SINGAPORE

In the 14th century, Singapore was part of the mighty Sri Vijayan empire and was known as Temasek ("Sea Town"). It was a popular meeting point for sea routes at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. Most of the inhabitants were local fishermen and it was comprised of small villages. Another highlight in its history was the year 1832 – when Singapore became the centre of government for the Straits Settlements of Penang, Malacca and Singapore.

Ditch the image of Singapore as a dull, sterile Utopia – scratch the surface and you’ll discover a strange brew of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western cultures, a rich social stew that’s anything but boring. Sure, the graffiti-free trains run on time, traffic jams are nonexistent and everyone looks clean-cut and wholesome, but who needs pollution, poverty and chaos?

Singapore’s mouthwatering food is the number one drawcard. Pull up a pew at a hawker centre, crack open a Tiger beer and immerse yourself in a munificent range of Asian delights; heavy on the flavor, light on the wallet. Want to splurge? Singapore delivers Southeast Asia’s best shopping and innovative, stylish restaurants, plus a swathe of top-notch hotels.