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Gratis Storbritannia og Worldwide Delivery. Gratis UK Exchange Service. Subsidert Worldwide Exchange Service. Skatt og avgifter Alle priser vist på denne nettsiden inkluderer alle skatter og avgifter, noe som betyr at det ikke er noen ekstra kostnader ved levering. Prisen du ser vil være prisen du betaler. Innovasjon I forkant av Hitech-materialer innenfor forsterkede motorsykkel Jeans siden 1998. Gratis benlengder endret til størrelse. Revolusjonerende støtbeskyttelse Valgfritt CE-godkjent D 3 O hofte - og knepansler. Kvalitet Designet i Storbritannia til de høyeste standardene. Forbedret komfort og beskyttelse Ny, mykere, komfortabel Ktech Paraaramid-slitasjebeskyttelse fra midjebånd ned til skinnene. Heritage Vår familie har produsert denim jeans siden 1955. Knæ Armor Justerbar posisjonering av beskyttere. Slitasje Nitten år med bevist beskyttelse. Sømmer Doble sikkerhetssømmer, inkludert K-tech tråder. Frontlommer Laget helt av denim for ekstra styrke. Zip YKK (Livstidsgaranti). Rivets Paintwork vennlig flate nagler. Studs Hood merket studs. Corrected: Commodity Traders: Den trillion dollar klubben Av Joshua Schneyer NY YORK NEW YORK (Reuters) - For den lille klubben av selskaper som handler mat, drivstoff og metaller som holder verden i gang, har det siste tiåret vært oppsiktsvekkende. Drevet av oppgangen til Brasil, Kina, India og andre raskt voksende økonomier, har global commodities boom turboladet overskudd på verdens største handelshus. De danner en eksklusiv gruppe, hvis løst regulerte medlemmer er ofte basert i slike skatteparadis som Sveits. Sammen er de verdt over en trillion dollar i årlig omsetning og kontroll over mer enn halvparten av verdens frie omsatte varer. Topp fem stakk opp 629 milliarder kroner i omsetning i fjor, like under de globale topp fem finansselskapene og mer enn det kombinerte salg av ledende aktører innen teknologi eller telekommunikasjon. Mange samler spekulative stillinger som er verdt milliarder i råvarer, eller hoard-varer i varehus og supertankere i perioder med stram forsyning. Amerikanske og europeiske regulatorer slår ned på store banker og hedgefond som spekulerer i råvarer, men handelsforetakene forblir stort sett uberørt. Mange er unoterte eller familiedrevne, og fordi de handler fysiske varer er i stor grad ugjennomtrengelige for finansielle regulatorer. Utenfor varebransjen er mange av disse rolige gigantene som formidler verdens grunnleggende varer lite kjent. Deres rekkevidde er ekspanderende. Store handelsfirmaer eier nå et økende antall gruvene som produserer mange av våre varer, skipene og rørledninger som bærer dem, og varehusene, siloer og havner der de er lagret. Med sine forbindelser og innsiden av kunnskapen er råvaremarkedene for det meste fri for insiderhandelsrestriksjoner - handelshusene har blitt makelagere, spesielt i hurtigutviklet Asia, Latin-Amerika og Afrika. De er en del av næringskjeden, men hjelper til med å forme det, og de personlige fordelene kan være store. Utbetalingsprosent av overskudd på varehusene kan være dobbelt så mye som Wall Street-bankene betaler, sier George Stein fra New York headhunting firma Commodity Talent. Sveits-baserte Glencore, som har sitt første offentlige tilbud (IPO) i mai, legger handelshus i søkelyset, betaler noen handelsmenn årlige bonuser i flere titalls millioner. På papir, gjorde partiell float gjort sjef Ivan Glasenberg 10 milliarder rikere over natten. Hvor store er de største handelshusene Sett den på denne måten: To av dem, Vitol og Trafigura solgte totalt 8,1 millioner fat olje på dagen i fjor. Det er lik den kombinerte oljeeksporten i Saudi-Arabia og Venezuela. Eller dette: Glencore kontrollerte i 2010 55 prosent av verdensomspennende sinkmarkedet, og 36 prosent av det for kobber. Eller dette: publisitet-sjenert Vitols salg på 195 milliarder i 2010 var to ganger de på Apple Inc. I tillegg til de 200 tankskipene som er på sjøen, eier Vitol lagertanker på fem kontinenter. Amerikanske forskrifter ventes nå å begrense bankens proprietære handel - spekulere med egne penger. De nye reglene gjelder ikke for handelsfirmaer. Handelshus har store mengder proprietær handel. I noen tilfeller utgjør det 60-80 prosent av det de gjør, sa Carl Holland, en tidligere prisrisikobestyrelse hos oljeselskapet Chevron Texaco, som nå driver energikonsulent Trading Solutions LLC i Connecticut. De har mest talent, de dypeste lommene, og den beste risikostyringen. I tillegg til proprietære handelsbegrensninger, stemte USAs regulator den 19. oktober for å sette stillingsgrenser i olje - og metallmarkeder. Det gir banker som handler futures årsak, men siden fysiske spillere vanligvis mottar unntak til grenser - fordi de er kategorisert som bona fide hedgers - bør handelsfirmaer gå uskadd. Handelshuset talent og dype lommer oversetter til utrolig kraft. De fleste varekjøpere i verden er pristakere. De øverste handelsselskapene er prismakere, sier Chris Hinde, redaktør i London-baserte Mining Journal. Det setter dem i en enorm posisjon. Den slags posisjon som har gitt Vitol mulighet til å drive en oljevirksomhet med den amerikanske regjeringen, det beleirede syriske regimet, og Libyaer nylig bemyndigede opprørere samtidig de siste månedene. I april falt firmaet NATO-bomber og en marinblokkade og sendte et oljetanker inn i den batterierte Middelhavet havnen i Tobruk for å trekke ut den første lasten av premium råolje som ble solgt av opprørere ved roret av et ødelagt libysk oljeselskap som bekjempet Muammar Gaddafi. Vitol har også diskret gitt Libyas opprørere med 1 milliard drivstoff, Reuters har lært - leverer de desperat behov for å komme videre på Tripoli. Vitols tidlig løp ga firmaet en kant med landets nye politiske forvaltere. Da det blir igjen pumper, har det libyske oljeselskapet Agoco tildelt Vitol halvparten av sin råproduksjon for å tilbakebetale gjeld. Mens sine dyktige handelsmenn gjorde avtaler i Øst-Libya, holdt Vitol sammen med rivaliserende Trafigura, raffinerte produktforsyninger som strømmer til den beleirede regjeringen i Bashar al-Assad i Syria da hans soldater angrep sivile. Handelshus kunne gjøre dette fordi internasjonale sanksjoner mot Syria ikke forbyr salg av drivstoff til landet, men de måtte ikke kjempe for mye konkurranse for den virksomheten. Til tross for en relativ mangel på regulatorisk tilsyn, tiltrekker en slik rekkevidde granskning. Det har alltid vært noen bekymring for handelsfirmaets innflytelse, sa Craig Pirrong, en finansprofessor og handelsspesialist ved University of Houston, som påpeker at noen firmaer har vært assosiert med påstander om markedsmanipulering. Offentlig og regulatorisk oppmerksomhet stiger vanligvis med priser. En spike i verdensmatvareprisene i 2007 rørte et skryt mot de største kornhandelsfirmaene da oljeprisen økte til en rekord på 147 fat i 2008, undersøkte amerikanske kongressen rollen som oljeselskap, men fant ingen røykpistol. Men i mai saksøkte US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Arcadia og Parnon, begge eid av en norsk shippingmorderier, for angivelig å manipulere amerikanske oljepriser for tre år siden, og samlet millioner av fat som de ikke hadde til hensikt å bruke. Selskapene bestrider kostnadene. Noen overtredelser gjør overskrifter. Et Trafigura-chartertankskip ble fanget i Karibia i 2001 med mistanke om å transportere ulovlige mengder irakisk råolje. I en avtale ble Trafigura enige om å betale en 5 millioner bøter, men ble ikke belastet med smugling og nektet forseelse. I 2006 tok en tankskip det dumpet giftig avfall i Elfenbenskysten, som angivelig gjorde tusenvis syke og drepte opp til 16. Domstolen fant ingen sammenheng mellom avfall og syke mennesker. Trafigura tok rettslige skritt for å holde en rapport om elfenbenskysten hendelsen ut av aviser, men detaljer ble til slutt offentliggjort. Og det er ikke bare europeerne. Eksekutører av Illinois-basert ADM, tidligere Archer Daniels Midland, ble fengslet for en internasjonal prisfastsettingskonspirasjon for lysfôr til fôr fra 1990-tallet. Etter at Minnesota-baserte Cargill har bygget en stor soyabønne-terminal på bredden av Amazon-elven i 2003, ble den målrettet av Greenpeace og utsatt for brasilianske regjeringens pålegg for angivelig oppmuntring til mer oppdrett i skjøre regnskog. Cargill har siden lagt et moratorium på å kjøpe soyabønner fra nylig deforested land. SQUEEZE OG ARB For mange handelsvarehandlere har det mest lønnsomme knepet vært presset, noe som innebærer å kjøre prisene opp eller ned ved å samle en dominerende stilling. I begynnelsen av 2000-tallet falt Brent-råoljestrømmen, som ble brukt som et globalt prissettingsmål, til 400 000 fat per dag fra mer enn 1 million i slutten av 1980-tallet. Noen handlende grep sjansen til å kjøpe det som utgjorde nesten alle tilgjengelige tilbud. Prispremier for umiddelbar forsyning spiked, sapping margins for raffinaderier over hele verden. USAs raffinør Tosco saksøkt Arcadia og Glencore for markedsmanipulering saken ble avgjort utenfor domstol. I metaller kan lager i varehus bli bundet opp i mange år som lånesikkerhet, slik at de samme handelsmenn som dominerer metallmarkedet for å kontrollere en stor del av verdensforsyningen - en åpenbar interessekonflikt som har trukket kritikk fra Storbritannias parlament. Lagrene synes å ha en uendelig kapasitet til å absorbere metall, men en svært liten kapasitet til å frigjøre den, sa Nick Madden fra Novelis, verdens topprullede aluminiumsproducent. Handelshusene så muligheten til å utnytte metallerelager etter 2008-finanskrisen. Av de seks store metallerelagerene er kun en nederlandsk-basert C. Steinweg, uavhengig. Handelshus konkurrerte med bankene for skuddene - Glencore, Trafigura og Noble tok ett lagerhus hver, Goldman og JP Morgan de andre. Og i motsetning til råvareprodusenter, for eksempel amerikanske oljegigant Exxon Mobil, gjør handelsfirmaer ikke bare penger når prisene går opp. De fleste er avhengige av arbitrage - spiller avviket i prisene på forskjellige steder, mellom ulike fremtidige leveringsdatoer eller mellom en varekvalitet på forskjellige steder. Det var hva Koch, Vitol og andre gjorde i 2009 da de parkerte 100 millioner fat olje i seaborne tankere. Takket være en markedstilstand kjent som contango - en periode når kjøpere betaler mer for fremtidig levering enn å motta sine laster omgående - de kunne selge futures og låse fortjeneste på 10 per fat eller mer. Mange av de største aktørene innen handel med olje og metaller sporer sine røtter tilbake til den beryktede handelsmannen Marc Rich, hvis triumf på 1960- og 70-tallet var å skape et spotmarkedet for olje og ødelegge virksomheten vekk fra de store. Belgias fødte Rich kom til Philipp Brothers, senere Phibro, i alderen 20 år, forlot i 1974 med en medstudent fra Phibro-postkammeret, Pincus Pinky Green, for å sette opp Marc Rich og Co AG i Sveits. Rich, nå 76, vil senere ende opp med FBIs mest etterlengtede liste for påstått skatteunddragelse og handel med olje fra Iran etter revolusjonen i 1979. Han ble senere benådet. Hans partnere tok kontroll over firmaet i 1994, omdøpte det Glencore. Flere store handelshus er fortsatt familiedrevne - bedrifter som landbruksgigant Cargill, det øverste private amerikanske selskapet, eller Kansas-baserte Koch Industries, en nær nr. 2. Kochs sjef Charles Koch, en libertarian aktivist med en 22 milliarder personlig formue ifølge Forbes, har sagt at hans firma ville bli offentlig over min døde kropp. Tanken er, hvorfor åpne bøkene til verden sa en tidligere lobbyist for Koch som ba om anonymitet. Koch drar nytte av personvern, og det er utrolig smidig og lønnsomt som det er. Den gamle vakt står nå overfor en utfordring fra en ny ras av asiatiske konkurrenter. Bedrifter som Hong Kong-baserte Noble og Singapores Olam og Hin Leong er ikke nye, men de sprer sine vinger som Chinas innflytelse på råvaremarkedene øker. Kinesiske statsmidler har flommet inn i Noble og private asiatiske handelsmenn. Etter hvert som Chinas clout vokser, er det meget sannsynlig at kinesiske firmaer vil bygge sine egne handelsdynastier. I et trekk lånt fra lekbøker av vestlige rivaler, har staten-løpende oljeselskap PetroChina opprettet en Houston oljebyrå og leide massive oljelagertanker i Karibia. Kina blir mer som en Glencore, sa Hinde. Den kinesiske staten finansierer skumle handelsfirmaer for å gjøre budgivning. Vi hører ikke mye om dem ennå, men med tiden vil vi. Heres en titt på de 16 selskapene, med samlet inntekter på 1,1 billioner, som handler energi, metaller og landbruk. SIKKER NETT TIL VINDEN WHO: Vitol, grunnlagt 1966 i Rotterdam av Henk Vietor og Jacques Detiger HVOR: Genève og Rotterdam HVOR: Olje, gass, kraft, kull, industrielle metaller, sukker OMNATTING: 195 milliarder (2010) Administrerende direktør: Ian Taylor STAFF : 2.700 Av Richard Mably På verdens oljemarkeder er navnet Vitol så kjent som Exxon er på bensinpumpen. I det offentlige, for et selskap som overførte nesten 200 milliarder kroner i fjor, handler 5,5 millioner fat per dag, er profilen nær på underjordisk. Men tidligere i år hevdet verdens rikeste oljebransel denne profilen, og gjorde sitt rykte ingen skade, ved å bli den første til å håndtere Libyas opprørere, lenge før Muammar Gaddafis styrtet. Det bidro til å balansere omdømmets skade ved å bli bøtelagt - sammen med mange andre selskaper - for å betale tillegg for ti år siden til Saddam Husseins irakiske oljedepartement under U. N. olje-for-mat-programmet. Vitols Saddam-sammenheng ser ikke ut til å ha skadet det i Irak. Det ble det første selskapet som leverte bensin til energidepartementet etter krigen i 2003, og nå er både en kjøper av irakisk råvare og leverandør av raffinerte produkter. En rekke lagringstanker på fem kontinenter oljer hjulene i sin store handelsoperasjon, og den har styrket seg inn i gapet som oljelederne etterlater, da de reduserer nedstrøms nærvær for å fokusere på oppstrøms leting og produksjon. Med afrikanske investorer Helios Investment betalte den nylig en milliard dollar for å kjøpe Shells drivstoffmarkedsføring i 14 vest-afrikanske land, og holdt Shell-merkevaren. Det har også dyppet tå i oppstrømsvirksomheten. Sammen med Glencore er det prekvalifisert å by på rettighetsrett i Irak i en lisensrunde neste år som det kunne legge til irakere oppstrøms for sine offshore West Africa-operasjoner. Den tidlige samtalen med de libyske opprørerne kan gi mulighet for fotfeste i Libya-olje - og gassområdet. Vitols mål var å levere de raffinerte produktene og deretter prøve å hente oppstrømsmidler i Libya, sa en vestlig diplomatisk kilde. Glencores-flotasjon har gitt spekulasjoner om et mulig Vitol-startpakke og hva det ville være verdt. Vitol sier det er fornøyd med sin private status og har ingen IPO-planer. Med årlig omsetning er Vitol rikere enn Glencore, men tallene er direkte sammenlignbare. Glencore eier mer vanskelige eiendeler, som vanligvis er langt mer lønnsomme enn omsetningen i handel. Vitols rikdom er spredt over kun 330 aksjeinnehavere, færre enn Glencores 500. Mens Vitol ikke ville kommentere, har industripraat det at ingen av de eldre medarbeidere, inkludert konsernsjef Ian Taylor som ble med i Shell i 1985 eller langtidsspilleren Bob Finch som leder Vitols kullvirksomhet, har mer enn 5 prosent av selskapet. Det ville sette dem godt under den 16 prosent eierne Glencore administrerende direktør Ivan Glasenberg eier i firmaet. Selskapets avtale med Libyas opprørere var en gamble. Sanksjoner rettet mot Gaddafi. Bedriftene som nå kontrolleres av de vestlig støttede opprørerne, kan fortsatt være juridisk knyttet til Libya's nasjonale oljeselskap. Var Vitol i strid Advokater sa at forretninger med opprørerne fortsatt krevde stor omsorg. Men i slutten av april godkjente et amerikanske finansdirektiv Vitol-transaksjonene. De seiler like nær vinden som muligens lovlig, sa en oljeanalytiker som ba om anonymitet. Det er arten av deres virksomhet. (tilleggsrapportering Barbara Lewis) PRIVATE TO PUBLIC HVEM: Glencore, grunnlagt 1974 som Marc Rich og Co. omdøpt Glencore i 1994 hvor: Baar, Sveits HVA: Metaller, mineraler, energi, landbruksprodukter Inntekter: 145 milliarder i 2010 Administrerende direktør: Ivan Glasenberg STAFF: 2.800 mennesker direkte 55.000 på Glencores industrielle eiendeler Av Clara Ferreira Marques kastet Sveits-baserte Glencore sin berømte hemmelighet tidligere i år med en rekordmarkedsdrute som slått ledere i papirmiljøer og drev firmaet i overskriftene. Grunnlagt i 1974 av Marc Rich, som ble falt av amerikanske myndigheter, men senere ble benådet av president Bill Clinton, har Glencore eiendeler som spenner over kloden og en oljeavdeling med flere skip enn Britains Royal Navy. Topptjenestemenn i mange andre store handelsselskaper begynte sin karriere på Glencore. Selskapet håndterer 3 prosent av verdens daglige oljeforbruk. Dens en av de største fysiske leverandørene av metaller, inkludert sink, bly og nikkel, og en ledende korneksportør fra Europa, det tidligere Sovjetunionen og Australia. Selv om det begynte som en ren metaller og oljehandler, har Glencore kjøpt et vell av industrielle eiendeler siden slutten av 1980-tallet, som nå strekker seg fra sør-amerikansk jordbruksland til kobberminer i Zambia. Belgias fødte Rich solgte sin eierandel i 1994. Selskapets største aksjonær er nå tidligere kullhandler og administrerende direktør Ivan Glasenberg, en intens og karismatisk sør-afrikansk som har en eierandel på knapt 16 prosent, verdt rundt 4,5 milliarder pund til dagens priser. Fortsatt ikke helt komfortabel med sin offentlige profil, har Glasenberg beskreftet sitt skifte inn i blikket av publisitet som krysset Rubicon. Han er flankert i toppinvestorbordet av de ungdommelige lederne av Glencores største divisjoner. Sammen har Glencores ansatte, inkludert mange av sine topphandlere, eier like under 80 prosent av selskapet. Glencore har lenge gjort sin formue ved å jobbe på kantene og i områder hvor få andre våget. Denne strategien har ofte lykkes, men i forrige måned fant den seg i sentrum av en tvist i den nyopptatte nasjonen i Sør-Sudan. En rad over oljeeksportkontrollen kan skade sin rolle i å selge nasjonene råolje. Glencores opprinnelige offentlige tilbud var det største globalt i år, og tiltrukket stor publisitet samt argumenter som markerte toppen av råvaresyklusen. Aksjene er notert til 530 pence i mai, men har siden handlet under det, og faller nesten kvart i tre måneder. En stor del av Glencores markedsverdi kommer fra sine noterte stakes i andre selskaper, særlig en 34,5 prosent eierandel i sveitsiske miner Xstrata. Glencore har sagt offentlig at det ville se god verdi i en fusjon med Xstrata, men det har hittil blitt avvist av andre, mindre aksjonærer. WHO: Cargill, grunnlagt 1865 av William Wallace Cargill ved slutten av den amerikanske borgerkrigen hvor: Minneapolis, Minnesota HVA: Korn, oljefrø, salt, gjødsel, metaller, energi OMNATTING: 108 milliarder kroner (2010) Administrerende direktør: Greg Page STAFF: 130,000 Ved Christine Stebbins Tucked away i en privat skog en times kjøretur fra sentrum høye stiger av Midtvesten Minnesota står et murstein herskapshus som rammer de fleste besøkende på samme måte: isolert, solid, kongelig, kraftig. Inne i sjøkontoret, som det er kjent, sitter formannen for Cargill Inc. et av de største private selskapene i verden. I løpet av de siste 145 årene har Cargill vokst fra et enkelt kornlagringslager ved en Iowa-jernbane til en verden av verdensomspennende handel med mange tonnevis av markeder for mat og andre viktige materialer - salt, gjødsel, metaller. Med et globalt salg på 108 milliarder kroner i 2010, hadde Cargill rangert nr. 13 i Fortune 500-listen over offentlig holdt selskaper, like bak Wall Street bankgigant Citigroup. Men Cargill er alt annet enn offentlig. Til tross for en samordnet kampanje de siste årene for å fremstille et vennligere ansikt og personlighet gjennom reklame og flere fremtoninger av sine ledere i offentlige fora, er Cargill bundet sammen av en kulturgruppe av konfidensialitet, aggressivitet - og vinnende. I stor grad flytter de som et lag, sier en pensjonert hvetehandler som gjorde forretninger med Cargill i flere tiår. De har noen superstjerner, men for det meste mange lagspillere - det jeg vil beskrive, er også grunnleggende, grunnleggende handelsmenn. En av deres hemmeligheter: fylling av de tomme lekterne ledet hjem. Du har alltid hatt korn som går nedover elva og går gjennom Golfen og blir eksportert. En av de store tingene Cargill gjorde var å utvikle saltbransjen for å transportere tilbake, eliminere snøen om vinteren, og fylle lekter med sikkerhetskopier, sa hvetehandleren. Det ble gjort for lenge siden. Folk glemmer det. Men det var absolutt en av de største trekkene i virksomheten. Cargill håper å dominere nye markeder også. To eksemplarer: Det gjør biologisk nedbrytbar og resirkulerbar plast ut av mais ved sitt 1 milliard kompleks i Blair, Nebraska, og lager nye kaloriinnholdsmat ingredienser for slike multinasjonale selskaper som Kraft, Nestle og Coca Cola. Til tider har Cargills power fått det i trøbbel. I 1937 tvang Chicago Board of Trade selskapet å selge sine kornkontrakter og landbruksminister Henry Wallace anklaget det for å forsøke å hjørne det amerikanske kornmarkedet. I 1972 ble Cargill angrepet da den i hemmelighet solgte millioner tonn hvete til Russland, ved hjelp av et amerikansk eksportsubsidieringsprogram for å starte opp og øke matinflationen. Det hjelper at firmaet vanligvis har støtte fra Washington. I begynnelsen av 2007, da verdenskornprisene stod opp mot all-time høyder, stod det for et problem i Ukraina. Med henvisning til bekymringer over potensielle mangler og stigende brødpriser, hadde Kiev plassert eksportkvoter på kontanteravlinger og midlertidig stoppet med å gi eksportlicenser for mais, hvete, bygg og andre korn. Cargill, så vel som andre amerikanske handelsvarefirmaer Bunge og ADM, ble enige om å gjennomføre en PR-satsing med sikte på å skape et politisk problem for Ukrainas regjering, ifølge et 2007-diplomatisk kabel av den amerikanske ambassadøren