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Favorite thing: The island nation of Singapore is situated at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, in the middle of the Straits of Malacca, one of the world's busiest and richest trade and shipping routes. Since the thirteenth century, Tamils from southern India, Chinese, and Arabs all used Singapore as a base for trade and commerce.

Singapore was established by Javanese Hindus, and remained under their control until the end of the fourteenth century. It was around that time that many of the local Malay princes and sultans converted to Islam. However, many non-Muslim Chinese immigrants moved in, and eventually became the majority in Singapore.

In 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles signed a treaty with the Sultan of Johor (who controled Singapore), giving the British East India Company permission to establish a trading post on the island. Except for a brief period when Singapore was occupied by the Japanese during the Second World War, the British ruled until 1963, when the Federation of Malaysia (which included both Malaysia and Singapore) was granted independence. In 1965, the two countries split, and Singapore became an independent nation.

Nowadays, most of the tiny country consists of a built-up urban area with about 5,250,000 inhabitants, although there are large parks and open spaces. Singapore is the largest and most important business, commerce, and banking center in Southeast Asia.

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Favorite thing: Singapore has so many favorite things of every kind!
This itinerary is also suitable for a family with children, with many attractions which Singapore has to offer for the whole family; there's quite a bit of walking involved, so if the kids are very young you'll have to skip some sights and be more selective:

Day 1:
- Esplanade, Merlion
- Boat Quay (on the Singapore River)
- Chinatown (market, Heritage Center)
- Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple
- Clarke Quay
- Robertson Quay
- Botanic Gardens
- Night Zoo

Day 2:
- Harborfront Center
- Mt. Faber
- Afterwards spend the whole day on Sentosa Island:
- "Images of Singapore"
- Carlsberg Sky Tower
- Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom
- Underwater World & Dolphin Lagoon
- Fort Siloso
- "Songs of the Sea" show

Day 3:
- Jurong Bird Park
- Jurong Reptile Park
- Orchard St. (shopping malls)
- Emerald Hill Road
- Little India
- Bugis Street Market
- Arab Street
- Malay Hertitage Center
- Geylang Serai Market

Enjoy this incredible island-city-state!

Favorite thing: It's obvious: you have to get a drink Singapore Sling in a Long Bar of the Raffles hotel. You're gonna love it. Especially the way to get rid of nutshells: just throw them on the floor! It's amazing in the city, where littering costs 500 dollars fine.

Favorite thing: One day che gu salleh told the whole class of future predictions.. about the world.......at first I was drawn to believe his story but latter at this age (46) I come to realize that satan had played this story in my mind and led me astray.

He predicted that one day .......when most muslims country were chaotic with war and most countries had missles weapon pointing at each other.........America will be at 'WAR' with China.......this he told us the class of 1976 Telok Paku School. He went to the blackboard and drew a picture of the six continents and told us that America will attack China. I think at the age of 12 ,china is still not open to the world yet.

We were young and don't really understand what he was trying to say....then he sat down on his chair,I recalled and he continue saying that we will all be able to see the sign of " Judge ment day". He continue saying that a sign of this is there will be a massive flood but singapore will be safe because in singapore god loves the Muslims living here.

I was 12.......although this che gu like to tell us story from the Quran.....he looks like a holy man and did left an impression on me.

At this age of 46.......I believe in Islamic teachings that no human being can predict the future....only god knows about the unknown, future, judgement day, heaven or hell.
But as a human being , I have erred and been misled by this story.......in 2005 or 2006 I can't recall....there was a massive tsunami ...30 years after the story was told, and singapore was not affected.......I was drawn to believe his predictions.

I was 42 or 43......I saw a lot of muslims countries being attack by America and then the flood,
One day I had a bad dream........when my daughter came back from school I was in hysteria state crying......and believed in the stupid bad dream.....I draw a picture of flower that represent my daughter...and I will dye before it Blooms......I draw a picture of chilli... meaning whoever feel they have done wrongs they will feel their sins.(SIAPA MAKAN CHILLI DIA RASA PEDAS)
Now i assume this bad dream was from SATAN who appears to confuse my mind after I Belived in che gu salleh story.Mysteriously I was drawn to having nightmares and try to predict what it meant.( Now at 46 I realize that I have done great wrongs and a big sin to comprehend such dreams because ONLY ALLAH KNOWS ABOUT THE UNKNOWN and not a human being like me.

Over the years , all che gu Salleh story has haunt me........Satan has played into my mind and swayed my focus from god(ALLAH) to che gu salleh stories about the future............because it was such a coinsidence of whatever he says .........one has come true.........the Tsunami.
2009 has made me realize that I must be a true Muslim believing in God ( Quran and Hadith) is more important than believing a man's story.

Even if he says , he is a wali and can tell about the future.(?).......The QURAN is definite proof about PREDICTIONS because it is GOD's word.

I am very sick right now........because I think .....of my own stupid actions in the past...in trying to comprehend the unknown by only using my brain and not guidance from the quran and prophet Muhammad. I was being defeated by my curiousity and swayed by satan in my dreams.Satan ask me to FOCUS more on the unknown and not FOCUS more to Islamic teachings.

ALLAH IS GREAT ..........HE HAS MADE ME REALIZE MY MISTAKES......my sickness, my health, my future , my fate and my life ..............is in his hand ........and today I leave everything to ALLAH.
May god forgive me and accept me as his slave.

