Derek TaitSampans, Banyans and Rambutans: A Childhood in Singapore and Malaya

I am about the same age as Derek's older brother and we lived in Kuala Kangsar and Penang up to 1963. I went on a few banyans but I didn't realise what they were called until I read this book! It's remarkable how quickly Malaysia/Singapore was modernising in the 1960's as Derek could have almost have been living in Australia or the USA while my memories are a lot more "Old Malaya". It is true though that some things seemed more modern than anything available in the Britain of those days- I also remember the ice-cold strawberry and chocolate flavoured school milk, which would have seemed like luxury back home. Adjusting to life in the UK was not easy for some of us. There is not a great deal to this book as it is basically the family photo album with Derek's comments added, but I enjoyed it. The photos of the street scenes are particularly fascinating, they have a kind of surreal quality like a half-remembered dream.

I lived in Singapore in the 1960's after living in Kenya. This book brought it all back to me, the total oriental way of life, the heat and the colours of the tropical landscape and the smells of spices. It has gone now the traditional Singapore/ Malaya, it is lost to future visitors and they have no idea what they have missed. I do not want to see it now, concrete and glass.

I was hugely disappointed by this book. Firstly, the author's writing style leaves a lot to be desired. I have never seen so many exclamation marks in a book - virtually every sentence finishes with an exclamation mark - evidence of the writer's inability to use words descriptively. I know Singapore well and was looking forward to learning about life there in an earlier era. Instead, this is just a poorly described catalogue of a child's routine personal events in 1960's Singapore and Malaya, heavily illustrated by family photos of the time. The book is only 96 pages long and many of those pages are taken up by (pretty mundane) photos. How Derek Tait has managed to publish (and sell) three further books on the same theme is beyond me. Do not be seduced by the romantic title and evocative cover of this book - it's basically very poor.

Because the person for whom this is a gift lived in Singapore when she was the same age as the author, and I know she will love it. It will bring back memories

I loved this book, it transported me back in time to my childhood days, the photos were brilliant and I remembered many of the areas that were in the photos. I also purchased a copy for my Dad for a birthday present, he loved it. It is not a story book with a plot but a book of memories and pictures and unless you where there it would not mean much to you. Thank you Derek.

A very personal insight into a young boys life during his family`s posting in Malaysia. Affectionate glimpses of ex-pat life including interesting details of local life and customs.

well this review is genuine! having lived in Singapore in the late sixties it was good to be transported back to those days and be reminded of so many things I had forgotten. Derek, what a good memory you have, especially as you were quite young when you lived there. I am pleased to have a keepsake of my school days. thank you.

I think the previous reviews for this were fake, I bought this item hoping it to be a novel of memories from a childhood in my old home country of Singapore. I was so disappointed when I realised it read like a child's essay, with no sense of purpose, memory after memory phrased almost like 'there was this one time...' There is no storyline, this book reads like a disjointed drone. I am very disappointed that I bothered to spend my money.