Singapore
‘s strategic position on the strait between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, has for centuries made it a major port for a wide variety of watercraft, from Chinese junks, Indian vessels, Buginese schooners and recreational yachts. Singapore’s deep-water harbor is the largest port in Southeast Asia with six gateways for everything from huge oceanliners to lightweight vessels. The Keppel Wharves, which lie between the islands of Brani and Sentosa, contain several major docks, and Sentosa Island in Singapore Harbor has been developed into a major recreational area, including beaches, a golf course and an amusement park. Other activities on the island are largely water-based, including popular round-the-island canoe trips, water-skiing, scuba diving, windsurfing and sailing. Major attractions include Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Botanical Gardens, the Mandai Orchid Gardens, and the Singapore Zoological Gardens. The city of Singapore, known as the “Lion City,” or “Garden City,” offers tourists a glimpse into the many cultures from all parts of Asia that make up the population on the island. The climate in Singapore has a uniform temperature and is divided into two main seasons – Northeast Monsoon and the Southwest Monsoon, separated by two short inter-monsoon periods. The Northeast Monsoon is from December to early March, and generally, it is relatively drier February through early March. The Southwest Monsoon is from June to September when early morning “Sumatra” squalls are common, along with hazy periods.
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