SINGAPORE -STUDENTS- SINGULARITY : PRECIS

 

SINGAPORE : A city-state of culture and food. This former British colony is perfect for a weekend trip while exploring Asia.

ONCE dismissed by a president as a little '' red dot, '' Singapore is celebrating its diamond jubilee this year as an independent city-state, an economic powerhouse and one of the cleanest, safest places in the world.

At less than 300 square miles [ 780 square kilometers ], Singapore, a former British colony, is a multicultural, multireligious, and multilingual wonder where skyscrapers and shopping malls sit alongside churches and mosques.

The most common language spoken besides English is Singlish, a creole language often derided by the authorities but now used in tourism campaigns.

Among Singapore's many attractions is the dizzying variety of food, as exemplified by the 121 openair food courts with dozens of stalls - more than a few have Michelin endorsements - where a meal costs as little as 5 Singapore dollars [ $3.70 ].

Sunny and sweltering almost all year around, Singapore makes an ideal weekend trip before heading on to the rest of Southeast Asia.

The World Students Society thanks Nicholas Yong.