The British, who were extending their dominion in India, and whose trade with China in the second half of the 18th century was expanding, saw the need for a port of call in this region to refit, revitalise and protect their merchant fleet, as well as to forestall any advance by the Dutch in the East Indies. As a result, they established trading posts in Penang (1786) and Singapore (1819), and captured Malacca from the Dutch (1795).

In late l818, Lord Hastings, Governor-General of India, gave tacit approval to Sir Stamford Raffles, Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen, to establish a trading station at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. On 29 January 1819, Raffles landed on the island of Singapore after having surveyed other nearby islands. The next day, he concluded a preliminary treaty with Temenggong Abdu'r Rahman to set up a trading post here. On 6 February 1819, a formal treaty was concluded with Sultan Hussein of Johor and the Temenggong, the de jure and defacto rulers of Singapore respectively.

Singapore proved to be a prized settlement. By 1820, it was earning revenue, and three years later, its trade surpassed that of Penang. In 1824, Singapore's status as a British possession was formalised by two new treaties. The first was the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of March 1824, by which the Dutch withdrew all objections to the British occupation of Singapore. The second treaty was made with Sultan Hussein and Temenggong Abdu'r Rahman in August, by which the two owners ceded the island out right to the British in return for increased cash payments and pensions.

Culture and Language
¤ Singapore Culture :Singapore is a cosmopolitan society where people live harmoniously and interaction among different races are commonly seen. The pattern of Singapore stems from the inherent cultural diversity of the island. The immigrants of the past have given the place a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences, all of which have intermingled.

Behind the facade of a modern city, these ethnic races are still evident. The areas for the different races, which were designated to them by Sir Stamford Raffles, still remain although the bulk of Singaporeans do think of themselves as Singaporeans, regardless of race or culture. Each still bears its own unique character.

The old streets of Chinatown can still be seen; the Muslim characteristics are still conspicuous in Arab Street; and Little India along Serangoon Road still has its distinct ambience. Furthermore, there are marks of the British colonial influence in the Neo-Classical buildings all around the city. Each racial group has its own distinctive religion and there are colorful festivals of special significance all year round. Although the festivals are special to certain races, it is nonetheless enjoyed by all.

In Singapore, food is also readily and widely available. There are lots of cuisines to offer. We have, Chinese, Indian, Malay, Indonesian and Western, Italian, Peranakan, Spanish, French, Thai and even Fusion. It is very common to savour other culture's food and some of the food can be very intriguing. Indian food are relatively spicier, whereas Chinese food is less spicier and the Chinese enjoy seafood. Malay cooking uses coconut milk as their main ingredient, that makes their food very tasty.

¤ Religion in Singapore :Most Singaporeans celebrate the major festivals associated with their respective religions. The variety of religions is a direct reflection of the diversity of races living there. The Chinese are predominantly followers of Buddhism, Taoism, Shenism, Christians, Catholics and some considered as 'free-thinkers' (Those who do not belong to any religion). Malays have the Muslims and Indians are Hindus. There is a sizeable number of Muslims and Sikhs in the Indian population.

Religious tolerance is essential in Singapore. In fact, religions often cross racial boundaries and some even merge in unusual ways in this modern country. Younger Singaporeans tend to combine a little of the mysteries of the older generation with the realistic world that they know of today. Religion is still an integral part of the cosmopolitan Singapore. Many of its most interesting buildings are religious, be it old temples, modern churches, or exotic mosques. An understanding of these buildings do play a part in contributing to the appreciation of their art.

¤ Chinese Temples :Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and ancestral worship are combined into a versatile mix in Chinese temples. Followers of the Tao (The Way) adhere to the teachings of the ancient Chinese legend, Lao Tzu. They are concerned with the balance of the Yin and Yang, which are opposite forces of heaven and earth, male and female. Feng Shui, literally translated as wind and water, also originated from Yin and Yang. Ancestral worship is common and the spirits of the dead, like the gods themselves, are appeased with offerings. Most Buddhists are of the Mahayana school although there are some from the Theravada school. In Singapore, the Buddhist faith is linked with Taoism and the practical doctrine of Confucianism.

¤ Islam :The Malays in Singapore are Muslims. A few of the Indians are also Muslims, but even more uncommon are the Chinese Muslims. Islam has a fundamental influence in the lives of those who follow the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad. The religion involves praying five times a day, eating only "halal" food, fasting during Ramadan, and going to Mecca on the Haj (pilgrimage). Halal food means food that has been specially prepared as according to the religion's dietary requirements.

¤ Hinduism :As the Indian immigrants migrate to Singapore, they brought with them Hinduism. The early temples are still the central points of rituals and festivals, which are held throughout the year.

¤ Christianity :One will be able to find Christian churches of all denominations in Singapore. They were actually established with the arrival of various missionaries after the coming of Sir Stamford Raffles. Together with Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism, Christianity is considered one of the four main religions today. There is quite a large number of Christians on the island.

