Trishas in Singapure

Singapore

---

• OFFICIAL NAME :  Republic of Singapore
• CAPITAL :  Singapore
• POPULATION :  3.5 million
• CURRENCY :  Singapore dollar
• OFFICIAL LANGUAGES :  Malay, English, Mandarin Chinese and Tamil

 

An island state linked to the southernmost tip of the Malay peninsula by a causeway, Singapore was largely uninhabited between the 14th and 18th centuries. In 1819, an official of the British East India Company, Stamford Raffles, recognized the island's strategic position on key trade routes and established Singapore as a trading settlement. Today, Singapore is still one of the most important entrepôts in Asia.

Singapore is dominated by the Chinese, who make up 78% of the community; the old English-speaking Straits Chinese and newer Mandarin-speakers are now well integrated. Indigenous Malays are generally the poorest group. Serious race riots erupted in the 1950s, but today there is little overt ethnic tension. There is a significant foreign work force in Singapore; the government imposes firm-by-firm quotas on foreign workers and requires employers of foreign workers to pay a monthly levy or tax. A recent labor shortage has forced the government to try to attract scientists from the CIS, eastern Europe and Hong Kong. Society is highly regulated and government campaigns to improve public behavior are frequent.

From the days when it was known as the "Lion City" - an ancient sea town on the Straits of Malacca down to its present incarnation as a global metropolis, Singapore has inspired countless artists and writers, who have celebrated the city's lush beauty, its vivid style of life and piquant blend of cultures.

Singapore's  three-wheeled trishaws were introduced  in the 1940s, and were very popular form of transport there.

Today they remain one of the most pleasant ways to get to know the city, allowing you to get in amongst the people and atmosphere of the various parts of Singapore.
The tours take in the sights of Bugis and Little India, Clarke Quay, the Singapore River.
Food themed tours include the Street Food Trail, which introduces some of Singapore's hawker food.

The Chinatown district is recognized as a picturesque tourist asset and its buildings are being restored. A Singaporean consortium is involved in the development of a tourist resort on Indonesia's Bintan island, some 45 km (28 miles) across the Strait of Singapore.

Trishaw riders were primarily Chinese immigrants who had worked as rickshaw pullers. Many trishaw riders can converse fairly fluently in different dialects as well as a little English. Most of these rickshaw pullers came to Singapore around the period of World War II, with the bulk arriving during the late 1930s.

Most of those who took on the job had little skills and needed to earn a living fast. 

 Trishaw Uncle

 Singapore's only licensed trishaws operator

Trishaw uncle website

Trishaw Uncle (三轮车大叔私人有限公司) is the one and only licensed operator for trishaw tours in Singapore appointed by the Singapore Tourism Board.

The yellow trishaws are driven by elderly Chinese uncles who may look quite feeble due to their age. But do not be fooled, these uncles ride the estimated 12km route at least three times a day.

Trishaw is the oldest form of transport in Singapore and gone are the days when a trishaw is made out of wood or thin metal.

Still a common sight in Little India - pedal powered trishaws.