Yes, Singapore is Malaysia’s neighbour in Southeast Asia and it is home to the world’s most expensive standalone casino property, Marina Bay Sands.
You’re right when you say it’s a cultural and food haven and that the country’s flag carrier, Singapore Airlines, was the first airline to operate the world’s largest aircraft, the A380.
And yes, Singapore really is a shopaholic’s dream destination and it does have bragging rights to having one of the top airports on the globe.
But did you know Singapore is also home to 10 suspected haunted prisons, hospitals and houses? Or that one of its biggest actors was cast in The Dark Knight alongside Hollywood hunk Christian Bale?
To celebrate Singapore’s big 50th birthday, its tourism bureau has compiled a fun book of random facts about the destination – some you know and some that will truly surprise you.
Having managed to get ourselves a copy of Singapore At Random, we thought we’d share a few of those random facts – your clients may even entice your clients to visit the destination.
1. Singapore actor on the set of Batman
As mentioned above, Singaporean actor, Ng Chin Han, was cast in the Christopher Nolan’s production of The Dark Knight alongside Christian Bale and Australia’s very own Heath Ledger.
Ng portrayed Lau – a Hong Kong mogul in cahoots with the crime syndicate from Gotham City.
His comic-run continued in 2013 when he featured in CW’s Arrow.
Fun fact: for his The Dark Knight audition, Ng had to read scripts that were printed on special paper, which could not be photocopied.
2. The most visited spot is…
It’s not Marina Bay Sands and it’s not Sentosa Island – the most visited attraction in Singapore is the National Museum of Singapore.
It is the oldest museum in Singapore and featured and attractions international and local exhibits such as ‘Sketches of a Changing World’ and ‘Princely Treasures from the House of Liechtenstein’.
Other frequented spots include the Singapore Zoological Gardens, Night Safari, Science Centre Singapore and Jurong Bird Park.
3. Singaporean Horror Story
Forget American Horror Story, Singapore is where the supernatural action occurs.
The country has 10 suspected haunted places, including the Pasir Ris Red House – a building with an extensive history of deaths and murders. It’s believed that spirits spook visitors by moving the stone lion heads outside the house and turning their heads or making roaring sounds as someone passes by.
There’s also Woody Lodge – a former mental facility that still houses a number of earth-bound spirits.
#creepy
4. Asia’s first test-tube baby
On a slightly less haunting note, Singapore was the first destination in Asia to welcome the birth of a test-tube baby or baby born in-vitro fertilisation in 1983.
5. Keep yo’ clothes on
Singapore is definitely not a spot for the nudists.
It is actually illegal to wander naked around your home. The only exempt place for nudity is the bathroom because well… you need to be.
If caught wandering nude, a person can be fined up to $2,000 and given a three-month jail sentence.
6. The Kardashians’ people are a Singaporean minority
I think a few Armenians may hold some resentment towards after introducing them like that…
But, Armenians are Singapore’s most illustrious minority having arrived in the 1820s and building their first church – Church of St Gregory – in March 1836.
They reached their peak in 1931, when the local census found 81 Armenian families resided in the country.
By the 1950s, much of the Armenian community migrated to Australia, however, they did leave behind a number of churches that are now popular tourists spots.
7. Bungalows are HUGE
British English may refer to bungalows are being relatively small one-storey properties, but in Singapore bungalows are actually the equivalent to a mansion.
8. ‘Hello Kitty’ – the accidental craze
Even if you don’t like her or don’t own anything with her pink dress and white paws, you know the ‘Hello Kitty’ branding.
But did you know she actually started out as a cute promotional strategy by McDonald’s.
The dolls originally came out one Chinese New Year’s Day in the year 2000 as a ‘thank you’ gesture to loyal customers, in a 40-day promotion.
However, before the outlets opened for business on day one of the offer, 250,000 people had started a queue, most of them from early evening the day before.
9. Ice cream, ice cream, $1 ice creams
Who needs a 30c cone from Maccas when you can get a traditional ice cream from a street seller for only $1.
The local delight has managed to resist the inflation prices over the years and offers tourists a huge variety of ice-cream flavours for a mere buck.
Customers can also choose whether they want their block of ice cream in a slice of pink and green pandan-flavoured bread or as a sandwich between two wafer biscuits.
#bargain
