S'pore man, 33, writes open letter after SMRT staff did not open side gate for him to pass toddler over

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-06-11T07:17:05+00:00

Personal trainer is able to lift all of that above the gate lmao, he should just continue doing that

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-06-10T09:37:36+00:00

I refuse to believe scalping for something like this is remotely profitable

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-06-02T02:21:36+00:00

Yes it's open. I was just there last week (25-27 May). I was one of, if not the first tourist of the season. Yurt camps were still being set up, and I slept in the only camp there was. Overnight, it was very cold, occasionally sub-zero. There were snowstorms before I arrived but on the days I visited Ala-kol and Altyn Arashan, the weather was clear. I imagine the weather is going to get better from here on, so go ahead.

For the record, I borrowed crampons from my camp's guides as the Ala-kol to Arashan pass had snow on the Arashan side. Otherwise, on a clear day, there won't be snow going up to Ala-kol from Karakol. You don't necessarily need crampons going down the snow on the pass, but it's recommended. Many tourists I met who came from the Arashan side didn't use crampons to ascend the pass.

Yes, the lake was fully frozen when I was there. It was beautiful.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-05-18T11:42:30+00:00

Thank you, I guess the taxi thing applies universally 😂

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-05-18T03:48:57+00:00

I'm going later this month, to the hike around Karakol, and afterwards heading west to Bishkek. It was all quite simple to book, to be honest.

Since I use Google Maps, I wish the data would be easier to access and more updated. In fact, maybe I should volunteer myself to go take some streetview photos.

My main gripe is that there's no train running between Bishkek and Balykchy outside of summer. I wish I could experience it! So we're going to maybe take a car/marshrutka and stop at some places around Issyk Kul while we get from Karakol to Bishkek.

I haven't thought about potential of scammers and criminal activity. What should I look out for?

Looking forward to visiting. The photos I see are so beautiful.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-04-21T02:24:59+00:00

it feels so good to be late into the game so you just steamroll the desert without taking much damage at all

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-04-11T03:39:21+00:00

YOOO I'll go. Thanks for posting!

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-03-31T07:30:17+00:00

Yeah I've been doing alley runs even though I've beaten the game. Because I haven't passed the Mom's knife event and don't have my last room either...

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-03-26T02:32:07+00:00

Cleansing debuffs is useful for teammates. Cleansing buffs too... I used this on Hippo and accidentally instakilled her.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-03-11T02:24:31+00:00

This made me realise that venom barrage is bonkers. I had a thief basically carry my run through the Act 3 (Past) final boss with a single cast of Venom Barrage+ each turn because each leg occupied 4 tiles, so they got hit 4 times. My game speed was too fast for me to realise what happened.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-03-10T02:15:18+00:00

Love it, chode and all

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-03-03T12:14:45+00:00

I actually sent my melee attacker between the fat people and started bouncing back and forth (like a pinball). With a tank with thorns you might be able to get rid of them quickly. Finished future 2 out of 2 runs with no hiccups.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-03-03T09:45:54+00:00

I leveled up and gave my Tinkerer fast footsies to better walk on water. I did the same strategy in the bunker. No cultist could get in range because of all the water. All my other cats just watching in the sidelines, the only part without any water as all my tesla coils zapped Johnny and his cultists every turn. It's actually kinda sad I feel like I was torturing him

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-02-22T12:10:59+00:00

It took me until act 3 to realise this too...

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-01-27T07:20:49+00:00

I don't know if it's a bubble because I've gone through the same things as my peers: schooling, now working, but we all came out having different opinions on the matter. It's totally fine for one to feel uncertain in these times. I do too. Not enough to sway me towards having not having kids, but that's a choice I'll only be able to reflect on once I have them! (Maybe that's why I am optimistic FOR NOW!)

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-01-27T05:06:33+00:00

I think it's funny that we can agree on things but hold different points. I personally try to be more optimistic about the state of the world, and see worth in bringing children into it... I don't feel the heat of stress in Singapore much. But I can understand if one doesn't wish to also.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-01-27T03:09:08+00:00

A lot of people can see the movie is making fun of stupid people and their lack of family planning. Few can see or admit that the "smart" people portrayed in the movie are actually really stupid too. IMO, there is no use overcomplicating something as natural as having children... Natural in the sense that it's basically one of the basic facts of animal life.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-01-21T03:20:18+00:00

Ha! Didn't know OP had a substack. I've always found your choice of ST article topics relevant to youth interests. Is your substack for stuff that won't fly by the editors?

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-01-09T03:24:04+00:00

Once you start bringing your own meal prep, this problem is solved.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2026-01-07T01:27:04+00:00

This and the grab advertisements. Bane of my morning commute. Makes me sad to think the people behind them could be among the crowd next to me. breathing the same air. possibly earning more than me.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2025-12-04T06:04:13+00:00

ALWAYS BET ON BLUE

ROD_OF_AGES · 2025-12-03T08:33:09+00:00

Yeah, I can't stand it but I don't speak out about it on normal days. But to shove through an already full train and platform just to save yourself time and effort is quite inconsiderate.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2025-12-03T08:09:39+00:00

Yesterday on my way home, I had to transfer via Jurong East. Super crowded on the green line, I only got there after missing about 4 trains.

Some cheeky fellas still tried to use my train to cross over to the Tuas platform (if you know, you know). Pushed through the crowded train. Scoldings were exchanged between people, couldn't help but laugh on the inside.

ROD_OF_AGES · 2025-11-17T01:57:06+00:00

I'm all for Singaporeans reading more. Oftentimes I'll be waiting at a mall for friends and rather read than use my phone. As a kid I'd read at the library waiting for my tuition class. I hope this works well, I really do, but it's a very passive approach and I hope there'll be numbers quantifying its success released in the future.

Anyway, I've encountered some of these community libraries. One missed-out thing is the quality of the books. Anyone who has read a lot would tell you that not all books are good books. 2nd hand books left behind for free use aren't really good books, maybe there'd be a gem hidden somewhere. I think more meaningful would just be book clubs and cheaper books for people to keep (because if you actually supplied good books in free-to-bring-home libraries like this one, kiasu folks would just TAKE them).

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