21 Apr A Guide to Singapore Before You Go
The complete must-read Singapore Guide
Prior to 1963, Singapore was a British colony and as such, still maintains a unique variety of cultures, people and languages. In fact, there are even four official languages: English, Malay, Tamil and Mandarin. Discover more about the “Lion City” with these 10 fascinating facts:
1- There are no lions in The Lion City.
Singapore comes from the Malaysian word “singa” which means lion and ‘pura’ which means city. The city received its name in 1299 by Prince Sang Nila Utama when he thought he spotted a lion within the city limits. However, scholars believe what he really saw was a Malaysian Tiger, as it was very unlikely to actually be a lion.
2- Singapore is one of the only three surviving city-states in the world.
There are only two other city-states: Monaco and The Vatican. As a city-state, Singapore is one of the most densely populated cities in the world!
3- Home of the first Night Zoo.
If you get the chance, be sure to check out the Night Safari where you’re able to see an incredible variety of animals creeping in the dark, including leopards, wallabies, zebras and hippos.
4- Changi Airport boasts the 7th highest traffic in the world.
With more than 55 million travelers passing through their doors, the airport is also known for its exceptional high-quality facilities and has won over 28 “Best Airport” awards in recent years.
5-The Great Singapore Duck Race is the world’s largest duck race.
In the last Great Singapore Duck Race in 2007, more than 85,000 rubber ducks were released into the Singapore River in support of local charities.
6- Singaporeans can vote in British Elections.
As a member of the British Commonwealth, Singaporeans are eligible to become members of parliament, in addition to full voting rights in the United Kingdom.
7- Singapore consists of 63 islands.
The common impression of Singapore is that of a vibrant and international city. But many forget this city-state is also home to over 60 islands, big and small.
8- The Merlion is the international symbol of Singapore.
A Merlion is a creature with a lion’s head and body of a fish. Initially, the Merlion was the logo for the Singapore Tourism Board, however now it is recognized as a national symbol.
9- The weather seldom changes.
Singapore is located about 80 miles from the equator. As such, the only variation in weather is between hot and dry or hot and rainy.
10- One of the world’s richest countries.
Singapore is home to the highest number of millionaire households in the world. In fact, it is estimated that more than 15% of the population has more than US$1 million in investable assets.
Want to read another Singapore related blog post? – Check out our guide about how to rock your internship in Singapore. In this post we share our best tips on how to make the most out of your summer internship in Singapore.
Related and Recommended Posts:
How to Get Around Singapore
Currency in Singapore
Climate and Weather in Singapore
How it’s like to intern in Singapore
If you’re interested to take up an internship in Singapore through Absolute Internship, then check out our website here for more information. The only language requirement is English.
Photo credits: Photo by Kunal Mukherjee, CC-BY-2.0
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