Singapore has been ranked the 6th top destination in the world to visit in 2015, according to the venerable The New York Times.

The Lion City beat a host of other countries in the list of 52 top destinations.

And here's the pride part: The list of "Asian" countries Singapore beat include Oman (No. 20), Sri Lanka (No. 22), Seoul, South Korea (No. 33), Shikoku, Japan (No. 35), Danang Vietnam (No. 43), Chengdu, China (No. 44), Shanghai (No. 46), Baku, Azerbaijan (No. 51) and Kas, Turkey, (No. 52).

The reason? According to the glowing write-up by NYT that resembles a paid advertorial, it's our 50th anniversary and, therefore, it is happening:

It’s a year-long birthday party, and the world is invited.

Singapore is turning 50 in 2015, and the ambitious little city-state is pulling out all the stops to celebrate. Festivities began on New Year’s Eve with a huge fireworks display set to music over Marina Bay. That will be followed by the riotous Chingay Parade in February, featuring thousands of colorfully dressed performers. In the fall, a five-mile historic public art trail called the Jubilee Walk will be inaugurated, and the National Gallery Singapore opens in the grand former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, where it will house one of the largest collections of Southeast Asian art in the world. The showcase event will be the National Day parade at the site where Singapore’s independence was declared in 1965.

But what's really funny are the touristy things that people who visited Singapore listed as their favourite things to do while here:

Funny, because no one said "Gardens By The Bay".

Top photo via

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