Author: Rayson Oon

Hi all! Lately, I’ve been feeling perpetually sleepy from the work grind, and I’ve been relying on coffee for a quick fix. But not any fancy latte or Starbucks kind. I’m talking about the good old kopi or the classic Nanyang coffee you can get from coffee shops near your house or workplace.

All that kopi got me thinking — what makes our local brew so appealing to me? So I decided to embark on yet another side quest to find out what makes our local kopi so special…

What makes kopi unique?

Kopi (Malay/Hokkien word for coffee) hits differently than your usual cafe latte. It has a much stronger, richer flavour owing to a blend of Robusta beans. It definitely hits harder too with almost double the caffeine content compared to Arabica beans.

Here’s a beautiful infographic I found online describing the differences between Arabica and Robusta beans:

To caramelize and give the beans a unique aroma, the coffee beans are also roasted with butter and sugar. Lard and margarine are sometimes used instead of butter. After drying the beans, they are grounded into powder and traditionally brewed in a tall metal pot using a traditional kopi “sock” method.

The “sock” is a cloth filter where coffee grounds are placed inside. Boiling water is poured over it and slowly drips through the cloth to extract the coffee flavours. This brewing process takes several minutes. After which, the coffee is poured into a cup.

Depending on the type of kopi, sugar, evaporated or condensed milk and a little hot water is added. Here’s a rundown of the various combinations of kopi:

Now it’s time for a real-world investigation! I decided to spare pockets of my free time hunting down for the best local kopi.

For me, my dream kopi is a cup of thick, creamy Kopi C Siu Dai that packs a punch.

But… disclaimer first: I’m no coffee connoisseur. Everything is based on my personal arbitrary evaluation and may be biased.

1. Ya Kun Kaya Toast

This was actually the first and best coffee I had. Full-bodied with a nice ratio of bitterness and sweetness. It also has a lingering, pleasant aftertaste.

To top it off, it has a crema-like frothy layer… I suspect from pulling the coffee like Teh Tarik.

The only downside with franchised brands like Ya Kun is the pricing of their coffee. As of this writing, it’s $2.40 for a cup at Ya Kun.

I’m also aware the consistency of their kopi can also vary at different outlets. The one I had at Fusionopolis had a great flavour but it felt too thin.

Taste: 4.75/5
Body: 4/5
Ratio: 5/5
Value: 3/5

Total: 83.75%

Fun fact #1: oh yes, did you know Ya Kun Kaya Toast has an outlet in Japan? HAHAHA

Instead of trying other renown brands like Toast Box, Killiney Kopitiam and Fun Toast, which are on the pricier side… I narrowed my kopi hunt to neighbourhood gems near my home and office.

2. My ‘downstairs’ kopi

One fine morning I dropped by my nearest coffeeshop for a Kaya Toast set. Well, I was quite disappointed that I paid $5.20 for this…

kopi c siu dai was thin, diluted and coffee flavour was average. There was also a sweet aftertaste which unfortunately did not appeal to me.

Taste: 2.5/5
Body: 2.5/5
Ratio: 2.5/5
Value: 3/5

Total: 52.5%

3. My workplace kopis

I’m lucky to have a number of coffee shops near where I work. Why not drop by and review each one of them during my lunch break 🙂

Enjoyed the great flavour and bitterness-sweetness ratio for this kopi, but it felt slightly thin. I say $1.60 for this is reasonable.

Taste: 4/5
Body: 2.75/5
Ratio: 4.5/5
Value: 3.5/5

Total: 73.75%

Amazing flavour and nice creamy feel, almost comparable to Ya Kun’s kopi. Not too sweet or bitter, this kopi is priced very nicely at $1.50!

Taste: 4.5/5
Body: 3.5/5
Ratio: 4.5/5
Value: 4/5

Total: 82.5%

Unfortunately, after trying so many kopis, I’ve forgotten how this one tasted like… All I know it was a decent tasting kopi for $1.50. For a fair comparison, I won’t be rating this one.

This kopi was ok, with decent flavour and a light body. I’d say the best part is that this cost $3.80 for a kaya toast set. This is truly value for money as compared to the coffee shop near where I stay.

Taste: 3/5
Body: 3/5
Ratio: 4/5
Value: 4.5/5

Total: 72.5%

Well… for this kopi: great flavour and pleasant aftertaste, and not overly sweet or bitter. However, felt too thin-bodied. It’s worth the $1.50 though.

Taste: 4.5/5
Body: 2.5/5
Ratio: 4.5/5
Value: 4/5

Total: 77.5%

4. My hipster kopi

Honorable mention: Generation Coffee Roasters! So far this had the best coffee flavour that left an impression on me, even for a kopi beng i.e. diluted with ice!

Their traditional kopi shot is prepared using the modern espresso machine. The end result felt like the best of both worlds honestly.

I’d skip rating this one too as it’s slightly different (in a good way), but definitely worth trying out their coffee at their various outlets.

5. JB kopi

At this point, I’m running out of adjectives to describe kopi already… But that doesn’t mean I’m out of kopi options!

I was curious how kopi would be different in Johor Bahru. Well, I found out it tasted pretty much similar in every regard — the flavour, feel and balance. It also cost 5.20RM which was about $1.60 in SGD then.

However, what separates this from the Singapore’s kopi was actually the cute crunchy fish biscuits. Had fun letting the fishes swim in the pool of kopi… I’m giving bonus points for that!

Taste: 4/5
Body: 3/5
Ratio: 4/5
Value: 3/5
+1 brownie point

Total: 75%

6. Touristy kopi

If you google “Best Kopi in Singapore”, 1950’s Coffee would definitely appear as one of the listings. When I visited, there was already a decently long queue comprising a mix of locals and tourists. The hype was real.

