What to See in Singapore

When many people in the western world hear of Singapore, it’s often the Singapore Sling cocktail that comes in mind.  Most people don’t really know where the country is and would probably never consider it as a travel destination.  For any trip to southeast Asia, especially on longer excursions to multiple countries, Singapore is worth a stop as it provides a nice change compared to the usual crowded, polluted and chaotic large cities of Hong Kong or Bangkok.  Singapore is an island, country and city all rolled into one. 

Compared to other destinations in southeast Asia, Singapore is ultra clean thanks to its somewhat restrictive government.  There are heavy fines for littering, spitting in the streets and jaywalking.  It’s even illegal to bring in chewing gum into the country.  Drug offences can result in death penalties so travelers definitely should not take the risk by bringing any illegal narcotics into Singapore.  But the result of all the tough laws is a place in the region that is quite low in crime rates.  It is one of the safest destinations for female travelers where equality is encouraged.

With its gleaming high rise buildings, Singapore is one of the most modern cities in Asia due to its economic success.  It also makes great efforts to make itself presentable and beautiful.  On the trip from the international airport to the city center, it can be noticed that the bridges passing over the main highway are covered with orchards and flowers.  This is something that one doesn’t see often anywhere else in the world.  The city center itself is well designed with the Singapore river running through it.  River cruises are available to take in the local sights from the water.  There are numerous outdoor cafes, restaurants and shops along side the river which makes for a pleasant stroll.  Because of the hot temperatures here since Singapore is pretty well on the equator line, the city can feel like a giant sauna.  So extended walks are suggested in the early mornings, late afternoons or evenings when things get a bit more comfortable rather than in the midday hear. 

Singapore with its mixed population including Chinese (77%), Malay (14%) and Indian (7%) is a case study in multiculturalism.   Everyone here lives and works together in harmony.  Only in Singapore can one see a Buddhist temple, a Hindu temple and an Islamic mosque all in close proximity to each other.  The country has four official languages being English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.  One of the great advantages of such a multiracial scene is that there are different ethnic neighborhoods to check out including Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street.  All have their own distinct flavors in little shops, markets and cuisine.  In addition to restaurants, there are outdoor food vendors which serve very low priced meals so one can dine well at any budget level.

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New York Region

 

New York Region has a population of over 870,000 people and covers an area of over 1,750 square kilometres. Sitting between Peel Region in the West and Durham region in the east, York Region consists of the Cities of Markham and Vaughan, with the townships of Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King, Newmarket, Richmond Hill and Whitchurch-Stouffville.

The two main population centers are the Cities of Markham and Vaughan. Both Cities have average populations with Markham being the largest in the Region with over 220,000. Markham is renowned for being the Hi Tech capital of Canada with several high profile corporate head offices making the city their home. The city is modern with excellent healthcare and schooling. Vaughan has one particular claim to fame in being directly north of Toronto, making them “above” the main city. This too is a rapidly expanding city with great facilities and plenty of new communities springing up.

The York Region is host to over 25,000 businesses which provide 400,000 jobs - a number that is growing by approximately 20,000 per year at current rates. With close proximity to the Pearson International airport and a young, well educated workforce, York Region is one of the fastest growing regions of the GTA and is very popular with Immigrants. The York Region Transit system connects most communities within the Region to each other and the Toronto GO Transit system to give a very effective public transport network.
The Region administers the Healthcare and Education following the Provincial guidelines. The York Region District School Board and the York Region Catholic District School Board are responsible for the day to day operations of the Region's schools - all of which can be contacted via these sites.

The Town Of Aurora - With a population of over 43,000, the Town of Aurora is another rapidly expanding town. The population is young and has a high average income (compared to most Canadian towns) of around $110,000 per household. The housing is fairly expensive though with an average price of a single family detached home being over $370,000 two years ago!

There is a large variety of employers in the town and it is also commutable to the Toronto downtown core. This gives a low unemployment level of 4% in 2001 with the majority of employment in management/business, finance and sciences/technology. Manufacturing and retail are the other big areas of employment. To research all the businesses currently operating in the town go to the chamber of commerce site via the towns Economic Development Division page on the Town website.

The town itself is a historical place with plenty of old buildings with lots of character. With close proximity to both the big city of Toronto and the rural areas, Aurora provides excellent recreational opportunities to its residents. This ranges from parks, playgrounds and pedestrian trails to championship golf courses, fine dining and theatre. A full recreational program is offered in the Town which will soon be augmented by a new state of the art Recreation Centre.

The Town Of East Gwillimbury is a semi rural area located only half an hours drive from Toronto. Another historic area with settlement dating back to the 1700's, the population is now over 20,000 and growing.

Again, East Gwillimbury has an excellent array of recreational facilities including arena's, trails, play parks and over 135 acres of parkland. There are ice rinks, outdoor sports pitches, the usual golf courses and for the less active a 16 screen movie theatre.

There are a wide variety of employers in the town providing ample employment and the new GO Transit station gives good access to the city. The population also enjoys an above average household income.

The Town Of Georgina is the most northerly area of the York Region and is made up of several smaller communities. Situated on the South eastern shores of Lake Simcoe, the communities of Georgina have plenty of beaches and open space - especially with the area being known as "Getaway Country".

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Whitsundays - Islands In The Sun

The Whitsunday islands lie in the coral sea midway along the Queensland coast. A group of over seventy islands make up the archipelago of treed islands and soft sandy beaches.
The protected waters around the islands provide a haven for boaties. Be the captain of your own ship as you explore the endless passages with plenty of harbours and secluded sheltered bays to hide away in.  Drop your anchor and spend a night in the crystal clear waters of your own personal paradise.

Airlie Beach is the closest mainland town to the Whitsundays and provides a great starting point for your vacation. Plenty of first class accommodation can be found there as well as shopping and restaurants. You can book all your tours from here which leave from Shute Harbour twenty minutes down the road.
Within easy reach of Airlie Beach is the Great Barrier Reef, a must do activity on your vacation. Explore the vast coral reefs with there stunning colors by diving, snorkelling or even sitting in a semi submersible for a once in a lifetime experience.
For a vacation you will talk about for years Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays will keep you entertained and enthralled for as long as you stay in the region.

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