Ask any old folks where is Ang Mo Huay Hng, and they will be able to tell you. This is probably one of our oldest heritage that is until now still widely enjoyed by the people – locals, expatriates and visitors, as with students, scholars and researchers.

My first visit to the Botanic Gardens must have been some 50 years ago. At the tender age of 5 (^^), what I could probably remember must have been the monkeys! Ah, today I just saw their descendants along the old Upper Thomson Road. (^^)

What could be more enduring in memories than this, when someone asked if it was raining, only to discover that the mischievous monkey had urinated on him. At that time, alot of us were already po-tuey-kia (downtown bumpkin – although it is not as hip as today) and we have not seen monkeys before. We never knew that giving the monkey groundnuts was going to cause problems. We know now.

Ah, later, I was to learn that it was and maybe is still a great place for dating, even the earlier group outings. The atmosphere must have been great with the lake, the birds and the bees. Did we learn about the name of the plants? Maybe, if just to impress our date. (^^)

Today, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is still very relevant, different things to different people, but all can find something to do there. One could be jogging, one could be doing taichi, one could taking pictures of butterflies, or birds .. or friends/date/family .. one could wander into the rainforest to admire at the majestic trees and the mysterious undergrowth. Ask the taxi driver about Ang Mo Huay Hng, maybe, some may still know. (^^)

I have started a fan email list for those of you who want to share your experiences, observations and knowledge with fellow visitors. Ooh, I am sure you would also have many interesting tales of old days to share. I remember my Secondary School literature book: The Crocodile Dies Twice. (^^)

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