Unfortunately, after trying it out, I found it pretty average like other coffee shops. It has decent taste but felt a bit too thin and diluted. Unless you stay nearby, it might not be worth travelling for…

Taste: 4/5
Body: 3/5
Ratio: 4/5
Value: 3/5

Total: 70%

Verdict

If I am craving a good cup of kopi with friends, I would definitely go to Ya Kun and pay more for the quality & ambience.

However, if I am just looking for a quick kopi fix, I am fortunate to be able to visit different coffee shops nearby which mostly have great kopi already.

Project Kopi

Anyway, when I was away in Penang, I had this idea of making my own Kopi C Siu Dai at home, just like my caifan project…

Step 0: Gather stuff

So as a souvenir, I bought back some Penang coffee powder. Then I purchased a kopi sock online and a can of evaporated milk from the nearest grocery store.

Fun Fact #2: The “C” in Kopi C actually means fresh in Hainanese dialect and is not a reference to the “Carnation” milk brand

Since this was just experimental, I didn’t bother getting stainless steel coffee pots. Instead, I would be using cups and spoons I have on hand. Now it’s time to brew my very own coffee!

Step 1: Brew coffee

Weigh 20g ground kopi powder and pour ~250ml hot water in a cup. Stir coffee slurry for about 10s and let steep for about 3 min.

Step 2: Pre-heat cups and sock

No picture for this… I’m lazy and tend to skip this step 😅

Ok but the idea is to remove residual taste and to keep coffee hot longer. I drink mine right away, so it’s not that necessary.

Step 3: Filter coffee

Stir slurry and then pour through the kopi sock to strain the coffee grounds. It’s not necessary to pull kopi i.e. pour from a height, but I do it sometimes for fun (and spill coffee in the process).

If you can do it like Mr Teh Tarik, I’m sure you would make the “frothiest” kopi ever…

Step 4: Decorate coffee

Ok finally, the last step – add sugar, milk and/or water to your desired taste. If not, just enjoy your Kopi O Kosong Gau!

Simple right? ok maybe not in the morning… 🥱

TL;DR

Serving size: 1 cup

Equipment

• 2 cups
• 1 kopi sock

Ingredients

• 20g kopi grounds
• 1 cup hot water (250ml)

Steps:

1. Weigh kopi powder and pour hot water in a cup. Stir kopi slurry for about 10 seconds
2. Let steep ~3 min then stir slurry before pouring through kopi sock into another cup
3. Kopi O Kosong Gau is ready! Add sugar, milk & water to your desired kind of kopi

Tips & Tricks

1. Beans matter

The choice of beans has the biggest influence on the flavour of the coffee. For the traditional kopi taste, Robusta beans roasted with butter/margarine/oil & sugar to a deep brown shade are the best.

I swapped my Penang kopi-O powder to Yong Seng traditional blend and the difference was significant. It has better aroma and much more smoky flavours. See above

2. Choose the right grind size

For kopi brewing with filter, use medium grind for your beans. Too fine and your filter might choke, resulting in over-extraction and bitter kopi; if it’s too coarse, extraction would be too slow.

3. Care for your beans!

I left my pre-ground kopi powder unused not for days, but weeks… After I overcame my procrastination, I felt it was less flavourful then when I first used it.

Coffee grounds go stale fast due to increased oxidation. Store in an airtight, opaque container and try to finish them within 1-2 weeks of opening.

4. Right water temperature

According to Specialty Coffee Association of America, water temperature of around 90 – 95°C (just off the boil) is ideal for brewing.

Using water that is too hot can lead to over-extraction, pulling out overly strong, bitter compounds that can mask subtle flavours of the coffee beans

On the flip side, if the water is too cold, it cannot dissolve flavourful compounds efficiently and lead to under extraction. This results in a sour or “flat” cup as the acids extract first before the sugars and oils come through.

For best results, use a temperature-controlled kettle or thermometer probe for a precise temperature. I didn’t have either, so the simple alternative is to bring water to a boil and let it sit for a few seconds. This will bring it close to the ideal brewing temperature.

5. Maintain your kopi sock

Over multiple usages, coffee oils may get retained on the sock filter. Wash kopi sock immediately after brewing with food grade detergent and sun dry thoroughly.

In addition, for heavy brewers, boil your kopi sock once a week with detergent. Otherwise, once a month will suffice. For more info, refer here.

To be continued…

I’ll admit I still reach for my instant coffee on lazy mornings. It takes effort to brew your own coffee and even more effort to clean up.

That’s why I’m really hoping to explore new coffee brewing methods and equipment that can simplify the process while improving the quality of my brew. I’m definitely looking into grinding my own beans for a start!

So readers, do you enjoy our local kopi? Which place has the best kopi and what kind of kopi are you koping with now? Let me know in the comments below! ☕

Reference

Some more kopi stuff to geek over:

Evaporated Milk – which is the best brand? | Alliance Coffee Singapore

15 Best Kopi Stalls in Singapore Ranked | Eatbook.sg

Hi! I’m back again with something new 🙂

As we step into the new year, I thought I’d share some fresh perspectives.

Just recently, I was reading back some of my old posts and found them kinda cute for lack of a better word…? On reflection, I noticed the overarching theme is about uncertainty, especially in our 20s when we start navigating big life changes.

Honestly, I can’t say I’ve been more certain since then, but at least I can better accept it’s fine the way it is now.

Two things I’m very certain though:

• I’ve grown older
• I’m still alive in one piece, thankfully

Last month, I travelled a few places on my own, with friends and also with family. And I often found myself in the middle of a couple of misadventures. As unfortunate as I was, I consider myself lucky to be able to share with you the moments and lessons that stuck.

Taking risks

From hiking mountains, to riding past valleys and surfing waves, I wandered high and low and through thick and thin. But you know things don’t always go as planned.

Crazy me took the risk of riding a ~600km loop around Chiang Mai on a motorbike in four days.

And on the very first day, I crashed… when I ran over an unsuspecting road bump after a steep hairpin loop. Thankfully I was fully covered and escaped with a few abrasions and a torn pants.

