A portrait of Singapore 4/011

The small city-state of Singapore is bustling, cosmopolitan, trendy, modern, and plays a part on the world´s financial and political stage that seems disproportionate to its size. Its varied traditions and intriguing mixture of the old and new (in its people and way of life) make Singapore a great multicultural city in the truest sense.

Believe me, because I spent there four beautiful days, full of adventure, sensational experience and incredible culture of Eastern world.

Located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula on the Strait of Malacca, Singapore consists of one large island encircled by several smaller islands. Gleaming high-rise buildings and a fascinating diversity of foliage are crammed into a tiny area of just 697 sq km, some of it reclaimed land. Humidityand heavy downpours define its climate, showersare so sudden that the umbrella is a regular accessory.

When Sir Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company landed on its shores in 1819, Singapore was a little more than a nondescript fishing village. However, the town soon went on to become a British stronghold. After gaining anindependence from the British, Singapore was incorporated into the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, and turned into a wholly independent nation in 1965.

Nowadays Singapore is a country of immigrants, with a multicultural ethnicity comprising mainly 77% of Chinese, 14% of Malay, and 7.6% of Indians, with a small number of Western expatriates. Ethnic neighborhoods, the norm in the 19th century, have given way to government-provided public housing. Old enclaves that have been left behind are now used only for shopping or entertainment that is unique to that particular community. The cultural heritage of the British colonialists is also deeply woven into the Singaporean lifestyle.

As for culture and arts both flourish in this diverse city. Chinese opera and drama, Western classical music, Indian classical dance forms, and English theatre are all parts of a local culture. However, government cultural censorship is very strict and rigid. Each performance needs a seal of approval before being shown to the public. In Singapore you can find a plenty of museums, religious and cultural places such as temples and mosques, many festivals take place there throughout the year.

All travellers and visitors from abroad are welcome, and are able to experience most of Singapore´s attractions in a short trip, because majority of them lie at the heart of the city, south of the island, and its compactness and efficient infrastructure make it easy to visit. You can explore older suburbs, nature reserves, historic sites, skyscrapers and glitzy shopping malls, but
be prepared for the fact that your journey will be more expensive and cost a little bit more than you expect. Too many attractions that mustn´t be forgotten to visit.

Mgr. Kateřina Smutná
katedra jazyků VŠB-TUO, sekce anglického jazyka