Esplanade and Padang, an oil painting by A.L. Watson of the Padang in the early 1900s.
Girl holding the flag of Singapore.
a visual journey
ON THE SURFACE, Singapore appears to be a brash, modern city just like many in the West. Yet beneath this veneer you will find a fascinating blend of Asian cultures. It is a nation at a crossroads, as Stamford Raffles recognised when he in effect colonised Singapore for the British in the nineteenth century. He turned the island into a thriving trading post between East and West. Mass migrations from China and elsewhere further transformed Singapore. After the Second World War and the Japanese invasion, the British granted Singapore self-governance in 1959. An attempt in 1963 to merge with Malaysia failed due to the regional tensions the alliance created, so in 1965 Singapore became an independent nation. Strong leadership led to modern Singapore: safe, clean, successful; a wealthy little country with a big reputation.
Telok Ayer Festival Market mural details.
Welcome to the new asia
Singapore is hot! Not just because it is nearly on the equator, but because of all that’s happening here. This proud nation strides confidently into the 21st century.
fOR A COUNTRY that gained full independence as recently as 1965, Singapore has come a long way. Legend has it that the island once known as Temasek was settled back in the mists of time by Sri Tri Buana, who established Singapura—Lion City— after he sighted a leonine beast in the area. His descendants ruled for five generations until the last ruler, Parameswara, was forced to flee when the Javanese attacked. The first documentary evidence for Singapore dates from the thirteenth century, when it was a flourishing centre for trade. A slow decline followed, with jungle reclaiming the island. By the nineteenth century, seafarers who roamed the region had created a few settlements on the island, and some enterprising Chinese migrants established plantations of gambier and pepper. But the arrival of one man would change everything.
Singapore’s National Day Parade, a source of great national pride, takes place each August on the Padang (Malay for plain or field) near City Hall, Parliament House, the Supreme Court and other important civic buildings.
Looking north west across the city, the land in the right foreground is reclaimed from the sea, like much of Singapore’s easterly fringes. The tall buildings form the financial district of Shenton Way and Robinson Road, while the East Coast Parkway snakes across the landscape.
tO COUNTER THE DUTCH TRADING monopolies in the East, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles signed an agreement with the Sultan of Johor, allowing the British to establish a trading post on Singapore. Thus began Singapore’s modern era. Within three years of Raffles’ landing in 1819, the population numbered more than 10,000, of which 60 per cent were Malays. By 1860, at the first census, the population exceeded 80,000 and was mostly Chinese. Other migrants seeking success included Tamils, Ceylonese, Bengalis, Gujuratis, Punjabis, Javanese, Bugis, Balinese and Sumatrans, as well as Europeans. The foundations were laid for Singapore’s remarkable growth.
Many tall buildings in Singapore are government-built Housing & Development Board (HDB) apartment blocks.
The new Singapore Flyer, at 541
