Singapore Society

Singapore, in English: (Republic of Singapore); in Chinese: (Xīnjīapō Gònghéguó); in Malay: (Republik Singapura); in Tamil: (Siṅkappūr Kuṭiyarasu). It is an island and city-state located south of the State of Johor on the Malaysian peninsula and north of the Riau Islands of Indonesia, separated from them by a strait. At 707.1 km², it is the smallest country in Southeast Asia. Singapore is the fourth largest financial center in the world, and plays a very important role in international trade and the world economy. In addition, it is the second most densely populated country in the world, after Monaco.

Foreign affairs

According to Shoppingpicks, Singapore maintains diplomatic relations with 175 countries, although it does not have a high commission or embassy in many of these countries. It is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement. For geographical reasons, relations with Malaysia and Indonesia are the most important, although the domestic politics of these countries may affect bilateral relations. Singapore has close relations with many European countries such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom., with which it shares relationships through the Five Power Defense Arrangements (FDPA) together with Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. It also maintains good relations with the US, a country perceived by the government as a stabilizing power that plays the role of counterweight in the region.

Social development

Education

The English language is the language used in teaching in Singapore. All citizens are required to attend state schools up to the sixth level of primary education, when they are normally 12 years old.

Many children attend kindergartens until the year they start primary school. The ruling People’s Action Party is the main provider of early childhood education through its community division.

Although English is the language used in the teaching of mathematics and natural sciences, students from the Chinese community can attend Special Assistance Plan schools such as Chung Cheng High School (Main) that receive additional resources to teach in both Chinese and English.

The academic levels are established by the Ministry of Education. There is no clear division between private and state schools on aspects such as degree of autonomy, student admission policies, resources provided by the government, and tuition paid by students.

Singapore has three autonomous universities: the National University of Singapore, the Nanyang Technological University and the Singapore Management University. Proposals are being evaluated for a fourth university to be called the Singapore University of Design and Technology.

Gastronomy

The Gastronomy of Singapore is considered as a prime example of the ethnic mix and diversity of cultures existing in Singapore. This cuisine has many influences from Malaysian, Chinese, Indian cuisine (especially Tamil cuisine) and is part of the cuisines of Southeast Asia. It also has influences from the West due to the occupation of the islands by the English in the 19th century. As an example of variety and fusion of styles, for example, in the hawker stores (a kind of food court) in Singapore, you can find how chefs from China prepare Indian dishes, while Indian chefs prepare various Malaysian dishes. Cuisine is one of the cultural attractions of Singapore.

Generic Dishes

Many of the dishes are adaptations of Chinese cuisine due to immigrants, although the use of local ingredients no longer makes it possible to consider them Chinese.

• Bak kut teh (Chinese: ròu gǔ chá), soup made from pork ribs and poured with a variety of Chinese herbs and spices.
• Bak chor mee (roù cuò miàn), egg-based noodle with minced pork and other ingredients, served dry or in soup. The mee pok noodle is often used in the preparation of this dish.
• Ban mian (bǎn miàn), handmade noodles served with vegetables, meatballs, sliced ​​mushrooms and an egg in an ikan bile soup.
• Chai tow kway, or Carrot Cake (càitóu guǒ), consists of radishes, chopped and made to be stir fried with scrambled eggs. There are versions that are called ‘black’ (with soy sauce and / or chili) or ‘white’ (without soy sauce, but sometimes with chili).
• Popiah (báo bǐng), Hokkien-style with spring onions or rolled crepes, cooked with Chinese sausage, shrimp and lettuce.
• Chinese Rojak, a fruit salad. It is different from the Indian Rojak.
• Soon kway (sǔn guǒ), a vegetable-filled dumpling with a sauce.
• Vegetarian bee hoon (zhāi mǐ fěn), vermicelli rice with various vegetables, or tofu.
• Yusheng (ú shēng), raw fish in salad, famous during the Chinese New Year celebration.
• Yong tao foo (niáng dòu fǔ), a variety of vegetables cooked with fish and cooked with a soup based on ikan bile. It can be served dry with sweet beans and hot sauce.