The feeling of crashing sucked so bad though. Looking back, I’m glad I crashed early. It made me aware that I had mediocre bike control even though I was licensed. I was an inexperienced rider who underestimated the roads in Thailand.

The whole ~600km ride was hell of a ride really. Thrilling and freeing it was, I was most of all humbled the hard way. I definitely rode more cautiously and gained greater bike confidence. Proud to say I didn’t crash again for the remaining days!

That was not the only mishap, sadly 🙁

Another thing I discovered was I’m not the luckiest person when it came to hiking mountains. I still can’t believe I broke a new shoe I bought two days before hiking Mount Kinabalu. It was such a nightmare walking over slippery rocks with your soles flapping all over. Luckily, I managed to get them stitched together at the resthouse.

Yes, I had a few more misfortunes here and there, but I’m just too embarrassed to disclose too much 🤐

Besides the pain, misery and laughs, if there’s one thing I took away — it’s taking risks. I won’t deny I felt daunted after getting into incidents repeatedly. But I’ll say the aftermath was not something irreparable or irreversible. If there’s something I’m truly grateful for was receiving help from a great bunch of friends and surprisingly strangers along the way.

I believe sometimes the biggest risk is not taking any risks at all. While the fear of failure is so real and the unknowns of life can be so intimidating, it’s usually where the most rewarding experiences lie. Often, the reward of growth far outweighs the fears that one has.

Of course, taking risk is different from being reckless. I would convince myself the risks I took were justified hehehe… It was definitely worth the ups and downs, all for the views, friends, animals and… insects??? I think if there is sufficient commitment, competence and “computation” (for rhyme’s sake), all’s good! The margin of eating dirt is low 😉

Social media

During a family trip to Bali, I realised most of our lives are increasingly online nowadays. Ok, not doxxing anybody — I came to this realisation when I noticed my (???) was spending lots of time scrolling, taking photos and editing videos for the gram, at the expense of being present and having meaningful conversations.

Of course, (???) is way more active and far better than me at the numbers game on social media.

Before I go on rambling, disclaimer first: some may not agree with my stance on social media, and it’s ok. What matters is you do whatever you deem is healthy and comfortable, for you.

Now back to the crux of the matter.

Our trip to Bali made me re-evaluate my relationship with social media, which was more complicated than I thought. I began questioning where do we draw the boundaries between our digital and personal lives? Or is there any privacy of our own left at all?

At least within my circles, I am aware of friends who are actively posting and friends who avoid the app altogether. Then there’s also a few who disappeared from social media for their reasons.

So, I was inspired to research about social media and its links to well-being, and I chanced upon this article which I found particularly insightful for its balanced take.

I agree with the writer that social media can be a double-edged sword. Whether it benefits us boils down to our mindset when using social media. Are we using social media or is social media using us? With AI algorithms becoming more clever in drawing our attention, are we still in control of our social media usage?

I believe we can truly gain from social media when we are intentional about our own use. That could be sharing awesome content that you fancy, connecting with friends/professionals from everywhere or promoting a business.

I think the danger lies when we let social media distort our own reality. It’s easy to fall prey to information bias, leading to a misrepresented view of the world and our place in it. Social media platforms are after all driven by recommendation algorithms that persuades us to sink into “rabbit holes” of the similar kind of content, albeit more intense.

It’s also very human to make social comparisons when we see others having it all online. The fear of missing out (FOMO) kicks in and we start feeling envious or inadequate.

But all we’re really doing is viewing someone through rose-tinted glasses. What others share online is often a carefully curated version of their lives, far from the full picture. Life is rarely as it’s portrayed on social media — because, let’s face it, some days life is just straight up sh*t.

Unless it’s really problematic, I don’t think it’s necessary to remove all forms of social media entirely. I believe the key here is to be mindful of our digital habits, the content we consume online and understand that not everything should be trusted online. It’s up to us to play the game right or be played by the game.

Being present

In the same train of thought, my travel experiences made me appreciate the art of just being present. For most of my memorable events, I was really forced to be fully engaged in the moment. There was no way I could afford to be distracted when a big wave is approaching or when I’m climbing down rock faces ~4000m above sea level…

I think being present is also about learning to disconnect. Fun fact: did you know brain rot is named Oxford Word of the Year 2024?

It’s good news that we as netizens are noticing the negative impacts of excessively doomscrolling “low-quality” online content. This means we should all the more disconnect before we are brain dead HAHA. On a more serious note, if you feel like you are getting played by the online world, it might be time to step back and take a break.

Lastly, being present to me is putting the experience first before anything else. Noticing our emotions and responses in the moment without judgement and appreciating that we can be content with small, simple things.

I’m all for sharing awesome moments and capturing nice photos. But I’ve come to appreciate being fully present in those fleeting experiences matters far more than obsessing over the perfect shot for likes and comments.

In the end, it’s the personal meaning we attach to these moments that holds intangible value, and not the external validation we might receive.

That’s all folks!

Happy New Year guys! Thanks for reading through my shenanigans and “intellectual” yappings. Hopefully I provided something you can take away for 2025.

I’ll also like to hear from you: What’s your stance on social media?

P.S. Oh yes, I’m looking forward to more culinary adventures again! See you soon 😀

Further reading

Is social media making you unhappy? The answer is not so simple

The Psychology of Why We Fall Down Internet Rabbit Holes | The Swaddle

‘Brain rot’ named Oxford Word of the Year 2024 – Oxford University Press

Summer’s here! Just kidding it’s always here in Singapore…

Hello everyone! It’s been yet another couple of months, and close to the end of my summer break. Back again to share my two cents’ worth that would hopefully value-add something for you. So, over this long period away from school, I thought of sharing some honest reflections that I’ve been trying to wrap my head around. Yee more serious stuff, but as always I’ll try to make it fun!