¤ Language in Singapore :The four official languages of Singapore are Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English. English is the most common language used and is the language which unites the different ethnic groups. Children are taught in English at school but also learn their mother tongue to make sure they don't lose contact with their traditions.

Climate
¤ Singapore Weather :Like most of Southeast Asia, Singapore is generally hot and humid. It's warm and humid year round, with the temperature almost never dropping below 20°C (68°F), even at night, and usually climbing to 30°C (86°F) during the day. Recent times, it even reached till 35°C. Humidity is high, mounting over a 75% mark.

November and December is the rainy season. June-August is considered to be the best time to visit, but even then it rains often. Don't let the climate stop you from going, however. Most buildings are air-conditioned (to the point that you may want to take a sweater), and pains have been taken to make everything as comfortable as can be, all things considered. When it does rain, it's generally only for a short period.

For those who enjoy the sun and the beach, Singapore is an ideal place for beach lovers, as you get the hot hot sun throughout the year. So when you're in Singapore, just bring along your cooling apparels and hats.

¤ Singapore Geography :Singapore's strategic location at the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula has ensured its importance, which is greater than its size might seem to justify. Singapore consists of the island of Singapore and some 63 islets within its territorial waters. The main island is about 26 mi/42 km from west to east and 14 mi/23 km from north to south. It's a mostly undulating country with low hills (the highest, 540-ft/166-m Bukit Timah Hill, is to the northwest of the city).

Singapore's Central Business District actually spreads across both the central and southern parts of the island (you'll know when you're there - it boasts striking high-rise structures). You can get a good visual orientation to the city as you cross the Benjamin Sheares Bridge on the East Coast Parkway, which links the airport to the city center. The Singapore cityscape looks magnificent, particularly at night when buildings are brilliantly lit. Offshore, there appears to be another city all lit up because of the many ships anchored there - Singapore is one of the busiest seaports in the world.

Singapore Travel
Singapore’s land transport policy strives to provide easy-flowing traffic for the convenience of people and goods within the constraints of limited land. This is done by minimising travel time through systematic town planning, facilitating easy access by constructing an extensive and comprehensive network of roads, expressways and promoting a viable and efficient transport system which integrates the train system called Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Light Rapid Transit (LRT) and our bus services. A multi-usable card can be used for travel on the MRT, LRT and buses and even used for purchasing of goods and services in some retail and food outlets. To curb congestion, the growth and use of vehicles are also closely controlled and monitored.

Private transportation especially cars are expensive in Singapore and to further curb road congestion, an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system was introduced on 1 April 1998.

¤ Public Transportation :Singapore's main public transports are the buses and trains (MRT) and taxis. Therefore, if your daily mode of transport is public, you might want to situate yourself nearer to the train station, or somewhere which is near your workplace. Rates for buses and MRT are relatively cheap, so traveling around in these wouldn't cost you much.

» Bus :Buses are also a common mode of transportation here in Singapore, all buses now are air-conditioned and some even have mobile televisions installed, making rides a pleasant one. The bus system covers all of Singapore with sometimes more than one bus plying the same route. Bus services are regular and inexpensive and most of the buses are air-conditioned. There are many types of buses, from mini-buses to double-deck to super-long buses that can take 110 passengers. Bus-Plus - a special "customised" public transport mode are small capacity luxurious buses which usually ply from housing estates to the Central Business District (CBD).

» MRT - Mass Rapid Transit :MRT is a electrical subway system in Singapore. MRT routes are expanding in this small country, moving around in Singapore using MRT isn't difficult after all, if you are able to find a suitable place to reside. The MRT now consists of four lines traveling north-south, east-west, northeast and a line running from Jurong to Chua Chu Kang. The government has plans to link it up with Malaysia's proposed high-speed electric train.

The MRT service is fast, modern and air-conditioned. It operates at regular intervals of three to eight minutes from as early as 5.30 am to 12.30 am daily.

» LRT - Light Rapid Transit :The LRT is a feeder service of the MRT that links selected towns like Bukit Panjang New Town, Sengkang New Town to the MRT system. LRT is used mainly by residents within a public residential estate.

» Taxi :Taxis are also widely available and the rates for all the taxi companies ranges, but not far apart. Bookings can be made via the phone, and normally takes about 5-10 minutes' to arrive. Additional charges are capped to taxi bookings but some taxi operators are currently having promotions where bookings after 12 midnights are free. Taxis are plentiful and it is easy to get one except during peak hours and rainy days. Rates are reasonable and standard among all the five taxi companies in Singapore. With the introduction of the world-first satellite tracking and booking system, service has improved too. The satellite system uses interactive media for booking a taxi.

¤ Private Transportation :Cars are the most costly mode of transportation in Singapore. A brand new basic Japanese car can easily cost S$60,000 and above, while luxury cars ranges from S$100,000 onwards. For comparisons, a Honda City is about S$60,000 while a Porsche 911 Turbo costs a staggering S$600,000!