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 Singapore - the Lion City is at the crossroads of Asia . A mix of Chinese, Indian, Malay &  Western cultures live & work side-by-side.

Each culture is celebrated in its own special way & no matter what their background each citizen calls themselves a Singaporean.

The districts designated by the former British colonists for the ethnic groups are still in use with Chinatown & Little India thriving as religious & cultural areas.

The history of Singapore traces back to a 3rd Century Chinese account describing it Pu-luo-chung or island at the end of the peninsula. 

In the 7th Century a Malayan Buddhist Empire was established on the island of Sumatra. Known as Temasek ( Sea Town ) Singapore was a busy trading outpost.

Stories say that in the 13th Century a member of the Royal family was searching for a site to build a new city & mistook a tiger for a lion. Seeing this as a good omen he decided to build his new city here & name it Singapura ( Lion City) - Singapore 's modern name was thus born.  

The British established a trading port on the island & to proclaim it a free port which established Singapore as a trading station. The policy of free trade attracted merchants from all over Asia & as far away as the United States & Middle East .  

In January 1819 Sir Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company was searching for a small trading station to counter the Dutch influence in the area. The tiny fishing village of Singapore was perfect because it was at the crossroads of the East & West.

Trade items included tea & silk from China, timber from Malaya & spices from Indonesia . Also imported was opium & fabrics from India & English-manufactured goods from Britain . 

During World War II the Japanese invaded North Malaya & advanced towards Singapore . The British surrendered on February 8, 1942.

After the war Singapore became a Crown Colony. It joined Malaysia to become one country in September 1963 but differences between the leaders became serious enough for a separation. Singapore became an independent nation on August 9 1965. It has since enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in all of Asia .  

On arrival you are exposed to Singapore 's clean, efficient, world-class atmosphere. The true character of this city is somehow lost in massive shopping malls & high rises & numerous theme parks. This is what most people see: a shopper's paradise, a pleasant business trip, a "safe" destination.

Singapore is at its most remarkable in its little alleyways & shops in Chinatown & the temples & noisy street operas of Little India. 

The old colonial-style buildings in the heart of town impart a charm not found in the newer structures. Each historic district has its own story, its own magic to discover as one walks along their back streets.