If the airport is running on schedule, which it almost always is, then upon landing you will have your bags and be en route to your taxi or the train in less than 35 minutes from deplaning. This greeting is emblematic of Singapore, a small city-state at the tip of the Malay Peninsula that is the darling of the business world, a haven for expats from all over, and quickly becoming the gateway to Southeast Asia. Attracting over 12 million visitors last year, the Lion City is one of the top 10 global destinations for travelers.
Over the past twenty years, Singapore has been striving to become the hub for finance and business throughout Asia. For the past decade, they have made tremendous progress and for the past nine years the World Bank has ranked Singapore as the easiest place to do business. In the Economist Intelligence Unit's "where to be born index" in 2013 Singapore ranked number 21 and that number is expected to increase.
Brimming with ethnic diversity, Singapore has intentionally celebrated and retained the uniqueness of the core groups resulting in a place where you can get an introduction to Chinese, Indian, and Malay cultures as well as a world-class representation of their foods. In addition to the three core races making up the citizens, the country plays host to nearly 2 million foreigners who make their lives in this island nation.
As a shining example of democracy in the region, Singapore's Parliament is comprised of 89 seats and led by its Prime Minister, currently Mr. Lee Hsien Loong and its President Mr. Tony Tan. Current Prime Minister, Mr. Lee, is also the eldest son of Singapore's "Founding Father" Mr. Lee Kuan Yew who's political party, The People's Action Party has led the country since being freed of British colonial rule in 1959.
In 1967, the Singapore Parliament passed the NS Amendment requiring every male Singaporean citizen or second generation Permanent Resident to serve between 18 and 24 months in National Service. The majority will go to the Singapore Armed Forces, some to the Singapore Police Force, and some to the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
Singapore has a well-organized and law-abiding population, but even they find it hard to stay on the right side of all the laws. Some of the more interesting laws on the books include a prohibition on chewing gum, walking around your own home naked, pornography (but strangely prostitution is legal), not flushing the toilet, and hugging without permission.
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