Swampland to skyscrapers... amazing before and after images show Singapore's transformation into a high-rise metropolis
Singapore is celebrating 50 years of independence since it separated from Malaysia on August 9, 1965
The tiny island nation, less than half the size of London, is now one of the world's top financial hubs
While celebrations are being held all year, an official holiday has been declared for August 7 to 10
Once it was a city with hundreds of tiny boats, known as bumboats, crowding areas of the Singapore river in areas such as Clarke Quay in the city centre delivering goods to residents and moored vessels.
Today, such boats are far less in number and largely lit with neon lights for the amusement of tourists - the large yachts of the country's well-heeled are attractions in their own right - and the likes of Clarke Quay are boosted by popular restaurants and pubs.
While maritime trade remains the city's backbone decades of meteoric growth has made Singapore one of the most densely populated nations and a thriving global financial base - the fourth largest in the world - for many large companies.
In a stark illustration of how far it's come globally, a shot from the 1964 Malaysian Grand Prix (held on Singapore's Thomson Road Circuit) comes in contrast to today's Singapore Grand Prix, held at night on the Marina Bay street circuit.
Singapore, with a population of about 5.5million people, now boasts the third highest GDP per capita in the world and one of the world's highest life expectancies (equal second with 83).
The country colonised by the British in 1819 to become a significant port and self-governed from 1959, has for the past decade boasted one of the world's top two busiest container ports.
The before and after from the angle of the Mount Faber to Sentosa cable car system during its opening in 1974 and now with the central business district, PSA International's Keppel and Brani container terminals shows its immense emergence.
To mark their achievements Singapore's official celebrations include parades and festivities across the city, including the official declaration of Singapore Botanic Gardens as a World Heritage site.
In the gardens will be a concert recreating the 'Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat' or 'People’s Variety Show, which regularly took place there in 1959.
A massive parade on the actual anniversary of the signing of the Independence of Singapore Agreement on August 9 will be held where that event and many others significant in Singapore's history at the Padang.
Organisers say the parade 'will foster a deep sense of national pride and showcase our country’s defence capabilities and people.

1: Small transportation boats, known as bumboats, stack the shore of the Singapore River at Boat Quay in a photo dated September 27, 1965

2: That same Boat Quay location in May this year, with many of the shophouses now skyscrapers and the bumboats largely absent


3: The mouth of the Singapore River and the city's General Post Office (on the right) as reclamation works take place in October 1976

4: Now the post office is the Fullerton Hotel and the skyline is a sea of skyscrapers accommodating one of the world's top financial hubs

And to think Nigeria and most countries In this godforsaken continent gained independence before them, black people are cursed.

K

tensazangetsu:
And to think Nigeria and most countries In this godforsaken continent gained independence before them, black people are cursed.

So ure green abi... U are cursed, me I'm not

What about the transformation of ABA from a dirtiest part of Nigeria to an Abuja equivalent

5: Labourers gather on Read Bridge next to Singapore River in in 1960, five years before the nation's independence from Malaysian


6: That same location as it now appears, with shopping centres and live music entertaining workers and tourists along the thoroughfare


7: Contestants in Miss Universe 1987 pose next to the Merlion statue, a tourist landmark, at the mouth of the Singapore River


8: A tourist takes a selfie in front of the Merlion statue as the Lion-fish hybrid sprays water into the river with the risen skyline behind it

There is hope

PMB is in control

If only Nigeria has had visionary leaders since independence.

tensazangetsu:
And to think Nigeria and most countries In this godforsaken continent gained independence before them, black people are cursed.

We aren't cursed. Our problem isn't spiritual or down to any mythical reasons. Until we begin to appreciate positive universal values like love, trust, consideration for our fellow beings, and focus our strengths on reviving and improving our educational standards especially placing huge emphasis on rational thinking, we will continue to lag behind other races. We have the capacity to be great. We are just too weak and scared to face realities.

This is actual transformation! Not the other one promised us by a certain group of criminals in high places... P eople D eceiving P eople

Things like these are achievable when you have a leader with vision not looters

SINGAPORE: 'LION CITY'
Singapore's name as we know it in English comes from the Malay word, Singapura, which literally translated from Sanscrit means 'Lion City'. Sang Nila Utama, the founder who named its Singapura, most likely saw a Malayan tiger as lions likely never lived on the island.
This hasn't stopped the city-state being known as the 'Lion City' or one of its most recognisable landmarks, the Merlion statue, being a lion with a mermaid tail.
The statue originally sat in the mouth of the Singapore river but was relocated in 2002 because new developments in the area obscured the view of the statue. It was moved 120m to its current position so it could be visible from the waterfront.

