Half the Sky would like to wish Singapore and all Singaporeans a happy 54thBirthday.
We at Half the sky call Singapore our home and beyond the clean, green and orderly streets and picture -perfect skyline of this bustling city, there’s a lot more to Singapore than meets the eye.
Check out some fun facts about this wonderful green, and cosmopolitan city state.
1. It’s a city of not just one island, but 63
You might not know it but Singapore’s land area includes as many as 62 offshore islands that surround the main island. These include Sentosa (the largest of the 62 offshore islands), Pulau Ubin, St John’s Island and Sisters’ Islands.
2. It’s home to the world’s first night zoo
Singapore’s Night Safari provides a nocturnal experience like no other in the city; it’s also the world’s very first night zoo. Opened in 1994, the 35-hectare park features over 1,000 animals in their naturalistic nighttime.
3. It’s a city of (man-made) waterfalls
According to the Wildlife Reserves Singapore, the first man-made waterfall was built at Jurong Bird Park in 1971. Dropping from a height of 30 metres, it is said to be the tallest waterfall in an aviary to date.
That’s not all. You’ll also find the world's tallest indoor waterfall (35 metres) in Singapore at the Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay. This huge waterfall is the centrepiece of the misty conservatory, designed to house plant life from the tropical highlands.
In 2019, an even taller indoor waterfall, opened atJewel at Changi Airport. This new retail and lifestyle complex will feature the Water Vortex, a man-made, 40-metre-tall waterfall that will be surrounded by a lush indoor garden.
4. The locals speak Singlish, not just English
Don’t be too surprised to hear Singaporeans adding to their sentences the occasional “lah” and “leh”, which have become an integral part of everyday conversation. These are just bits of what make the local Singlish vocabulary so unique.
Singlish is a collection of colloquial catchphrases and lingo influenced by Singapore’s multiculturalism. Other examples include the Singlish term “chope”, which means to reserve a seat. Locals often chope seats at a hawker centre using packets of tissue paper!
Singaporeans also tend to refer to strangers such as cab drivers and hawker centre stall owners as “Aunties” and “Uncles”. This is an endearing way of addressing older gentlemen and ladies. Do use the terms wisely, though, as it can connote the addressee’s elderly age; you would not want to offend a stranger by accident!
5. Singapore pioneered the first F1 night race
Held annually since 2008, Grand Prix Season Singapore features a gamut of concerts, racing and entertainment activities, for Formula One fans and visitors of all ages. 2018’s event marks the Grand Prix’s 10th edition in Singapore.
The star event—the FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX—also made racing history as the world’s first ever FORMULA 1 night race. The twisty Marina Bay street circuit has largely remained unchanged in the years since; the track’s brightly lit floodlights also add to the spectacular night views of Singapore. According to Formula 1, the Marina Bay Street Circuit also boasts more corners (23 in all) than any other circuits on the Formula One race calendar.
6. It’s one of the world’s greenest cities
This city of skyscrapers is also one that is filled with lush greenery. Nearly half of Singapore’s land area (approximately 700 square kilometres) is under green cover. Beyond numerous parks and gardens, there are pockets of undiscovered plant life housed in the most unusual of places. For example, PARKROYAL on Pickering is known for its hotel-in-a-garden concept and its four-storey cascading vertical garden.
That’s not all. There’s rich biodiversity in nature reserves, too––Singapore is home to over 2,100 native vascular plant species. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in particular, is said to contain more tree species in a single hectare than the total number of tree species found in North America.
7. It’s home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site––and some unique ‘VIPs’
Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has a history of over 150 years since its founding in 1859; that’s more than a century older than modern Singapore itself!
Its most popular attraction is the National Orchid Garden, which houses thousands of orchid species known as Very Important Plants (VIPs). Over 200 hybrid orchids in this garden have been affectionately named after visiting foreign dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as well as celebrities like actors Jackie Chan, Zhou Xun and Bae Yong Jun.
Another fun fact: Singapore’s first botanic garden opened in 1822, on the slopes of the area now known as Fort Canning Hill. Measuring just 19 hectares, the garden closed in 1829 due to rising costs and its land was then used for various public projects, including an Armenian church, a school and a hospital.
8. There are tonnes of off-the-beaten track neighbourhoods to explore
Besides the history-rich Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India cultural districts, there are more colourful enclaves for visitors to explore in Singapore.
You’ll find rows of hip eateries and stores along the Art Deco-style buildings of Tiong Bahru, as well as colourful shophouses and traditional food stalls in Joo Chiat/Katong.
More up-and-coming neighbourhoods include Everton Park, which is home to coffee joints, cafés, ice cream parlours and other must-try foodie hotspots.
9. There’s always something to celebrate in Singapore
Come July, get set for a shopping spree during the Great Singapore Sale, which kicks off every year in June. In July, foodies are in for a treat with the Singapore Food Festival, where they will get to savour uniquely Singaporean dishes as well as the best of Mod-Sin (Modern Singaporean) cuisine, which gives a modern twist to traditional flavours.
10. The Lion City may actually have been inspired by a tiger
You may have heard about the Merlion, Singapore’s iconic emblem. The Merlion is a mythical creature with a lion’s head and a fish's tail.
What you might not know: the Merlion was partly inspired by the city’s Sanskrit name, Singapura, which means ‘lion city’. This Sanskrit name is thought to have been given by a Sumatran prince Sang Nila Utama, who ruled Temasek, a settlement on the Singapura island during the early 14th century. While hunting for animals, the prince spotted a strange creature moving quickly, which was identified as a lion by his advisors. However, there were no records of lions native to Singapore. It might have been a tiger that he saw, for tigers used to be found in the wild in Singapore, up until the 1930s.
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