Singapore has rapidly developed since World War II into a prosperous, independent and orderly nation of 5.4 million multi-cultural citizens. Led by its charismatic and uncompromising prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, the country used its strategic location and aggressive capitalism to develop a leadership position in the financial services, maritime shipping and airline industries, while maintaining stable relationships with western powers, China and its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Financial Capital to Entertainment Center

Singapore embarked on a comprehensive plan a decade ago to transform itself again into a safe and friendly destination for visitors from around the world. The country committed billions of dollars of government funding and private capital to build just about every kind of attraction you can think of along their principal waterways using distinctive, modern architecture. The six-mile stretch from the Marina Bay Reservoir to Sentosa Island now features five-star resorts, gaming facilities, museums, sports facilities, amusement parks, artistic creations, gardens, performing arts venues, luxury malls, historical monuments, water transportation, and restaurants and cafés. Many of these structures were built on land reclaimed from the sea or filled in portions of the colonial waterfront.

Singapore’s modern offices and eye-catching entertainment complexes receive considerable attention. Visitors willing to look behind these glittering attractions also will find that the people and environment of this location are just as interesting. This city-state has a strong commitment to nature and to the diverse cultures of its residents, which is reflected in the numerous gardens, museums and ethnic neighborhoods scattered throughout the island.

Diverse Population

Despite the perception in some quarters that Singapore is a boring place, the history and diversity of the population gives a lively feel to the city’s many neighborhoods and restaurants. Many Singaporeans are descendants of the Malay merchants, Chinese workers, Arab traders and Indian laborers who immigrated to the city during several centuries of British colonial rule. The traditions of all of these groups are reflected in multimedia displays at the National Museum of Singapore. This top-notch museum tells the story of the country through the lives of historically important characters and shows many experiences of the man on the street. Traumatic events such as the 1942 Japanese conquest of Singapore and the subsequent imprisonment or death of many Chinese and European residents are brought to life vividly.

Some of the most popular and interesting things to do in Singapore include the following:

Marina Bay Sands Complex: Marina Bay Sands has become a symbol of modern Singapore since its three towers rise 55 stories above the harbor and are connected on top by a park in the shape of a ship. This architectural wonder includes a 2,561-room hotel, casino, convention center, a luxury store shopping mall and several theaters. The “Skypark” provides a panoramic view of the entire city whether you are swimming in the park’s infinity pool, dining in one of rooftop restaurants, or standing on the observation deck.

Festival and Performing Venues: The waterfront is also full of venues for performances and festivals. The indoor Esplanade Theaters on the Bay offers traditional concerts and dramatic theater from two domelike structures that resemble porcupines. Right next to it is the Marina Promenade pavilion with 20,000 outdoor seats and an adjacent floating platform stage known as “The Float.” During Chinese New Year in 2016, the entire area was full of amusement rides as well as numerous parade floats and displays celebrating the Year of the Monkey.

Sentosa: Sentosa is a small island located just offshore with a history as a pirate refuge and a military base, which was recently rebuilt into several recreation areas. It can be reached by a short drive or by riding a cable car from the harbor front. There is another integrated resort there known as Resorts World Sentosa with hotel rooms, restaurants, a casino and another shopping mall. Nearby are other attractions including an impressive Universal Studios with seven entertainment zones that is one of Asia’s largest amusement parks, the Underwater World oceanarium, a four-dimensional theater known as Adventureland, beaches and animal habitats.

Gardens by the Bay: A great place to see nature is at Gardens by the Bay, a 250-acre series of gardens within walking distance of the downtown area. If you look out toward the Straits of Singapore from the observation deck of the Marina Bay Sands Resort, you can see below two huge, futuristic domes, a series of connected lakes, tree-lined walkways and some 16-story vertical structures known as Supertrees. The gardens beneath look like someone combined the movie set used for “Avatar” with the movie set from the 1970s science fiction movie “Logan’s Run.” The domed structures are environmental conservatories. One structure, known as the Flower Dome, contains flowers and plants from Mediterranean climates and is kept at a cool 72 degrees, while the other structure, the Cloud Forest, creates the mist-filled environment of a tropical rainforest and even contains an indoor waterfall. The 15 Supertrees are probably the most popular attraction in the gardens. They are connected by a walkway you can reach by elevator for a small fee, and then use to walk around and view the entire garden. The Supertrees also serve the environment since they have been designed to collect rainwater, produce solar power, and act as vents for the domes nearby.

Night Safari: Another outdoor attraction that is quite popular is the Night Safari, which is open from 7:30 to midnight daily. The Night Safari is located in the north part of the island and offers visitors the chance to see dozens of popular animals from jungle environments, such as tigers, elephants, anteaters and hippos, as well as many unusual nocturnal animals. Almost all of the animals are displayed in open habitats by using ditches, hidden walls and special lighting. You can observe them either by riding a tram through the different zones or walking on special trails. No photography is allowed.

Other Attractions: Other cultural and entertainment activities on Singapore’s waterfront include the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel where you can take a 35-minute ride on an air-conditioned capsule; a Formula One race center where the world’s best drivers race through the streets of the city every September; a lotus-shaped building that houses an arts and science museum; and a soccer and cricket stadium. One of the most popular attractions among tourists, however, is the MerLion statue and waterfall. The MerLion is a mythical creature which legend says was spotted by a Javanese Prince on the shore when he founded the “Lion City” of Singapura in the 13th century.

We also visited one of the city’s oldest Hindu temples, Sri Mariamman, to see the shrines there and gaze at the rooftop statues depicting a wide variety of deities. Many travelers also stop for a drink at the downtown Raffles Hotel, which has served as a centerpiece for diplomats, celebrities, colonial traders and expats since 1887. Tradition and modernity exist side by side today in this world destination.