til Ukraina som ble oppnådd av WikiLeaks og gjort tilgjengelig for Reuters av en tredjepart. For å oppnå dette ville det være nødvendig å rekruttere (ukrainske) bønder å ta en aktiv rolle. Dette ville være en utfordring, siden småbøndene var uorganiserte, og de fleste hadde allerede innløst sine avlinger ved å selge til handelsmennene tidlig. Kornhandlere imot vårt tilbud om å låne en diplomatisk hånd, skrev ambassadøren. Asked to comment, Cargill sa at selskapet aktivt støtter frihandel for å øke landbruket i alle land og er i dialog med mange viktige publikum, inkludert regjeringer. I tillegg tror vi ikke eksportforbud er løsningen på enten høye kornpriser eller prisvolatilitet. ADM nektet å kommentere og en talsmann for Bunge kunne ikke nås. WHO: Koch Industries, grunnlagt 1920-tallet av Fred Koch HVOR: Wichita, Kansas HVOR: Oljeoverskridelse: 100 milliarder kroner (2010) Administrerende direktør: Charles Koch PERSONAL: 70 000 Av Joshua Schneyer Fredrik Koch, en amerikansk ingeniør som utviklet en Ny metode for å konvertere olje til bensin, hjalp Koch til å bygge et raffinering nettverk i Sovjetunionen på 1930-tallet. Fred Koch kom tilbake til USA med et visceralt hat mot Joseph Stalin og kommunismen. En voldsom libertarian ideologi og ultramarkedsdyktig teknisk kompetanse lever på Koch Industries spartanske hovedkontor i Wichita, Kansas, sa en tidligere Koch-direktør Reuters. Med rundt 100 milliarder i omsetning er Koch Industries en tungvekt blant amerikanske oljeselskap, og en av de mest hemmelige amerikanske selskapene. Investorer kan glemme å kjøpe aksjer i det vilt lønnsomme, familiedrevne firmaet helst snart. I oljemarkeder er Koch en brutalt effektiv mellommann. En mester i fysiske markeder, eier et 4.000 mils amerikanske rørledningsnettverk og tre av landets mest lønnsomme raffinaderier. Mange små produsenter stole nesten helt på Koch for å kjøpe, selge og sende sine råvarer. Selskapet opererer nå i 60 land. Koch-brødrene, styreformann og administrerende direktør Charles og medeier David Koch, er høyprofilerte supportere av libertarian og anti-regulering amerikansk politikk. Blant deres kampanjer er en til å avslutte U. S. Environmental Protection Agencys mandat for regulering av klimagassutslipp. En profil i New Yorker-magasinet i fjor identifiserte brødrene som bak-scener operatører som bankroller den amerikanske teapart-bevegelsen. Kochene har nektet å finansiere teepartiet, men deres imperier har vidtgående tentakler i den politiske arenaen har gitt et kallenavn: Kochtopus. Bedriftshandlerne, ifølge to industrikilder, gjorde en formue for Koch i 2009-10 under en contango i amerikanske oljemarkeder - en periode da olje for fremtidig levering var høyere priset enn umiddelbar last. Koch beveget seg rolig for å lede en bom i US-offshore-rålager, kjøpe millioner fat til billige spotpriser, parkere dem i supertankere nær Gulf Coast-rørledninger, og selge samtidig til futures-markeder. Med Kochs enkel tilgang til tankskip og rørledninger lå strategien i overskudd på opptil 10 tønner med nesten ingen risiko, sa handelsmenn. Når spot - og futurespriser begynte å konvergere, ville Koch stille stille fra skipene til landets rørledninger. Koch nektet å diskutere sin handel med Reuters. Tidligere Koch-ansatte ble innblandet i feilbetalinger for å sikre kontrakter i seks utenlandske land mellom 2002 og 2008, og selskapets offiserer innrømmet i et brev som ble offentliggjort av en fransk domstol i fjor at disse aktivitetene utgjør strafferettsbrudd, ifølge en rapport i Bloomberg Markets Magazine denne måneden. Rapporten beskriver også salg av et utenlandsk Koch-datterselskap av petrokjemisk utstyr til Iran, som er underlagt amerikanske sanksjoner, og en historie med kriminelle eller sivile straff for oljeutslipp, en dødelig 1996 amerikansk pipelineblast og underrapportering av utslipp av benzen , et karsinogen, fra et raffinaderi i Texas i 1995. På sin hjemmeside sa Koch at det avskediget flere ansatte i et fransk datterselskap ved læring av urettmessige og uautoriserte betalinger. Det sa også at utenlandske enheter hadde avsluttet salget til Iran for mange år siden, og overtrådte ikke amerikansk lov ved å drive virksomhet med Iran tidligere. Koch sa at den 90-årige pipelineblastingen var den eneste hendelsen i sin historie i selskapets historie, og at en rapport til Texas-regulatorer frivillig ble levert av selskapet i 1995 for å reflektere høyere utslipp enn det som opprinnelig var rapportert. Koch til slutt begikk seg skyldig i 2001 til en forbrytelsesavgift knyttet til rapporteringen av benzenutslippene. Bedriftene har mange industrielle interesser, blant annet kjemikalier, skogbruk, etanol, karbonhandel og ranching. Dens store lobbybudsjett i Washington - beregnet til 10,3 millioner i året i en nylig undersøkelse av Senter for offentlig integritet - står i motsetning til Charles Kochs sparsomme oppførsel i firmaet. Konsernsjefen flyr noen ganger til å snakke engasjementer uten entourage. Når han er i Wichita, dør han ofte i Koch-kafeteriaen. Når besøkende utenfor byen besøker, har han tatt dem til middag på sjømatkjeden Red Lobster, sa en tidligere Koch-ansatt. Men gjør ingen feil, hvis du har det bra på Koch, blir du rikelig belønnet med lønnsvilkår, legger personen til. Og hvis du ikke, er du der ute fort. CORN BELT KINGS WHO: ADM, tidligere Archer Daniels Midland, grunnlagt 1902 av John Daniels og George Archer. BASERT: Decatur, Illinois TADER: Korn, oljefrø, kakao OMNATTING: 81 milliarder kroner (2010) Administrerende direktør: Patricia Woertz PERSONAL: 30.000 mais går i ett slutt og fortjeneste kommer ut den andre. Den kommentaren, av Matt Damons karakter Marc Whitacre i 2009-skandalfilmen The Informant, beskrev hvordan det amerikanske landbruksfirmaet Archer Daniels Midland Co. ble kornet til gull. Linjen kan være forenklet, men det er ikke for langt fra sannheten. Decatur, Illinois-basert ADM er en av verdens største handelsvarehandlere. Den kjøper og selger flere avlinger, møller og grinder og behandler dem i mange produkter, både spiselige og ikke, og sender dem til markeder over hele verden. En liten Minnesota linseed crushing virksomhet for mer enn et århundre siden, firmaet er nå er så stort er dets økonomiske ytelse ofte sett på som et barometer for agribusiness som helhet. Den eier prosessanlegg, jernbanevogner, lastebiler, flodbåter og skip. Det har handelskontorer i Kina, palmeplantasjer og kjemiske anlegg i Asia, og siloer i Brasil. Vi har et system som overvåker tilbud og etterspørsel, fordi de ofte jobber selvstendig. For oss i midten har vi muligheten til å håndtere varemerkrisikoen som kan opprettes av tidsforskjellene mellom de som kjøper og selger, sier Steve Mills, ADMs administrerende direktør for ytelse og vekst. Du hører ting gjennom markedet eller ledningstjenestene at det regner et sted eller ikke regner et sted, og vel har folk på bakken å si at jeg ikke vet hva du snakker om. Futures markedet kan ta litt av den informasjonen og løpe med den. En av de tingene som gir oss en fordel er at de som jobbet i de fysiske markedene, så vel (vi kan) kan absorbere all den informasjonen og ringe. Men ADMs omdømme har utløst et svart øye eller to gjennom årene. En lysin prisfastsetting skandal i 1993 tarred sitt navn etter at tre toppledere ble anklaget og fengslet. ADM ble bøtelagt 100 millioner av den amerikanske regjeringen for antitrustbrudd. Hendelsen var gjenstand for The Informant, filmet på stedet i Decatur. ADMs miljørekord har også blitt utspurt av Miljøvernbyrået, noe som resulterer i bøter og tvungen installasjon av forurensningsbekjempende tiltak. PUTIN, JUDO, CONSPIRACIES WHO: Gunvor, grunnlagt i 1997 av svensk oljehandler Torbjorn Tornqvist og russisk finsk forretningsmann Gennady Timchenko HVOR: Olje, kull, LNG, utslipp OMNÅNG: 80 milliarder 2011, bedriftsforestilling (65 milliarder 2010) STYRET: Torbjorn Tornqvist PERSONAL: Færre enn 500 Av Dmitry Zhdannikov Når det kommer til hans kritikere, er Vladimir Putin en heavyweight puncher. Likevel tok Russias mest innflytelsesrike politiker nesten et tiår for å offentlig møte en av de mest alvorlige påstandene mot ham. Kritikere, inkludert den russiske opposisjonen, satte det enkelt - Russias overordnede leder hjalp forretningsmannen Gennady Timchenko til å skape Gunvor oljehandel imperium, som så en spektakulær økning i det siste tiåret da Putin var president og deretter statsminister. Putin brøt endelig sin stillhet i forrige måned: Jeg forsikrer deg, jeg vet at mye blir skrevet om det, uten deltakelse fra min side. Jeg har kjent borger Timchenko lenge siden jobben i St Petersburg, sa Putin en gruppe russiske forfattere. Putin jobbet på borgmesterkontoret tidlig på 1990-tallet da Timchenko og hans venner, Putin sa, spunnet av en oljehandelsenhet i oljeraffinaderiet Kirishi. Jeg har aldri interferert med noe som er relatert til hans forretningsinteresser, jeg håper han ikke vil holde nesen i min virksomhet heller, sa Putin. Timchenko trenger ikke å bli fortalt for å holde en lav profil. Han er en av Russias mest private tycoons. Og hans stillhet bidro til å gi rykte om Gunvors bemerkelsesverdige vekst. I 2011 vil selskapet vende seg over 80 milliarder kroner, opp fra bare 5 milliarder kroner i 2004. I sitt første offentlige intervju med Reuters i 2007 var Gunvors svenske medstifter Tornbjorn Tornqvist opptatt av å understreke at bedriftens suksess ble bygget på sin traderopplevelse og gode kontakter. Men. å involvere Mr Putin og noen av hans ansatte i denne dialogen er spekulasjoner, la han til. Den kommentaren hjalp ikke med å roe rygter og da talte Timchenko også. Etter et avisintervju skrev han et åpent brev i 2008 med overskrift Gunvor, Putin og meg: sannheten om en russisk oljeselskap. Det er sant at jeg sammen med tre andre forretningsmenn sponset en judoklubb hvor Putin ble ærespresident, skrev han. Det er så langt som det går - men gang på gang hopper media med urettferdighet om at dommerklubbsforbindelsen betyr at hr. Putin og jeg er nær, så hopp i konspirasjonsteoriemodus. Tornqvist, en tidligere BP-aktør og ivrig yachtsman, sier at han ikke deler visjonen om Mark Rich, far til moderne handel, at politiske lenker er den mest verdifulle aktiva i handel. If you dont offer competitive terms, no one will work with you, he told a Russian daily this month. For Gunvors rivals, too, favoritism is also an overly simple explanation of the companys success. They point to very competitive pricing offered by Gunvor when it comes to Russian oil tenders. Gunvors oil dominance has waned in the past two years -- it is handling around a fifth of Russian seaborne oil exports, down from a third three years ago. Perhaps to make up for that, it has moved into new sectors such as natural gas, coal and emissions. Tornqvist says Gunvors goal is to become a truly global company. We know how to close the gap (with Vitol and Glencore) and we are actively catching up, Tornqvist said. Like Vitol, he says, Gunvor has no plans to follow Glencore into an IPO. WHO: Trafigura, founded 1993 by former Marc Rich traders Claude Dauphin, Eric de Turkheim and Graham Sharp WHERE: Geneva, Switzerland WHAT: Oil, metals TURNOVER: 79 billion (2010) CHAIRMAN: Claude Dauphin By Dmitry Zhdannikov and Ikuko Kurahone The godfather of oil trading, Marc Rich, taught one of his most talented apprentices Claude Dauphin almost every trick in the business. Like Rich, Dauphin created a leading commodities trading house by applying a knife-edge approach to business. He has made a fortune. But there was one lesson that Rich must have cut short: how to avoid jail. While Rich himself fled to Europe in the 1980s to escape possible imprisonment for tax evasion in the United States, Dauphin spent almost six months behind bars in Ivory Coast in 2006-7 in pre-trial detention involving a dispute over toxic waste dumping. Shortly after the material was dumped, thousands of residents of the city of Abidjan complained of illnesses, including breathing problems, skin irritation and related ailments. The government of Ivory Coast said 16 people died. The material was dumped in open-air sites around Abidjan in August 2006 after being unloaded from a Trafigura-chartered tanker. Trafigura said it entrusted the waste to a state-registered Ivorian company, Tommy, which dumped the material illegally at sites around Abidjan. We went to the Ivory Coast on a mission to help the people of Abidjan, and to find ourselves arrested and in jail as a result has been a terrible ordeal for ourselves and our families, said Dauphin. Trafigura paid a 200 million settlement and the countrys prosecutor declared that there was no evidence of any illegality or misconduct by any Trafigura company or staff. In London, Trafigura reached a pre-trial settlement to put an end to a class-action suit from some 31,000 residents. The judge said there was no evidence the waste had caused anything more than flu-like symptoms and said some media had been irresponsible in their reporting. The scandal has hardly hampered the firms stellar growth. It has grown into the worlds third-largest independent oil trader and second-largest industrial metals trader in less than 20 years, since it was set up in the early 1990s by Dauphin and fellow traders Eric de Turckheim and Graham Sharp. Like rival Vitol, Trafigura has seized the opportunity to get into oil storage as oil majors focus on production. It announced in early October that it may float its storage subsidiary Puma Energy within 18 months. Trafigura was also quick to recognize the potential of storage in the industrial metals markets. It bought UK-based metals warehouser and logistics firm NEMS in March 2010, a month after Goldman Sachs had acquired rival Metro and several months before Glencore and JP Morgan moved into the business. SEVEN-YEAR-OLD IN BIG LEAGUE WHO: Mercuria, founded in 2004 ENERGY TURNOVER: 75 billion 2011 company estimate (2010, 47 billion) CEO: Marco Dunand By Christopher Johnson Mercuria is just seven years old, but is already one of the worlds top five energy traders. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and named after Mercury, the god of merchants, Mercurias business straddles global energy markets. It has coal mines in Kalimantan in Indonesia, oilfields in Argentina and Canada plus oil trading in Singapore, Chicago, Houston and across Europe. Its meteoric growth has been piloted by a couple of the sharpest minds in commodities. Marco Dunand and Daniel Jaeggi, both Swiss, have worked together closely for more than 25 years in a string of commodities companies, buying and selling crude and oil products in many of the hottest oil trading outfits: Cargill, Goldman Sachs J. Aron, Salomon Brothers Phibro and Sempra. In two decades of oil trading, Dunand and Jaeggi built fearsome reputations for seeing profit margins where others could only see potential losses. They were early dealers in a range of financial derivatives that are now commonplace and brought a level of sophistication to their trading books that most of their competitors could often only envy. You were always a little worried, taking the other side of their trades, said one European oil product trader, who declined to be identified. Compared with other independent trading houses, Dunand and Jaeggi are high profile, speaking periodically to the press and giving regular interviews. Their move to run their own empire came in 2004 when they founded Mercuria, raising capital from two Polish businessmen, Grzegorz Jankielewicz and Slawomir Smolokowski. Jankielewicz and Smolokowskis company, JS Group, traded Russian crude oil and was a leading supplier of oil to PKN Orlen, Polands top oil refiner. In 2006, JS was raided by the Polish authorities in connection with an investigation into oil trading in Poland. JS denied any wrong-doing and suggested the investigation was politically motivated. No suggestions of wrong-doing were leveled against Dunand or Jaeggi. Dunand, chairman and chief executive, and Jaeggi, head of global trading, used Mercuria to expand their trading base from crude and oil products. The business has grown to 890 employees in 28 countries with a turnover at 75 billion, trading almost 120 million tonnes of oil, coal and gas. Dunand says he and Jaeggi have no intention of selling the company they have built so swiftly, or launching an initial public share offering (IPO). But they have seen interest from potential investors, and have considered a tie-up with a sovereign wealth fund. We are not thinking about an IPO -- but that doesnt mean we dont have an open mind, Dunand told Reuters in June. We are keen to consolidate our culture before we could think about changing it. Having said that, we have also been approached by potential investors -- sovereign funds and others -- who wish to make a private-equity type of investment in our company. Dunand and Jaeggi are Mercurias largest shareholders but an employee share ownership scheme holds around 40 percent of the company. We dont see the need to raise money from the market, Dunand said. A BRIT IN HONG KONG WHO: Noble Group, founded 1986 by UK scrap metal man Richard Elman WHERE: Hong Kong WHAT: Sugar, coal, oil TURNOVER: 57 billion (2010) EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN: Richard Elman By Luke R. Pachymuthu Founded 25 years ago by Briton Richard Elman, the Hong Kong-based, Singapore-listed Noble Group buys and sells everything from Brazilian sugar to Australian coal. Nobles shareholders include Chinas sovereign wealth fund, China Investment Corp. which bought an 850 million stake in 2009, and Korean Investment Corp. which has a minority stake. Elman, the companys chairman, holds around 30 percent of the company. After dropping out of school he began his career at 15 in a metals scrap yard in the UK. He spent time trading metal in Hong Kong before moving to New York and a stint at commodities trading giant Phibro. Back in Hong Kong, he traded commodities with China in the 1970s and was the first to sell Chinas Daqing crude oil to the United States. Noble has grown by acquiring troubled competitors. In 2001, for instance, it bought storied Swiss company Andre Cie, once one of the worlds top five grains traders. Finding itself with a big client base, but short of the physical supplies it needed to meet demand, Noble built its own processing facilities. Its a model it has replicated across various commodities. Noble is now seeking to spin off its agriculture business with a listing on the Singapore Exchange. The grains business accounts for a third of its earnings and could have a value of more than 5 billion. Wall Street heavyweight JP Morgan is advising Noble on the planned listing. The companys early forays into trading gas and oil left it with a black eye. Noble quit its global liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) operations in 2010, a year it was censured in Nigeria for discrepancies in gasoline shipping lists. Nigerias Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) said that in one transaction the amount of fuel submitted for subsidies did not match the actual quantity delivered. The company did not comment publicly on this incident. And it sounded a rare retreat this week when sources close to the company said it had shut its European coal trading operations to focus on Asia and trading. The China connection continues. In April Noble appointed Li Rongrong, former chairman of the state-owned assets supervision and administration commission of China, as a non-executive director. PRIVATE FIRM, PUBLIC SPAT WHO: Louis Dreyfus, founded 1851 by Leopold Louis-Dreyfus WHERE: Paris WHAT: Cotton, rice, grains, orange juice TURNOVER: 46 billion (2010) CEO: Serge Schoen STAFF: 34,000 In the two years since Margarita Louis-Dreyfus inherited control of the worlds top cotton and rice trader following the death of her husband Robert, the woman the French press call the tsarina has been at the center of one of the most intriguing struggles in corporate Europe. Analysts and commentators focused on differences between the forty-something, Russian-born Margarita Louis-Dreyfus and chief executive Jacques Veyrat over how to develop the 160-year-old family firm and whether to list its shares or seek a merger deal. The winner The tsarina, or MLD, as the press sometimes also calls her. In April, she and Veyrat told business daily Les Echos that the CEO would be stepping down to make way for Serge Schoen, head of Louis Dreyfus Commodities. The very public power struggle was all the more remarkable because the company normally keeps everything, from its precise earnings to the exact age of its main shareholder and chairwoman, a secret. Louis Dreyfus is a well-honed global operator, marketing agricultural commodities from wheat to orange juice. But most analysts think it needs fresh capital to grow, or to buy out minority family shareholders who will have the option to sell their stakes in 2012. Unsuccessful talks have taken place with Singaporean commodities group Olam International Ltd, while bankers say they have been sounded out about a stock market listing. Margarita Louis-Dreyfus told Les Echos that a listing, merger or the entry of a private investor were all options. But theres little room for maneuver: the majority stake she inherited is locked up in a trust her husband set up to last for 99 years. There is no ideal solution. What matters is that the group and its name survive, she said. In the wake of Glencores listing this year, there is interest in another big trading house going public investors want exposure to long-term demand for commodities. I would love for them to be listed on the stock market, said Gertjan van der Geer, who manages an agriculture fund for Swiss bank Pictet. Cargill and Louis Dreyfus are the large missing players in the commodity trading space. It doesnt look likely anytime soon. There is no rush, the company has been private for 150 years so there is no specific timing for changing the shareholding structure, one source close to the