1. Endless hustlin-bustlin’

It seems like summer break doesn’t feel like a “break” at all, at least from my experience and observations. Friends are gunning for internships, and I don’t deny feeling this pressure of falling behind. Despite giving tuition on the side and doing personal projects mostly this summer, sometimes I do question myself whether I am doing enough and doing the right things.

It makes sense to be competitive, especially with the job market now not looking great for fresh graduates in some industries. Employment growth cooled and unemployment rates have edged up slightly according to the labour market report. Coupled with various media broadcasting recent layoffs in big companies, it’s easy to be pessimistic about securing a job after graduating.

I do feel jaded at times… the thought of having to compete in a rat race before entering the workforce is exhausting. It seems more like a necessity nowadays to grind internships, courses and portfolio projects back-to-back to stand out on LinkedIn and in the job market. In my opinion, this is a surefire way to burnout…

Upon introspection, I believe it is a personal choice to choose what kind of race we involve ourselves in. The term “rat race” of course have negative connotations: rodents trapped in a maze or on wheels, relentlessly running faster and faster, competing for some cheese crumb they can never reach.

But without rats and funny contraptions involved, I think joining a race is great. There’s a finishing line to compete for and strive towards, which can motivate people to train hard. I mean increasingly more people, maybe even our friends or relatives are participating in marathons, obstacle courses and now the latest trend Hyrox? I think more and more people are seeing the intangible value of challenging ourselves and working hard for what we want.

So yes, I feel there is immense fulfilment and satisfaction to be had from effortful pursuits that we are personally driven for. The key is to find our own sweet spot – the balance between how much to hustle or relax. It’s far more sustainable to pace ourselves and understand our motivations. Press on and run your own race.

2. Academic obsession

In my experience being in the education system, I can see how our obsession with academics is drilled from young. Our worth is pegged to our academic performance because of how desirable the awards, scholarships and compliments are. And of course, the pride and superiority one feels being in the best stream.

Yes, I do recall how being the top student in secondary school was such an ego booster with the numerous accolades and attention I get. I was one of the students that craved for straight As in my report card, but boy it was tough managing those expectations… Even till today, it’s hard to shake off the urge to be a perfectionist in university. But slowly, I’ve come to realise that the learning matters waaay more than the competition I put myself in.

I think our fixation with grades stems from how our academics seem to largely determine the rest of our lives i.e. further education, scholarships, desired career in a meritocratic system. Parents, wanting their best for their children, would relentlessly enroll them to tuition to stay ahead of the competition. It is no doubt the tuition industry has grown steadily to over a billion dollars in recent years, underscoring the high demand of private enrichment in Singapore.

In my experience, all I could remember is dreading to go for tuition that I was forced to go by parents. I dropped out of all of them after a few lessons 😈 It’s quite a big irony that I now work as a tuition teacher on the side HAHAHA. I really do empathise with my own students when they are distracted and don’t give a damn about my homework.

Oops digress a little… Now back to my argument: my point is not about requiring a systemic overhaul of the education system. While it has it flaws, I do agree it is a driver of social mobility. Education opens doors and enables people from less privileged backgrounds to better opportunities. And more and more financial assistance schemes are available now, making education more accessible and affordable for all.

I think it’s more about changing individual mindsets and societal perceptions that our academics should not be tied to our worth as a person and be the sole ultimate determinant of our future. Perhaps non-academic excellence in disciplines like music, graphic design and culinary arts could be better appreciated and encouraged as alternative pathways to the mainstream path. These jobs may not be perceived as glorious and well-paying but they still add value to society. Giving students room to explore diverse disciplines from young can promote the idea that there are broader definitions of success beyond academic excellence and material wealth.

3. Re-defining the “Singaporean dream”

Ahh the Singaporean dream… inspired from the “American dream” that connotes freedom, equal opportunity and upward mobility. Of course, there’s so much literature about the failures of the American dream, whether it is truly fair and equitable.

The 5Cs, namely cash, credit card, condominium, cars and country club were practical indicators of success during 1970s Singapore as many aspire to climb the socio-economic ladder. But do they still hold relevance today?

Just recently, I chanced upon a video by Singapore finance Youtuber Kelvin Learns Investing and it seems that impressions of the “Singaporean dream” have shifted away from materialistic pursuits to more personal choices and immaterial success. An interviewee mention that the Singaporean dream is ‘more about creating memories and creating experiences rather than just going for materialistic stuff’, and most generally agree that ‘happiness comes first’.

I think this shows that aspirations do evolve with time and environment. While previous generations would be more concerned with financial security, social mobility and attaining material success, current generations have greater choice of defining their own dreams with improved standards of living and wider range of opportunities.

Don’t get me wrong – as cost of living continues to increase, money still matters a lot. It is indeed a privilege to pursue a dream when our basic needs are met and financial circumstances allow. Following the “safer”, standard formula of getting good grades in hopes of getting a good job with good pay still holds value. It sets a solid foundation for one to explore other aspirations.

But at some point, we should reassess whether we are leaning our ladder against the right wall. Have we chosen a path that aligns with our deeper values and goals? Otherwise, no matter how hard we climb, we risk always feeling empty and unfulfilled.

I believe the “Singaporean dream” could be anything really. There isn’t a “model” answer to follow anymore. Hopefully, it would come to be something we define our own, and not one envisioned out of pressure and conformity.

4. Time seems to move faster

I don’t know about you, but for me the days seem to past by way quicker than before. Maybe life’s busier with bigger commitments and adult responsibilities. Or maybe reality is starting to sink in – getting older, thinking about the future and trying to get your sh*t together…

Apparently, there’s a psychological theory that states how we perceive time is influenced by our perspective. For a 10-year-old, 1 year would be 10 per cent of their entire life, but 1 year for a 50-year-old represents about 2 per cent of their whole life. So, for adults, days, weeks and years seem to blur together, making time feel like it has gone so quickly like it’s only yesterday. I think as we also settle into more structured routines with fewer new experiences, everyday feels like a single whole entity.