9: The lights of bumboats glisten in front of the increasingly prominent cityscape in Marina Bay in this photo taken in 2004

10 The same location in 2015 with the lights of the rising number of high rises shining and the modern traffic speeding by



11: Looking away from the city, a car travels towards Malaysia's Johor Bahru on the Woodlands causeway in the 1950s

12 Johor Bahru's growth has been modest since, in comparison to Singapore, in this photo of the same landscape in May 2015

13: An everyday scene of humble bumboats moored outside basic shophouses along Clarke Quay in this photo taken in 1980


14: A lick of paint and neon lights are among the modern improvements to the restaurants and pubs of Clarke Quay in 2015


15: The Malaysian Grand Prix in March 1964 was in fact held in modern-day Singapore on the Thomson Road Circuit


16: The Singapore F1 Grand Prix is now a spectacular night race on the Marina Bay street circuit showcasing the city's finest assets

The yorubas are building eko atlantic.

17: A view of the port of Singapore and during the opening of the Mount Faber to Sentosa cable car system in February 1974



18: Now one of the world's top two busiest container ports, an updated version of the cable car continues to run over the skyline of the central business district and PSA International's Keppel (top left) and Brani (right) container terminals



19: Spectators gather to watch the Powerboat Grand Prix along the now built-up Marina Bay in Singapore in November 1986



20: People wait for fireworks during a rehearsal for Golden Jubilee National Day Parade rehearsal along the Marina Bay in June

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3181291/Swampland-skyscrapers-amazing-images-Singapore-s-transformation-high-rise-metropolis.html#ixzz3hYLBJQ4B

barcanista:
If only Nigeria has had visionary leaders since independence.

No, dick-head; if only Jonathan utilized the state resources judiciously during his 6-year unprofitable & directionless reign - Protection Seeker Eleribu!

Nigerian leaders are not interested in any transformation or nation building in the real sense of it.They are treasury looters not nation builders.

but come to think of it Singapore in 1960 is like Nigeria in 21 century, then can you tell me how do you want them to look like in this thesame century. Nigeria just got political stability in 1999 up to date if we can sustain this 20years to come Nigeria will get better. Though i agree to some fact that our leaders are too corrupt, but as every other Nigeria what have we contribute on our own effort to make Nigeria a better place.
majority our youth today who are making millions and billions what are they using it for especially our actress and actors, musicians and other where are they investing their money. if we can resolve all this i bet you Nigeria will be better place. the power of capitalism in any society will be felt if properly established on love .


May GOD help Nigeria to get there

benedictnsi:
What about the transformation of ABA from a dirtiest part of Nigeria to an Abuja equivalent

u are a fool for typin dis stupid sh1t

Amazing pix.. We've been scammed by our leaders, I doubt if Nigerian politicians have any atom of conscience in them. We keep praying for a better tomorrow, but how can a better tomorrow come when we still have the likes of Obasanjo(aka) ape, tinubu(aka)drugs man, Buhari(aka) one chance, ibb(aka) maradona, T.a Orji (aka) scam lord, aregbesola(aka) Ole, saraki (aka) desperado and the rest thieves as our leaders. The annoying thing is that the youths are still fooling around forming leaders of tomorrow in their mothers pot of soup.

I see a thing like this happening in the Niger Delta soon enough! i just pray...

PMB #paygisinternstheirstipend

This is what GEJ failed to do for ND despite having the opportunity on a platter of gold.

We can keep talking about bad leadership and all......trust me we would remain where we are....except of course we as a people begin to fix ourselves. We always tend to forget that the leadership we produce is a function of the people populated in society.

Why do we find it hard to paint our houses or do we need leadership to do that for us?
Or is it a lack of leadership that makes corruption extend even to our very homes??

While I believe we've largely been unfortunate with a lack visionary leaders and it has contributed immensely to the backwardness we see, the real problem is our love for petty tribal affiliations which enable us elect the most visionless leaders into positions of power.

Singapore had a visionary leader, but it also had a band of followers who were willing to do right to transform their country.

Threads like this make me feel sorry for nigeria.
What a waste of a country.
F^ck patriotism, Nigeria is a shythole~!

tensazangetsu:
And to think Nigeria and most countries In this godforsaken continent gained independence before them, black people are cursed.

You do realise we have our own skyscrapers, idiottt? By the way, the west funded Singapore heavily and opened up their markets to them after WW2 to hold back communism, which is what accounts for their current economic status. It's got nothing to do with their skin colour. Their neighbours and brothers, like Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Burma, Sri Lanka etc, who never got the western largesse are today poorer than even most African countries.

One day, I know Nigeria will be better than this.

Check my signature too. Thanks.

Zoharariel:


No, dick-head; if only Jonathan utilized the state resources judiciously during his 6-year unprofitable & directionless reign - Protection Seeker Eleribu!

And Obasanjo,Babangida,Abacha, Buhari, Abubabar are permitted to loot funds,buy government properies,build refineries abroad and stash dollars for their unborn crazy generation .
Your hatred has made you lose your sense of reasoning. Future leaders of nigeria and their sense of reasoning. The country cannot move forward ever!Failed country.
This small country was pushed out of Malaysia,see what their past and present leaders has made it to become.
IPOB Youth