company said. A management shake-up this year at Frances most popular football club, Olympique Marseille, offers more proof of Margarita Louis-Dreyfus determination to defend her husbands legacy and impose hard financial choices. While pursuing Robert Louis-Dreyfus passion for the club, which drained millions from his fortune, she has placed strict conditions on new investment. Olympique Marseille is at a crossroads, she told supporters in a statement to announce the changes at the club. Its a message that could apply just as well to the Louis Dreyfus group. (Additional reporting by Jean-Francois Rosnoblet) CASHING IN ON CHINESE PIGS WHO: Bunge, founded 1818 by Johann Peter Gottlieb Bunge in Amsterdam WHERE: White Plains, New York. TRADES: Grains, oilseeds, sugar TURNOVER: 46 billion (2010) CHAIRMAN and CEO: Alberto Weissner By Hugh Bronstein Two decades ago, Chinese farmers fed their pigs just about anything they could lay their hands on. But since White Plains, New York-based Bunge set up in China in 1998, many have switched to soy pellets. Result: Chinas pigs are heavier than ever and Bunge has become a key supplier to one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The company, which went public 10 years ago, realized early that rising incomes in Asia could be fed by Brazil and Argentina, two of the last remaining countries with new farmland left for crop cultivation. It helps that the companys CEO Alberto Weisser is a Brazilian, and that Bunge has more than 100 years experience in South America. Asian demand for South American soybeans has exploded over the last five years and Bunge is arguably the best positioned company in the world as it relates to servicing and profiting from the Asian demand trend, said Jeff Farmer, an analyst who follows the company for Jefferies Company in Boston. Founded in 1818 in Amsterdam, the company is the worlds No.1 oilseed processor. Along the way it has moved headquarters to Belgium, Argentina, Brazil and then the United States. They go where the business is, said an industry insider who asked not to be named. No sentimental attachments to any country or location. What matters is results, and you can see that in the way they trade. It doesnt always work. In May, Argentina kicked Bunge off the countrys exporters register after the government alleged it had evaded 300 million in taxes, an accusation the company denies. Argentinas tax office is investigating dozens of other agricultural exporters as well. Despite not being on the registry, Bunge continues to export grains and agricultural products as usual, but it cannot cash in on certain tax benefits and it faces hurdles transporting goods within Argentina, which analysts say could hurt the companys bottom line. ASIAS NEW SUGAR KING WHO: Wilmar International, founded 1991 WHAT: Palm oil, grains, sugar TURNOVER: 30.4 billion (2010) CHAIRMAN AND CEO: Kuok Khoon Hong STAFF: 88,000 plus By Harry Suhartono and Naveen Thakral Around two decades ago, Kuok Khoon Hong decided to leave the business empire of his billionaire uncle Robert Kuok to set up an edible oil business with a big bet: China. He competed fiercely with Indonesias Salim group, the business group commanded by his uncle, and won, to dominate the edible oil market in the worlds most populous nation. Wilmar is now the biggest soy player in China with a 20 percent market share, measured in processing capacity. It is also the largest producer of consumer pack edible oils with about 45 percent market share. Wilmars strategy is to have its fingers in every part of the supply chain, from point of origin to destination. In the palm oil business, for example, it owns plantations, mills, refiners, shippers, bottlers and the distribution network, in both the top producers, Indonesia and Malaysia, and the top consumers, India and China. That gives its traders the advantage of timely market intelligence. We have a daily sales report from every corner where we operate and if we see sales slowing over a few weeks, we get to know the changing trend before others, one employee said, on condition of anonymity. In 2006 Kuok, now 62, orchestrated a 4.3 billion merger which consolidated his uncles palm oil assets into Wilmar, making it the worlds largest listed palm oil firm. Last year he surprised the market when he trumped Chinas Bright Food in a 1.5 billion deal to buy Australias Sucrogen. That complements his plan to set up a 200,000 hectares plantation in Indonesias Papua island, which could make him the new Asian sugar king, a title once hold by his uncle. With nearly 10 billion worth of cash and bank deposits on Wilmars balance sheet, Kuok is unlikely to stop his expansion drive there. Investors say he might already have his sights set on Brazil, to strengthen his position in the global sugar market. THE CUSHING CUSHION WHO: Arcadia, founded 1988 by Japans Mitsui Co TURNOVER: 29 billion, Reuters estimate OWNER: John Fredriksen By Caroline Copley and Joshua Schneyer Arcadia Petroleum, the London-based oil trading firm owned by billionaire oil tanker magnate John Fredriksen, was thrust into the spotlight in May when U. S. commodities regulators sued it for allegedly manipulating U. S. oil markets in 2008. In one of its biggest-ever crackdowns, the U. S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission alleges Arcadia traders amassed large physical crude positions in Cushing, Oklahoma, to create the appearance of tight supply at the delivery hub for U. S. oil futures. Fredriksens traders then hurriedly sold the physical crude at a loss, the CFTC lawsuit claims, ending expectations for tight supplies. Overall Arcadia profited by 50 million in derivatives markets as oil futures spreads collapsed, according to the suit. In a May interview with Reuters, Fredriksen refuted the charges and shot back that maybe they (U. S. regulators) are trying to get some revenge for the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Several of Fredriksens traders worked for BP in the early 2000s, where aggressive oil trading at Cushing turned huge profits, and also led to BP paying fines for alleged trading violations. It is a normal situation for oil traders. They are buying and selling oil. Thats what it is all about, Fredriksen said of the recent CFTC charges. Risk has often paid off handsomely for Fredriksen. With a personal fortune estimated by Forbes at 10.7 billion, the 67-year-old was Norways richest man until he abandoned his citizenship in 2006 to become a national of Cyprus, where tax rates are lower. Beyond Arcadia, Fredriksens stable of commodities-related firms includes MarineHarvest, a global salmon-farming conglomerate billed as the worlds largest seafood company. He also owns oil tanker operator Frontline, U. S. oil trader Parnon -- also named in the CFTC lawsuit -- energy driller Seadrill and gas distributor Golar LNG. Fredriksen became a leading oil shipping magnate well before buying Arcadia, in 2006. His 28-year-old twins Kathrine and Cecilie play a growing role in his sprawling business empire, according to press reports. Arcadia doesnt make its revenues public. With 800,000 barrels a day to market, a volume similar to OPEC country Qatar, Arcadias annual gross revenue from oil could be around 29 billion based on current prices. The company lists its trade in paper derivatives as larger still, or about 10 million barrels a day. Arcadia has faced controversy before. Founded in 1988 by Japanese trading giant Mitsui Inc. it was sued in 2000 by independent US refiner Tosco for allegedly conspiring to jack up prices of European benchmark Brent oil by cornering part of the North Sea physical crude market. The suit was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. Arcadia often trades large volumes of oil from Nigeria and Yemen, where it boasts close relationships with state oil firms. In a 2009 State Department cable from Yemen, obtained by WikiLeaks and provided by a third party to Reuters, sources told U. S. diplomats that the company used intimidation tactics including kidnapping threats to buy Yemeni crude at below market prices. Arcadias chief executive in Singapore, Stephen Gibbons, denied the contents of the cable and told Reuters the kidnapping allegations were ludicrous. 60 YEARS OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT WHO: Mabanaft WHERE: Rotterdam TURNOVER: 15 billion, Reuters estimate CEO: Jan-Willem van der Velden By Jessica Donati Mabanafts profile is low even by the secretive standards of other independent oil traders. The company has spent six decades trying to keep it that way. Its website reveals little more than that it is the trading arm of privately owned oil company Marquard Bahls. A rare news release announced that Jan-Willem van der Velden, who started as an international trader at the company in 1997, would take over as CEO from January this year. Van der Velden took the reins of a company on a roll. Mabanaft sold 20 million tonnes of oil in 2010, up from 18 million tonnes in 2009. Pre-tax income for its parent company Marquard Bahls was 274 million, up from 252 million the previous year. Thats still a lot less than the billions the biggest independent oil traders make and a long way off the revenue of Marquard Bahls oil tanking division, the second largest in the world after Vopak. Which may be why Mabanaft wants to expand beyond its northern European heartland. From the 43rd floor of a Rotterdam skyscraper, staff members can look out over a network of rivers toward some of Europes biggest refineries. But Mabanaft has also gradually opened offices in Singapore and the United States and, in the summer of 2010, a representative office in India. As usual, details are scant. Mabanaft is aiming to further diversify its product portfolio by pursuing a controlled geographic growth strategy, is all communications manager Maren Mertens is able to offer on the subject. Geography isnt the sole focus of expansion -- it has moved into naphtha, LPG and wood pellets. CASHEWS TO FORBES WHO: Olam, founded 1989 by the Kewalram Chanrai Group, began trading cashews from Nigeria WHAT: Coffee, cocoa, rice, grains, sugar TURNOVER: 11 billion (200910) CEO: Sunny Verghese STAFF: 13,000 plus By Harry Suhartono A wealthier world needs more food. Thats the argument of Sunny Verghese, chief executive of Singapore-based trading firm Olam International. We havent seen this pace of population growth in our living memory, Verghese told a conference in Singapore late last year. We have to increase food production by 50 percent by 2030, and 80 percent by 2050, with our hands tied behind our back, he said, referring to constraints to boosting output such as the lack of land, water and infrastructure. Verghese still plans to cash in. In two decades the Bangalore-born trader has built Olam into a 4.5 billion company involved in around 20 different commodities including coffee, cocoa, rice, grains and sugar, from a startup that sold Nigerian cashew nuts. These days, Olam has upstream operations in everything from a coffee plantation in Laos to a rice business in Thailand, from almonds in Australia to cashews in Africa. The firm is now the worlds largest shipper of Robusta coffee and counts Nestle, Hershey, General Mills and Sara Lee as clients. It is also the worlds second largest trader of rice after Louis Dreyfus. The French trading giant approached Olam with a merger proposal in 2010, but talks failed earlier this year. Verghese, who Forbes says is worth 190 million, believes he can go it alone and aims to quadruple the companys value by 2015. It helps that Olam has backing in high places: Singapore state investor Temasek holds a 14 percent stake in the trading firm. Some analysts point to risk factors: Olams exposure to natural disasters, such as recent flooding in Australia, and social or political unrest such as that in Ivory Coast. IN SEARCH OF A REFINERY WHO: Hin Leong, founded 1963 supplying diesel to fishing boats WHAT: Oil and tankers TURNOVER: 8 billion (2010) CHAIRMAN AND CEO: Lim Oon Kuin STAFF: About 100 By Yaw Yan Chong Lim Oon Kuin arrived in Singapore from China over 50 years ago, and started to deliver diesel by bicycle to boatmen. Now in his mid-60s, the reclusive trader is busy with his latest empire-building effort: getting government approval to build the city-states fourth oil refinery. Known as OK Lim, the founder of Singapores Hin Leong Group wants to build the company from oil trader into an integrated company. Hes well on the way. A fleet of tankers and Asias largest commercial storage facility are among the companys assets. The 5-billion refinery would pit Hin Leong against refineries already operated in Singapore by oil majors Shell, ExxonMobil and a joint venture between Chevron and Chinas PetroChina. Hin Leong made its name in the hard-fought Asia fuel oil and distillates market over 20 years ago, and is arguably the largest independent distillates trader in Asia, regularly mounting successful trading plays in the Singapore market. It also has a substantial presence in Asias fuel oil market, the worlds largest. Lims Chinese connections have played a big part in the companys success. It focused initially on shipping fuel oil cargoes to the mainland, a relationship that has since deepened. Hin Leong is joining hands with several Chinese firms to build the proposed Singapore refinery, even as it seeks to build a larger oil storage facility in the South Chinese province of Fujian. Lims biggest bet may have been an unprecedented 1997 spree in which Hin Leong bought 30 million barrels of jet fuel and diesel in the key Singapore market -- worth nearly US800 million over a three-month span. The jury is still out among rival traders on whether he made or lost a fortune that summer, a debate Lim is unlikely to settle publicly. In his only media interview, with Reuters in 2006, Lim credited his success to investment in his tanker armada -- the secret weapon that helped him set up stealthy and profitable deals in the 1990s -- and his philosophy of perseverance. Sometimes you get it wrong, but you have to accept it, he said. (Jessica Donati, Christopher Johnson, Ikuko Kurahone, Richard Mably, Dmitry Zhdannikov reported from London, Gus Trompiz from Paris, Caroline Copley from Zurich, Emma Farge from Benghazi, Karl Plume and Christine Stebbins from Chicago, Hugh Bronstein from Buenos Aires, Joshua Schneyer from New York, Luke Pachymuthu, Harry Suhartono and Naveen Thukral from Singapore Editing by Richard Mably, Simon Robinson and Sara Ledwith) (This story October 21 story was corrrected in the 17th paragraph to reflect that Trafigura paid a U. S. Customs fine on an Iraqi crude cargo in 2001, but denied wrongdoing clarifies language on Trafiguras 2009 legal action to prevent a report on toxic waste dumping in Ivory Coast from being published)Singapore () () is a city-state in Southeast Asia. Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, since independence it has become one of the worlds most prosperous countries and boasts the worlds busiest port. Combining the skyscrapers and subways of a modern, affluent city with a medley of Chinese, Malay and Indian influences and a tropical climate, with tasty food, good shopping and a vibrant night-life scene, this Garden City makes a great stopover or springboard into the region. Singapore is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world for a lot of reasons. One of which is the less stringent entry requirements. Districts Edit Singapore is a small island country. With a population size of over 5.5 million people it is a very crowded city, second only to Monaco as the worlds most densely populated country. However, unlike many other densely populated countries, Singapore - with more than 50 of its area covered by greenery and with over 50 major parks and 4 nature reserves - is an enchanting garden city. Large self-contained residential towns have mushroomed all over the island, around the clean and modern city centre. The centre of the city is located in the south 8212 consisting roughly of the Orchard Road shopping area, the Riverside, the new Marina Bay area and also the skyscraper-filled Shenton way financial district known, in acronym-loving Singapore, as the CBD (Central Business District). Riverside (Civic District) 8212 Singapores colonial core, with museums, statues and theatres, not to mention restaurants, bars and clubs. Orchard Road 8212 Miles and miles of shopping malls. Marina Bay 8212 The newest feature of Singapore, dominated by the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort (hotel, casino, shopping mall, convention centre and museum) and the Marina Barrage. The newly opened Gardens by the Bay situated next to Marina Bay Sands integrated resort is a large public garden which house two huge cooled conservatories the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest as well as a cluster of gigantic Super Trees. Bugis and Kampong Glam 8212 Bugis and Kampong Glam are Singapores old Malay district, now largely taken over by shopping Chinatown 8212 The area originally designated for Chinese settlement by Raffles, now a Chinese heritage area popular with tourists. Singapores largest (arguably only) gay enclave is here too. Little India 8212 A piece of India to the north of the city core. Balestier, Newton, Novena and Toa Payoh 8212 Budget accommodations and Burmese temples within striking distance of the centre. North The northern part of the island, also known as Woodlands, forms Singapores residential and industrial hinterlands. Singapore Zoo is located here. West The western part of the island form Singapores residential areas with Star Vista. Jurong Home to Nanyang Technological University and the last housing frontier before the industrial area. Attractions include Singapore Bird Park, Singapore Science Centre and Singapore Discovery Centre. North East Home to many residential towns with a heart of Serangoon NEX, Hougang Mall and Compass Point Tampines A residential town located in the heartlands, in the far east of the island close to Changi Airport. East Coast 8212 The largely residential eastern part of the island contains Changi Airport, miles and miles of beach and many famous eateries. Also covers Geylang Serai, the true home of Singapores Malays. Sentosa 8212 A separate island once a military fort developed into a resort, Sentosa is the closest that Singapore gets to Disneyland, now with a dash of gambling and Universal Studios thrown in. North West the aspiring north west that goes into the undeveloped jungles, and the military training areas (Ama Keng, Lim Chu Kang, cemeteries, Kranji Camp and SAFTI). Addresses Edit In the centre, Singapores addressing system is fairly similar to Western countries (such as 17 Orchard Road), but the new housing developments on the outskirts may appear more intimidating: a typical address might be Blk 505 Jurong West St 51 01-186. Here, Blk 505 is the housing block number (Blk Block), Jurong West is the area, while St 51 is the street namenumber, and 01-186 means floor 1 unit number 186, stall or shop 186. The first digit of both housing block and street number is the neighbourhoods number (in this case 5), making it easier to narrow down the right location. There are also 6-digit postal codes, which, considering the small size of the island, generally correspond to exactly one building. For example, Blk 9 Bedok South Ave 2 is Singapore 460009. Finally, you will also encounter Malay terms in addresses: the most common are Jalan ( Jln ) for Road, Lorong ( Lor ) for Lane, Bukit ( Bt ) for Hill and Kampong ( Kg ) for Village. Understand Edit Singapore is a microcosm of Asia, populated by Malays, Chinese, Indians, and a large group of workers and expatriates from all across the globe. Singapore has a partly deserved reputation for sterile predictability that has earned it descriptions like William Gibsons Disneyland with the death penalty or the worlds only shopping mall with a seat in the United Nations. Nevertheless, the Switzerland of Asia is for many a welcome respite from the poverty, dirt, chaos, and crime of much of the Southeast Asian mainland, and if you scratch below the squeaky clean surface and get away from the tourist trail youll soon find more than meets the eye. Singaporean food is legendary, with bustling hawker centres and 24-hour coffee shops offering cheap food from all parts of Asia, and shoppers can bust their baggage allowances in shopping centres like Orchard Road and Suntec City. In recent years some societal restrictions have also loosened up, and now you can bungee jump and dance on bar tops all night long, although alcohol is still very pricey and chewing gum can only be bought from a pharmacy for medical use. Two casino complexes 8212 or Integrated Resorts, to use the Singaporean euphemism 8212 opened in 2010 in Sentosa and Marina Bay as part of Singapores new Fun and Entertainment drive, the aim being to double the number of tourists visiting and increase the length of time they stay within the country. Watch out for more loosening up in the future. History Edit The first records of Singapore date back to the second and third centuries where a vague reference to its location was found in Greek and Chinese texts, under the names of Sabana and Pu Luo Chung respectively. According to legend, Srivijayan prince Sang Nila Utama landed on the island and, catching sight of a strange creature that he thought was a lion, decided to found a new city he called Singapura . Sanskrit for Lion City . c. 1299. Alas, there have never been any lions anywhere near Singapore (until the Singapore Zoo opened) or elsewhere on Malaya in historical times, so the mysterious beast was more probably a tiger or wild boar. More historical records indicate that the island was settled at least two centuries earlier and was known as Temasek . Javanese for Sea Town, and an important port for the Sumatran Srivijaya kingdom. However, Srivijaya fell around 1400 and Temasek, battered by the feuding