Overview

Singapore's fairly recent development began in the early 1800s when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles decided it would make an ideal port for the British East Indies Company. Under British colonial rule, the city-state grew by leaps and bounds all through the 1800s, becoming in just a few years one of the busiest ports in the world. World War II wreaked havoc on Singapore: bombings reduced much of the architecture to rubble, and when the British ceded control to the Japanese in 1942, many of its citizens were shipped off to other countries as slave labor, many were executed, and still others were confined to prisoner-of-war camps. During the post-war period, Singapore became a self-governing state, gaining full independence in 1965. Today's Singapore is a true melting pot, home to people of Chinese, Malay and Indian descent, with a significant population of non-citizen residents (temporary workers and ex-pats) from countries as diverse as Korea, Japan, the UK, the US, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Indonesia. There's a vibrant conglomeration of cultures here, with colorful ethnic pockets (remnants of Raffles' segregated urban plan) such as Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street. Singaporeans enjoy a high standard of living, with a plethora of cultural and social advantages. The country is known for the quality, diversity and abundance of its dining options � indeed, Singaporeans embrace the offerings of street vendors' traditional Asian fare as well as upscale restaurants serving refined European cuisine. Nightlife is rapidly becoming world-class, with numerous establishments grouped along the river at Boat Quay and Clarke Quay. And for its size, Singapore has an amazing number of attractions, including a wide variety of museums, zoos, the world's largest ferris wheel and even an indoor ski resort. It's one of Asia's leading financial capitals, but it's also becoming an exciting tourist destination which offers the world's only Grand Prix night race and two Integrated Resorts opening in 2010.

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