Singapore – the tale of a rich nation
An independent country with a single city, the Republic of Singapore is an island in Southeast Asia with Malaysia to the north and Indonesia’s Riau Islands to the south. It is a developed country and today recognized as one of the best technology-ready countries and the smartest city in the world. The Changi Airport has been adjudged as the Best Airport while Singapore Airlines was named in 2018 as the World’s Best Airline.
A splendid Past: Evidence proves that this region was a significant trading centre during the 14th century. This region was then ruled by the Malacca Sultanate and the Johor Sultanate. The British entered the region in the early 19th century via a treaty with the Johor. The Japanese conquered the region during World War II but it came back under British rule by the end of the war. Singapore was merged with Malaysia in 1963. It realized its own independent existence in 1965. It was the all-round growth initiatives by the Government of Singapore in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s that Singapore became one of the developed nations of the world by the 1990s.
Landscape and natural features: Made up of 63 islands, the initial land with Singapore in the 1960s was about 581.5 sq km but increased to 721.5 sq km by 2018. By 2030, the land with the nation is expected to touch 766 sq km. This is because of the country’s continuing ground reclamation policy. The country has 2 natural reserves – the Bukit Timah Natural Reserve and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Today about 10% of the land of the country has been earmarked for natural reserves and parks. Due to government initiative, the country has some famous gardens like the Singapore Botanic Garden and Gardens by the Bay.
Delectable Cuisine: The national dish of Singapore is the Hainanese Chicken Rice. Made by poaching the chicken and seasoned rice, the dish is served with chili sauce and garnished by cucumber. It is the home to many international celebrity chefs. It is believed that every day at least two new eating joints open in this city. The Singapore Food Festival, held every year in January and organized by the Singapore Tourism Board celebrates the essence of the cuisines of this country.
Rich Culture and Religious Beliefs: The Singaporean culture is a mix of Asian and European cultures with traces of Middle Eastern culture. This is the place where the East is seen as meeting the West conveniently. Education is compulsory for all children aged 7 to 12 years. This is a highly tolerant country where the emphasis is placed on the merits of the individual rather than his ethnicity, caste, and creed. 21st January is celebrated here as the Racial Harmony Day to celebrate the spirit of equality.
The main religion followed by native Singaporeans is Buddhism. 33% of the population is Buddhists. Christianity, Islam, Taoism, and Hinduism are few other dominant religions followed by the residents of this Island country.