Over the last couple if days I have indulged in a bit of a trip down memory lane. We lived in Singapore for a while in the late 1960''s. Leaving when I was 10 my memories are mainly of carefree days by the pool, going to The Cold Storage for shopping and to cool down (one if the only public buildings then with air con) and of our bus trips to and from school.

Yesterday we crammed a lot in as we only have 3 days here. Little India and its Hindu Temples was much as I remembered as was China Town with its Buddhist Temples. Both these areas of the city are full of vibrant colours and amazing markets and have their own unique smells in particular the durians of China Town. Little India was celebrating Deepvali the Hindu Festival of Lights so the streets were all dressed up rather like ours at Christmas but with in your face multi-coloured decorations.

Raffles Hotel had quite a different feel. An old colonial building now dwarfed by its neighbours. In our day it was comfortable and a bit scruffy around the edges. A place to go for Sunday lunch with friends. Now it has gone all upmarket and very smart. For old times sake though we re-mortgaged the house and enjoyed a curry lunch in The Courtyard with of course a Singapore Sling to wash it down with.

This morning was very exciting. Walking from our hotel to the The Botanic Gardens I managed to find our old apartment block on Taman Serasi. Amazingly it was still there albeit surrounded by newer buildings in what were our gardens. We retraced my walk to the school bus stop at Tanglin Gate entrance the the botanic gardens. Being so close it was almost our own personal play ground. The terrapins and koi carp still swim in swan lake, the old established trees look familiar but the little man cycling around with a cold box of drinks and ice creams has been replaced by cafes and restaurants.

We spent a happy (but very hot) few hours in the Ginger garden and the National Orchid Collection (just wait for those photos) before going back to check out of the hotel. With another few hours to pass we board a hop on hop off bus tour and sit in the cool of the air con listening to our Chinese tour guide filling in all the details of The sights and sounds of Singapore.

Time to head for home now. Our amazing walkabout has come to and end, we look back with happy memories but on with the anticipated pleasure of our own pillows to lay our weary heads on.