kingdoms of Siam and the Javanese Majapahit, fell into obscurity. As Singapura, it then briefly regained importance as a trading centre for the Melaka Sultanate and later, the Johor Sultanate. However, Portuguese raiders then destroyed the settlement and Singapura faded into obscurity once more. The story of Singapore as we know it today began in 1819, when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles made a deal with a claimant to the throne of the Sultanate of Johor. the British would support his claim in exchange for the right to set up a trading post on the island. Though the Dutch initially protested, the signing of the Anglo-Dutch treaty in 1824, which separated the Malay world into British and Dutch spheres of influence (resulting in the current Malaysia - Indonesia and Singapore-Indonesia borders), ended the conflict. The Dutch renounced their claim to Singapore and ceded their colony in Malacca to the British, in exchange for the British ceding their colonies on Sumatra to the Dutch. Yawning proboscis monkey, Singapore Zoo Well-placed at the entrance to the Straits of Malacca, straddling the trade routes between China, India, Europe, and Australia, Raffles master stroke was to declare Singapore a free port . with no duties charged on trade. As traders flocked to escape onerous Dutch taxes, the trading post soon grew into one of Asias busiest, drawing people from far and wide. Along with Penang and Malacca. Singapore became one of the Straits Settlements and a jewel in the British colonial crown. Its economic fortunes received a further boost when palm oil and rubber from neighbouring Malaya were processed and shipped out via Singapore. In 1867, Singapore was formally split off from British India and made into a directly ruled Crown Colony. When World War II broke out, Fortress Singapore was seen as a formidable British base, with massive naval fortifications guarding against assault by sea. However, not only did the fortress lack a fleet, as all ships were tied up defending Britain from the Germans, but the Japanese wisely chose to cross Malaya by bicycle instead Despite hastily turning the guns around, this was something the sea-focused British commanders had not considered, and on 15 Feb 1942, with supplies critically low after less than a week of fighting, Singapore was forced to surrender. The British prisoners of war were packed off to Changi Prison. Tens of thousands perished in the subsequent brutal Japanese occupation. The return of the British in 1945 to one of their most favoured colonies was triumphalist. Granted self-rule in 1955, Singapore briefly joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 when the British left, but was expelled because the Chinese-majority city was seen as a threat to Malay dominance. The island became independent on 9 August 1965, thus becoming the only country to gain independence against its own will in the history of the modern world The subsequent forty years rule by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew saw Singapores economy boom, with the country rapidly becoming one of the wealthiest and most developed in Asia despite its lack of natural resources, earning it a place as one of the four East Asian Tigers . Now led by Lees son Lee Hsien Loong . the ruling Peoples Action Party (PAP) continues to dominate the political scene with 81 out of 87 seats in Parliament. Societal restrictions have been loosened up in recent years though, with the government trying to shake off its staid image, and it remains to be seen how the delicate balancing act between political control and social freedom will play out. People Edit Hawkers at night on Smith Street, Chinatown Singapore prides itself on being a multi-racial country, and has a diverse culture despite its small size. The largest group are the Chinese, who form about 75 of the population. One quarter of Singapore residents are foreigners. Amongst the Chinese, Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese speakers are the largest subgroups, with Mandarin acting as the lingua franca of the community. Other notable dialect groups among the Chinese include the Hakkas, Hainanese and Foochows. Malays, who are comprised of descendants of Singapores original inhabitants as well as migrants from present day Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, form about 14 of the population. Indians form about 9 of the population. Among the Indians, Tamils form the largest group by far, though there are also a significant numbers of speakers of other Indian languages such as Hindi, Malayalam and Punjabi. The remainder are a mix of many other cultures, most notably the Eurasians who are of mixed European and Asian descent, and also a handful of Burmese, Japanese, Thais and many others. Slightly over one-third of Singapores residents are not citizens. There are a large number of Filipinos, many of them working as domestic helpers. Throngs of Filipinas may be seen in public spaces - especially on Sundays when they take their only day off. Singapore is also religiously diverse, with no religious group forming a majority. Religious freedom is guaranteed by the constitution of Singapore. Buddhism is the largest religion with about 33 of the population declaring themselves Buddhist. Other religions which exist in significant numbers include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Taoism. In addition to the big five, there are also much smaller numbers of Sikhs, Zoroastrians, Jews, Bahais and Jains. Some 17 of Singaporeans profess to have no religious affiliation. Climate Edit Between May and October, forest fires in neighbouring Sumatra cause dense haze that regularly reaches unhealthy levels - although it is unpredictable and may come and go rapidly. Check the National Environment Agencys site for current data. In general, Singapore is best avoided from June to October if you have chronic heart or lung conditions or you simply dont want to suffer unhealthy pollution. As Singapore is located a mere 1.5 degrees north of the Equator, its weather is usually sunny with no distinct seasons. Rain falls almost daily throughout the year, usually in sudden, heavy showers that rarely last longer than an hour. However, most rainfall occurs during the north east monsoon (November to January), occasionally featuring lengthy spells of continuous rain. Spectacular thunderstorms can occur throughout the year, any time during the day, so its wise to carry an umbrella at all times, both as a shade from the sun or cover from the rain. The temperature averages around: 29.5176C (85.1176F) daytime, 22.5176C (72.5176F) at night in December and January. An occasional low of 21176C (69.8176F) can also be expected. 32176C (89.6176F) daytime, 24176C (82.4176F) at night for the rest of the year. The temperature usually hovers around the 28176C (82.4176F) mark. The temperatures are relatively high in the day, as expected in a tropical country, but windy conditions are expected at night. Bear in mind that spending more than about one hour outdoors can be very exhausting, especially if combined with moderate exercise. Singaporeans themselves shun the heat, and for a good reason. Many live in air-conditioned flats, work in air-conditioned offices, take the air-conditioned metro to air-conditioned shopping malls connected to each other by underground tunnels where they shop, eat, and exercise in air-conditioned fitness clubs. Holidays Edit Singapore is officially secular but due to its multicultural population, Singapore celebrates Chinese, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Indian, and Christian holidays. New Year decorations, Chinatown The year kicks off with a bang on 1 Jan and New Year . celebrated in Singapore just as in the West with a fireworks show and parties at every nightspot in town. Particularly famous are the wet and wild foam parties on the beaches of resort island Sentosa 8212 at least those years when the authorities deign to permit such relative debauchery. Lunar New Year dates The year of the Horse started on 31 Jan 2014 The year of the Goat will begin on 19 Feb 2015 The year of the Monkey will begin on 8 Feb 2016 The year of the Rooster will begin on 28 Jan 2017 Due to the influence of the Chinese majority, arguably the largest event is Chinese New Year () or, more politically correctly, Lunar New Year . usually held in February. While this might seem to be an ideal time to visit, many smaller shops and eateries close for 2-3 days during the period, though supermarkets, department stores and high end restaurants remain open. The whole festival stretches out for no less than 42 days, but the frenzied buildup to the peak occurs just before the night of the new moon, with exhortations of gong xi fa cai ( congratulations and prosper), red tinsel, mandarin oranges and the years zodiac animal emblazoned everywhere and crowds of shoppers queuing in Chinatown. where there are also extensive street decorations to add spice to the festive mood. The two following days are spent with family and most of the island comes to a standstill, and then life returns to normal. except for the final burst of Chingay . a colourful parade down Orchard Road held ten days later. Gong xi fa cai Singapore style There are a few twists to the Singapore way of celebrating Chinese New Year, particularly the food . which bears little resemblance to the steamy hotpots of northern China. The top dish is bak kwa (), sweet barbecued pork, followed closely by yu sheng (), a salad of shredded vegetables and raw fish enthusiastically tossed into the air by all present. Favourite desserts are crumbly sweet pineapple tarts and gooey steamed nian gao () cakes. Red packets of money ( ang pow ) are still handed out generously, but unlike in China, in Singapore you only need to start paying up once married. On the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, the Dragon Boat Festival () is celebrated to commemorate a Chinese folk hero. As part of the celebrations, rice dumplings, which in Singapore are sometimes wrapped in pandan leaves instead of the original bamboo leaves, are usually eaten. In addition, dragon boat races are often held at the Singapore River on this day. The seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar 8212 usually August 8212 starts off with a puff of smoke, as hell money is burned and food offerings are made to please the spirits of ancestors who are said to return to earth at this time. The climax on the 15th day of the lunar calendar is the Hungry Ghost Festival (), when the living get together to stuff themselves and watch plays and Chinese opera performances. Following soon afterwards, the Mid-Autumn Festival () on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (SepOct) is also a major event, with elaborate lantern decorations 8212 particularly in Jurongs Chinese Garden 8212 and moon cakes filled with red bean paste, nuts, and more consumed merrily. The Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, known locally as Deepavali . is celebrated around October or November and Little India is brightly decorated for the occasion. At around January-February, one may witness the celebration of Thaipusam . a Tamil Hindu festival in which male devotees would carry a kavadi . an elaborate structure which pierces through various parts of his body, and join a procession from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Little India to the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple in Tank Road. Female devotees usually join the procession carrying pots of milk instead. About one week before Deepavali is Thimithi . the fire-walking festival where one can see male devotees walking on burning coals at the Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown. The Islamic month of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr or Hari Raya Puasa as it is called here, is a major occasion in Malay parts of town, particularly Geylang Serai on the East Coast. which is lit up with extensive decorations during the period. Another festival celebrated by the Malays is Eid-ul-Adha, known locally as Hari Raya Haji . which is the period when Muslims make the trip to Mecca to perform in Hajj. In local mosques, lambs contributed by the faithful are sacrificed and their meat is used to feed the poor. The Buddhist Vesak Day . celebrating the birthday of the Buddha Sakyamuni, plus the Christian holidays of Christmas Day . for which Orchard road is extensively decorated, and Good Friday round out the list of holidays. A more secular celebration occurs on 9 Aug, National Day . when fluttering flags fill Singapore and a spectacular National Day Parade is held to celebrate Singapores independence. Events Edit Singapore holds numerous events each year. Some of its famous festivals and events include the Singapore Food Festival . the Singapore Grand Prix . the Singapore Arts Festival . the Chingay Parade . the World Gourmet Summit and ZoukOut . The Singapore Sun Festival is another popular festival in Singapore, with 2010s line-up featuring renowned stars such as David Foster, Natalie Cole, Jose Carreras and Sharon Stone. Christmas is also widely celebrated in Singapore, a season where the city streets and shopping malls along its famous shopping belt Orchard Road are lit up and decorated in vibrant colours. In addition, the Singapore Jewel Festival attracts numerous tourists every year, and is a display of precious gems, famous jewels and masterpieces from international jewellers and designers. Get in Edit Banned in Singapore: Theres more to the list than just porn and drugs: Airsoft Handcuffs, even if pink and fuzzy Feeding pigeons or monkeys (in and around nature reserves, to protect the animals and the environment) Chewing gum (note: the sale of chewing gum is banned possession of chewing gum for personal consumption has never been illegal) Male homosexual intercourse (note: the act of anal intercourse between males is illegal, due to the continuing legacy of old British laws homosexuality in itself has never been illegal) Singapore Airlines A380 Each time you enter Singapore you will need to fill an immigration card. Carefully keep it after immigration clearance, for you have to return it when you exit. If you plan to visit nearby Malaysia or Indonesia, you have to repeat this process for each time you exit and re-enter. Do not worry on what to put in the exit port, just put the city you will return to on your final flight. Most nationalities can enter Singapore without a visa for up to 30 days. Exceptions and modifications to the rule are listed below: Nationals of all European Union member states, Norway. South Korea. Switzerland and the United States can enter Singapore without a visa for up to 90 days. Refer to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority website for current guidelines. Singapore has very strict drug laws . and drug trafficking carries a mandatory death penalty 8212 which is applied to everyone, including foreigners. Even if you technically havent entered Singapore and are merely transiting (eg changing flights without the need to clear passport control and customs) while in possession of drugs, you would still be hanged by the neck until dead on the next Friday after your sentencing (unless sentenced or your appeal against sentence refused on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday or if you are a foreigner when your consulate is given at least 7 days notice). The paranoid might also like to note that in Singapore, it is an offence even to have any drug metabolites in your system, even if they were consumed outside of Singapore. Customs occasionally perform spot urine tests at the airport. In addition, bringing in explosives or firearms without a permit is also a hanging offence in Singapore. Therefore, REFUSE if asked by anyone you dont know or barely know (such as a new friend or travel partner you met while staying in a hostel) to transport their luggage or package or to check it in (to an airline, bus company or the train to Malaysia) for them on your luggage allowance. If caught you will be the one who will be penalized for any contraband found inside. Definite red flag if offered a hefty compensation to transport the unknown item. No amount of money offered is worth the chance. Malaysia also has very strict drug laws which carry the mandatory death penalty, similar to Singapore. Bring prescriptions for any medicines you may have with you, and obtain prior permission from the Health Sciences Authority before bringing in any sedatives (eg Valiumdiazepam) or strong painkillers (eg codeine). Hippie types may expect a little extra attention from Customs, but getting a shave and a haircut is no longer a condition for entry. Duty free allowances for alcohol are 1L each of wine, beer and spirits, and the 1L of spirits may be substituted with 1L of wine or beer, unless you are entering from Malaysia. Travellers entering from Malaysia are not entitled to any duty free allowance. Alcohol may not be brought in by persons under the age of 18. There is no duty free allowance for cigarettes . all cigarettes legally sold in Singapore are stamped SDPC, and smokers caught with unmarked cigarettes may be fined 500 per pack. (In practice, though, bringing in one opened pack is usually tolerated.) If you declare your cigarettes or excess booze at customs, you can opt to pay the tax or let the customs officers keep the cigarettes until your departure. The import of chewing gum for resale is technically illegal, and in practice customs officers would not bother with a reasonable quantity brought in for personal consumption. Pornography . pirated goods and publications by the Jehovahs Witnesses and the Unification Church may not be imported to Singapore, and baggage is scanned at air, land and sea entry points. In theory, all entertainment media including movies and video games must be sent to the Board of Censors for approval before they can be brought into Singapore, but that is rarely if ever enforced for original (non-pirated) goods. Pirated CDs or DVDs, on the other hand, can land you fines of up to 1000 per disc. By plane Edit Singapore is one of Southeast Asias largest aviation hubs, so unless youre coming from Peninsular Malaysia or Batam Bintan in Indonesia, the easiest way to enter Singapore is by air. In addition to flag-carrier Singapore Airlines 1 and its regional subsidiary SilkAir . Singapore is also home to low-cost carriers Tiger Airways. Jetstar Asia and Scoot. In addition to the locals, every carrier of any size in Asia offers flights to Singapore, with pan-Asian discount carrier AirAsia and Malaysian regional operator Firefly operating dense networks from Singapore. There are also direct services to Europe, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and even South Africa. Singapore is particularly popular on the Kangaroo Route between Australia and Europe, with airlines like KLM. Mann Travel. British Airways. Etihad Airways and Emirates using Singapore as the stopover point. Changi Airport Edit As befits the countrys main airports major regional hub status, Changi Airport (IATA. SIN ) and officially the airport in the world (see Skytrax ) is big, pleasant and well organized, with immigration and baggage distribution remarkably fast. The airport is split into three main terminals (T1, T2 and T3). Figuring out which terminal your flight arrives in or departs from can be complicated: for example, Singapore Airlines uses both T2 and T3, and only announces the arrival terminal two hours before landing. Fortunately transfers are quite easy, as the three main terminals are connected with the free Skytrain service, which can be used without passing through immigration. Terminal 1 is physically connected to Terminals 2 and 3. By walking that you will not notice youre in a different terminal except by reading the signs. Your departing terminal is more straightforward as Singapore Airlines designates T2 as departures for destinations in South East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Africa while all other destinations will use T3. When you return to the airport and are leaving Singapore via Singapore Airlines, be sure to at least tell the driver your destination so he knows which terminal to take you to. Unlike most other airports, there are no separate zones for departing and arriving passengers in the main terminals prior to passport control hence arriving passengers are free to shop and eat at the airside establishments if they are not in a hurry to meet someone or catch prearranged transportation. In addition, if they have no luggage checked-in from their point of origin, they can clear passport control at any other terminal. If you have over 5h to spare there are free city tours five times a day departing from the airport. To register for any of the tours, simply approach the staff at the Free Singapore Tours (FST) Registration Booth located in: Terminal 2: Near the escalators to North Arrival Immigration and Skytrain station at Transit Mall North, Level 2 (Near Transfer Lounge E) Terminal 3: Next to Transfer Lounge B at Transit Mall North, level 2 If you are at Terminal 1, you can proceed to Terminal 2 for registration. Even if stuck in the airport, there are plenty of ways to kill time, as each terminal has a unique design and the airside areas of T1, T2, and T3 are attractions in themselves. T2, arguably the most interesting, has an indoor garden, a music listening area with couches and mood lighting, a computer gaming room, a small movie theatre, paid massage services, and of course plenty of duty-free shops. T3, the newest, has a butterfly garden and plenty of natural light, but fewer entertainment options. T1 has a swimming pool for 13.91 and jacuzzi, both open until 23:00. You can travel between the main terminals without passing through immigration and, if you have no checked-in luggage to collect, you can clear passport control and customs at any terminal. In all terminals, internet access is provided free of charge, both wirelessly and via some 200 terminals and kiosks, there are some Xbox systems set up to keep gamers entertained, and theres live lounge music at times. There are also SingTel and Starhub payphones that offer unlimited free local calls. ATMs abound and money changers offer reasonable rates as well, although you pay a small premium compared to the city. Food options are varied and generally reasonably priced, with some choice picks including the Peranakan-themed Soup Restaurant (T2 landside), which serves much more than just soup, and Sakae Sushi (T2 airside). If youre up for a little adventure, seek out the staff canteen at level 3M of the car park next to T2, its open to the public (with discounts for airport staff) and serves local food. It is relatively cheap compared to other food options in the airport but not exactly cheap compared to elsewhere in Singapore. There are also staff canteens in Terminals 1 and 3. Terminals T1, T2 and T3 all have airside (ie accessible without passing through immigration) transit hotels . 