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Interesting Facts
- Say what? Singapore's official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. The vast majority of people speak English in public, but a patois called Singlish is frequently heard as well, and over 60% of Singaporeans speak a Chinese dialect at home.
- When it was originally settled by the British in the early 1800s, Singapore was home to a few hundred wild tigers. According to legend, the very last one was shot and killed at the Raffles Hotel's Bar and Billiard Room in 1902. But, despite the tale's appeal, the fact of the matter is that the last tiger wasn't killed until much later. Accounts differ, but most agree that the poor beast was killed in 1924 at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve or in the jungle at Choa Chu Kang in 1932.
- Although the official currency is the Singapore dollar, the Brunei dollar is widely accepted as well. Nowdays, however, it's very unusual to see Brunei dollars in circulation in Singapore.
- Bartender, give me a ... Singapore Sling! The little island country is famous for its signature cocktail, which was first mixed in the early 1900s by Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender at the historic Raffles Hotel. The bright pink drink is a blend of gin, cherry brandy, pineapple juice, lime juice, Benedictine, grenadine, and a dash of bitters.
- Although it's possible to rent a car in Singapore, it's completely unnecessary. Public transportation is reliable, efficient and inexpensive, and will get you virtually anywhere you need or want to go. The MRT system is excellent, and bus routes are elaborate and wide ranging. Taxis are metered and cheap, and provide a slightly quicker alternative when you're in a hurry, although they can be very difficult to find during the morning and evening rush hours. Also note that fares rise about 50% after midnight.
- It's good to talk ... Almost everyone on the island has a cell phone, and Singaporeans love having the latest gadgets and gizmos, so be prepared to see some cutting-edge stuff being flashed around. Cell reception across the island is superb – phones work even underground on the MRT system. Singapore uses the same cell technology as most of Europe, but this is different from many US networks, so check with your operator if you want to use your phone here.
- Behave! Visitors should be aware that there are hefty fines for even minor offences – a first-time litterbug, for example, will pay S$500-1000. The same goes for spitting, chewing gum and a host of other little things, leading some folks to quip that Singapore is a "fine" country. On the other hand, it has no crime to speak of, and is exceptionally clean, well-maintained and polite.
- Singapore enjoys a year-round tropical climate, with average daytime temperatures of about 31°C (87°F). The highest recorded temperature was about 38°C (100°F); the lowest was about 19°C (66°F). In the morning, relative humidity hovers near 90%, dropping through the day to a more manageable 60% at day's end. Most days there's an intense but brief tropical rainstorm in the afternoon. December and April are by far the wettest months; February proves to be the sunniest.
- At the intersection of Tiong Bahru Road and Seng Poh Road is a quaint little coffee shop called Wah Heng. On Sunday mornings, dozens and dozens of songbirds and their owners congregate here for an informal competition. The ornate cages are hung from the ceiling of the cafe and from wires strung between trees, and the owners talk shop and encourage the best performance from their feathered friends, smiling proudly when one exceeds expectations. Official competitions often award winners large cash prizes (not to mention bragging rights!), and Wah Heng serves as something of a training ground.
- The combined area of Singapore's 63 islands (most of them are tiny) is about 699 square kilometers (270 square miles). Thanks to creative land reclamation, the main island has grown almost 120 square kilometers (46 square miles) since the 1960s, and is scheduled to increase even more by 2030. That's good news for the 4.5 million souls who call the city-state home.
