Singapore

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Singapore is a city of gardens and the heart of South East Asia. Its history began in 1819 with Stamford Raffles, a young official who worked for the British East India Company. Raffles estimated that the natural harbour was perfect for trading ships and so he bought the land from the Sultan of Johor and founded a trading settlement. As a free port, Singapore attracted trading ships from all over the world and today four million people live here on an area that covers 640 square kilometres. In June each year there is an exciting boat race in Marina Bay known as the Dragon Boat Race that features magnificently painted dragon boats with hand-carved heads and tails accompanied by the sound of frenetic drumbeats. Dating back to colonial times, British influence is omnipresent, whether the Cricket Club or the Parliament, traditional English spirit rules despite Singapore's Independence. The World Famous Raffles Hotel is situated in the Colonial District near to the Singapore River. In the hotel's Ashanti Bar it was customary to throw expired peanut shells directly onto the floor and at the same time to reverently sip a Singapore Sling, the national drink. The Singapore Zoo is one of the finest in the world in which the animals can roam freely, their territory being surrounded by a landscaped ditch. Approximately 2800 animals live in the spacious enclosures and even those from the world's coldest regions can be observed both below and above water, thanks to cleverly designed viewing areas. A complete mix of ethnic cultures, there's Chinatown, Little India and the Arab Street Quarter in which there are mosques, women wear burqas and there is all the hustle and bustle of a bazaar. Singapore is an exotic city of skyscrapers, a cultural melting pot and the exciting gateway to South East Asia!

DVD. On Tour. 26 Minutes. Singapore is a city of gardens and the heart of South East Asia. It is here that the journey begins on the Eastern and Oriental Express, a nostalgic train journey that has all the exotic atmosphere of colonial times. The history of Singapore began in 1819 with Stamford Raffles, a young official who worked for the British East India Company.Raffles estimated that the natural harbour was perfect for trading ships and thus bought the land from the Sultan Of Johor and founded a trading settlement. The train station exudes the ambience of British colonialism and is an ideal setting for those who love nostalgia.The journey begins and soon we arrive at the Malaysian border.This is the first section of our extraordinary train journey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. After eight hours we reach Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's modern capital city that is relatively young and was established in the middle of the 19th century at the junction of the Gombak and Kelang Rivers. The journey continues along splendid route through the jungle that since 1923 has connected Singapore with Bangkok, with Butterworth as the next station from where a bridge and ferry boat lead to the island of Penang that is also known as The Pearl Of The Orient. The next section travels further north to Kanchaburi in Thailand and to the bridge on the River Kwai, a somewhat inconspicuous bridge that once brought infamy to this region. For those who are fascinated by the evocative atmosphere of Colonial times the extra special train journey from Singapore to Bangkok must surely be the journey of a lifetime!