After the Orchard and the Heritage district, one finds the Financial district, which houses Suntec City as well as the Singapore Convention Center. The Marina Mandarin and Pan Pacific are just a couple of example of the international 5-star properties one can find in this area. Singapore's very own Chinatown is a dazzling mix of the modern and the traditional. There's no need to have any qualms in this area, as it is one of the most popular communities in all of Singapore and, as such, it has lodging for people on all sorts of budget ranges. From relatively cheaper boutique hotels to the grander 5-star establishments, the hotels in Chinatown are sure to cover all the bases.

Little India is a colorful community found to the north of Singapore's Heritage district. Serangoon Road houses hotels and various other establishments that put a high priority on value. Along with budget hotels and cheaper guest houses, this district is a popular choice for traveling businessmen who seek excellent value to keep their budget intact.

One of Singapore's recently-transformed districts Co- working space is the River district, which is found near the Singapore River. The area houses chic shops and boutiques as well as several new venues for entertainment purposes. Accordingly, there are a lot of hotels that emphasize value for money despite being of 4- or 5-star rank.

Meanwhile, transit hotels permeate the East Singapore area near the airport. This is ideal for travelers who need overnight stays or who simply need to rest for a few hours before heading out to their desired destinations. These are affordable accommodations that are also quite convenient. Those are just a few of Singapore's many districts, along with some of the prominent types of hotels that one may find within them. If you ever find yourself going to one of the districts discussed above, then you'll have an idea of what to expect in terms of accommodations.

Singapore is an island city-state, made up of many districts with particular characteristics. With the various areas within the country's boundaries, it is only natural that there will be some major areas where a lot of hotels can be found, to cater to the millions of tourists and visiting businessmen that flock to the country.

Orchard Road is one of the grandest and most famous shopping districts in all of Asia-and perhaps the world. That's why the hotels in this area prominently feature 5-star properties with international Baptismal credentials, such as the Hilton, Marriott, and Le Meridien hotels. There are also hotels that cater more to luxury in the local context, such as the Orchard Hotel and Royal Plaza. Most importantly, shoppers seeking the thrills and finds of the Orchard district are assured of having a lot of great options for places to stay in.

Singapore's Heritage district is nestled between the country's financial district and Orchard Road. The proximity to such key areas make the district a hotbed for all types of hotels, from the 3-star hotels that emphasize high value for money to towering 5-star hotels with the luxury and international status to match.

Over the years several modifications and renovations were implemented on the building. In this endeavour the original Neo-Palladian architectural style of the edifice was gradually changed into a Victorian style appearance. At the front of the magnificent building a striking bronze statue of an elephant may be seen. This impressive statue was gifted by King Chulalongkorn of Siam (today's Thailand) as an expression of his appreciation following his visit in 1871. 

The Arts House which now occupies the building was launched in 2004. One of Singapore's most significant arts and heritage institutions, the Arts House aims to inspire a passion for the arts amongst visitors and to make the arts an integral part of their lives. It aims to create a strong relationship between the art-loving public and artists through their artworks.

The Arts House forges strong links between artists, art Product Launch organizations and art enthusiasts through a wide range of attractive and stimulating events featuring contemporary art and entertainment. The splendid interior of the building provides a superb location for the display of artworks with its expansive well-lit rooms.

The Arts House with the collaboration of Singapore's Business Times has launched a programme to nurture artistic talent amongst youngsters, providing assistance to talented children of non-affluent families. The organization also conducts a Cultural Relationships Programme which aims to provide gifted Singaporean artists with a platform to display their masterpieces on the international stage.

The island state of Singapore has a legacy dating back to the 11th century. The settlement gained importance in the period of the 14th century during the rule of Parameswara, a Srivijayan prince at which time it functioned as a port of significance. Singapore's transition to modernity began with the establishment of a British port under Sir Stamford Raffles. 

The imposing Old Parliament House in Singapore lays claim to a rich and varied history. This building was used as the location for the sittings of the Parliament of Singapore from 1965 up to 1999, at Team Building which time it was relocated to a new venue. Today the building is known as the Arts House at the Old Parliament and functions as a centre for the arts, hosting concerts and art exhibitions.

Construction of the Old Parliament House was finished in 1827 and it was considered to be an example of the Neo-Palladian style of architecture. It was initially built as the residence of John Argyle Maxwell, a Scottish merchant. Initially the British government leased the building from Maxwell for official use; when the property was auctioned in 1841 it was purchased by the government.

