Singapore City

Boat Quay in former times was a busy port area, now many of the businesses along the water front are restaurants and bars

After an almost ten year re-development of the port area, Boat Quay is now a prime tourist location with it's many bars and restaurants, open from lunch time to late.
The Singapore River as it enters Wood Quay broadens out – the locals say that it takes on the shape of a carp.
The carp is a good luck symbol in Chinese culture – so many traders and business people in the past (and perhaps today ) considered a business on it's waterfront to be especially lucky.

Today as the price of real estate soars this could be more true than ever.

The quay dates back to the 1830s and was officially opened in 1842.
For many years it was a busy port right up till the new port at Pasir Panjang was opened in 1983. From then it steadily declined as a port.

In 1989 a preservation order was placed on the shop houses on the quay, over the next ten years or so they were converted into what we have today.

Enjoy the leisure atmosphere of Clark Quay with it's multiplicity of shops, restaurants and bars.

Clarke Quay was named after Sir Andrew Clarke, Singapore's second Governor and Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1873 to 1875, who played a key role in positioning Singapore as the main port for the Malay states of Perak, Selangor and Sungei Ujong.

In the late 19th century, Clarke Quay was Singapore's centre of commerce. Today, life and activity have returned to Clarke Quay. The waterfront godowns are now home to 22nd century commerce, restaurants, wine bars, entertainment spots and retail shops.
The bustling market atmosphere of bygone days comes alive amidst the rows of charming shophouses, pushcarts, and five-foot-way merchants.

The area encompasses five blocks of restored warehouses, it is home to hip entertainment, dining outlets and shops of all kinds, including second-hand and antique shops

Enjoy a cruise on the river as it passes under the spectacular city skyline.

In 1987, river services recommenced on Singapore River and  bumboats were once again ferrying cargo – though this time tourist along the short length of the river.
Today there are a range of  boat services – bumboats, hop on hop off and river taxis.

When on the cruise you pass below the skylines of CBD and Marina Bay skyline, pass under numerous bridges some lit, and pass below dinners some perhaps enjoying Champagne Brunch in the Fullerton Hotel.

Re live the tales of old where the first immigrants eked out a meagre living and helped transform Singapore from an obscure fishing village to a great seaport.

Marina Bay has underground massive re development in the last ten years. Now it is a 24/7 tourist area, with casinos, museums, hotels and restaurants.

Marina Centre and South areas were formed from land reclamation in the 1970.  During the reclamation the topography was changed such that the Singapore River now flows into Marina Bay rather than the sea.
When Marina Barrage was built in 2008 it turned the Bay into a freshwater Marina Reservoir, providing water supply, flood control and a new lifestyle attractions.

Attractions:
The Bay area is now home to Marino Bay Casino, Sands SkyPark, must be Singapore's most dramatic landmark, as it sits perched 55 stories above the ground like a ship or surfboard on top of the three hotel towers.
Singapore Flyer is a 150-meter-tall observation wheel. A rotation takes approx 30 minutes. A capsule holds about 28 people.

Esplanade Theatres – sometimes referred to by locals as the Durian as it could resemble the shell of this smelly fruit, others call it the porcupine. Opera, dance, classical concerts run almost daily.

Enjoy a stroll through the city, see many of the famous buildings

Singapore is one of South East Asia's most vibrant cities and the gateway to South East Asia
It is an island country made up of 63 islands, and separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to the north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to the south.

The country is mainly urbanised with virtually no rainforest remaining, although more land is being created for development through land reclamation.

The country is just 140km from the equator. Despite the lack of trees Singapore has a typical tropical rainforest climate.

Discover more about the ancient civilisations of Asia in the museum or just enjoy a stroll passed it along the river.

ACM
The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) is the first museum in the region to present a broad yet integrated perspective of pan-Asian cultures and civilisations. As one of the National Museums of Singapore under the National Heritage Board, the museum seeks to promote a better appreciation of the rich cultures that make up Singapore's multi-ethnic society.

Ancient Cultures
While Singapore's forefathers came to settle in Singapore from many parts of Asia within the last 200 years, the cultures brought to Singapore by these different people are far more ancient. This aspect of Singapore's history is the focus of the ACM.

Enjoy the sights of the city from above the skyline.

The skyline of Singapore seems to be constantly changing – new spectacular high rise office buildings, hotels seem to spring up over night from the formerly low rise areas.

In the late 1990s through early 2000s, the city has undergone amazing changes, the river and quays have been rejuvenated. The harbour moved out towards the sea. A new fresh water bay fronts the city.

The city boasts of the world's highest observation wheel, of the Singapore Flyer – what looks like a large ship built across three high rise towers, and of the Durian or Esplanade Theatre.
Despite the fever pitch developments, the city is relaxing and chilled.

Singapore's Chinatown is probably the an ethnic neighbourhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population.

Singapore's Chinatown evolved in the 1820s when the first Chinese junk arrived from Xiamen, Fujian province in China. The passengers, apparently all men, set up home around the south of the Singapore River, though there has been a Chinese community since the 14th century.

Today, the area between Pagoda Street and Smith Street has been become a tourist area, with many souvenir shops and stalls. The street eating areas are frequented by tourists and locals. One can dine here at a fraction of the coast of eating in the more upmarket restaurants of the Quays.
About half of all Singaporeans have Chinese as their home language, Mandarin is the most common version of Chinese

Tanjong Pagar is the unofficial home of Singapore's gay community, with many watering holes in restored shophouses, while Club Street caters more to the expat and yuppie crowd with small, intimate eateries offering excellent (if pricy) Western fare.

Experience the tranquillity and atmosphere of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple situated in Chinatown was opened in 2007.
The founders of the temple include the Venerable Shi Fa Zhao, abbot of the Singapore Golden Pagoda Buddhist Temple and the Venerable U Settka Parla Maha Saddhamamajotikadaja, the abbot of Bandulla Monastery in Mrauk-U, Myanmar.
The Ven. Shi Fa Zhao was presented with relics of the Buddha while on a pilgrimage in Sri Lanka in 1992, the temple was built to house the relics.

The temple cost in the region of $60m and is dedicated to Maitreya Buddha ( the Buddha of the Future)
Stupa
On the top floor is the sacred gold stupa, weighing over 400kg. The stup is made from gold donated by devotees.
The stupa is covered by a gold canopy and the chamber floor is lined with gold tiles.

The inner chamber is restricted to the monks to perform ceremonies.