.

Fondest memory: This a group picture of respectables Singaporean.
MY SCHOOL TEACHERS
OF TELOK PAKU PRIMARY
SCHOOL.(1976)

Some of the Teachers here are very well known in Singapore Society : One lady is the wife of Singapore President,One man became a well educated lecturer and motivational speaker and some I believe were respected till they passed away, such as Che Gu Salleh,to this day ..........I still remembers him.
I remembered when I was in Pr.6, My che gu a malay langguage teacher told the whole class that he is a wali of god Allah. I went home and ask , what is wali? They laughed at me for beleiving such a thing, because a holy man of god usually will not claim that he is one.....
I would like to share a story about him and how this wali thing affect my life.

One day che gu salleh told the whole class of future predictions.. about the world.......at first I was drawn to believe his story but latter at this age (46) I come to realize that satan had played this story in my mind and led me astray.

Continue.......previou page:-

Favorite thing: Singapore's unique history has resulted in it being a stew made up of different pieces of humanity. Even before the British arrived, the city was a melange of Malays and multi-ethnic Chinese traders, most of whom weren't allowed to bring women, creating a creole group called Peranakans who are essentially the local Singaporeans. Then, the British began importing people from around their empire to administer, work and seve in their economy. Thus arrived people from India (itself a hodgepodge of different ethnicities) and "western" countries/colies such as Canada, Ireland and Australia. More recently, other Europeans and Americans have set up shop here to take advantage of the economic opportunity that flows from its location on the Straits of Molacca, its Commonwealth legal system and the absorbtion of Hong Kong by China.
....In any case, Singapore has four official languages: Tamil, Malay, Mandarin Chinese and English. English is the predominant of the four, and is on every sign everywhere, though Chinese is rapidly catching up. If any city is poised to benefit from China's economic rise in an American dominated commercial world, it's Singapore.

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Favorite thing: Multi-cultural Singapore doesn't skimp when it comes to celebrating the Christmas holiday that came with its English colonizers. Except for the Philippines, no country in Southeast Asia celebrates Christmas more robustly, and a lot of Western expatriates in this area of the world head to Singapore for their holiday break. This shouldn't be surprising, because Singapore first and foremost, is about making money and retailers generally make their most money during the Christmas season. What is surprising is how much of the northern European and North American iconography the locals have adopted for their Christmas displays: snowflakes, snowmen, winter themes -- all seem out of place in humid, tropical Singapore. Most shocking is that Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer is everywhere and appears to be dressed as a female, with mini-skirts and gaudy earrings. Who knew?

Favorite thing: ....In my travels through Asia, I've noticed that paper napkins are neither large nor abundant anywhere. Even in wealthy Japan, the napkins are tiny and waxy, barely worth using except serially. But at least you get enough napkins in Japan to eventually clean your face -- in Singapore that's not the case!
....My first experience with Singapore's napkin Issue cane at the Ion foodcourt on Orchard Road, wher a dazzling array of Indian, Thai and Malay choices -- all guaranteed to leave a mess on one's face if not clothes -- we complimented with exactly zero napking dispensers! There were no napkins at all -- I had to use my receipt to wipe my face. Luckily, I got prata (an Indian bread crepe-like dish) rather than a spicy Thai dish that would have sent my nose gushing. I can't imagine how I would have dealt with that.
....Unfortunately, this was not a lone outlier, but the norm in Singapore. Either you get one small napkin given to with your food or there are none at all to be had. Contrast to Japan, where at least there are dispensers of many waxy small napkins or the U.S. where big, absorbant paper napkins are copiously abundant. As a sloppy eater, I need that support.
....It's possible that Singapore has success in its draconian anti-litter campaigns in part because the causes of litter (chewing gum and, apparently, napkins are treated like contraband. I just wonder how they all keep their faces clean!

Favorite thing: If you go to Singapore (especially not planning to drive or to get a car there) I would really suggest you get the Singapore Tourist Pass. It was really helpful during my trip. I don't have to keep on buying tickets, instead just tap the card at the public transport gate reader...no hassle at all.

The pass give you unlimited rides on almost all public transport system (MRT, LRT and basic bus services). You can buy the pass at a few places such as the Transit Link ticket office at Changi International Airport...open at 12pm, 3.45pm, 4.45pm and 7.30pm, the one at Orchard Road is operational from 10am - 9pm daily while the office at City Hall MRT Station operates from 9 am - 9 pm daily. Other places you can get this pass are at Chinatown, Raffles Place, Ang Mo Kio, Harbour Front and also Bugis MRT Station.

You can choose a one day pass sold at $8, 2 days pass $26 and 3 days pass cost $34. Upon purchase of the pass you shall be charged $10 as the pass deposit (refundable - so long as you returned it within 5 days of issuance).

The pass validity will depend on the duration of days selected (if you choose a 1 day pass, then the pass is only valid for 1 day starting at the time of issuance). If you're planning to take the public transport and will be on the move almost all the time...this pass will definitely be very useful because it's much cheaper than buying tickets at the stations. During my trip...I bought a 1 day pass and used it from morning to night...took ride on the MRT more than 20 times...returned it just before going home and got back my $10....which means I only paid $8 for so many MRT rides...really worth it.