Although Singapore's technological innovations in transport and electronics have made it the official "Miracle of Asia" in elite circles, the best manner in which to encounter Singapore at its most authentic is via a Singapore Walk, which will take you to some of the hidden niches of culture that reveal new worlds of insight. You will embark on a unique tour that will take you to mysterious graveyards, magnificent gun batteries, bustling wet markets, aged smoke houses, and other secret places that form the bulwark of Singapore's extensive and impressive historical legacy. You will be thoroughly entertained by your animated professional guides who have clearly done their research as they will make these attractions come alive via lively commentary and an unsurpassed affection for this iconic city that they call home.

When it comes to family entertainment that easily Workshop caters to all ages, you cannot miss the adventure and excitement of the Singapore Zoo. Nestled within an expansive 26-hectare park, you will encounter more than 2,800 citizens of the wild that span over 300 species of birds, reptiles, and mammals that call this unique enclave home.

Step onto an elevated viewing platform to come face-to-face with the noble giraffes of the Serengeti; walk through an underwater tunnel and marvel at the strange and bizarre denizens of the deep including pygmy hippos and otters as well as giant estuarine crocodiles. You can have the kangaroos of Australia eating out of the palm of your hand - literally, catch the flying foxes careening overhead, and encounter the shy mouse deer as they wander across your path. The zoo's specialty is immersive experiences, so wander across these and other fascinating landscapes (faithfully replicated) that will transport you to other continents without the need for a passport.

During this decade, Tan Choon Tee was making a name for himself in the international magic community in the field of Mentalism. He won several international Linking Ring Awards for his One-Man Parades and has two books published by Micky Hades.

He was also a regular contributor to numerous international magic magazines such as Gen, New Pentagram, Magicgram, Magicana and The Linking Ring.

The 1970s saw the birth of the second generation of Singapore magicians. Some well-known magicians who got started during this time included;

The Great Wong's son Ng Kee Chee, John Teo, Tang Sai Thong, Ng Seow Kiat, Tang Yeng Fun, Bob Chua, Eric Leong, Tan Teck Seng, Lawrence Tham, Tan Tuan Seng, Lawrence Khong and Andrew Kong.

The Singapore Association of Magicians was founded on 10 March 1973 in friendly 'rivalry' to the IBM Ring. The club was led by Tan Bah Chee with prominent founding members such as Lim Hap Hin, Tan Hock Chuan and Charles Choo.

Magic shops in Singapore began to spring up during the late seventies. Ng Kee Chee set up a magic stall at Yaohan in Plaza Singapura and Wang Leng opened his shop in Peninsula Plaza.

Charles Choo opened his shop in August 1978 on the 6th floor of Far East Shopping Centre. (It would move several times to various malls but eventually returned back to Far East).

His shop would soon become an institution where magicians would buy various magic products as well as meet up and learn from each other.

During this period, The Tropicana Night Club, which was situated at Pacific Plaza, was a venue that had regular magic performances. Several famous magicians also visited Singapore in the 70s.

In 1970, John Calvert performed at the National Theatre. In 1972, Albert Goshman visited Ring 115 to give a lecture. In that same year,

"The Professor" Dai Vernon also visited Singapore, lectured and interacted with local magicians. Other visiting magicians included Andre Kole, Billy McComb, and Ali Bongo.

By the 1980s, the local magic scene was flourishing with healthy memberships for the two main magic clubs as well as a surge in the number of performing magicians. Many of today's veterans made their name in the 80s.

Familiar names like Richard Ang, Patrick Wan, Patrick Nightclubs for rent in Singapore Ng Wang Lin, Tan Hai Yan AKA Gician, Paul Koh, AB Francis and Gordon Koh were performing regularly at public and private shows during this decade.

Popular local venues for public magic shows by magic clubs held on a regular basis at that time included the Drama Centre and the National Museum Theatrette.

The popularity of magic shops also grew and in 1982, Chew Kin Song opened a Magic & Novelty Corner at the Chinese Book Section of Popular Book Co Pte Ltd on the 4th Floor of Bras Basah Complex.

Gician Tan also opened up his first magic shop at Parkway Parade which subsequently moved to Marina Square and was managed by Richard Ang. Besides this main shop, he distributed magic items and sets through department stores

in Singapore and South East Asia.The Singapore audience was also exposed to world-class magic through several magic television shows and series that were aired on local TV including the David Copperfield specials, Magic Magic and The Best of Magic.