65 6541 9106 or book on-line via the Ambassador Transit Hotel website. A 6h block for a singledoubletriple costs 73.5682.39110.35, budget singles (shared bathroom) 51.50, extensions 17.65 per hour. You can rent a shower (without a room) to freshen up for 8.40. The Plaza Premier Lounges also offer a basic but functional gym with shower for 8.40 with a Singapore Airlines boarding pass. Project Jewel was announced in August 2013 - a new terminal structure intended as a mix-use complex situated on a 3.5 hectare site where the Terminal 1 car park now resides. Essentially a new multi-storey underground car park will replace the existing facilities, while an indoor garden, with a waterfall, is built above. The new building will sit between the three existing terminal buildings, enabling passengers to transfer via the new complex, whilst being an attraction and shopping destination in itself. The design will consist of a circular structure, reminiscent of a doughnut, with a large garden located at the centre and water falling from the edge of the circular atrium opening. As part of the project, Terminal 1 will be expanded to allow more space for the arrival hall, baggage claim areas and taxi bays. These enhancements will increase T1s passenger handling capacity to 24 million passenger movements per annum. From the airport there are a number of ways to get into the city: The Ground Transport Desk . is a 24-hour counter located in the Arrival Hall of each terminal. It offers flat fee transport options to any destination in Singapore, which is a pretty good deal especially when the taxi queue is long or after midnight(beat the queue, skip the surcharge). Simply visit the Ground Transport Desk located at the arrival hall of each terminal to book. Options include: Airport Shuttle . Shuttle service will bring you directly to the doorstep of designated downtown hotels. Available 247, this is a convenient and affordable option (Adult 9 l Children 6). Departs every 15-30min. 4-seater or 7-seater vehicle . a 4-seater is 55, and 7-seater is 60 per trip to any destination in Singapore. Limousines . charge a flat 50 to any destination in Singapore. Taxi is easy - simply follow the signs after clearing customs. Meters are always used in Singapore and prices are reasonable. A trip to the city during the day will be between 20-30 including 3-5 airport surcharge. An additional 50 surcharge applies between midnight and 06:00. Subway - MRT trains run from a station between T2 and T3, but youll need to change trains at Tanah Merah to a city-bound train: just exit through the left hand side door and cross the platform. The 30min ride to City Hall station costs 1.90 plus a refundable 1 deposit, and trains run 05:31-23:18. Trains from Tanah Merah to the city tend to be very crowded during peak hours, and it is unlikely to have seats. Bus - Bus terminals can be found in the basements of T1, T2 and T3. 06:00-23:59 only. Fares are less than 2.00, exact fare required (no change given) if you pay cash. Seletar Airport Edit Seletar Airport (IATA. XSP ), completed in 1928 and first used for civil aviation in 1930, is Singapores first airport. While later airports like Kallang and Paya Lebar have been closed and turned into a military airbase respectively, Seletar is still in use to this day. Currently, Seletar Airport is only used for general aviation, so if youre flying your own aircraft to Singapore, youll most probably land here. The only practical means of access to Seletar is by taxi and trips from the airport incur a 3 surcharge. By road Edit The Causeway, with Johor Bahru on the other side Singapore is linked by two land crossings to Peninsular Malaysia: The Causeway is a very popular and thus terminally congested entry point connecting Woodlands in the north of Singapore directly into the heart of Johor Bahru. While congestion isnt as bad as it once was, the Causeway is still jam-packed on Friday evenings (towards Malaysia) and Sunday evenings (towards Singapore). The Causeway can be crossed by bus, train, taxi or car, but it is no longer feasible to cross on foot after Malaysia shifted their customs and immigration complex 2km inland. A second crossing between Malaysia and Singapore, known as the Second Link . has been built between Tuas in western Singapore and Tanjung Kupang in the western part of Johor state. Much faster and less congested than the Causeway, it is used by some of the luxury bus services to Kuala Lumpur and is strongly recommended if you have your own car. There is only one infrequent bus across the Second Link, and only Malaysian limousine taxis are allowed to cross it (and charge RM150 and up for the privilege). Walking across is also not allowed, not that there would be any practical means to continue the journey from either end if you did. Driving into Singapore with a foreign-registered car is rather complicated and expensive see the Land Transport Authoritys Driving Into amp Out of Singapore guide for the administrative details. Peninsular Malaysia-registered cars need to show that they have valid road tax and Malaysian insurance coverage. Other foreign cars need a Vehicle Registration Certificate, customs document ( Carnet de Passages en Douane ), vehicle insurance purchased from a Singapore-based insurance company and an International Circulation Permit. All foreign registered cars and motorcycles can be driven in Singapore for a maximum of 10 days in each calendar year without paying Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fees, but after the 10 free days have been utilised, you will need to pay a VEP fee of up to 35day. Go through immigration first and get your passport stamped. Then follow the Red Lane to buy the AutoPass (10) from the LTA office. At the parking area, an LTA officer will verify your car, road tax and insurance cover note and issue you a small chit of paper which you take to the LTA counter to buy your AutoPass and rent an In-vehicle Unit (IU) for road pricing charges (or opt to pay a flat 5day fee instead). Once that is done, proceed to customs where you will have to open the boot for inspection. After that, you are free to go anywhere in Singapore. Any VEP fees, road pricing charges and tolls will be deducted from your AutoPass when you exit Singapore. This is done by slotting the AutoPass into the reader at the immigration counter while you get your passport stamped. Driving into Malaysia from Singapore is relatively uncomplicated, although small tolls are charged for both crossing and (for the Second Link) the adjoining expressway. In addition, Singapore-registered vehicles are required to have their fuel tanks at least 34 full before leaving Singapore. Do be sure to change some ringgit before crossing, as Singapore dollars are accepted only at the unfavourable rate of 1:1. Moreover, be prepared for longer queues as Malaysia introduced a biometric system for foreigners wishing to enter that country (see Malaysia article). In both directions, car hire agencies often prohibit their vehicles from crossing the border or charge extra. By bus Edit Direct tofrom Malaysian destinations There are buses tofrom Kuala Lumpur (KL) and many other destinations in Malaysia through the Woodlands Checkpoint and the Second Link at Tuas. Unfortunately, there is no central bus terminal and different companies leave from all over the city. Major operators include: KKKL. 65 6348 6909. 2. No frills, but the buses have good legroom, provide Free Wifi service on board and use the Second Link. Its departure point at Katong V, Marine Parade provides convenience to Changi Airport arrival passengers and residents in the East area of Singapore From 30 one-way. 160edit Aeroline. 65 6258 8800. 3. Luxury buses with meal on-board, power sockets, lounge area etc, to Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya. Departures from HarbourFront Centre. From 47 one-way. 160edit First Coach. 65 6822 2111. 4. No frills, but the buses have good legroom and use the Second Link. Another selling point is convenient public transport: buses depart from Novena Square (Novena MRT) in Singapore and arrive right next to Bangsar LRT in Kuala Lumpu, 3355 singlereturn. 160edit NiCE. 65 62565755. 5. Over 20 daily departures from Kuala Lumpurs old railway station. Double-decker NiCE 2 buses (27 seats) RM80, luxury NiCE buses (18 seats) RM88. Departures from Copthorne Orchid Hotel on Dunearn Rd. 160edit Transnasional. 60 2 6294 7034 (Malaysia). 6. Malaysias largest bus operator, offers direct buses from Singapore through the peninsula. Departures from Lavender St. Executiveeconomy buses MYR8035. 160edit Transtar. 65 6299 9009. 7. Transtars sleeper-equipped Solitaire (63) and leather-seated First Class (49) coaches are currently the best around with frills like massaging chairs, onboard attendants, video on demand and even wifi. More plebeian SuperVIPExecutive buses are 2539, direct service to Malacca and Genting also available. Departures from Golden Mile Complex, Beach Rd (near Lavender MRT). 160edit Most other operators have banded together in two shared booking portals. Many, but by no means all, use the Golden Mile Complex shopping mall near Bugis as their Singapore terminal. redBus Singapore. 65-31582888 (supportredbus. sg ), 8. redBus singapore includes many destinations bus tickets. 160edit Bus Online Ticket. 9. Lots of bus companies, including major operator Fivestars Express, Golden Coach Express, Delima Express, 707 Express and AirAsia-affiliated StarMart. 160edit Easybook. 65 6444 0745. 10. Six bus companies including major budget operator Konsortium. 160edit In general, the more you pay, the faster and more comfortable your trip. More expensive buses leave on time, use the Second Link, and dont stop along the way while the cheapest buses leave late if at all, use the perpetually jammed Causeway and make more stops. Book early for popular departure times like Friday and Sunday evening, Chinese New Year, etc, and factor in some extra time for congestion at the border. An alternative to taking a direct international bus is to make the short hop to Johor Bahru to catch domestic Malaysian long-distance express buses to various Malaysian destinations from the Larkin Bus Terminal. Besides having more options, fares may also be lower because you will be paying in Malaysian ringgit rather than Singaporean dollars. The downside is the time-consuming hassle of first getting to Johor Bahru and then getting to Larkin terminal on the outskirts of town. Tofrom Johor Bahru Buses between Johor Bahru and Singapore Stops in Singapore The most popular options to get tofrom Johor Bahru are the buses listed in the table. Theres a pattern to the madness: Singaporean-operated buses (SBS, SMRT, SJE) can only stop at one destination in Malaysia, while the Malaysian-operated Causeway Link buses can only stop at one destination in Singapore. Terminals aside, all buses make two stops at Singapore immigration and at Malaysian immigration. At both immigration points, you must disembark with all your luggage and pass through passport control and customs, then board the next bus by showing your ticket. Figure on one hour for the whole rigmarole from end to end, more during rush hour. By train Edit Malaysias Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malayan Railway or KTMB) operates a shuttle train service between Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore and JB Sentral in Johor Bahru. While less frequent and more expensive than buses, and the Woodlands KTMB station is a bus ride away from the MRT system, the trains have dedicated immigration and custom checks areas separated from the very busy road checkpoints, and get you across the Causeway without getting stuck in traffic. For trains to various destinations in Malaysia, see Johor BahruBy train and MalaysiaBy train. The Shuttle Tebrau service runs 13 trips per day from JB Sentral, and 11 trips per day from Woodlands: JB Sentral to Woodlands: 5.30am, 6.00am, 6.30am, 7.00am, 8.30am, 9.00am, 11.00am, 12.30pm, 3.30pm, 5.00pm, 7.00pm, 9.00pm, 10.15pm Woodlands to JB Sentral: 8.00am, 10.00am, 12.00pm, 1.30pm, 4.30pm, 6.00pm, 6.45pm, 8.00pm, 8.45pm, 10.00pm, 11.15pm Gates open 30 minutes before each departure for immigration clearance and boarding, and close 10 minutes before departure. For departures from Woodlands Train Checkpoint, avoid arriving very early as there are very limited facilities, and toilets are only available after immigration. However, there are shops including a Sheng Shiong supermarket, food centres and money changers across the road. Photography and video recording are prohibited at the train checkpoint. Tickets are priced at RM5 (S1.67) for JB-Woodlands and S5 for Woodlands-JB. Return tickets are priced double in the currency of the point of origin, making JB-Woodlands-JB RM10 (S3.33) and Woodlands-JB-Woodlands S10. Tickets can be bought up to 30 days in advance, either in person at KTMB ticket counters or online through the KTMB e-ticketing website. Tickets bought online must be exchanged at the KTMB ticket counter before departure. Booking in advance is recommended, as the service is popular among commuters and weekend shoppers, in particular weekday mornings departures from JB Sentral (usually snatched up as soon as tickets are released for booking 30 days in advance) and weekend evenings departures from JB Sentral (usually sold out on the morning of departure). Going to Malaysia, both Singapore and Malaysia immigration checks are conveniently done at Woodlands before boarding. Firstly Singapore stamps you out, then walk over to the adjacent hall to get stamp in by Malaysia. In the reverse direction, Malaysian exit immigration checks are carried out at JB Sentral before boarding, and Singapore immigration checks are done upon arrival at Woodlands. Getting tofrom Woodlands Train Checkpoint There is a bus stop and a taxi stand right outside the train checkpoint. Bus tofrom MRT: Buses connect the train checkpoint with Kranji, Marsiling and Woodlands MRT stations. The nearest station is Marsiling (1.6 km away), but more buses go to Woodlands. From MRT stations, ensure that the bus goes to Woodlands Train Checkpoint ask the driver to be certain that the bus goes to the KTM station or Sheng Siong supermarket. Bus tofrom city: At the train checkpoint bus stop, SBS 170 (red plate) goes via Kranji MRT station to Queen St in the city, as well as Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru in the other direction. Pay attention to the bus destination sign or ask the driver to ensure that you board the correct bus. Alternatively, use the overhead bridge (following signs to Woodlands Checkpoint) to cross over to the bus arrival hall at the road checkpoint and take an express bus to the city. Coming from the city, however, you should take bus 170 (red plate) from Queen St, or use the MRT and transfer to bus as above. Avoid taking a direct express bus from the city, as the bus would bring you straight to the road checkpoint. Despite being located in the same immigration checkpoint complex and having similar names, Woodlands Train Checkpoint is a separate facility from the much larger and busier Woodlands Checkpoint for road vehicles. If you mistakenly end up in Woodlands Checkpoint and see immigration counters in front of you, you can either 1) approach the security pass office on the left for permission to cross over to the train checkpoint using the overhead bridge, or 2) go through immigration and take a bus across the border, giving the train a miss. By taxi Edit There is also the option of taking a taxi between Singapore and Johor Bahru. The main advantage is that you do not need to lug your stuff (or yourself) through Immigration and Customs at both ends you can just sit in the car. While normal taxis are not allowed to cross the border, specially licensed taxis can be taken from Larkin Bus Terminal in Johor Bahru (RM80 per taxi, or RM20 per person if you share with others), and Ban San St Taxi Kiosk (same place as Queen St Bus Terminal) in Singapore (48 per taxi or 12 per person). Both Singapore-registered and Malaysian-registered taxis are available. Singapore-registered taxis can bring you to anywhere in Singapore but can only go to Larkin in Johor Bahru, while Malaysian-registered taxis can bring you to anywhere in Malaysia but can only go to Ban San St in Singapore. Drop-off points other than the taxi terminal in the destination country may incur additional charges check with the driver before boarding. Booking is available by phone from Pengurusan Terminal Teksi Johor Bahru-Singapore (Malaysian taxis) at 60 7 222 5898 or 60 7 224 6986, and Singapore-Johore Taxi Operators Association (Singapore taxis) at 65 6296 7054. A combination ride from anywhere in Singapore to anywhere in Malaysia can also be arranged, but youll need to swap taxis halfway through: this will cost 55 and up, paid to the Singaporean driver. The most expensive option is to take a limousine taxi specially licensed to take passengers from any point to any destination, but only a few are available and they charge a steep RM150 upwards per trip starting from Malaysia, or 130 upwards per trip starting from Singapore. Advance booking is highly recommended, 60 7 599 1622. By boat Edit Ferries link Singapore with the neighbouring Indonesian province of Riau Islands and the Malaysian state of Johor. Singapore has five ferry terminals which handle international ferries: HarbourFront (formerly World Trade Centre) near Sentosa. Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Marina Bay. Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on the East Coast. as well as Changi Ferry Terminal and Changi Point Ferry Terminal . both at the eastern side of the island near the airport. Getting toaway from the ferry terminals: HarbourFront FT: Located next to HarbourFront MRT station. Marina Bay Cruise Centre: The shuttle to Marina Bay MRT station is the obvious choice. Tanah Merah FT: Get off at Bedok MRT station and catch bus No. 35 to ferry terminal. Changi FT: No bus stop nearby, take a taxi from Changi Village or Tanah Merah MRT. Changi Point FT: Take bus No. 2, 29 or 59 to Changi Village Bus Terminal and walk to the ferry terminal. Tofrom Indonesia Edit Penguin . 65 6271 4866 in HarbourFront 62 778 467574 in Batam Centre 62 778 321636 in Sekupang 62 778 381280 in Waterfront City. Virtually hourly ferries tofrom Batam Centre and Sekupang . fewer ferries tofrom Waterfront City . 1620 one-wayreturn before taxes and fuel surcharge. Indo Falcon . 65 6278 3167. Hourly ferries to Batam Centre . fewer to Waterfront City . This company does not operate tofrom Sekupang. Similar fares. BerlianWave Master . 65 6546 8830. Operates 16 trips tofrom Batu Ampar . Fares are similar to the other companies. DinoBatam Fast . 65 6270 0311 in Harbourfront 62 778 467793, 62 778 470344 in Batam Centre 62 778 325085, 62 778 3250856 in Sekupang 62 778 381150 in Waterfront City, 11. Also hourly ferries tofrom Batam Centre . fewer ferries tofrom Sekupang and Waterfront City . 1420 one-wayreturn before taxes and surcharges. DinoBatam Fast . 65 6270 0311 in Singapore 62 778 761071 in Nongsa, 12. Around 8 ferries daily tofrom Nongsa . the resort area on the northeastern tip of Batam. 1622 one-wayreturn before taxes and surcharges. Tofrom Bintan : All ferries for Bintan use Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. For Tanjung Pinang. there are total of 6 ferries a day, increasing to 9 during weekends. 2535 one-wayreturn before taxes and surcharges. Operators include: DinoBatam Fast . 65 6542 6310 in Tanah Merah, 13 . Penguin . 65 6542 7105 in Tanah Merah 62 771 315143 in Tanjung Pinang 62 770 696120 in Lobam, 14 . Indo Falcon . 65 65426786 in Tanah Merah, 15 BerlianWave Master . 65 6546 8830 in Tanah Merah. For Bintan Resorts (Bandar Bentan Telani), Bintan Resort Ferries . 65 6542 4369, 16 operates five ferries from Tanah Merah FT on weekdays, increasing to 7 during weekends. 34.6050.20 one-wayreturn peak period, 26.6039.20 one-wayreturn off-peak including taxes and fuel surcharge. Tofrom Karimun : Tanjung Balai is served by Penguin and IndoFalcon from Harbourfront, with six ferries total on weekdays, increasing to 8 during weekends. 2433 one-wayreturn including taxes and fuel surcharge. ToFrom Malaysia Edit Ferries shuttle from Singapore to southeastern Johor and are handy for access to the beach resort of Desaru. The scheduled ferry service to Tioman was discontinued in 2003. Pengerang Tanjung Pengelih . Bumboats shuttle between Changi Point Ferry Terminal at Changi Village, 51 Lorong Bekukong, 65 6545 2305, 65 65451616, and Pengerang, a village at the southeastern tip of Johor. Boats (10 per person, 2 per bicycle one-way) operate 07:00-19:00 and leave when they reach the 12-passenger quota. Sebana Cove Resort . Desaru. Ferries tofrom Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal operated by Indo Falcon. 