Singapore

THE MERLION, THE HERALDIC ANIMAL OF SINGAPORE SPOUTS A POWERFUL STREAM OF WATER INTO THE SINGAPORE RIVER. THIS MYTHICAL CREATURE HAS THE HEAD OF A LION AND THE BODY OF A FISH.

The Merlion's origins are a combination of the magical and mundane. Toward the end of the thirteenth century, a Buddhist prince from the Indonesian island of Sumatra founded the Kingdom of Temasek near what is today Singapore. One day, he arrived at a large island, where he saw a terrifying beast. He thought it was a lion, although no lions had ever been seen in the area, nor have they been sighted since. The city founded "Lion City") as a result. The Merlion's colo tail connects it to fishing, the traditional on the island was named Singha Pura occupation of the local population.

A British crown colony. In Singapore, drivers still follow the British practice of keeping to the left side of the road. British influence began in the early nine- teenth century when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles founded the first branch office of the British East India Company here in 1819. Raffles is difficult man to forget in Singapore, where statues, streets and the Raffles Hotel all bear his name. Before Ratics arrived, the island had been a desolate place, occupied by only a few fishermen and the occasional Malaysian pirates. Singapore was a British crown colony as well as a commercial port belonging to the East India Company from 1867 to 1963. During those years, the city developed into one of largest commercial ports in South-East Asia. Since independence in 1964 Singapore has grown into a modern metropolis. More than just business. Though Singapore enjoys worldwide reputation as a hyper-successful eco nomic powerhouse, "Lion City" is not usually listed among anyone's favourite tourist destinations. Many travellers only make a brief stop here en route to somewhere else. This is not really fair to Singapore a city that has a great deal to offer. Its Chinatown tidied up and polished until they shine. Even the worth visiting. The cultural life of the city is diverse, Quarter, Arab Street and Little India have been modern areas of city centre have numerous places and one runs into it at every turn. Singapore has never been more colourful or inviting.

Esplanade Park. A new cultural centre has sprung from the banks of the river delta in Singapore Esplanade Park. Along with the Merlion, this facility is emblematic of Singapore, possibly in part because the complex is shaped like an enormous durian melon. This is a fruit with a famously awful smel, as many travellers to South-East Asia have learned popular with the locals from personal experience, but "stink fruit" is very popular with the locals.

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