It makes a lot of sense to me now. I always get the feeling that time appears to slow down overseas? There’s so many new things to try and everything feels so novel. I definitely feel more engaged in the moment than merely going through the motions. So yes, even as we go through our daily adult routines, I think we should all make time for new experiences and continue to embrace our child-like curiosity.

5. I’mpostor!!?

With what seems like competition everywhere, I sometimes wonder if I will ever feel good enough and measure up in all I do. It seems that everyone else is way more talented and I can never match up to them. That feeling that you’ve worked hard for what you achieve but still feeling like a fraud. That your own achievements and successes no matter what would still pale in comparison to others. And you should just call it quits.

I won’t deny these thoughts creep up to me some days, in studies, hobbies and social situations, to name a few. In my opinion, the impostor mentality creates unnecessary stress and self-doubt. It really stops you from experiencing so much fun and personal growth. And it’s hard to not think this way, especially in the competitive society we grow up in. There’s definitely social and capitalistic pressures to be better than others, in school, work, relationships and life in general.

At the end of the day, beyond cliches like “be content with what you have”, “don’t compare” and “go at your own pace”, I think we should be kinder to ourselves. It’s nice that we expect a lot of ourselves, out of well-meaning desire to improve. However, setting the bar too high is setting ourselves up for a lot of disappointment and failure. I often like to remind myself to celebrate my own progress and to put my own happiness first. Self-care everyday helps to keep the impostor away 😀

6. Lonely

I admit some days really just suck, especially when the coffee doesn’t work and you’re just slogging through your day with no plans whatsoever. Trying to do some kind of work at home but just edgy, distracted, dozing away.

Soon enough, the day ends… with little progress. Quiet and alone in your dark room, 2AM thoughts start to hit you: man, I’m lonely…

I bet we all somewhat relate to this. Honestly, I’ve been mulling over whether this dreaded feeling of loneliness is something that we adapt or avoid… It so happens that one day, I was browsing through Instagram stories and my friend shared a quote that really resonated with me:

Some friends that we used to talk to and meet up with are now busy with different things, whether it is serving NS, working, studying abroad or in relationships. More so in our 20s, as many of us change and diverge into different life stages, we lose old friends and make new ones along the way. And those that stay? Really cherish them, because friendships are often so fleeting…

As friends come and go, I think first learning to enjoy your own company is so crucial. In my opinion, being comfortable alone without depending on someone to fill the void can lead to more meaningful connections with others. Rather than shying away from loneliness, accept that it’s normal to feel this way and perhaps that gnawing sense of loneliness would also come and go.

Now, on the flip side of the coin…

1. Still grateful regardless, really

Oh my… it’s so easy to be pessimistic these days. The weather is getting hotter and my caifan is increasing in price. Didn’t find any other job the whole summer and could’ve easily lie flat and be resentful. But I’ve come to realise it’s human nature to be loss averse, always focusing about what is going wrong.

I am genuinely grateful for the long summer holidays to decompress and dive into interests that truly matter to me. They have brought me great joy and fulfilment. I valued the free time I had, and it turned out summer was surprisingly more productive than what I had expected.

Of course, another thing that is so human is to constantly compare with other people and feel bad about yourself. Won’t deny I succumb to it sometimes… It’s so common to hear people say, “just be grateful!”, “count your blessings”, etc. but these platitudes don’t always make one feel better. Realistically it’s tough to be grateful when there’s little to be grateful about.

After all, life really sucks when everything seems to be going wrong. It’s completely valid to feel disappointed. But instead of forcing myself to be overly optimistic, I’ll focus on simply appreciating the moment for what it is. Nowadays, whether it is good or bad, I find it easier to aim for an increase in my EXP bar every day, one small step at a time. Eventually BOOM LEVEL UP! new skills unlocked eyy

2. Certainty within uncertainty

I remember VUCA was such a buzzword that I’ll overuse it in my essay writing couple of years ago. Never thought I will use it again… Volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous definitely describe today’s modern world. slay skibidi ohio rizz ok definitely not that…

As uncertain with recent AI disruptions, global pandemics and economic downturns perpetuated by media, it might seem like our world is doomed. Oh well uncertainty has always been a part of life, but I think we have adapted well so far right ChatGPT?

Instead of worrying about uncertainties, individually I am more certain of my own race and how to re-orientate myself when necessary. There are and always be many external forces beyond our control, but we can at least be reassured that we do have control over the direction we are heading next surely. The future holds infinite possibilities that we can’t always be sure about, but the process we follow is finite and within our grasp. Trust the process.

3. Peace

I’m starting to appreciate the sense of solace in solitude. Yes, I agree it gets boring sometimes, but it’s such a source of inspiration to be creative with my free time, like writing this 🙂

Unpopular opinion, but I find that I can really be my most authentic self when I’m left to my own devices. In the quiet of solitude, free from the noise and external pressures of social settings. I can tune into just being me. It’s in these moments I realise that maybe some of my concerns are overblown.

I feel more at peace when I begin to accept that not everything has to be perfect all the time, especially when I have certain expectations of how the result should be. Embracing the beauty of imperfections and letting go of the outcome is so incredibly liberating.

And with that… peace out! 😏

Bye summer hols!

Already missing you… 👉👈

I honestly admit this post happened as a result of capturing random thoughts and feelings throughout the holidays and trying so hard to piece them together in a coherent manner. Still, I hope these insights have been helpful for you in some ways.

