This is a 10/10 introduction to the sights and attractions of Singapore! I like this video for English learning because it has a lot of place names (proper nouns) which are common features in the listening portions of language tests and also common in day-to-day conversation.

TRANSCRIPT

One of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world, Singapore is a breeze to explore

Nothing is more than an hour away from the central business district

Built at the crossroads of maritime trading routes, for well over a century Singapore was the jewel in Britain’s empire

When the city became a republic in 1965, few thought a country with so few resources and a vastly different ethnic groups could succeed but succeed it has, on an imaginable scale

Singapore today is one of the four Asian economic tigers, a futuristic bridge between East and West

Yet despite blossoming into one of the great global cities, Singapore is a nation that
still cherishes its Asian traditions

Once filled with trading houses and opium dens, Chinatown’s historic shop houses have been
transformed into restaurants, boutique hotels and gift shops

Pick up a good luck charm in the Pagoda street market or find a few moments of quiet reflection at the Buddha Tooth Relic temple

Across town, Little India crams all the colors, scents and Gods of the Indian subcontinent into just a few city blocks

While in the nearby Malay and Muslim quarter of Kampong Glam, the streets are a treasure trove of handicrafts from the Arabian world

One thing unites all Singaporeans; food. It’s the national obsession. For an authentic Singaporean Makan experience, follow the satay smoke to the nearest Hoka (?) Centre

For a more upscale dining, head to the bright lights of Boat and Clarke Quays

Despite Singapore’s high urban density, the island is incredibly fertile. They say if you stick a broom handle into the soil it will flower overnight

Escape the heat and enter a world of colour at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the National Orchid Garden

For a slightly wilder experience, explore the jungle parts of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Singapore’s animal residents are a pretty diverse bunch, too. Famed for its forest setting, the Singapore Zoo is home to over 300 species including the world largest captive colony of orangutans

While the Jurong Bird Park has been bringing human beings and bird life closer together for over 40 years

Singapore enjoys a hot, tropical climate. When the cooling afternoon rains come, indulge in that other Singaporean obsession; shopping. Orchard Road offers miles of retail indulgence

For a change of pace, head to the Bugis Markets, to really rub shoulders with bargain-hunting locals

When it’s time to unwind, climb aboard at cable car to Sentosa; an island playground filled with resorts, theme parks, beaches and bars

At Sentosa’s western tip is Fort Soloso, a vivid reminder of Singapore’s darkest days during World War II

Closer to town is Singapore’s big back yard; East Coast Park. This ten-mile recreational park is lined with bike paths and beaches and is proof that busy Singaporeans do know how to kick back and relax

A little further east is Changi Beach. From here, catch a bumboat to the island of Pulau Ubin, for a taste of Kampong life that has all but vanished on the mainland

Pulau Ubin’s quiet beaches, mangroves and wetlands are a world away from the buzz of modern Singapore

but you don’t need to ride a bumboat to head back in time. Simply step through the doors at Raffles hotel and order a Singapore sling

Many of history’s greatest adventurers and writers have cooled off in Raffles legendary bars

In the 21st century, Singapore is attracting the world most adventurous architectural minds

Marina Bay shines like something from a science fiction blockbuster while Gardens by the Bay shows the endless possibilities of mankind’s flowering imagination

Welcome to Singapore, where the future is only ever a few steps away from the past

A destination that proves that with unity, diversity and daring, even the smallest of places can grow into a giant