SINGAPORE

Singapore is a small island lying very close and to the south of peninsula Malaysia. It is an independent country known a city state. Due to it's diminutive size it is sometimes referred to as "The little red dot". The population is approximately 4.5 million people of whom the majority (over 70%) are Chinese. Singapore is approximately 26 miles wide east to west and 14 miles long north to south. However the island is continually growing due to land reclamation.

In his memoirs Alexander Hamilton (Scottish Sea Captain 1689-1723) wrote "In Anno 1703 I called at Johor on my way to China, and he (Sultan Abdul Jalil) treated me very kindly, and made me a present of the Island of Singapore, but I told him it could be of no use to a private person, though a proper place for a company to settle a colony on, lying in the centre of trade, and being accommodated with good rivers and safe harbours, so conveniently situated that all winds served shipping both to go out and come into those rivers. The soil is black and fat, and the woods abound in good masts for shipping and timber for building. I have seen large beans growing wild in the woods, not inferior to the best in Europe for taste and beauty; and sugar cane five or six inches round growing wild also."

On 6th February 1819, Stamford Raffles signed an agreement with Tunku Long (Sultan of Johor) granting the East India Company the right to maintain a settlement on Singapore. In fact the Sultanate of Johor had been usurped, but Raffles got what he wanted by re-instating Tunku Long as Sultan.

Singapore remained under British control until 1942 when it fell to the Japanese. At the end of the second world war in 1945, Singapore again came under British control. In 1959 Singapore became a self governing state and joined the Malaya Federation in 1962, but was expelled in 1965 to become an independent state.

Singapore prospered as a port and became an electronics manufacturing hub. Due to lower costs in China and other Asian countries, some of this type of manufacturing has since moved away. Singapore has in the new millennium been strengthening it's biotech and tourism sectors.

Many tourists to Singapore visit Raffles Hotel to experience a Singapore Sling (a cocktail based on Gin) in the Long Bar, the famous Night Safari at the Singapore Zoo, Sentosa island, as well as China Town and Little India. In recent years a lot of work has been undertaken to make a more cohesive feature of the river area. Starting at the recently opened Esplanade concert and restaurant complex, there is a nice walk encompassing a Merlion (the national symbol of Singapore), the Fullerton Hotel and then along the Singapore River past Boat Quay, the Houses of Parliament to the recently refurbished Clarke Quay. Currently there are also two integrated resorts under development, which are scheduled to open in 2009. The integrated resorts will contain casinos as well as other forms of entertainment, restaurants, bars and hotels.

Singapore hosted its first Formula 1 motor race on 28th September 2008. The now annual race takes place on a street circuit in the Marina Square area. It is a night race.

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