Also, an idea I have! I believe these deep, reflective, contentious stuff are better conveyed artistically than words alone, through music perhaps. I really should make an album of these reflections like 3 – 5 songs. What yall think? To be released by next summer maybe (?) We’ll see…

Further reading

🧑‍💼 Class of 2024 might be in for a wild job hunt (businesstimes.com.sg)

More S’pore professionals seeking to change jobs despite cooling labour market: LinkedIn | The Straits Times

Look Ahead 2024: Amid job disruptions due to AI, remote work and tech retrenchments, youth urged to stay agile by upskilling – TODAY (todayonline.com)

CNA Reboot of the 5Cs

Why does time pass faster as we get older? – Earth.com

With the new year, I thought I’ll try something different from the typical reflection kind of post I’ve been putting out so far. I’ll like to try something more interesting and less serious! 🙂

I believe almost every Singaporean would be familiar with caifan, chap cai png, vegetable rice or economy rice. However you call it, they all mean the same thing. Customers choose from numerous trays of cooked dishes, ranging from meat, vegetable, eggs and tofu, to go together with a serving of steamed rice. So simple and so many choices to suit your tastes, I admit I’m guilty of eating caifan almost every day…

Since I was getting too bored during December holidays, I decided to take my caifan obsession one step further! I embarked on a ridiculous culinary adventure to explore its origins and recreate some of the dishes at home, well just for fun.

Why is economy rice caifan?

Well, we know caifan is predominantly a Chinese cuisine, that is very similar to its Malay or Indonesian equivalent, nasi padang. In fact, caifan (菜饭) literally translates to vegetable rice, or rice with dishes.

While most dishes trace back to their Chinese roots, a few of them blend ingredients from different regions. I will cover (and cook) some of my personal favourites in detail later 😊

Why is caifan economy rice?

A less obvious question: is caifan economical? In my opinion, largely yes. It’s almost everywhere in hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts in Singapore. And it’s definitely faster than McDonald’s, KFC or other fast food restaurants.

Caifan is mostly an affordable option too, if and only if you choose dishes wisely.

Fun fact: Years ago during the post-war period, economic rice cost $0.08 (8 cents!) for 1 meat, 1 vegetable, rice and a drink to help with food shortage

However, with inflation and rising cost of living, is caifan really economical now? Honestly this depends on location: Caifan will remain cheap in coffee shops around residential neighbourhoods, but cost significantly more in atas food courts around high traffic areas downtown.

It also boils down to what kind of dishes we choose. And this can be rather tricky… Some vegetable dishes can deceivingly be more expensive than expected because of added meat. In addition, not all prices of meat dishes are fixed. Seafood and large meat pieces e.g. shrimps, fish, chicken leg and pork chop are usually more expensive.

Unfortunately, it’s such a prevailing issue how there’s a lack of transparency when it comes to the pricing of the dishes. Some stalls do not include a price list, and this might cause confusion and dissatisfaction amongst customers when they feel they are unreasonably overcharged.

I think having some sort of a price guide and colour coding for special dishes can clear up ambiguity in food prices, especially for seasonal food items. But some stall owners might be hesitant to implement such changes. They are worried that customers would become calculative and slow down the ordering process.

For the thrifty caifan-er, it’s best to avoid picking dishes cooked with fish, seafood and small pieces of meat. When unsure of the prices, don’t be afraid to ask before choosing your next dish. So that you won’t end up paying more than $10 for your cai fan…

As tricky as caifan prices are, I too have some more tricks up my sleeves 😉

Caifan tips & tricks

Couple of online users have proposed a few Caifan hacks, such as ordering the meat dishes first and saying 多一点饭 (duo yi dian fan) instead of 加饭 (jia fan), which directly translates to “a bit more rice” instead of “add rice”. Additionally, when taking away with two dishes, say 两菜而已 (liang cai er yi) so the cai png owner will help to fill up the takeaway box. Honestly, from my years of eating Caifan, I never really thought about how effective these hacks are, until I started trying them out recently.

Based on my results after a single round of experimentation at my school and my neighbourhood coffee shop, I realised the hacks don’t quite work as desired…

Wait wait wait… I do however have a cai fan theory that needs more proving. Here it is!

Don’t pick your dishes too fast; wait for the cai png boss to happily scoop finish before choosing your next dish. It’s a psychological trick to get a bit more bang for your buck!

Rayson Oon – 2024

Well, regardless of whether the hacks work, still try them out for a chance of getting free extra portion HAHAHA

The adventure begins

As a seasoned caifan-er, what struck me was how simple the concept of cai fan is – fry some dishes and then serve with freshly steamed rice. It reminds me about the comforts of having a home-cooked meal, which kind of inspired me to start cooking again. Perhaps it isn’t that hard, right?

Feeling motivated, I came up with a home-cooked caifan masterplan: I narrowed down 12 11 dishes from my personal favourites to hot sellers at caifan stalls. Every week, I would challenge myself to cook 3 dishes for a month.

This was no easy feat though. I took a while to search and sift through various recipes online and then do all the necessary grocery shopping. After everything was well prepared, it’s time… to heat my wok and start cooking! >:)

Meal 1

For my very first meal, I decided to cook Sweet and Sour Pork (I would say the most popular Caifan dish that almost everyone orders) and my 2 personal favourites, Onion Omelette and Stir-fryed Okra.

The result? Sweet and sour pork ended up rather salty instead, not close to what the name of the dish had promised… I admit I did mess around with the sauce mixture. I reduced the amount of sugar for health reasons and didn’t include plum sauce, which could actually elevate the citrus flavour of the dish.

Okra aka Lady’s fingers was pretty meh. I didn’t do justice to my favourite vegetables HAHA. Felt I could have seasoned the dish better to bring out its flavours.

The last dish was the saving grace. The onion omelette was simple & simply delicious! With just 2 main ingredients, it’s hard to go wrong for something quick & nice.

Meal 2

Moving on to the second week, I picked Lemon Chicken, Tomato Egg & Curry Vegetables.

Same issue as the sweet and sour pork, Lemon Chicken… didn’t feel like lemon at all. The sauce was underwhelming and could do with a lot more lemon juice (juice from 3/4 instead of 1/2 a lemon).

