Singapore, also referred to as the Republic of Singapore, is what is known as an island city-state, positioned at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Singapore is 137 kilometres (85 miles) north of the equator, north of Indonesia’s Riau Islands, and south of the Malaysian state of Johor. Singapore is also a microstate, and the smallest nation in Southeast Asia, sizing in at 710.2 km2 (274.2 square miles). Despite its rather minuscule size, Singapore has a whopping population of 4.99 million, as of 2009.

Singapore has quite the successful market economy, with government-linked companies dominating within various regions of the local economy, such as media, utilities, and public transport. Singapore has also been consistently rated by Transparency International as the least corrupt country in Asia, as well as one of the world’s top ten most free from corruption. Airfare can be expensive, but if you book realy enough it is well worth the cost.

For those in search of an entertaining outing with family, make sure to check out such attractions as the Singapore Flyer, the G-Max Reverse Bungy, and the Haw Par Villa. Singapore Flyer is an enormous observation wheel, capable of holding twenty-eight individuals per capsule, which takes approximately thirty minutes to make a complete rotation.

The panoramic views are breathtaking, and shouldn’t be missed if given the opportunity to experience. The G-Max Reverse Bungy is considered to be Singapore’s most adrenaline-inducing activity. Experience what it’s like for an astronaut in a rocket launch, and be propelled skywards at 200 km per hour, to a height of 60 meters for approximately 5 minutes. For an extra ticket fee, thrill seekers maybe purchase a commemorative t-shirt and DVD of the experience, recorded by an on-board camera. Also known as the Tiger Balm Gardens, Haw Par Villa is a theme park of sorts, specifically constructed around the heroes and legends of Chinese mythology. Erected with the fortunes earned by the Au brothers from their medicinal cure-all, Tiger Balm, Haw Par Villa exhibits a collection of beautiful plaster and concrete figurines and statues. New additions to the Haw Par Villa theme park include a roller-coaster boat ride, as well as performances in honor of Chinese legends and myths.

For those tourists looking to explore the more cultural and artistic side of Singapore, there is a multitude of museums and galleries for one to browse their way through. From art, to history, to even the Navy, there is bound to be a museum or gallery to appease everyone.

For those individuals looking to just sit back and relax during their stay in Singapore, there are plenty of outlying islands to soak up the sun in, such as Kusu Island, St. John’s Island, Pulau Ubin, and Sisters Island. Sisters Island is particularly ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba-diving. To get to Sister Island, one must rent a water taxi, as there is no ferry service to transport individuals to the island. Pulau Ubin would be ideal for those travelers interested in partaking in Singapore’s wildlife, as it has been left undeveloped for the better part of the past 30 years, and is home to an abundance of interesting flora and fauna, as well as fishing villages and seafood restaurants.

Travel to Singapore by means of transportation that includes cars, cable cars, buses, railways, taxis, and ferries.