Singapore
Singapore officially known as the Republic of Singapore. Its English name Singapore is derived from the Malay word, Singapura, where Singa means Lion and Pura means town, referring the country as the Lion City. However the recent studies of Singapore indicate that lions have never lived there, the beast seen by the founder in the 13th century was most likely a Malayan Tiger.
Singapore is a southeast Asian island. Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island, widely known as Singapore Island but also as Pulau Ujong. Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. April and May are the hottest months, with the wetter monsoon season from November to January.
Singapore is an outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya empire, named Temasek, which means ‘sea town'. It was part of the Sultanate of Johor. In 1613, Portuguese raiders burnt down the settlement and the island sank into obscurity for the next two centuries. Singapore became the capital of the Straits Settlements in 1836. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Malaya and occupied Singapore until the British repossessed it in September 1945 after the Japanese surrendered.
On 31 August 1963, Singapore declared independence from Britain and joined with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form the new Federation of Malaysia. After much heated conflicts, in 1965, the Malaysian parliament voted to expel Singapore from Malaysia. Singapore gained independence as the Republic of Singapore on 9 August 1965.
Buddhism is the most widely practised religion in Singapore, with 33% of the resident population declaring themselves as Buddhist. The next most practised religion is Christianity, followed by Islam, Taoism and Hinduism.
Singapore has four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. Although the language of general conversation between Singaporeans is Standard English, one of
Singapore is a southeast Asian island. Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island, widely known as Singapore Island but also as Pulau Ujong. Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. April and May are the hottest months, with the wetter monsoon season from November to January.
Singapore is an outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya empire, named Temasek, which means ‘sea town'. It was part of the Sultanate of Johor. In 1613, Portuguese raiders burnt down the settlement and the island sank into obscurity for the next two centuries. Singapore became the capital of the Straits Settlements in 1836. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Malaya and occupied Singapore until the British repossessed it in September 1945 after the Japanese surrendered.
On 31 August 1963, Singapore declared independence from Britain and joined with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form the new Federation of Malaysia. After much heated conflicts, in 1965, the Malaysian parliament voted to expel Singapore from Malaysia. Singapore gained independence as the Republic of Singapore on 9 August 1965.
Buddhism is the most widely practised religion in Singapore, with 33% of the resident population declaring themselves as Buddhist. The next most practised religion is Christianity, followed by Islam, Taoism and Hinduism.
Singapore has four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. Although the language of general conversation between Singaporeans is Standard English, one of