I accidentally overcooked my Tomato Egg. There were some parts that was charred black and spring onions became winter onions 😑 Yes, I did follow the recipe to add spring onions early. Lesson learnt: use the white parts for cooking at the end and the green ones mainly for garnish…

For the curry vegetables, I made a mistake of being too generous with the coconut milk, which caused the texture of the gravy to become too thick and milky. On that note, I didn’t want to waste food and keep any unused coconut milk hehehe

Meal 3

The following week, I made steamed egg, stir-fry eggplants with garlic and ketchup hotdog & potatoes.

I expected the steamed egg to be silky smooth, but mine was full of holes and swimming in a pool of water… way too much water. It doesn’t have much of a taste too, though the soft, jelly texture complements the other dishes well.

The eggplants turned out pretty meh. I’m thankful that they didn’t turned into a mushy mess though. I believe pre-salting really helped to drain the excess moisture from the eggplants. However, I would definitely prefer a slightly spicy version, like this Sichuan Eggplant Stir-fry.

Last one is a classic Western fusion: ketchup hotdog & potatoes. This perhaps appeal more to the tastebuds of younger people. Simple to make and delicious. However, it was a little dry. I would add more ketchup sauce next time.

Meal 4

And the last meal of the week: marmite chicken, tomato egg and braised egg tofu. Originally intended to cook bittergourd with egg, but sadly the supermarket ran out of bittergourd 🙁

I thought marmite chicken was kinda cool. I tried finding actual marmite on supermarket shelves, but stock hasn’t been coming in for a while sadly. Luckily, there was an alternative called Bovril. I tried it and it felt like salty cough syrup on its own… It’s really such an acquired taste and I definitely do not want to eat it by itself.

As for the braised egg tofu, I added too many mushrooms that ended up rather bland and clumpy, in a bid to reduce food waste again. Besides that, I think I could have added more sauce ingredients too. Most of the good sauce had evaporated already when I was done cooking 😢

On the bright side, my second attempt to cook tomato egg turned out better than expected. I tried the Cantonese method and it gave a nice, layered texture to the omelette. It tasted so much better as well!

Frustrations

Cooking is honestly such an intense activity: not just physical but also a mental workout. Knowing when and how to flip your egg, mentally running through the recipe in your head step-by-step. I do miss out ingredients sometimes, even after diligently referring to recipes hehehe

But that’s not the hardest part.

This is the hardest part. Washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. Yes, I would just enter a perpetual state of food coma after devouring down all my hard-earned food I’ve prepared. Who wants to clean up the mess?! Nevertheless, I’d push through my laziness, take the sponge, start scrubbing dreadfully and zoning out. Afterwards, I’ll be so tired and retreat back to my lovely bed 🥱

And I must admit cooking is such a commitment. Fresh ingredients are usually sold in bulk, and they don’t last long. So I would have to constantly think of ways to reuse extra ingredients in another recipe.

These are some tasty solutions I have! For most leftover ingredients, I decided to throw them into a slow-cooker and simmer some good soup or stir-fry them well into fried rice for lunch. However, there’s still that jar of Bovril that I don’t know what to do with… Ideas appreciated please!

Adventure complete!

While it was really exhausting, I had a lot of fun recreating my favourite caifan dishes at home. They were Iess oily than most cai png shops, and it was so satisfying to eat my very own home-cooked caifan.

Also, I truly gained enormous respect for the cai png uncles/aunties who cook and serve relentlessly throughout the week. They cook way more than I do and also entertain countless of customers every day. Caifan might not be our national dish, but it surely plays a significant role in feeding the nation from the past till today.

For anyone who is interested to replicate my recipes, I’ve consolidated them here. Most of them are of course not perfect. If you intend to follow the recipes, I’ve suggested some improvements earlier that you could consider.

Some more food for thought about caifan facts & hacks 😉

Everything You Need to Know about Economy Rice Cai Png in Singapore – Alex Kwa

Why Is My Economic Rice So Expensive? How Can I Save Money? | Talking Point | Full Episode (youtube.com)

Commentary: There’s a simple fix to online ruckus about economy rice prices (channelnewsasia.com)

Wow can’t believe I read so much into caifan! Such is a random post when my mind is all over the place HAHAHA

Thanks for dropping by anyways. If you’re keen, leave a comment below to share what’s your favourite caifan combo and why 🙂

Intro

And after one and a half years, yes I’m back again! Now to document my gap year – another major milestone of my life. As my gap year is approaching to an end, I thought it’ll be cool to share some of my reflections and experiences. Maybe they could help those who are going through their 20s, which is often described as a tumultuous, significant phase of life.

Wait… gap year or gap years???

I think the concept of a gap year is kinda unusual in Singapore, especially for guys. I did at times question myself: why should I take a gap year when NS is already sort of a “gap year”. And that long stretch of break before university starts. Isn’t that close to a “gap year” as well?

Honestly, my reasons are largely personal. I just wanted more time to work through some of my life issues and give myself space to explore my interests. I also valued the freedom to pursue the things that I have been holding off because of school and NS.

I really felt life began to weigh on me as I hit my 20s. Within a span of few years, I went from being a diligent student to a “loyal” soldier, reluctantly, and then a struggling adult trying to figure out what to do with his life. It honestly feels like I’m relentlessly transitioning from one stage to another…

I really wanted a break from school, from the continual paper chase just to… take a breather.

And so I took the leap of faith.

Odd jobs

There I was working odd jobs: waitering at a cafe; assisting at roadshows; packing at warehouse; freelance tutoring; admin assistant; and even playing as a mascot…

I am grateful for these opportunities, and the people I’ve met (and probably never meet again). Although some of these jobs didn’t pay too well, the experiences I had are priceless.

Most jobs were great but a few were just bad…Nevertheless, they showed me what I desired from my future career – the ideal culture, progression, management style and work-life balance.

Made a couple of mistakes here and there, but nothing too serious! In fact, the biggest regret I have was being too afraid to quit an undesirable job early. I was worried about my reputation and how hard it was to find another job. I stayed too long, hoping that things would get better. Oh boy, that was just wishful thinking.