Foreign magicians who visited Singapore during this time included David Copperfield, Mark Wilson, Ben Harris, Paul Daniels and Gene Anderson.

The beginning of this decade saw the introduction of the country's third generation magicians into the local magic scene.

Prominent budding magicians included Enrico Varella, Sherman Tjiong, J C Sum, Joe Yu (Chan Ee Kang), Nique Tan Li Keong, Prakash Puru, Kiki Tay, Alex Tan and Jeremy Pei.

xThe local chapter of International Magicians Society was formed, founded by its President, Tan Bah Chee; although the club's presence in Singapore was short-lived.

The late-1990s saw a huge surge in magic global popularity due to David Blaine's street magic specials. Many people started to 'get into' magic and had new mediums to learn the craft such as the introduction of DVDs and the Internet.

This article is to introduce magicians and magic enthusiasts to the rich history of magic in Singapore. It honours the notable achievements, prominence and significance of local magicians from the past and present.

It is the general consensus that modern magic in Singapore (post World War 2) began with the late-Ng Bo

Oen AKA The Great Wong. Information on local magic pre-war is very scarce. The only information found has been on The Great Wong performing at the New World Amusement Park (then located at Kitchener Road) in the 1930s.

The Great Wong was born in 1908 in Shanton, a city of the Guangdong Province, China and immigrated to Singapore in 1933. He was the only professional magician of his time in Singapore and performed across South East Asia.

He was known for his sharp stage magic, Linking Rings routine and Sword Basket illusion. He was also an expert craftsman who built all of his props by hand.

He had the gift of figuring out the mechanics and methodology of magic props and fabricating them from scratch.

In 1962, The Great Wong made a significant contribution to the international magic community by publishing his famous linking rings routine with English script written by Tudor Brock.

Davenports Magic in London distributes his manuscript to date. In 1982, he was invited by the Federation Internationale des Societes Magiques (FISM) to perform at the 15th World Congree of Magic in Lausanne, Switzerland.

(For more info on The Great Wong; refer to 'The Great Wong Story' in The International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring 115 The Quantum Ring Golden Jubilee Issue)

Another local magician who was instrumental in growing modern magic in Singapore during the beginning was the late-Tan Hock Chuan.

He was a teacher by profession but performed for annual special events, charity shows and private parties. He was (and still is) internationally known for his magical inventions.

His effects and ideas are still marketed dealer items today and have been published in countless publications (of that time) such as Gen, Spinx, Pentagram, New Pentagram, Swami Mantra, Abracadabra and even Tarbell's Course in Magic. He is the first Asian magician to receive the Spinx Award (1936-37) 

Both The Great Wong and Tan Hock Chuan were important influences to many of the first generation of Singapore modern-magicians who have paved the way for future generations.

It was only after the war and during the British Military Ballrooms for rent in Singapore Administration that magic in Singapore began its rise to where it is today. 1950 was the year that the Singapore Magician's Club was formed by a group of amateur magicians, comprising of English-educated professionals.

In 1951 the Singapore Magician's Club received their charter from The International Brotherhood of Magicians HQ in America and was from then on was officially known as The International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring 115.

Founding members of the club at that time included Tan Ewe Chee (President), Yeo Soon Kian, Lim Kim Tian, Lim Hap Hin, J.H Stafford, L.A Joseph, J.W Jackson (Vice-President) and Tan Hock Chuan (Secretary).

The 50's gave birth to Singapore's first generation of modern magicians. Besides the founding members of the IBM Ring and The Great Wong (who joined the Ring in 1952 by invitation), some prominent first generation magicians included Lim Hap Hin, Tan Choon Tee, Tan Bah Chee, Yeo Soon Kian and his student Michael Lim.

The Great Wong operated the first magic shop from his home cum showroom/ workshop in Singapore at 255-A Jalan Besar where he sold his own handcrafted props as well as imported dealer items from Japan.

(This home/ shop was destroyed in a fire in Dec 1988 causing him to lose most of his books and props)

During this period, magicians like The Great Wong, Tan Bah Chee, Lim Hap Hin and Tan Choon Tee conducted magic courses at the National Theatre Club and the YMCA.

