About Singapore

A Multicultural Kaleidoscope

Image source: Unsplash, iStock

At present, Singapore’s population stands at about six million people, with Malay Language as the national language, English as the working language and a mother tongue for each major ethnic group. Coming together as a society and living in harmony, there are four major races – namely the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian. Each community offers a different perspective of life in Singapore in terms of culture, religion, food and language.

The Chinese are the largest ethnic group in Singapore, making up almost three-quarters of the country’s population. Chinese cuisine includes local favourites such as Hainanese chicken rice, fried carrot cake and Hokkien prawn mee.

The original settlers of Singapore, the Malays are the second largest ethnic group here and originate mostly from the Indonesian islands as well as the Malayan peninsula. Malay cuisine features dishes such as nasi lemak (aromatic rice infused with coconut cream and pandan leaves) and mee rebus (yellow noodles in a spicy gravy). The key festivals of Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji see this close-knit community come together in a colourful celebration of their culture and religion.

The Indians are Singapore’s third largest ethnic group, and the community here boasts one of the largest overseas Indian populations. Many came here from various parts of India after the British settled in Singapore in 1819. Singaporean Indian cuisine adds an extra zing of spice in Singapore’s diverse food scene while Indian festivals here are colourful, upbeat affairs such as Deepavali (otherwise known as the Festival of Lights).

The small but influential Eurasian community in Singapore encapsulates the “east meets west” vibe of the country with most of them having had mixed European and Asian lineage. Eurasians also had their own culinary traditions including signatures such as Mulligatawny soup (a curry-based broth), Shepherd’s pie and Sugee cake, with semolina as the main ingredient.

Over time, the interaction between different races in Singapore has given rise to our own dialect of English called Singlish, which borrows many words and expressions from Malay, Chinese and its dialects such as Hokkien, Cantonese, and Teochew, and the Indian languages.

Some useful Singlish vocabulary for the road

“Chope”

What it means: To reserve a place or call dibs on something.

Example: “Can you chope a seat at the hawker centre for me?

“Kiasu”

What it means: A fiercely competitive spirit.

Example: “She queued for eight hours to get the latest iPhone – so kiasu!”

“Makan”

What it means: The Malay word for eat.

Example: “It’s lunch time and I’m hungry. Wanna go makan?”

“Shiok”

What it means: Fantastic, or to convey feelings of satisfaction and pleasure.

Example: “This prata place has amazing food – very shiok.”

“Tapao / Dabao”

What it means: The Singlish equivalent of takeaway.

Example: “I’m going to tapao lunch from our favourite cafe. Do you want anything?”

For more Singlish words, check out: https://thehoneycombers.com/singapore/singlish-101/ or watch the video below.

See and Do

Tourists to the island arrive at Changi Airport, serial winner of the Skytrax world’s best airport which houses many kinetic installations, restaurants, shops and nature parks. In the middle of the airport complex lies Jewel, a huge dome-like shopping complex with the world’s largest indoor waterfall as its centrepiece.

For an authentic local experience, head down to these places:

Chinatown is a bustling mix of old and new, filled with traditional shops and markets as well as cool stores and cafes. Yet pockets of history remain in Chinatown, along with more modern sights.

Kampong Gelam has its origins as a fishing village at the mouth of Rochor River. The Malay word ‘kampung’ means ‘village’, and the area was known for the gelam tree (or Paperbark Tree) that grew here and was used for building ships. Some say Kampong Gelam really is glam (a local term meaning ‘glamorous’). The area has an eclectic blend of history, culture and a trendy lifestyle scene.

Little India is a buzzing historic area that shows off the best of Singapore’s Indian community from vibrant culture to incredible shopping.  You may not know that Little India once had a racecourse, cattle herders and brick kilns. But while these places and people are gone, time stands still in pockets of this historic district. Olden-day trades sit next to newer businesses: flower-garland vendors, modern eateries, boutique hotels, as well as arts groups.

Clockwise from left: Chinatown, Sultan Mosque at Kampong Gelam, Haji Lane at Kampong Gelam, Little India (Image source: Unsplash, iStock)

For an immersive cultural experience, you can consider visiting the following places:

The latest jewel in Singapore’s art crown, the National Gallery Singapore is a visual arts institution housing an unparalleled collection of modern Singapore and Southeast Asian art. The Gallery showcases more than 8,000 pieces from Singapore’s National Collection as well as Southeast Asian modern art from the 19th century to the present day. At 64,000 square metres, this is the largest visual arts venue in Singapore and one of the largest in the region.

There are few buildings in Singapore as eye-catching as the Esplanade, a world-class performing arts centre made up of two rounded frames fitted with over 7,000 triangle glass sunshades. Locals have dubbed them “the Durian”, as the twin structures resemble the spiky tropical fruit that is unique to this part of the world.

The lotus-inspired ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands is the premier museum destination in Singapore for major international traveling exhibitions. Embracing a spectrum of influences from art and science to media and technology, to design and architecture, the ArtScience Museum features over 50,000 square feet of galleries to inspire visitors of all ages.

Clockwise from left: National Gallery, the Esplanade, Art Science Museum (Image source: Unsplash, iStock)

If you’re a nature lover, check out these places:

A testament to Singapore’s reputation as a City in a Garden, the Botanic Gardens is the country’s first UNESCO Heritage Site. Established in 1859 by the Agri-Horticultural Society, 60 acres of land were transformed from a disused plantation into the popular recreational garden you see today.

Located next to Marina Reservoir, Gardens by the Bay offers breath-taking waterfront views. This multi-award winning horticultural destination spans 101 hectares of reclaimed land, and is made up of two main areas – Bay South Garden and Bay East Garden. Bay South Garden is the largest of the gardens and you can’t miss the massive Supertrees here. Head to Bay East Garden for the perfect picnic setting with lush lawns and tropical palm trees. Unique to Gardens by the Bay is the Cloud Forest. Within the enclosed compound, a 35-metre tall mountain is veiled in mist and covered in lush vegetation amidst the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Here, you will find plant life from tropical highlands up to 2,000 metres above sea level.

For an up-close encounter with some of our prettiest and rarest feathered friends, step into the newly opened Bird Paradise. Highlights include eight walk-through aviaries that reflect habitats from across the world, such as dense African rainforests, South American wetlands, Southeast Asian paddy fields, Australian dry eucalypt forests, and more. In the vicinity is the 28-hectare Singapore Zoo, home to over 4,200 animals. It has an “open zoo” concept: the animals are kept in spacious, landscaped enclosures that simulate their natural habitats. The neighbouring Night Safari houses over 900 animals of 135 exotic species in eight zones re-created to simulate geographic zones like the Southeast Asian rainforest, African savanna, Nepalese river valley, South American pampas and Burmese jungle.

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If you want a one-stop entertainment centre for a bit of everything…

With no lack of things to do, be prepared for a wild time at Resorts World™ Sentosa, an integrated resort experience designed to keep the whole family enthralled. Attractions include Universal Studios Singapore™ theme park, the S.E.A Aquarium™ that features over 100,000 marine animals, the Adventure Cove Waterpark™ that provides thrilling waterslides and Dolphin Island, where you can interact with the friendly mammals. For history buffs, immerse in Asia’s rich maritime history at the Maritime Experiential Museum™ and learn about Singapore’s past as a trading port. Round up the night with a beautiful display of water, fire and light at the Lake of Dreams™.

Image source: Unsplash

Getting Around

Singapore’s MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and bus systems have an extensive network of routes that will help you travel around the city. Check out the website for more information on getting around. https://www.visitsingapore.com/travel-guide-tips/getting-around/

Image source: Unsplash