Inspired by India

• Indian rojak, an indigenous dish of Singapore, created by the Indian Muslim community with various vegetables, seafood, chicken meat and / or eggs fried in a batter. Cut everything into pieces and mixed. They are accompanied with sauce, usually sweet in flavor. The name comes from the Malay “Rojak”, translated into Spanish as “mixture”.
• Murtabak, a variety of roti prata with sardines or minced lamb or chicken, onions and egg.
• Thosai, A kind of crêpe made from fermented rice and lentils. It is eaten for breakfast, although it is not as popular as prata.
• Mee Kuah, an Indian noodle dish with meat sauce.
• Nasi briyani, an Indian rice dish and usually served with chicken, beef, lamb or fish. Nasi from Malay rice and briyani from Persian briyani, cooked or fried.
• Roti prata, an extremely popular Indian community breakfast dish, is very popular with all Singaporeans regardless of origin or race. It is a kind of giant crêpe, folded on itself 4 times (it can vary) and toasted on the grill. It should be crispy. There are many varieties, among them; with egg, with mushrooms, with syrup, with banana, with onion, ect. The ingredient / s are added to the dough while making the folds so that it remains inside once toasted. It is always accompanied with curry.
• Soup kambing, lamb soup.

Sports

In 2010 it hosted the Youth Olympic Games.

Singapore at the Olympic Games is represented by the Singapore Olympic Committee.

Since 2008, the Formula 1 Grand Prix has been held in Singapore. On that first occasion, the Spanish Fernando Alonso was the winner (he also did it in 2010) and on the second occasion the British Lewis Hamilton won. The most important feature of this Grand Prix is ​​being the first in history to take place at night, which entails a series of changes, never before experienced, both in the drivers and in the development of the race itself. Another of the attractions of this test is that it is an urban circuit, like the one carried out from that same year in the Spanish city of Valencia.

Transport

The Changi Airport is the most common method to reach Singapore. It is one of the most important airports in Asia, since it schedules about 4,000 weekly flights operated by about 80 companies. The destinations to which you fly (Jakarta, New York, Amsterdam, Tokyo… and so on until reaching a total of 180) belong to more than 50 countries. It is a modern airport, the first terminal of which was opened in 1981. Later, others were opened in 1991 and 2006. Getting around Singapore

Singapore has a variety of means of transport that will facilitate our movements through the urban center and the rest of the area. As they are not very long distances, we do not have to face long trips in which the use of one medium or another can make a big difference in terms of duration.

The Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) is the best known system of buses, trains (some similar to the subway, underground in nature) and taxis that covers most of the island. The SMRT network has more than 50 train stations. In addition to its “traditional” train services, it runs 14 stops on the Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit (BPLRT), the first train of its kind built in Singapore.

Among its bus services, in which 74 routes operate, the SMRT offers its users the Nightrider, a night transport service. As for taxis, SMRT allows the reservation of taxis by various means (telephone call, text message or online reservation) depending on the requested service. On its website, the SMRT informs of all its routes and its services, rates and conditions.

In order to save time and money, there are various subscriptions and cards that allow the combined use of various means of transport. Use the car

To drive in Singapore, a valid license is required, either an international permit or a license from the visitor’s home country. To “convert” them to valid national licenses, go to the Traffic Police Department. It should be borne in mind that to enter the center it is necessary to pay a toll at certain times and that there are areas for residents and payment areas to park.

In addition to those provided by the SMRT, other taxi companies such as Yellow-Top or CityCab can be used in Singapore. As in other cities, you can hail taxis on the street (as long as traffic or other activities are not impeded) or use designated stops for them.

The rates vary depending on the kilometers of the service, but generally there is a lowering of the flag, a price for the first kilometer and rates determined for each distance. In addition, there are extras that apply on holidays, trips to the airport or at night, early booking and peak hours, among others.