65 6542 6786 in Tanah Merah. Three ferries daily except Tue. 48(A)38(C) return including taxes and fuel surcharge. Tanjung Belungkor . Desaru. Cruise Ferries 65 65468518, 65 65468675, Operates passenger ferries from Changi Ferry Terminal three times daily, departures at 10:00, 17:00, 20:00 22 return. The previous car ferry service has been suspended. Cruises Edit Star Cruises offers multi-day cruises from Singapore to points throughout Southeast Asia, departing from HarbourFront FT. Itineraries vary widely and change from year to year, but common destinations include Malacca. Klang (Kuala Lumpur), Penang. Langkawi. Redang and Tioman in Malaysia. as well as Phuket. Krabi. Ko Samui and Bangkok in Thailand. There are also several cruises every year to Borneo (Malaysia), Sihanoukville (Cambodia), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and even some 10 night long hauls to Hong Kong. An all-inclusive 2 night cruise may cost as little as 400 per person in the cheapest cabin class if you book early, but beware the numerous surcharges and note that non-residents may be charged significantly higher rates. Singapore is also a popular stop for round-the-world and major regional cruises including those originating from as far as Japan. China. Australia. Europe and North America. Many of those cruises embarkdisembark passengers here, while others pay port visits. Check with cruise companies and sellers for details. Get around Edit Map of Singapore, with MRT lines and key attractions Getting around Singapore is easy: the public transportation system is extremely easy to use and taxis are reasonably priced when you can get one. Very few visitors rent cars. Gothere. sg does a pretty good job of figuring out the fastest route by MRT and bus and even estimating taxi fares between any two points. If you are staying in Singapore for some time or are planning to return to Singapore several times in the future, the EZ-link contactless RFID farecard or a Nets Flash Pay card might be a worthwhile purchase. Those who are familiar with Hong Kongs Octopus card, London Undergrounds Oyster card, Washington DCs SmarTrip card or Japan Railways IC cards will quickly understand the concept of the EZ-link and NETS FlashPay card. You can store value on it and use it on the MRT trains as well as all city buses at a 15 discount. The card costs 12, including 7 stored value, and the card can be topped up in increments of at least 10 at the farecard vending machines or 7-Eleven stores (the latter will allow a top-up for a convenience fee). You can use the same card for 5 years. The card technology was changed in 2009, but if you have any old cards lying around, they can be exchanged for free with value intact at TransitLink offices in all MRT stations. Alternatively, the Singapore Tourist Pass available at selected major MRT stations (including Changi Airport and Orchard) also includes ez-link card functionality and a variety of discounts for attractions. The pass includes unlimited travel on MRT and non-premium buses, and costs 10 for 1 day, 16 for 2 days, or 20 for 3 days (together with a 10 rental deposit refunded if this card is returned within 5 days after purchase). The passes are valid until the end of operating hours on the day they expire. Single tickets can be purchased for both MRT and buses. In the case of buses it delays everyone else because the driver has to count fare stages to tell you how much you need to pay. In addition, no change is given for the bus and you will need to buy a separate ticket if you intend to transfer to another bus later in your journey. Distance based fares have been available since July 2010. All commuters will be charged a fare according to the total distance travelled, on the bus, LRT and MRT, and make transfers without incurring additional cost. By rail Edit The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and LRT (Light Rail Transit) are trains that are the main trunk of Singapores transit system. They are a cheap and very reliable mode of transportation, and the network covers most points of interest for the visitor. EZ-link or Nets FlashPay farecards (described above) are the easiest and most popular ways to use the MRT. All lines are seamlessly integrated, even if the lines are operated by different transport companies, so you do not need to buy a new ticket to transfer. All train lines use contactless RFID tickets. Just tap to scan your train ticket at the gantry when entering and exiting the train service area. Single-trip tickets are purchased from ticket machines located before the gantries and cost from 0.80 to 2.20. A 0.10 deposit is charged when purchasing a new ticket card. The deposit is refunded in double through a 0.10 fare reduction each on the 3rd and 6th trip made with the card. To load a new ticket onto an existing card at a ticket machine, just place it on the designated spot and follow the on-screen instructions. Distance based fares Please remember these points to enjoy the full benefits of distance based fares: Pay with an EZ-Link or NETS Flashpay stored value card Make at most 5 transfers within a single journey, with a 45-minute allowance between each transfer Take at most 2 hours to complete a journey Enter and exit the train network only once in a journey and Do not take the same bus service number more than once in a journey The MRT stations are clean and usually equipped with free toilets. Underground stations have platform screen doors between the train and the platform while most above-ground stations have Half-height Platform Screen Doors (HHPSDs) so there is no risk of falling onto the tracks. The North-East line is fully automated, as is the new Circle Line, the LRT and all upcoming lines, so its worth walking up to the front of the train to look out a tiny window and realize that there is no driver There are exceptions though, when a staff member comes in to drive the train. This is common when a trains automatic driving system fails. In this case, a tape will be put up behind the driving area to prevent passengers from interfering with the driver. As of April 2014, a new line connects the promenade (where the flyer is located) with Chinatown station. By bus Edit Buses connect various corners of Singapore, but are slower and harder to use than the MRT. The advantage though of this is you get to see the sights rather than a dark underground tunnel at a low price. You can pay cash (coins) in buses, but the fare stage system is quite complex (its easiest to ask the driver for the price to your destination), you are charged marginally more and there is no provision for getting change. Payment with ez-link or Nets Flashpay card is thus the easiest method: tap your card against the reader at the front entrance of the bus when boarding, and a maximum fare is deducted from the card. When you alight, tap your card again at the exit, and the difference is refunded. Make sure you tap out, or youll end up paying the maximum fare Inspectors occasionally prowl buses to check that everybody has paid or tapped, so those who are on tourist day passes should tap before sitting down. Dishonest bus commuters risk getting fine 20 for not paying or underpaying fares (by premature tapping-out) and 50 for improper use of concession cards. Another advantage of ez-link or Nets Flashpay cards is that you will be able to enjoy distance-based fares and avoid the boarding fee. After midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and before public holidays only . the NightRider services are a fairly convenient way of getting around, with seven lines running every 20min. All services drive past the major nightlife districts of Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Mohamed Sultan and Orchard before splintering off. Theres a flat fare of 4.00, the EZ-link card is accepted but the Singapore Tourist Pass is not valid on this line. As mentioned earlier, gothere. sg will give you options as to which buses will take you from your origin or destination. By taxi Edit Taxis use meters and are reasonably priced and honest, however, a shortage of taxis in Singapore means that they are often unavailable for hours at a time. Outside weekday peak hours, trips within the city centre should not cost you more than 10 and even a trip right across the island from Changi to Jurong will not break the 35 mark. If you are in a group of 3 or 4, its sometimes cheaper and faster to take a taxi than the MRT. Be aware, however, that taxis are often remarkably difficult to secure, especially during peak commute or shopping hours, or when there is inclement weather. During these times it can be impossible to get through to a booking agent via telephone, and you can expect extended waits in taxi queues. There is a puzzling lack of action to address this persistent and frustrating taxi shortage. Taxi pricing is largely identical across all companies at 3.00-3.20 as a flag down rate (depending on the type of vehicle used), which lasts you 1km before increments of 0.22 per 400m (for the first 10km) or 0.22 per 350m (after the first 10km). (The sole exception is SMRTs giant black Chryslers, which charge 5 and then 0.30 per 385m.) Watch out for surprises though: there are a myriad of peak hour (25), late night (50), central business district (3), trips from airport or the IRs (3-5 during peak hours), phone booking (3.00 and up) and Electronic Road Pricing surcharges, which may add a substantial amount to your taxi fare. All such charges are shown on the bottom right-hard corner of the meter, recorded in the printed receipt and explained in tedious detail in a sticker on the window if you suspect the cab driver is trying to pull a fast one, call the company and ask for an explanation. Note that there is no surcharge for trips to the airport. While all taxis are equipped to handle (and are required to accept) credit cards, in practice many cabbies do not accept electronic payment. Always ask before getting in. Paying by credit card will incur an additional surcharge of 17. During rush hour in the city centre, or late at night on the weekends, its wise to call for a taxi from the unified booking system at 65 6342 5222 (6-DIAL-CAB). Some taxi companies offer booking via SMS, online and mobile app. Despite the costs involved, taxis may sometimes take you to distant locations outside the CBD faster than mass transport. An airport trip from the city centre may take less than 20min on a taxi but more than 30min on an MRT. In the Central Business District, taxis may pick up passengers only at taxi stands (found outside any shopping mall) or buildings with their own driveways (including virtually all hotels). Outside the centre, youre free to hail taxis on the street or call one to your doorstep. At night spots featuring long queues, such as Clarke Quay, you may on occasion be approached by touts offering a quick flat fare to your destination. This is illegal and very expensive but reasonably safe for you. (Drivers, on the other hand, will probably lose their job if caught.) Some Singapore taxi drivers have very poor geographical knowledge and may expect you to know where they should go, so it may be helpful to bring a map of your destination area or directions on finding where you wish to go. It may also be helpful to write down the address of your destination. Some cabbies may also ask you which route you want to take most are satisfied with whichever way is faster. By trishaw Edit Trishaws . three-wheeled bicycle taxis, haunt the area around the Singapore River and Chinatown. Geared purely for tourists, they should be avoided for serious travel as locals do not use them. There is little room for bargaining: short rides will cost 10-20 and an hours sightseeing charter about 50 per person. By boat Edit Bumboat sailing on the Singapore River past the Esplanade Theatres Tourist-oriented bumboats cruise the Singapore River. offering point-to-point rides starting from 3 and cruises with nice views of the CBD skyscraper skyline starting from 13. Bumboats also shuttle passengers from Changi Village to Pulau Ubin (2.50 one-way), a small island off Singapores northeast coast which is about as close as Singapore gets to unhurried rural living. By car Edit Car rental is not a popular option in Singapore. It is also hardly necessary for tourists since public transport sufficiently covers all areas of the island with a significant population base. You will usually be looking at upwards for 100 per day for the smallest vehicle from the major rental companies, although local ones can be cheaper and there are sometimes good weekend prices available. This does not include gas at around 1.80litre or electronic road pricing (ERP) fees, and youll usually need to pay extra to drive to Malaysia. If planning on touring Malaysia by car, it makes much more sense to head across the border to Johor Bahru. where both rentals and petrol are half price, and you have the option of dropping your car off elsewhere in the country. This also avoids the unwelcome extra attention that Singapore-registered plates tend to get from thieves in Malaysia. One rental company called smove offers electric vehicle rentals. With a 19 registration fee, you can rent the electric car from 15 minutes to a full day. Since the cars are battery powered, you save on the cost of gas. They offer their service in the Buona Vista area of Singapore. Roads in Singapore are in excellent condition and driving habits are generally good with most people following the traffic rules due to stringent enforcement, though road courtesy tends to be sorely lacking. Compared to other major cities around the world like Sydney. Tokyo or Hong Kong. parking spaces are comparatively easier to find in the city centre of Singapore, although peak hour congestion can be quite severe. Foreign licences in English are valid in Singapore for up to a year from your date of entry, after which you will have to convert your foreign license to a Singapore one. Foreign licences not in English must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official English translation (usually available from your embassy) for them to be valid. Singaporeans drive on the left (UK style) and the driving age is 18. The speed limit is only 90kmh on expressways and 60kmh on other roads. ERP payments require a stored-value CashCard, which is usually arranged by the rental agency, but its your responsibility to ensure it has enough value. ERP gantries are activated at different times, usually in the expected direction of most cars. As a rule of thumb, gantries found in roads leading to the CBD are activated during the morning rush hour while gantries found in roads exiting the CBD are activated during the evening rush hour. Passing through an active ERP gantry with insufficient value will mean that an alert is sent to your registered address. You will need to pay an administrative fee in addition to the difference between the remaining amount and the actual charge. You have a limited time to settle this otherwise your penalty becomes heavier. All passengers must wear seatbelts and using a phone while driving is banned. Drink-driving is not tolerated: the maximum blood alcohol content is 0.08, with roadblocks set up at night to catch offenders, who are heavily fined and possibly jailed. Even if your blood alcohol level does not exceed the legal limit, you can still be charged with drink driving if the police are convinced that your ability to control the vehicle has been compromised by the presence of alcohol (i. e. if you get involved in an accident). The police do conduct periodic roadblocks and speed cameras are omnipresent. Fines will be sent by mail to you or your rental agency, who will then pass on the cost with a surcharge. If stopped for a traffic offense, dont even think about trying to bribe your way out. By thumb Edit Hitchhiking is virtually unheard of in Singapore, and given the size of the country and its cheap, ubiquitous public transport, its hardly necessary. Plus, its also highly illegal. By bicycle Edit Using bicycles as a substitute for public transport is certainly possible, although theres little cycling culture and amenities like bike lanes or bike racks are a rarity. While the city is small and its landscape is flat, it can be difficult to predict how ridable a route will be without scoping it out first. Buses, taxis, and motorists stopping to drop off or pick up passengers rarely check for cyclists before merging back onto the roadway, which makes certain routes especially treacherous. The ubiquitous road works around Singapore can also make cycling more hazardous when temporary road surfaces are not kept safe for biking, portable traffic barriers make it hard for vehicles to see cyclists, and construction crews directing traffic are unsure of how to deal with cyclists on the roadway. Air quality can also be a problem. According to Singapores LTA, Singapore has more than 178,000 diesel powered cars, taxis, buses, and trucks, which can make biking on Singapores crowded roads very unpleasant. When the thick smoke from Indonesian fires descends on Singapore, air quality plummets even further. This period usually arrives during the mid year when Indonesia performs the slash and burn method of removing waste crops. There are few bike lanes in Singapore, and none in the city centre. The 2010 campaign, 1.5M Matters seems to have had little effect on the driving habits of Singaporeans, who often pass uncomfortably close to cyclists. But that may be because of the lack of a bicycle lane on the roads and motorists are very often forced to swerve into the adjacent lane in order to avoid hitting a cyclist. 22 cyclists were killed on Singapore roadways in 2008 the next year, 19. According to the Singapore Ride of Silence two cyclists are hit by motor vehicles every day in Singapore. Cycling on the pavements is illegal and carries a 10-30 fine. Small folding bicycles may be taken on the MRT during certain times of the day, but large bicycles are a no-no. Bicycles may cross the Causeway to Malaysia (on motorbike lanes), but are not allowed on expressways. List of cycling friendly lanes (Park Connecting Networks) also lists pit stops. Cycling in the East Coast Park is a favourite pastime for many of the locals on weekends and is also a very good way to see the eastern coast of Singapore. Cycles are available for rental at one of the many pit stops all over the east coast park. The cycles can be rented at any one of the pit stops and returned at any of the other shops. Wan Sports Services. 55 Bussorah St, 199471 ( behind Sultan Mosque ), 65 8246 7971. 17. bicycle rental with end to end services from delivery to collection offering mountain, folding and city bikes. Supplies each customer with a detailed maptrip log showing biking trails, parks, landmarks. They recommend Arab Street for cycling activities because of its proximity to Chinatown, Little India, Orchard Road, Clark Quay, East Coast Park, Marina Barrage, Gardens by the Bay, Labrador Park, Sentosa Island and many other interesting and historical places for sight-seeing. 