RETURN TO CHANGI by Mike Ellis 71-72 Sunday, January 18, 2004. I woke up about 6am Singapore time (11am in NZ) and no likely hood of going back to sleep so up I got. Not much to do this early so I read the paper, watched a little breakfast TV, but it got the better of me eventually, I couldn’t wait any longer, this was the day I was going to find the old school. I was staying in the Lion City Hotel in Katong, it was as close as I could get to the old Changi area, but still a few Ks away. I called a Taxi (NTUC) and told the driver that we were off on a bit of a tour. I showed him Jalan Bena on a map and suggested we head there for a start. Our first home in Singapore was just off Jalan Bena and I had found it about 10 years ago on my first trip back to the island. It was a bit of a mess then, but this time when I found it I was surprised to see that it had been renovated and was looking pretty flash. What a coincidence, the car parked up the drive was identical to the Nissan Maxima I drive After taking too many photos and making the Taxi driver move out of the shot a few times, we carried on along Upper Changi Rd looking for No 1800. We found it easily and drove straight under the raised arm of the gate and parked in the middle of the drive, I got out, paid him $10 and off he went. I wandered around for about 20 minutes taking photos and looking at places I remembered. I even found that the door to the main block opposite the café was open , so I wandered in, up the old stairs I knew so well and had a bit of a look around. The place was in a state of disrepair. The old café and woodwork blocks are deserted and have broken windows etc. It really seems that only the main block is still in use. It looked as if perhaps maintenance has stopped and I wonder if it is soon to be knocked down to make way for a new development. It amazed me that the grounds out the back were still pretty much as they were. It is strange in such a crowded country that a large block of flat land would go basically unused for 30 years. I stood under the covered way between the main block and the café and had a final look around, the field where we used to play Bull rush, the place I used to sit with greasy chips and fresh pineapple, the now covered area where the buses waited for us. It was all so familiar, but was not leaving an impression. Then I started to walk towards the gate and as I looked up it hit me, how many times had I walked this path? I was walking toward the gate and it was like I had never been away. It was a great feeling. I waved to the guard as I went out who nodded, just to show he was not asleep.     As I left the school I turned left, my intention was to walk to where I thought Changi Village used to be, I sort of remembered it being about a 20 minute walk. Once out of the school, the first street on the right (Abingdon I think) bought back a memory, I had friends that lived down there. I wandered down and saw that it is all part of the prison complex now. There are some buildings from our time, but all behind tall fences and barbed wire. There used to be a gate through to the school, but there was no trace of it where I remembered it. I walked back to Upper Changi Rd and crossed it. I remember the sports ground opposite the school where we played soccer, and at one stage Mr. Harry tried to teach the NZ boys to play Aussie rules. Part of it is still there and it is used as an archery lawn. As I carried on up the road it divided into two directions where it used to go straight ahead. I eventually decided to go left on the basis that a No2 bus went that way, and I remember that No1 and 2 buses used to both leave from Changi in the old days. A little further along the road I went past the old Selerang water tower and that confirmed I was on the right track. All of Selerang is now a Drug rehabilitation area and protected by high fences and barbed wire. I could see now why on my last few visits I had been unable to find the school. I had always gone to Changi Village and tried to work my way back, but because the new Loyang Rd looks so much like old Upper Changi Rd, I had always followed the wrong Rd. My advice to anyone looking for the school, is to have a map, and look for 1800 Upper Changi Rd, it is at the very top end of the road. As I turned into Loyang Rd things became even more familiar, the old Air Force golf course is still there, but looking very flash, I would say a tie is needed. In the background there are a couple of the old base houses which, I suspect, are of very high value these days. As I walked along I noticed something missing. In the old days, "pick up taxis" used to constantly toot looking to pick up more passengers. Does anyone else remember these taxis? The idea was, if the taxi was not quite full it would pick up more passengers along the way, dropping people wherever they wanted. A much lower price per person was charged. It meant you never knew who you would be sharing a taxi with, but I always thought it a great way to get around. At last I came to Changi Village Rd and the newish Changi Village. First impressions are that it has none of the old character, but, if you settle down for some satay and a fresh orange, and watch what is happening around you, you will soon see that not much has changed at all. Changi Village is looking great, there is a new style of Holiday accommodation being built. The village now offers access to the sea. There are a couple of good fishing retailers and some other interesting shops, but mainly food sellers. If you want fashion or electrical stuff, you need to go to Orchard Rd, but I know my next time off in Singapore will include at least a couple of nights in Changi, it has a great feeling to it.   Yum, Satay.... A 1938 services building beside new Changi shops Then it was time to go. An $11 Taxi ride back to Katong to pick up my gear, and then another Taxi to the Airport. With 2 hours to kill before my next flight there was only one thing for it. The pool in Terminal 1 is great. Cost is $13 for as long as you like and includes towel soap etc. What a great day Sunday was. I enjoyed my morning walk and I hope you find something in here that triggers a memory for you   Mike Ellis ANZ Brat Changi High 1971-72