A Quick Trip To Singapore On The Anniversary Of Its Founding (PHOTOS)

Most people would equate the name Raffles with the iconic Singaporean hotel, and, by association, the famous Singapore Sling. Though to outsiders Raffles is more synonymous with cocktails and luxurious hotel accommodations, Raffles was a real person, and the founder of modern Singapore.

Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles founded Singapore on February 6, 1819. He had arrived on behalf of the British East India Company to develop the southern part of the island as a British trading post, which he did after signing a treaty with the sultan. It wasn’t until 1824 that the entire island went to the British, and it wasn’t until 1963 that Singapore would gain its independence.

Due to its position in Asia, Singapore is a true melting pot of cultures from Malaysia, China, India and this is reflected in the architecture, culture and cuisine of the nation, all of which are also still flecked with remnants of the Brits.

There are plenty of things to do in Singapore, like visiting the famous botanic gardens, exploring the Singapore Art Museum and shopping on Orchard Road. However, the number one activity for visitors to Singapore is certainly eating, as the country is famous for its hawker centers. Here, street food is almost an art form, and a trip is not complete without a taste of local classics like hokkien mee, chicken rice, carrot cake or chili crab.

There’s lots to love about Singapore, take a peek below.

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• This general view shows the Marina Bay financial district buildings in Singapore. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

• Visitors gather along the pier in front of the iconic sculpture of the Merlion in Singapore. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

• Pedestrians walk down a street in downtown financial district in Singapore. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

• A white painted bronze sculpture of a baby titled ‘Planet’ by British artist Marc Quinn appears to float at Garden by the Bay in Singapore. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

• A metal figurine of a dragonfly sits in a lake against a backdrop of Marina Bay Sands hotel resort. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

• Amazing city views from the pool at the Marina Bay Sands Skypark

• Infinity Pool Atop The Marina Bay Sands

• A young boy watches marine wildlife on display at Resort World Sentosa’s Marine Life Park, January 18, 2013 in Singapore. The Marina Life Park is Resort World Sentosa’s newest attraction and is the world’s largest aquarium, with 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species housed in 45 million litres of water. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

• Parliament House

• Singapore Raffles Place (Central Business District)

• Singapore city skyline at dusk as viewed from the Pan Pacific Singapore

• St Andrew’s Cathedral

• An overview shows the two conservatory domes at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore on September 16, 2012.The 101-hectare Gardens by the Bay situated at the heart of Singapore’s new downtown at Marina Bay has attracted 220,000 visitors since it was officially opened on June 28. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/GettyImages

• Visitors look at a colourful display of flowers and plants at the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/GettyImages

• A Hawker Center

• Hawker Centre

• Maxwell Road Hawker Centre

• Chicken Rice At Maxwell Center

• Singapore Chili Crab

• Laksa

• Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum

• National Museum Of Singapore

• Little India

• Abdul Gafoor Mosque, Little India

• Serangoon Road, Little India

• Chinatown

• Chinatown

• Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown

A Quick Trip To Singapore On The Anniversary Of Its Founding (PHOTOS)