160edit On foot Edit Singapore is generally fairly pedestrian-friendly. In the main business district and on main roadways, pavements and pedestrian crossings are in good shape and plentiful. Drivers are mindful of marked crossing zones, but are less likely be aware or respectful of pedestrians crossing at street corners on less busy streets where pedestrian crossings are not marked, even though by law any accident between a pedestrian and a vehicle is presumed to be the drivers fault. In residential areas of Singapore, pedestrians can be frustrated by narrow and poorly-maintained pavements that often jump from one side of the street to the other or just disappear, and frequently are obstructed by trash cans and plantings. Jaywalking is illegal and punishable with fines of 25 and up to three months in jail. This is, however, rarely (if ever) enforced. Classic walks in Singapore include walking down the river from the Merlion through the Quays, trekking along the Southern Ridges Walk or just strolling around Chinatown. Little India or Bugis. An unavoidable downside, though, is the tropical heat and humidity . which leaves many visitors sweaty and exhausted, so bring along a handkerchief and a bottle of water. Its best to get an early start, pop into air-conditioned shops, cafes, and museums to cool off, and plan on heading back to the shopping mall or hotel pool before noon. Alternatively, after sundown, evenings can also be comparatively cool. On kick scooter Edit Kick scooters are a good alternative to walking, taking less than a quarter of the time depending on the distance you are going. Theyre especially useful for getting around the Riverside area visiting places like Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Parliament House, Supreme Court, the Merlion and the War Memorial Park, where everything is in walking distance but walking feels a little dreadful. Kick scooters are a convenient way of getting around, especially when combined with public transport. Its much easier to take a kick scooter on the MRT, compared to a foldable bicycle. As opposed to bicycles, kick scooters are allowed on pedestrian walkways, as long as you are mindful of other pedestrians around you. Who are the people in your neighbourhood The Big 3 8212 Chinese, Malays and Indians 8212 get all the press, but there are plenty of other communities with their own little neighbourhoods (or shopping malls) in Singapore: Arabs . Arab Street, of course Burmese . Peninsula Plaza, on North Bridge Rd Chinese . Waterloo Street (Singapores new Chinatown) Filipinos . Lucky Plaza, on Orchard Rd French . Serangoon Gardens Indonesians . City Plaza, near Paya Lebar MRT Japanese . Robertson Quay and Clarke Quay, especially the Liang Court shopping mall, plus Cuppage Plaza, opposite the Somerset MRT and Takashimaya along Orchard Road Koreans . Tanjong Pagar Rd Peranakan Chinese . Katong Scandinavians . Pasir Panjang Thais . Golden Mile Complex, Beach Rd Tibetans . Beatty Lane, near Lavender MRT and Pasir Ris Vietnamese . Joo Chiat Rd Malay may be enshrined in the Constitution as the national language, but in practice the most common language is English, spoken by almost every Singaporean under the age of 50 with varying degrees of fluency. English is spoken much better here than in most Asian neighbours. English is also the medium of instruction in schools, except for mother tongue subjects (e. g. Malay, Mandarin and Tamil), which are also required to be learned in school by Singaporeans. In addition, all official signs and documents are written in English, usually using British spelling. Singapores other official languages are Mandarin Chinese and Tamil. Mandarin is spoken by most younger Singaporean Chinese while Tamil is spoken by most Indians. Like English, the Mandarin spoken in Singapore has also evolved into a distinctive creole and often incorporates words from other Chinese dialects, Malay and English, though all Singaporean Chinese are taught standard Mandarin in school. Various Chinese dialects (mostly Hokkien. though significant numbers also speak Teochew and Cantonese ) are also spoken between ethnic Chinese of the same dialect group, though their use has been declining in the younger generation since the 1980s due to government policies discouraging the use of dialects in favour of Mandarin. Other Indian languages, such as Punjabi among the Sikhs, are also spoken. The official Chinese script used in Singapore is the simplified script used in mainland China. As such, all official publications (including local newspapers) and signs are in simplified Chinese and all ethnic Chinese are taught to write the simplified script in school. However, the older generations still prefer the traditional style, and the popularity of Hong Kong and Taiwanese pop culture means that most youth can read traditional Chinese. However, the distinctive local patois Singlish may be hard to understand at times, as it incorporates slang words and phrases from other languages, including various Chinese dialects, Malay and Tamil as well as English words, the pronunciation or meaning of which have been corrupted. Additionally, its sentence structures follow that of Mandarin Chinese, due to Singapores Chinese majority. Complex consonant clusters are simplified, articles and plurals disappear, verb tenses are replaced by adverbs, questions are altered to fit the Chinese syntax and semirandom particles (especially the infamous lah) appear: Singlish: You wan beer or not -- Dunwan lah, dring five bottle oreddi. English: Do you want a beer -- No, thanks Ive already had five bottles. Thanks to nationwide language education campaigns, most younger Singaporeans are, however, capable of speaking what the government calls good English when necessary. Its best to start off with standard English and if it becomes evident that the other person cannot follow you, speak a little slower with simpler words. Resist the temptation to sprinkle your speech with unnecessary Singlishisms it sounds patronizing if you do it wrong, which is highly probable. When asking for help or directions, it should be noted that due to an influx of foreign workers and immigrants in recent years, there is a chance you might be asking somebody who has not been in Singapore for all that long. In extreme cases, one might even encounter a person who barely speaks any English or is downright unfriendly. Unfortunately it is difficult to determine at a glance who you should or should not ask for directions, but do not be afraid to try asking another person if the first answer you get is not satisfactory. A guaranteed way of finding someone willing to help would be to ask a teenager. As a result of compulsory English education, all teenagers speak English and will definitely be able to help. Rest assured that most bona fide Singaporeans would also be more than happy to help. Western television shows and films are shown in their original language with occasional subtitles into Mandarin. News interviews in a different language are also subtitled into the main language of the channelprogramme. Television programmes and films that originate in other parts of Asia however, are dubbed into the language of the channel they will be shown at. This especially applies to programmes and films originally in the Cantonese language, in which case government policy mandates them to be dubbed into Mandarin (English subtitles are shown during primetime hours). Map of central Singapore, with outlines of detailed region maps Sights in Singapore are covered in more detail under the various districts. Broadly speaking: Beaches and tourist resorts . Head to one of the three beaches on Sentosa or its southern islands. Other beaches can be found on the East Coast . Culture and cuisine . See Chinatown for Chinese treats, Little India for Indian flavours, Kampong Glam (Arab St) for a MalayArab experience or the East Coast for delicious seafood, including the famous chilli and black pepper crab. History and museums . The Bras Basah area east of Orchard and north of the Singapore River is Singapores colonial core, with historical buildings and museums. NUS Museum in the west is also very much worth the trip. Nature and wildlife . Popular tourist attractions Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park and the Botanical Gardens are all in the North and West. Finding real nature is a little harder, but the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (located in the same district as the zoo) has more plant species than that in the whole of North America. Pulau Ubin . an island off the Changi Village in the east, is a flashback to the rural Singapore of yesteryear. City parks full of locals jogging or doing tai chi can be found everywhere. Also check out the tortoise and turtle sanctuary in the Chinese Gardens on the west side of town for a great afternoon with these wonderful creatures. 5 for adult admission and 2 for leafy vegetables and food pellets. Parks and gardens . The Garden City and City in a Garden 18 are new concepts being promoted by the Singaporean government and Singaporeans take great pride in their parks and gardens. Be sure to visit the Botanical Gardens (including the National Orchid Garden) and the Gardens by the Bay (dont miss the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest). Theres also the HortPark at the Southern Ridges and the Chinese and Japanese Gardens. Skyscrapers and shopping . The heaviest shopping mall concentration is in Orchard Road. while skyscrapers are clustered around the Singapore River. but also check out Bugis and Marina Bay to see where Singaporeans shop. Places of worship . Dont miss this aspect of Singapore, where Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Bahai faith, Christianity, Islam and even Judaism all exist in sizeable numbers. Religious sites can be easily visited and welcome non-followers outside of service times. Particularly worth visiting include: the vast Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery near Ang Mo Kio. the colourful Sri Mariamman Hindu temple in Chinatown. the psychedelic Burmese Buddhist Temple in Balestier. one of the oldest hokkien temples Thian Hock Keng temple and the stately Masjid Sultan in Arab Street . Itineraries Edit Three days in Singapore 8212 A three-day sampler set of food, culture and shopping in Singapore, easily divisible into bite-size chunks. Southern Ridges Walk 8212 An easy scenic 9km stroll through the hills and jungles of southern Singapore. Highlights of the trail includes a 36 m high Henderson Waves pedestrian bridge providing a stunning view of the sea beyond the jungle. Travel Tips Edit Useful to carry: DeodorantAnti-Perspirant - Singapore is a humid country so expect to sweat a lot. Sun GlassesSunscreen - Singapore is usually bright and sunny. Umbrella - there is some precipitation throughout the year. However, the rain does not last long (usually). ShortsHalf Trousers - Singapore is hot and humid. Although air-conditioning is available in all public transport (except a few public buses) and almost all internal areas, it is advisable to carry some light clothing. Do note that some places of worship may require visitors to dress conservatively. Sweater - not necessary unless you are staying put in an air-conditioned place or if you are watching a movie in the cinema - the air-conditioner can get quite cold. Mosquito repellent - In more remote areas there are mosquitos, otherwise they have been mostly eradicated from Singapore. Dengue fever is a particular problem in this part of the world, so be aware. Carry around with you a copy of the train network so you know how to get to places without having to go to the train station or look online. The train network is quite complicated and there can be a number of different routes to get to 1 place. Book a backpackers place to stay if you do not want to pay exorbitant prices in hotels. Singapore is notoriously expensive for hotel accommodation. Backpacker options are affordable and clean. While you can find a place to practice nearly any sport in Singapore 8212 golfing, surfing, scuba diving, even ice skating and snow skiing 8212 due to the countrys small size your options are rather limited and prices are relatively high. For water sports in particular, the busy shipping lanes and sheer population pressure mean that the sea around Singapore is murky, and most locals head up to Tioman (Malaysia) or Bintan (Indonesia) instead. On the upside, there is an abundance of dive shops in Singapore, and they often arrange weekend trips to good dive sites off the East Coast of Malaysia, so they are a good option for accessing some of Malaysias not-so touristy dive sites. Singapore may be a young country but it has a constantly evolving artistic landscape that draws its influences from its unique heritage of East and Southeast Asian culture, with a good mix of western touch. The Renaissance City Project was initiated in 2000 by the Singaporean Government to establish Singapore as a regional city of the arts to cultivate artistic interest and culture. Today, Singapore sees itself flourishing in the third phase of the renaissance city project with new museums, international galleries and art fairs entering the local artistic landscape. In 2011, Singapore saw the opening of the ArtScience Museum at The Marina Bay Sands, a museum dedicated to design and technology. And in 2012, fourteen international galleries arrived at the shore of Singapore housed at The Gillman Barracks, a new artistic area. The National Art Gallery opened in 2015, and housed in two national monuments - the former Supreme Court Building and City Hall, is the largest visual arts institution in Singapore and also one of the largest regionally, focusing on modern Southeast Asian art through its collections. Singapores art district, located around the Dhoby Ghaut and City Hall area have a concentration of art institutions, museums and galleries. Notable museums and art venues include, the National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Art Museum, The Substation (Singapores first independent contemporary art centre) and Art Plural Gallery, Singapores largest art gallery. Culture Edit Sim Lim Square, Singapores computing and electronics mecca Shopping is second only to eating as a national pastime, which means that Singapore has an abundance of shopping malls, and low taxes and tariffs on imports coupled with huge volume mean that prices are usually very competitive. While you wont find any bazaars with dirt-cheap local handicrafts (in fact, virtually everything sold in Singapore is made elsewhere), goods are generally of reasonably good quality and shopkeepers are generally quite honest due to strong consumer protection laws. Most shops are open 7 days a week from 10AM-10PM, although smaller operations (particularly those outside shopping malls) close earlier 8212 7PM is common 8212 and perhaps on Sundays as well. Mustafa in Little India is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Keep an eye out for the Great Singapore Sale 23. usually held in June-July, when shopping centres pull out all stops to attract punters. Many shops along Orchard Road and Scotts Road now offer late night shopping on the last Friday of every month with over 250 retailers staying open till midnight. Antiques . The second floor of the Tanglin Shopping Centre on Orchard and the shops on South Bridge Rd in Chinatown are good options if looking for the real thing (or high-quality reproductions). Books . Borders at Wheelock Place has since closed down. However, Kinokuniya is at Ngee Ann City, on Orchard. is one of the largest bookshop in Singapore. Many second-hand bookshops are located in Far East Plaza and Bras Basah Complex, where you may attempt to bargain if you are buying a lot. For university textbooks, the bookshops at the National University of Singapore has the best prices on the island, up to 80 off compared to prices in the West. Cameras . Peninsula Plaza near City Hall has Singapores best selection of camera shops. However, there are no great bargains to be had, and many camera shops in Singapore (particularly those in Lucky Plaza and Sim Lim Square) have a reputation for fleecing unwary tourists. The best way is to know what you are looking for and then when you arrive, drop by the shops at the airports transit area and take a look at the price and check with them whether they have any promotions. Then go to the city centre shops and compare pricespackages to see which shop will give you value for money. To be safe, always check prices and packages for everything youre interested in at large retailers like Courts, Harvey Norman and Best Denki first. Be very careful when shop staff attempt to promote brands or models other than the one you have in mind a few shops at Sim Lim Square and elsewhere are known to use this tactic and sell products at 2-4x their actual list prices. Clothes, high-street . Ion, Ngee Ann City (Takashimaya) and Paragon on Orchard have the heaviest concentration of branded boutiques. There are another malls such as Raffles City located at City Hall MRT that also hosts a variety of brands for instance, Kate Spade, Timberland. Clothes, tailored . Virtually all hotels have a tailor shop attached, and touting tailors are a bit of a nuisance in Chinatown. As elsewhere, youll get what you pay for and will get poor quality if you dont have the time for multiple fittings or the skill to check what youre getting. Prices vary widely: a local shop using cheap fabrics can do a shirt for 40 Clothes, youth . Most of Bugis is dedicated to the young, hip and cost-conscious. Currently Bugis street(Opposite Bugis MRT) is the most popular in the Bugis area, consisting of 3 levels of shops. Some spots of Orchard. notably Far East Plaza not to be confused with Far East Shopping Centre and the top floor of the Heeren, also target the same market but prices are generally higher. Contemporary Designs . The red dot design museum near Chinatown a great place if you are into design, contemporary products and want to catch the latest trends. Nearby places worth exploring include Ann Siang Hill, Duxton Hill, Club Street and even along Keong Saik Rd Computers . Sim Lim Square (near Little India) is great for the hardcore geek who really knows what theyre after - parts pricelists are available on HardwareZone and are given out in Sim Lim itself, making price comparison easy. Lesser mortals (namely, who have failed to do their price-checking homework) stand a risk of getting ripped off when purchasing, but this is generally not a problem with the price lists offered by most shops. Some Singaporeans purchase their electronic gadgets during the quarterly IT shows usually held at Suntec City Convention Centre or at the Expo, at which prices on gadgets are sometimes slashed (but often only to Sim Lim levels). Another possibility is to shop at Funan IT Mall. the shops of which may be more honest on average (according to some). Do not be attracted by side giftssweeteners of thumbdrives, mice and so on these only tend to hide inflated prices. Consumer electronics . Quite competitively priced in Singapore. Funan IT Mall ( RiversideBuyRiverside) . Sim Lim Square and Mustafa (Little India ) are good choices. Avoid the tourist-oriented shops on Orchard Road, particularly the notorious Lucky Plaza, or risk getting ripped off. Also be wary of shops on the 1st and 2nd levels of Sim Lim Square, some of which tend to rip off tourists, so please do your research before heading down multi-shop price comparisons and bargaining are absolutely essential. Mustafa has fixed, low prices and is a good option. For any purchases, remember that Singapore uses 230V voltage with a British-style three-pin plug. Electronic components . For do-it-yourself people and engineers, a wide variety of electronic components and associated tools can be found at Sim Lim Tower (opposite Sim Lim Square), near Little India. You can find most common electronic components (such as breadboards, transistors, various ICs, etc.) and bargain for larger quantities as well. Be careful as some of the shops in Sim Lim Square are well known for their fleecing techniques. Ethnic knick-knacks . Chinatown has Singapores heaviest concentration of glow-in-the-dark Merlion soap dispensers and ethnic knick-knack, mostly but not entirely Chinese and nearly all imported from somewhere else. For Malay and Indian stuff, the best places to shop are Geylang Serai and Little India respectively. Fabrics . Arab Street and Little India have a good selection of imported and local fabrics like batik . Chinatown does sell rather reasonable and cheap fabrics, bargaining is allowed so do know your stuff on what fabric to buy. Do note that fabrics in Singapore may not be as cheap as overseas for most fabrics are imported to Singapore, due to the freight charges and many middlemen, the fabric cost may be more costly than overseas. Fakes . Unlike most South-East Asian countries, pirated goods are not openly on sale and importing them to the city-state carries heavy fines. Fake goods are nevertheless not difficult to find in Little India. Bugis. or even in the underpasses of Orchard Road . Food . Local supermarkets Cold Storage, Prime Mart, Shop n Save and NTUC Fairprice are ubiquitous, but for specialties, Jasons Marketplace in the basement of Raffles City and Tanglin Market Place at Tanglin Mall (both on Orchard ) are some of Singapores best-stocked gourmet supermarkets, with a vast array of imported products. Takashimayas basement (Orchard) has lots of small quirky shops and makes for a more interesting browse. For a more Singaporean (and much cheaper) shopping experience, seek out any neighbourhood wet market, like Little India s Tekka Market. For eating out, most shopping centres offer a range of small snack stands and eateries in their basements, as well as a food court or two. Games . Video and PC games are widely available in Singapore, and prices are usually cheaper than in the West. Games sold for the local market are generally in English, and though some games imported from Hong Kong or Taiwan would be in Chinese. Do note, however, that Singapores official region code is NTSC-J (together with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong etc.), which means that games sold may not be compatible with consoles in mainland China, North America, Europe or Australia. During the four times in a year IT Shows, PC, XBox, Wii, Playstation games prices may drop at such IT shows, if not the games will be bundled with others (Example: Buy 2 at 49.90) Hi-fi stereos . The Adelphi (Riverside ) has Singapores best selection of audiophile shops. Marine sports . Many of the shophouses opposite The Concourse on Beach Rd in Bugis sell fishing and scuba diving gear. Mobile phones . Very competitively priced in Singapore due to high consumer volume, available throughout the country both used and new. Phones are never SIM locked, so they can be used anywhere, and many shops will allow you to trade in an older phone to offset the cost of a new one. Music . Gramophone provides good prices on CDs and has an interesting selection. Numerous branches are scattered across the CBD and Orchard Road. One of the better Gramophone locations is at Ngee Ann City in B2. Pretty in pink: Peranakan tea set with dragon-phoenix motif Peranakan goods . The Peranakan . or Malay-Chinese, may be fading but their colourful clothing and artwork, especially the distinctive pastel-coloured ceramics, are still widely available. Antiques are expensive, but modern replicas are quite affordable. The largest selection and best prices can be found in Katong on the East Coast. Sports goods . Queensway Shopping Centre, off Alexandra Rd and rather off the beaten track (take a taxi), seems to consist of nothing but sports goods shops. You can also find foreigner-sized sporty clothing and shoes here. Do bargain Expect to get 40-50 off the price from the shops in Orchard for the same items. Velocity in Novena is also devoted to sports goods, but is rather more upmarket. Martial arts equipment is surprisingly hard to find, although most of the clothing shops around Pagoda Street in Chinatown sell basic silk taijiwushu uniforms. Note that if you plan to buy weapons such as swords, you have to apply for a permit from the local police (around 10) to get your weaponry out of the country. Tea . Chinatown s Yue Hwa (2nd floor) is unbeatable for both price and variety, but Time for Tea in Lucky Plaza (Orchard ) is also a good option. English tea is also widely available around Orchard Road, most notably at Marks and Spencer in Centrepoint. Watches . High-end watches are very competitively priced. Ngee Ann City (Orchard ) has dedicated shops such as Piaget and Cartier, while Millenia Walk (Marina Bay ) features the Cortina Watch Espace selling 30 brands