December 2009: Now when I'm trekking or mountain biking on the other side of the globe and I get homesick, I simply go on the Web to Google's Street View of Singapore (picture above). After fidgeting with the street map and the cartoon figure, I would see -- clear as daylight -- the road entrance to the carpark in my estate which I drove in and out almost every day!

On your PC or mobile smartphone, you can view in 360-degree every location in the island.

The continuous imagery was taken by special Street View cars along the public roads earlier this year.

Other countries in the region with Street View are Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Worldwide, it is available in over 100 cities.

Street View shows images that are already visible from public roads -- my own apartment block, for instance, is inside the estate; hence it did not appear on Street View.

Check it out at www.maps.google.com.sg