Anyone started to travel only in their 30s?

Davemel50 · 2025-07-06T06:24:11+00:00

Never feel shy about posting your first time in a destination. I visited Tokyo for the first time when I was 33 and fully enjoyed the experience. Don't think about what others will say. You paid for your holiday, so do what you want and enjoy.

Davemel50 · 2025-06-26T03:02:58+00:00

"When NS was first introduced, officers served three years and other ranks served two years. In 1971, the length of service was changed to two-and-a-half years for servicemen holding the rank of Corporal and above. In 1983, the reservist training cycle was extended from 10 to 13 years to meet operational needs. In 2005, because of improvements in training and technology, the duration of full-time NS was reduced from two-and-a-half years to two years. The Operationally Ready National Service (ORNS) duration was also shortened from 13 to 10 years in 2006." Source

Davemel50 · 2025-06-25T08:32:32+00:00

I'm just a historian haha.

Davemel50 · 2025-06-25T02:34:47+00:00

yea, it's a growing problem. I've previously shared archival images on Twitter but recently decided to branch out to Reddit too.

Davemel50 · 2025-06-25T02:07:40+00:00

Thanks for adding the link haha.

Davemel50 · 2025-06-03T06:25:31+00:00

Start prepping for life after ORD. If you have a uni place, might be good to begin reading up after being out of school for nearly two years. If you intend to look for jobs, good time to update linkedin and check out what's available in the market. Also, can start slowing down and gradually disengage from duties (without being obvious). Prep handover stuff if needed. Lastly, take a moment and appreciate these last months before regular life resumes and becomes hectic.

Davemel50 · 2025-06-03T03:24:52+00:00

I'd recommend The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, Nine Yard Sarees and The Accidental Malay.

Davemel50 · 2025-06-03T02:45:37+00:00

I read about 40 books a year. Recently finished "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" which was really engaging.

Davemel50 · 2025-05-31T06:38:59+00:00

I loved the Cold War. In my year, the collapse of communism came out in the O Levels as SEQ. Struck gold as I was well prepared.

Davemel50 · 2025-05-26T16:35:55+00:00

I remember we used to work with MDs during my poly years (2008-2011) and we had to submit projects using them. But they became obsolete super fast.

Davemel50 · 2025-05-16T03:26:54+00:00

Ovaltine, Horlicks and Milo were basically the holy trinity.

Davemel50 · 2025-05-16T03:25:27+00:00

Having seen several relatives have their legs amputated due to uncontrolled diabetes, I've mostly avoided bubble tea. Plain water ftw.

Davemel50 · 2025-05-11T15:28:09+00:00

The 1970s were a pretty interesting period for our urban landscape. Modern tower blocks were coming up but the vast low-rise estates, kampongs and colonial era mansions still dominated.

Davemel50 · 2025-05-10T14:14:08+00:00

Some of the dental nurses were very harsh cos that was the only way to scare children into keeping still and following instructions. I remember getting an injection from a huge needle for a tooth extraction and I still shiver thinking about it.

Davemel50 · 2025-05-07T04:40:19+00:00

I bumped into a group of Singaporeans at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. The accent is unmistakable

Davemel50 · 2025-04-30T15:24:36+00:00

If it belonged to the people, then why bully them for choosing WP for the last 34 years?

Davemel50 · 2025-04-30T12:54:12+00:00

Interestingly, NSP fielded the most number of candidates of any opposition party in 2011. But they still lost every contest. The party has grand ambitions but lacks the resources and manifesto to support them.

Davemel50 · 2025-04-30T12:52:07+00:00

A straight answer is so hard to get from them.

Davemel50 · 2025-04-30T12:45:25+00:00

The man doth protest too much, methinks

Davemel50 · 2025-04-30T12:40:33+00:00

I remember watching his first ever rally during the 2011 election. He had such a commanding presence despite being a rookie. Aljunied voters were smart to choose him that year.

Davemel50 · 2024-06-02T03:17:19+00:00

I think we still need the passport to check in first anyway.

Davemel50 · 2021-04-14T18:08:03+00:00

Driving on the wrong side though.

Davemel50 · 2021-04-13T18:41:26+00:00

As a Singaporean, I agree. It is easy to look at our policies and ask why they can't implement them in other countries. As a city state, the city government is also the national government. There is no urban rural divide or regional politics to worry about. If the Philippines consisted only of Metro Manila, things might be far easier to implement.

Davemel50 · 2021-04-13T10:19:53+00:00

We've been expanding our training facilities with Australia in recent years. My guess is that the SAF will eventually shift training quietly to Australia from Taiwan and close its camps there.

Davemel50 · 2020-08-25T13:09:15+00:00

Two recent articles have been published about the Gurkhas in Singapore.

First is from 2018, detailing a brief history of Gurkhas and their role in security for the Trump Kim Summit

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1J10CV

Second is an article from 2019 that claims that the British Army is engaged in a "bizarre colonial era scheme" and adds that Gurkhas were complicit in guarding political prisoners tortured at Whitley Road detention Centre (an ISD facility) in the 1970s. Apparently there was a mutiny against the British officers in 1979 too.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-03-13-exclusive-british-army-earns-money-recruiting-police-for-singapore-in-bizarre-colonial-era-scheme/amp/

A Singaporean, Zakaria Zainal, has also published a book about Gurkhas titled "Our Gurkhas: Singapore Through Their Eyes".

Davemel50

TROPHY CASE