including Audemars Piguet amp Patek Philippe, as well as several other standalone shops. For purchases of over 100 per day per participating shop, you may be able to get a 6 refund of your 7 GST at Changi Airport or Seletar Airport, but the process is a bit of a bureaucratic hassle. At the shop you need to ask for a tax refund cheque. Before checking in at the airport, present this cheque together with the items purchased and your passport at the GST customs counter. Get the receipt stamped there. Then proceed with check-in and go through security. On the air side, bring the stamped cheque to the refund counter to cash it in or get the GST back on your credit card. See Singapore Customs 24 for the full scoop. This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one . including soft drink: PeranakanNonya cuisine Edit Culinary borrowings Many regional terms and the odd euphemism tend to crop up in notionally English menus. A few of the more common ones: assam 160 tamarind (Malay) bee hoon 160 thin rice noodles (Hokkien ) garoupa 160 grouper, a type of fish (Portuguese) gonggong 160 a type of conch (Chinese) hor fun 160 very wide, flat rice noodles (Cantonese ) kangkung 160 water spinach, an aquatic vegetable (Malay) kway teow 160 flat rice noodles (Hokkien ) lengkuas 160 blue ginger (Malay) mee 160 thick egg noodles (Hokkien ) serai 160 lemon grass (Malay) sotong 160 squidcuttlefish (Malay) spare parts 160 offal such as liver, heart, gizzard tang hoon 160 glass vermicelli made from mung bean flour (Hokkien ) The most identifiable cuisine in the region is Peranakan or Nonya cuisine, born from the mixed Malay and Chinese communities of what were once the British colonies of the Straits Settlements (modern-day Singapore . Penang and Malacca ). Chilli crab is a whole crab ladled with oodles of sticky, tangy chilli sauce. Its spicy at first, but the more you eat, the better it gets. Notoriously difficult to eat, so dont wear a white shirt: just dig in with your hands and ignore the mess. The seafood restaurants of the East Coast are famous for this. Be sure to get a side order of fried mantou (small sweet buns which have been deep fried for a crisp exterior) to mop up the sauce too. For a less messy but equally tasty alternative, ask for black pepper crab . Kaya is a jam-like spread made from egg and coconut, an odd-sounding but tasty combination. Served on toast for breakfast, canonically accompanied by runny eggs and strong, sweet coffee ( kopi ). Exists in two distinctive styles the greenish Nonya version, coloured with pandan leaf, and the brownish Hainanese version. Laksa . in particular the Katong laksa or laksa lemak style, is probably the best-known Singaporean dish: white noodles in a creamy, immensely rich coconut-based curry broth, topped with cockles or shrimp. Be warned that the common style found in hawker centres is very spicy, although you can ask for lessno chilli to dial down the heat. The Katong style is much less spicy and is generally found only in Katong itself (see the East Coast page ). Singapore laksa is very different from Penang laksa, which is a spicy, sourish, clear soup made with a tamarind-infused broth. Mee siam is rice flour noodles served in a sweet-sour soup (made from tamarind, dried shrimp and fermented beans), bean curd cubes, and hard boiled eggs. Though the Chinese, Malays and Indians all have their own versions, it is the Peranakan version that is most popular with Singaporeans. You will largely find this at Malay stalls. Popiah . or spring rolls, come fresh or fried. They consist of a filling of boiled turnip, fried tofu, pork, shrimp with a slew of condiments, wrapped in a thin crepe smeared with sweet dark soy sauce and eaten like a fajita. They are related to the lumpia and runbing of other Chinese communities in Asia. Rojak means a mixture of everything in Malay, and there are two very different types. Chinese rojak is a salad of pineapple, white turnip, cucumber, tau pok (fried bean curd) with thin tiny slices of bunga kantan (torch ginger flower buds), tossed in shrimp paste sauce and sugar, then sprinkled with crushed peanuts. Indian rojak consists of mainly fried fritters made from flour and various pulses with cucumber and tofu, with sweet amp spicy sauces. Satay bee hoon is rice vermicelli ( bee hoon ) served with the same peanut and chilli sauce used for satay . hence the name. Usually see hum (cockles), dried squid and pork slices are added. Ice cream is just as it is in Western countries. However, in Singapore, there are various local flavours such as durian and red bean which are not available outside the region and are certainly worth a try. To impress the locals, try asking for ice cream in roti (bread). Besides these dishes, the Peranakans are also known for their kueh or snacks, which are somewhat different from the Malay versions due to stronger Chinese influences. Malay cuisine Edit Nasi lemak with sambal ikan bilis (fried anchovies with chilli paste), cucumber, chicken curry and an egg The Malays were Singapores original inhabitants and despite now being outnumbered by the Chinese, their distinctive cuisine is popular to this day. Characterized by heavy use of spices, most Malay dishes are curries, stews or dips of one kind or another and nasi padang restaurants, offering a wide variety of these to ladle onto your rice, are very popular. Mee rebus is a dish of egg noodles with spicy, slightly sweet gravy, a slice of hard boiled egg and lime. Mee soto is Malay-style chicken soup, with a clear broth, shredded chicken breast and egg noodles. Nasi lemak is the definitive Malay breakfast, consisting at its simplest of rice cooked in light coconut milk, some ikan bilis (anchovies), peanuts, a slice of cucumber and a dab of chilli on the side. A larger ikan kuning (fried fish) or chicken wing are common accompaniments. More often than not, also combined with a variety of curries andor sambal (see below). OtahOtak is a type of fish cake made of minced fish (usually mackerel), coconut milk, chilli and various other spices, and grilled in a banana or coconut leaf, usually served to accompany other dishes like nasi lemak. Rendang . occasionally dubbed dry curry, is meat stewed for hours on end in a spicy (but rarely fiery) coconut-based curry paste until almost all water is absorbed. Beef rendang is the most common, although chicken and mutton are spotted sometimes. Sambal is the generic term for chilli sauces of many kinds. Sambal belacan is a common condiment made by mixing chilli with the shrimp paste belacan . while the popular dish sambal sotong consists of squid ( sotong ) cooked in red chilli sauce. Satay are barbecued skewers of meat, typically chicken, mutton or beef. What separates satay from your ordinary kebab is the spices used to season the meat and the slightly spicy peanut-based dipping sauce. The Satay Club at Lau Pa Sat near Raffles Place is one popular location for this delicacy. Malay desserts, especially the sweet pastries and jellies ( kuih or kueh ) made largely from coconut and palm sugar ( gula melaka ), bear a distinct resemblance to those of Thailand. But in the sweltering tropical heat, try one of many concoctions made with ice instead: Bubur cha-cha consists of cubed yam, sweet potato and sago added into coconut milk soup. This can be served warm or cold. Chendol is made with green pea noodles, kidney beans, palm sugar and coconut milk. Durian is not exactly a dish, but a local fruit with distinctive odor you can smell a mile away and a sharp thorny husk. Both smell and taste defy description. If you are game enough you should try it, but be warned beforehand 8212 you will either love it or hate it. The rich creamy yellow flesh is often sold in places like Geylang and Bugis and elsewhere conveniently in pre-packaged packs, for anywhere from 1 for a small fruit all the way up to 24kg depending on the season and type of durian. This king of fruits is also made into ice cream, cakes, sweets, puddings and other decadent desserts. Merk . Youre not allowed to carry durians on the MRT and buses and theyre banned from many hotels. Ice kachang literally means ice bean in Malay, a good clue to the two major ingredients: shaved ice and sweet red beans. However, more often than not youll also get gula melaka (palm sugar), grass jelly, sweet corn, attap palm seeds and anything else on hand thrown in, and the whole thing is then drizzled with canned evaporated milk or coconut cream and coloured syrups. The end result tastes very interesting 8212 and refreshing. Kuih (or kueh ) refer to a plethora of steamed or baked cakes, mostly made with coconut milk, grated coconut flesh, glutinous rice or tapioca. They are often very colourful and cut into fanciful shapes, but despite their wildly varying appearance tend to taste rather similar. Pisang goreng is a batter-dipped and deep-fried banana. Chinese cuisine Edit Bak kut teh with rice and you tiao fritters Prawn mee and pork rib soup Chinese food as eaten in Singapore commonly originates from southern China. particularly Fujian and Guangdong. While authentic fare is certainly available, especially in fancier restaurants, the daily fare served in hawker centres has absorbed a number of tropical touches, most notably the fairly heavy use of chilli and the Malay fermented shrimp paste belacan as condiments. Noodles can also be served not just in soup ( tang ), but also dry ( kan ), meaning that your noodles will be served tossed with chilli and spices in one bowl, and the soup will come in a separate bowl. Bak chor mee is essentially noodles with minced pork, tossed in a chilli-based sauce with lard, ikan bilis (fried anchovies), vegetables and mushrooms. Black vinegar may also be added. Bak kut teh (), lit. pork bone tea, is a simple-sounding soup of pork ribs simmered for hours in broth until theyre ready to fall off the bone. Singaporeans prefer the light and peppery Teochew style (white), but a few shops offer the original dark and aromatic Fujian kind (black). Bak kut teh is typically eaten with white rice, mui choy (pickled vegetables) and a pot of strong Chinese tea, hence the name 8212 the broth itself doesnt contain any tea. To impress the locals, order some you tiao fritters from a nearby stall and cut them up into bite-sized chunks to dip into your soup. Char kway teow () is the quintessential Singapore-style fried noodle dish, consisting of several types of noodles in thick brown sauce with strips of fishcake, Chinese sausage, a token veggie or two and either cockles and shrimp. Its cheap (2-3serve), filling and has nothing to do with the dish known as Singapore fried noodles elsewhere (And which actually doesnt exist in Singapore.) Chee cheong fun () is a favorite breakfast consisting of lasagna-type rice noodles rolled up and various types of fried meats including fishballs and fried tofu. The dish is usually topped with a generous amount of sauce. Chwee kway is a breakfast dish consisting of rice cakes topped with chai po (salted fermented turnips), usually served with some chilli sauce. Fishball noodles () come in many forms, but the noodle variety most often seen is mee pok . which are flat egg noodles. The noodles are tossed in chilli sauce and accompanied by a side bowl of fishballs in soup. Hainanese chicken rice () is steamed (white) or roasted (red) chicken flavoured with soy sauce and sesame oil served on a bed of fragrant rice that has been cooked in chicken broth and flavoured with ginger and garlic. Often accompanied by chilli sauce made from crushed fresh chillis, ginger, garlic and thick dark soy sauce as well as some cucumber and a small bowl of chicken broth. Hokkien mee () is a style of soupy fried noodles in light, fragrant stock with prawns and other seafood. Oddly, it bears little resemblance to the Kuala Lumpur dish of the same name, which uses thick noodles in dark soy, or even the Penang version, which is served in very spicy soup. Kway chap () is essentially sheets made of rice flour served in a brown stock, accompanied by a plate of braised pork and pig organs (tongue, ear and intestines). Prawn noodles (, hae mee in Hokkien) is an dark-brown prawn broth served with egg noodles and a giant tiger prawn or two on top. Some stalls serve it with boiled pork ribs as well. The best versions are highly addictive and will leave you slurping up the last MSG-laden (probably from the shrimp heads) drops. Steamboat (), also known as hot pot . is do-it-yourself soup Chinese style. You get a pot of broth bubbling on a tabletop burner, pick meat, fish and veggies to your liking from a menu or buffet table, then cook it to your liking. When finished, add in noodles or ask for rice to fill you up. This usually requires a minimum of two people, and the more the merrier. Tau huay () is probably the most common traditional Chinese dessert, a bowl of tofu curds in syrup, served either hot or cold. A recent innovation that has swept the island is a delicious custard-like version (soft tau huay) which includes no syrup and is extremely soft despite being solid. Wonton mee () is thin noodles topped with wantan dumplings of seasoned minced pork. Unlike the soupy Hong Kong version, it is usually served dry in soy sauce and chilli. Yong tau foo () literally means fermented tofu, but its more exciting than it sounds. The diner selects their favorites from a vast assortment of tofu, fish paste, assorted seafood and vegetables, and they are then sliced into bite-size pieces, cooked briefly in boiling water and then served either in broth as soup or dry with the broth in a separate bowl. The dish can be eaten by itself or with any choice of noodles. Essential accompaniments are spicy chili sauce and sweet sauce for dipping. Indian cuisine Edit Roti prata (left) and roti telur (centre) with a side order of chicken curry The smallest of the areas big three ethnic groups, the Indians have had proportionally the smallest impact on the local culinary scene, but there is no shortage of Indian food even at many hawker centres. Delicious and authentic Indian food can be had at Little India, including south Indian typical meals such as dosa ( thosai ) crepes, idli lentil-rice cakes and sambar soup, as well as north Indian meals including various curries, naan bread, tandoori chicken and more. In addition, however, a number of Indian dishes have been Singaporeanized and adopted by the entire population, including: Fish head curry is, true to the name, a gigantic curried fish head cooked whole until its ready to fall apart. Singapores Little India is the place to sample this. Note that there are two distinct styles, the fiery Indian and the milder Chinese kind. Nasi briyani is rice cooked in turmeric, giving it an orange colour. Unlike the Hyderabadi original, its usually rather bland, although specialist shops do turn out more flavorful versions. It is usually served with curry chicken and some Indian crackers. Roti prata is the local version of paratha . flat bread tossed in the air like pizza, rapidly cooked in oil, and eaten dipped in curry. Modern-day variations can incorporate unorthodox ingredients like cheese, chocolate, sugar and even ice cream, but some canonical versions include roti kosong (plain), roti telur (with egg) and murtabak (layered with chicken, mutton or fish). Strict vegetarians beware: unlike Indian roti . roti prata batter is usually made with eggs. Murtabak is a variety of Roti Prata where mutton, chicken, onion and sometimes peas, depending on the stall, are added into a typical Prata, and served with a curry of your choice. Most stalls has chicken and fish curry and they will serve you either of those two randomly unless specified. Do take note that the curry served are just plain curry without and meat included. Fish curry is generally the more commonly served and carries a slight sour taste. A Murtabak is generally much larger than a typical Roti Kosong and it is recommended that it is shared among at least two person. Zam Zam located at the Kampong Glam Bugis area is arguably the most famous restaurant in Singapore serving the murtabak Putu mayam is a sweet dessert composed of vermicelli-like noodles topped with shredded coconut and orange sugar. Hawker centres Edit Social welfare Singapore style One thing notably absent from Singaporean hawker centres and food courts is any form of napkins or tissues. The solution to the mystery is in Singapores lack of government welfare: instead, every hawker centre has a resident invalid or two, who make a living by selling tissues (1 for a few packets). These folks believe in self reliance instead of depending on government welfare funds. Do give them your respectful support. The original Singapore Sling at the Raffles Alcohol is widely available but very expensive due to Singapores heavy sin taxes. You can bring in up to one litre of liquor and two litres of wine and beer if you arrive from countries other than Malaysia. Changi Airport has a good range of duty free spirits at reasonable prices, but cheap wine is non-existent, with bottles starting well over S20. Careful shopping at major supermarkets will also throw up common basic Australian wine labels for under 20. Alcohol is haram (forbidden) to Muslims, and most Muslim Singaporeans duly avoid it. While most non-Muslim Singaporeans are not puritanical and enjoy a drink every now and then, do not expect to find the binge-drinking culture that you will find in most Western countries. Unlike in most Western countries, public drunkenness in socially frowned upon in Singapore, and misbehaving yourself under the influence of alcohol will certainly not gain you any respect from Singaporean friends. Do not allow any confrontations to escalate into fights, as the police will be called in, and you will face jail time and possibly caning. Prices when eating out vary. You can enjoy a large bottle of beer of your choice at a coffee shop or hawker centre for less than 6 (and the local colour comes thrown in for free). On the other hand, drinks in any bar, club or fancy restaurant remain extortionate, with a basic drink clocking in at 10-15 while fancy cocktails would usually be in the 15-25 range. On the upside, happy hours and two-for-one promotions are common, and the entry price for clubs usually includes several drink tickets. Almost all restaurants in Singapore allow bringing your own (BYO) wine and cheaper restaurants without a wine menu usually dont even charge corkage, although in these places youll need to bring your own bottle opener and glasses. Fancier places charge 20-50, although many offer free corkage days on Monday or Tuesday. Tourists flock to the Long Bar in the Raffles Hotel to sample the original Singapore Sling . a sickly sweet pink mix of pineapple juice, gin and more, but locals (almost) never touch the stuff. The tipple of choice in Singapore is the local beer, Tiger . a rather ordinary lager, but theres been a recent microbrewery trend with Singapores very own RedDot Brewhouse (Dempsey amp Boat Quay), Archipelago . Brewerkz (Riverside Point, Singapore Indoor Stadium, Orchard Parade Hotel, and Sentosa Boardwalk), Paulaner Brauhaus (Millenia Walk) and Pump Room (Clarke Quay) all offering interesting alternatives. There are also many online alcohol stores that offer great value and convenience with doorstep delivery such as Cellarbration Singapore, Alcohol Delivery, Winelah and Cornerstonewines for you to shop from if you are looking for an affordable nightcap or as a gift for your host in Singapore. Tobacco Edit Tobacco is heavily taxed, and you are not allowed to bring more than one opened pack (not carton, but a single pack) of cigarettes into the country. This is particularly strictly enforced on the land borders with Malaysia. Many public places including hawker centres have restrictions on smoking, and it is prohibited in public transport as well. There is a total ban on smoking in all air-conditioned places (including pubs and discos), and strict limitations on where you can smoke outside as well (e. g. bus stops, parks, playgrounds and all except the designated sections of hawker centres are off limits). The designated zone should be marked with a yellow outline, and may have a sign reading smoking zone. Prostitution Edit Prostitution is tolerated in six designated districts, most notably Geylang. which 8212 not coincidentally 8212 also offers some of the cheapest lodging and best food in the city. The industry maintains a low profile (no go-go bars here) and is not a tourist attraction by any stretch of the word. Legally practising commercial sex workers are required to register with the authorities and attend special clinics for regular sexually transmitted disease screening. However, please be prudent and practice safe sex--although most sex workers will insist on it anyway. Orchard Towers, on Orchard Road. has been famously summarized as four floors of whores and, despite occasional crackdowns by the authorities, continues to live up to its name. Beware that the prostitutes working here are usually not registered, so the risk of theft and STDs is significantly higher. Some transgender women work at this establishment because the State does not allow them to obtain a license for sex work. Because they are considered illegal workers, they are subjected to constant raids, harassment, intimidation, imprisonment and other forms of degrading treatment and criminalization. They also face entrapment where police officers pretend to be customers.44 Sleep Edit Individual listings can be found in Singapores district articles Accommodation in Singapore is expensive by South-East Asian standards. Particularly in the higher price brackets, demand has been outstripping supply recently and during big events like the F1 race or some of the larger conventions its not uncommon for pretty much everything to sell out. Lower-end hotels and hostels, though, remain affordable and available throughout the year. This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: