The city-state of Singapore celebrated its 40th anniversary in December 2005. For its urban appearance, it is often compared to Manhattan. An island full of Asian exoticism is literally drowning in the "scenery" of skyscrapers. There is nothing edible on the island, since the rulers of Singapore, for economic reasons, are more involved in banking, high technology and tourism. Singapore is a developed center of international trade, so shopping lovers come here from different parts of the world. however, the country buys all food, and even bread, in neighboring Malaysia.
Singapore surprises with the thoughtfulness of its urban architecture, the number of skyscrapers and amazing, almost sterile, cleanliness. The entire development of the island is carried out according to the laws of Feng Shui - the eastern art of placing objects in space. Even the corners of the local skyscrapers are rounded. Indeed, an acute angle, according to Feng Shui, is a symbol of misfortune.
In the center of the city is the famous "Fountain of Wealth", "woven" of 37 jets. According to Feng Shui theory, the water falling from above symbolizes wealth and prosperity. The construction of the fountain cost the country 13 million Singapore dollars (the local dollar is 1/2 euro). According to local signs, you need to go around the fountain three times clockwise, and everything will go smoothly.
Singaporeans believe that it is best for a person to relax when communicating with the animal world. The local zoo has more than 2,000 species of animals, and the main bait for tourists is breakfast with an orangutan. More than 8000 individuals, representing 600 species of birds from South Asia, Africa, and South America, "live" in aviaries. 
Several times a day, there are performances with the participation of birds and animals, which are watched with amazement and enthusiasm by tourists. The night safari makes an extraordinary impression. Just imagine - on an area of 40 hectares you can meet more than 1200 individuals, representing about 110 species of animals. A silent wheeled train travels among animals that, despite the presence of people, feel as if they are in their natural habitat. And the "savannah", and "jungle", and "prairie" look very realistic, and artificial lighting helps simulate sunlight. A large number of rare animals live here, but there have been no cases of people suffering from tropical fevers or other infections on the island.
Another great place to stay is Sentosa Island. This is a gigantic amusement park with a length of 4 kilometers, which can be bypassed by rail. On the island is a rotating bowl of Sky Tower - an observation platform that rises 130 meters above sea level. On Sentosa, you can ride a cable car and climb into the head of a giant lion statue, which is installed in the center of the island. A huge sculpture of a lion is an integral part of all the festivities and shows that are held on the island of Sentosa daily. One of the most grandiose performances is the "Fountain Show". A special laser gun worth 4 million Singapore dollars was purchased for its implementation. With the help of a laser, heroes from favorite cartoons about the underwater world appear on water jets, and the eyes of a giant stone lion begin to emit two bright green rays crossing the entire island. Here is the famous giant underwater world aquarium with a huge number of marine life. But perhaps the most bewitching sight is the dolphin lagoon, where pink dolphins are found. This unique view has been preserved here. Dolphins of this breed are born gray and turn pink, becoming adults.
Singapore is an island of extraordinary purity. In this country, you can’t chew gum and spit at all. For such an outrage, you can earn up to 10 years in prison. Smoking is prohibited in public places in Singapore. For smoking in a restaurant, the fine is 500 Singapore dollars, and for a cigarette butt thrown past the urn - already 1000 dollars.
An interesting story is the creation of Singaporean money. The Singapore dollar is a yellow coin of a very unusual shape: an octagon inscribed in a circle. When the country began laying tunnels for the construction of the metro, then again, according to the Feng Shui theory, the country's economic success could have gone through them. To balance the “energy flow”, coins were minted in Singapore using the Chinese sign Bagua for them - the circle seemed to smooth the corners of the octagon. According to legend, this sign brings success in business.
Singaporeans are an extraordinary nation. Clean, sincere, warm-hearted, hardworking and very democratic. The main human right, they believe, is to do everything based on one’s own interests and to live with dignity, striving for the most beautiful in the world.
Tatyana Peschanskaya