They were responsible for producing active magicians such as Charles Choo, Wong Fok Choy, Chia Hearn Jiang, Gwee Thiam Hock and the late-Vijeyacone.

The early 60s also saw the 'Golden Age' of magic with magicians performing at different venues across the country.

Besides local magicians performing in night clubs, foreign magicians such as Socar performed a grand illusion show to a full house at the Capitol Theatre (along Stamford Road) and The Great Nicholas at the Sky Theater in The Great World Amusement Park at Kim Seng Road (Now, Great World City).

In the late 60s, Wee Peng Guan (Uncle of Charles Choo), opened the second magic shop in Singapore at a shop house along Robinson Road.

Around that time, popular entertainer Victor Khoo's father Khoo Teng Heng who was a magician, a ventriloquist and hypnotist opened his magic shop at Bras Basah. (where Carlton Hotel stands currently).

When visiting the island of Singapore, the leisure traveler immediately begins to think of shopping. While Singapore is a shopper's haven it isn't the only article on offer.

Beyond the urban metropolitan feel of the city and the usual attractions of Sentosa Island, Singapore is also host to botanical rich venues as well. 

The Singapore Botanic Gardens, for example offer a calm and soothing atmosphere in which to spend time with family and friends whilst learning about a variety of plant life.

The lush green three hectare site is home to more than 1,000 species of orchids and 2,000 hybrids of orchids. The Gardens also feature numerous botanically related venues such as the Ginger Garden and the Evolution Garden in addition to three beautiful lakes.

Another excellent stop is the Singapore Zoo. The zoo offers a walk through the rich Singapore rainforests with chances to view its beauty and its inhabitants.

The zoo is also home to acrobatic apes, white rhinos, zebras, giraffes, meerkats, lions, elephants, white tigers and even polar bears. In addition there are also several types of rides within the premises which include trams, horse carriage and other animal rides. With such a rich offering of life on display, visitors won't be disappointed.

Beyond the nature rich attractions you cannot afford to miss the world's largest observation wheel. Built with cutting edge technology, the wheel stands at a whopping 165m off the ground.

Visitors can see sprawling views of Marina Bay, the City of Singapore and beyond.

The view isn't the only thing on offer however. The Singapore Flyer has dining options in the form of several restaurants so that you can eat with family and friends whilst soaking in the magnificent view.

The entire central atrium of the complex also features a rainforest which provides a serene environment to relax in.

Another venue you shouldn't miss is the Raffles Function rooms and function halls for rent in Singapore Hotel Museum. The museum is situated in the Singapore luxury hotel of the same name and is based around the hotel and its beginnings during the Golden Age of Travel.

In this time period Singapore was known as the 'Crossroads of the East'. Exhibits include memorabilia of Raffles Hotel, Singapore as well as the region during the period.

In addition silver, china, postcards, letters and photographs from the hotel are also on display. Several 19th century photographs of Singapore and Southeast Asia are housed in the museum as well and represent an important historical documentation of early life in Singapore.

Depending on what kind of wedding you want, whether an indoor or outdoor wedding, Singapore has best place to offer you. For indoor weddings they have world class hotels that offers wedding packages for the couple.

You can be assured that the package is every bit worth of your money. And the best thing is you save some money because the services provided is from one company.

You can chose from the different wedding packages that are offered from different venues. One of the best venues for wedding in Singapore is in Novotel Clarke Quay where you can hold your wedding as well as your honeymoon.

Another luxury Hotel is Naumi. They also offer wedding packages to suit your needs. The last one is the five star hotel Mandarin Oriental.

You can chose from there four different wedding themes which are the Love, Dream, Happiness and Garden theme. So check out these places if you plan to get married in Singapore. 

If you want outdoor wedding, you can check places like Mandai Orchid Garden, Botanic Gardens or Bottle Tree Park. If you want to have a beach theme for your wedding then you can go to Rasa Sentosa.

Rasa Sentosa might be quite expensive but it's worth it. Besides your wedding comes once in a lifetime and you naturally want to make the best of it.

But for a couple who plan to have a small crowd for wedding, you might be out of luck in Rasa Sentosa. Unfortunately they require a minimum of 80 participants if you want to hold your wedding with them.

You sure won't regret choosing Rasa Sentosa as your venue, since this hotel is part of Shangri-la group of hotels so it must be good in service and accommodations. It serves a perfect atmosphere for your wedding.