Singapore Gallery

Welcome to Singapore
I was trying not to get too caught up in the past. I wanted to see this simply as a visit to an interesting place. All that went to Bugis Street in a banana leaf when our taxi pulled up to the Goodwood Hotel. It's exactly the same. I couldn't get the grin off my face!
No where to go but up.
The big gun-toting guard at the front entrance to the club wouldn't let me take a picture. This is the rear entrance, across the street from the Goodwood Hotel. This was our old entrance. It's better anyway.

Here's the fam. They were good sports. I had forgotten how hot and humid it is.
One of the few people I actually kind of knew. Allane grew up in Singapore. Her dad was president of the American Club, and there is a huge portrait of her mother in the Library. Still, she had to go on the tour to get in. She seemed to know everybody.
Not sure how I talked her into it, but here is Allane re-enacting the 1967 Spring Fashion Show.
The only other other person I knew. He thought I had dated his next door neighbor -- Bruce Scally. Not quite. Actually, Ernie and I doubled with him quite a few times in the summer of '67. I must not be very memorable. Some guy at the American Club also confused me with Debbie. He knew who she was because he studies old SAS yearbooks (!!) I was starting to feel like Jan Brady. Then, Mitch Wood asked me if I was Roberta!

My favorite spot! The Mayfair Pool at the Goodwood Hotel. I'd sit there at dawn (jet lag) and listened to the birds. There were nightjaws and myna birds and more varieties. I never found out what they all were. I love how the jungle is always encroaching in Singapore. But no bugs!
Ah - this would explain the absence of bugs!
I finally left the pool and walked over to Ann's house with Rick. Beautiful house. I assume those buildings in the background are new.
We need lots of pictures for Ann and Joan.

I remember we had a class on Islam and The Koran on this porch. Do you remember that, Ann?
Ernie lived right next door.
In case we find Ernie - we can show him a picture of his house.

Tour of old stomping grounds continues. This is all that's left of the King's Road school
Actually, I snapped this while driving by, and we never made it back. I'm sure our house is gone, though. Oei Tiong Ham Park is an upscale highly architected neigborhood now.
There's Mia standing in front of Tang's
See if you can find Mia in this picture.

Mia and I liked wandering through the storefronts, soaking in the gardiania garlands and incense smells and listeining to the Tamil.
Mia was too cool to ride a trishaw.

This is where Mia got her dress made. This is the only picture we took in the Malay District.
The Peranakan culture evolved through the intermarriage between early Chinese settlers and Malay women 1800s. In case you didn't know.

Where's Mia?
This is a huge amusement park. All new since we left. It was actually very nice. A good break from the city.
Sydney tries her hand at snake charming.
This is an island of the northeast coast of Singapore.