Singapore is a vibrant city state with the most advanced economy in Southeast Asia, leading in communication technology and financial services. Singapore has a well-educated and diverse population, with four official languages and five main religions. Its unique blend of cultures and sights attracts 17million visitors a year. (someformofhuman, Wikimedia Commons)
 

Singapore is a sovereign island city state in maritime southeast Asia off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Its area of 728 km² is increasing due to massive land reclamation projects.

The Central Business district encompasses the skyscrapers of the financial district, Marina Bay, the shopping area around Orchard Road and the heart of colonial Singapore where major landmarks have been preserved.
 

Although its history is ancient, modern Singapore was established in 1819 by British stateman, Stamford Raffles, as a trading post of the British Empire.
 

Old shop houses along the Singapore River associated with Singapore's earlier port trade  have been converted to boutique hotels, restaurants and bars.

The stretch of waterfront that separates the colonial district from the business district is known as the Quays, a main entertainment area.
 

Although 77% of the population is Chinese, only a small urban area is designated as Chinatown, a bustling area of markets and shops.

The famous Raffles Hotel and the nearby Victorian Theatre and National Gallery epitomize the Colonial grandeur of Singapore in the late 1800s.
 

In Little India, the sights, sounds and smells are reminiscent of India. A cluster of shops built in 1913 sell saris, incense and sundry Indian groceries.   

Before the Europeans arrived, Arab traders in the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia brought the teachings of Islam. The Arab District remains a Malay enclave, the center of which is the Sultan Mosque.
 

Christianity was introduced to Singapore by Anglicans, among the first settlers to arrive after the founding of the colony.

The Singapore Botanical Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have a Rainforest Garden, a Ginger Garden, an Ethnobotany Garden, and a Children's Garden.
 

At the National Orchid Gardens, 1000 species and 2000 hybrids are on display.

Sentosa Island is a popular tourist attraction with hotels, golf courses, casinos, theme parks, a cable car, shopping venues and a sheltered beach. (photo adapted from Edwin Leung, Wikimedia Commons)
 

While we were there, the Gardens by the Bay were under construction. This urban garden has since become a major attraction. (Danijel Mihajlovic:  Next Crossing, Singapore Photo gallery, Wikimedia Commons)