Almost everyone knows that Singapore is one of the best city in the world; the right place for doing business and shopping; and a travel destination with the busiest airport. Singapore also has a very long list full of the reasons why you should come and visit at last once in your life. Maybe you think you know a lot about this small country, but I bet you did not know yet about these interesting facts about Singapore.
image: Explorer Singapore
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. What that means for visitors: more fun in the sun!
image: abbott.com.sg
Singapore is one of only three surviving city-states in the world. The other two are Monaco and the Vatican City. It’s weird to think that we don’t have a capital. I mean, it’d be pretty cool if Orchard Road became our capital but sometimes, meh. We’re also both a country and a state which I guess makes it easier when you want to insert your mailing address.
image: Framepool Footage
Right now, Singapore is eight hours past Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). But local clocks were originally set at GMT +7.30, together with Peninsula Malaysia. Singapore’s time zone has been modified for almost 6 times over the last century. Until May 31, 1905, Singapore was 6.5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Then it was ahead of 7 hours then 07:20, 07:30, 09:00, 07:30 and in 1982, Peninsula Malaysia decided to match its time zone to East Malaysia and Singapore followed suit, adopting the GMT +8.00 as our standard time.
image: Human Resources Online
Singaporean can even stand for elections in the British House of Commons and campaign to be an MP of a British constituency. Because Singapore is a Commonwealth member, Singapore citizens have rights to vote in all elections in the UK.
image: Pixabay
This is partly because of busy air traffic. Buildings that scale this height include One Raffles Place, OUB Centre, UOB Plaza and Republic Plaza.
image: PSST.ph
Yes, Singapore is the English word for “Singapura,” which means Lion City. But did you know that there are no lions in Singapore? The name “Singapore” was derived from the Sanskrit term Simha or Singha, which means “Lion”. Lion is also the national animal of Singapore.
Sources: visitsingapore.com, thesmartlocal.com, mustsharenews.com, ohfact.com