings, a concert hall shaped like a durian and a museum shaped like a robotic hand, Singapore is neither light on the senses nor the pocket. Simply put; Singapore is currently the most expensive city on earth. But is it justifiably so? Though physically small, Singapore is an economic powerhouse. It has been South East Asia’s most modern city for over a century, replete with a level of sophistication and automation that would make most first world countries look like the Flintstones. The country includes the island of Singapore and 58 or so smaller islands. Because of its efficient and largely motivated and corruption free government, Singapore has become a flourishing economy that excels in trade and tourism and is a model for developing nations. The eponymous capital city (the diminutive size doesn’t warrant a different name), covers about a third of the area of the main island which is uniformly well constructed. In fact, Singapore boasts some of the best infrastructures in the world and is quite simply, one of the best-planned cities on Earth. Chocolate wrappers and potato bags are consistently relegated to green dustbins carefully positioned equidistantly throughout the country. Etymology The English name “Singapore” is the Anglicized version of the word “Singapur” which is derived from Sanskrit: Singh (lion) + pur (village/city), hence the customary reference to the nation as the Lion City. However, it is unlikely that lions ever lived on the island; Sang Nila Utama, the Srivijayan prince said to have founded and named the island Singapura, perhaps saw a Malayan tiger. Social
This charming, island state, located at the southern-most tip of Continental Asia and the Malay Peninsula, holds the appeal and legend of Koh Samui but without the sleaze and smut of Bangkok. Home to two of the world’s three most expensive buildings, a concert hall shaped like a durian and a museum shaped like a robotic hand, Singapore is neither light on the senses nor the pocket. Simply put; Singapore is currently the most expensive city on earth. But is
Famous for its many canals, its marijuana- dispensing coffee shops and its red light districts, Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands is an interesting and unique destination for travellers from all around the world. Being one of the most watery cities in the world, Amsterdam has a quarter of its surface area taken up by canals and harbours, which not only serve as areas of recreation, but also facilitate legitimate transport across the city via the multitude of pleasure boats registered in the city. Besides canals and boats, Amsterdam has an abundance of bicycles; so much so that the bicycles here outnumber the human population of the city! In fact, cycling in Amsterdam is a way of life made easier by the city’s unbeatable network of cycle routes and flat landscape. Places to Visit Canal Ring: Surrounding the Old Centre of Amsterdam, the medieval heart of the city, is this famous 17th- century district, the whole of which has been designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO for being the world’s most unique urban landscapes with its distinctive cultural and historical value. The Canal Ring of Amsterdam is also a hub for fantastic cultural and sporting events all throughout the year. Van Gogh Museum: Dedicated to the works of the renowned Dutch Post- Impressionist painter Vincent Willem van Gogh and his contemporaries, this art museum has been identified as the 2nd most visited museum in the Netherlands and the 31st most visited art museum in the world. With such credits under its name, it is a must- visit place for lovers and connoisseurs of art. Civic Guards Gallery: For those willing to explore a city’s secrets, a small gate just off the bustling shopping street Kalverstraat and down a tiny square lies the Civic Guards Gallery (Schuttersgalerij). Officially
Famous for its many canals, its marijuana- dispensing coffee shops and its red light districts, Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands is an interesting and unique destination for travellers from all around the world. Being one of the most watery cities in the world, Amsterdam has a quarter of its surface area taken up by canals and harbours, which not only serve as areas of recreation, but also facilitate legitimate transport across the city via the multitude of pleasure
