Singapore boasts one of the most stable societies in Asia. Its multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-lingual groups are united in the common effort to keep Singapore a prosperous place. Modern Singapore is a city of concrete, glass, freeways and shopping centers. In the crowded streets of Chinatown, fortune tellers, calligraphers and temple worshipers still a part of everyday Singapore. It is one of the few remaining city-states in the world and the smallest country in Southeast Asia, but its small size encapsulates an economic powerhouse. Since its independence from England in 1963 and Malaysia in 1965, Singapore has become a financial nexus of South and Southeast Asia. Its unique blend of culture, art, cuisine, commerce and architecture will dazzle any visitor.