Looking back, I have indeed fallen for the sunk cost fallacy… totally not worth sacrificing my mental and emotional health for.

After all life’s not all about work, isn’t it?

Travel

I’m also thankful to be able to travel to different parts of the world beyond my own. It was enjoyable learning about the rich history and cultures of various countries and the different lifestyles of the locals. Travelling made me understand more about my identity, that is significantly influenced by the environment I grew up in. At the same time, it’s humbling to know that the world is so much more than the one that has shaped me, and there is still more to life to appreciate than what I know right now.

Writing this, I miss the thrilling, reckless, unforgettable adventures already, more so with amazing company… From trekking mountains and caves, kayaking the rapids and biking around foreign places, there is so much fun, freedom and discovery to be had outside of my comfort zone.

Especially during my solo trip to Vietnam, I realised how difficult it was to be self-reliant. I often felt the travel blues – lonely and homesick. Having to plan out the whole trip, manage my finance, and most importantly take care of myself all on my own was honestly not easy. I ran into several problems along the way, fell sick a few times, things went missing (I can’t figure out why), but I’m glad I didn’t lose myself HAHA. Learning to be careful the hard way really sucks. Live and learn…

Music

I’m glad to have a creative outlet to express my thoughts and feelings through music. It’s a form of catharsis that keeps me going in life. Do check out my music IG where I log my progress and upload song covers that I’ve done!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @raysonggz

I’m still learning, and the covers aren’t meant to be perfect… However, I always appreciate your feedback!

Currently, I’m working on writing my own song too. Stay tuned!

Different timelines

Frankly, my 20s so far is feeling like shit most of the time. It’s feeling doubtful of your life choices – not sure if the gap year was worth it, whether I was picking the right major. Afterwards, I’d feel overwhelmed about adult life and what lies ahead. And then finally feeling lost and helpless about how to proceed forward HAHA.

I’ve also been feeling the pressure to “grow up” and make something out of myself. It doesn’t help that media often promotes the idea that your 20s should be the best part of your life. You’re young, wild and free, and the world is your oyster.

But I don’t quite agree with that notion because everyone goes through life at a different pace and under different circumstances. Using age as a benchmark to hit certain milestones creates unnecessary pressure on people to conform to societal standards.

Particularly in Singapore with a pro-marriage housing policy, I feel there is a greater albeit implicit expectation on young adults here to find a partner and settle down early. I am also aware that in other societies, people who don’t get married by 30 or so are labelled as ‘leftovers’.

I think it’s always difficult for people who don’t fit the mould of what our environment is pushing us towards. But I truly believe that our life decisions should largely be based on personal reasons rather than to follow societal expectations.

It’s okay to not have that marriage, house or booming career by (insert age here). We all have our own unique timelines and individual pursuits. So let’s not compete over who has the “best” life. People have different ways how they want to live, and we should respect their right to do so.

In a fast-paced society like Singapore, I think we should start appreciating the art of slowing down. I don’t think we can hustle all the time. It’s a recipe for burning out, speaking from my own experiences. It took me a while to realise how crucial it is to take the time to slow down. I don’t always have to be sprinting all the time. This new knowledge has helped with my own well-being a lot. My mantra now is to just ‘take it easy’, especially when I find myself stressed out. It has greatly helped me to relax and keep me composed. Maybe this could help readers like you.

Change & uncertainty

I think part of adulting is also realising that many questions in life have no right or wrong answers, or even have a definite answer. Questions, like what do we want out of our lives, and the meaning of our lives is something best answered by ourselves.

At some point, we are bound to make wrong decisions or regret some of the life choices that we choose. However, what’s for sure is that change is constant throughout our lives. That’s the beauty of life, isn’t it? We can fumble around here and there and figure out as we go. Mistakes happen but they rarely derail our path irreparably. More often, these “wrong” moves can actually pave the right way forward. Certainly, nothing is ever permanent. We hold the power to control how we react to our circumstances and how we want our own lives to be like.

Living in the era of the Information Age, knowledge is so easily accessible. A quick Google search or a message to your friendly ChatGPT is all it takes to find out why the sky is blue, why did the chicken cross the road and why pigs can fly… Jokes aside, we are presented with a lot more sources of information at a pace way quicker than before. And I think ironically it’s more common now to suffer from “paralysis by analysis”. Making decisions now involves a complicated affair with the Internet. With social media, online forums and blogs having varying opinions on X, Y, Z. Our own voice starts to blur with the rest of the herd that we start to lose sense of what is important to us and what we really want.

The Internet can be a great and bad place to find advice, and it all depends how we go about doing it. I think it is common human instinct to seek out information that supports one’s existing beliefs, values and opinions. This confirmation bias can rob us of the opportunity to understand new perspectives and develop holistically. Sometimes the things we do not want to know are the things we ought to know. When we are aware of our own biases, we can avoid getting trapped in the Internet echo chamber and gain new, valuable insights for our benefit.

Our 20s is also a phase where I believe our identity, values & beliefs change. As we grow, we realise certain messages we internalise in the past may no longer hold presently. And it’s something that is not easy to accept. It’s scary to step into a new identity, even more so after being so comfortable with what we are familiar. As far as I remember, the moments I learnt the most were the times I took the courage to step out of my comfort zone. I think it’s important to not deny the opportunity to grow ourselves beyond our past circumstances.

In my opinion, when we embrace the idea of change and be open to new experiences, instead of suppressing them or brushing them aside, we are able to be more of our authentic selves. And this is uniquely individual because what works better for one person may not be the same for someone else. It’s far more important to accept your own needs and preferences, rather than being concerned for external validation or to conform to certain standards.

Self-care

I don’t think our 20s should be obsessing over being the right person for someone else other than for ourselves. In fact, it’s a time to take care of ourselves. To embrace our unique self and to also acknowledge our own flaws and insecurities. If something is a problem to you, it is a problem that should be addressed no matter how big or small. Your feelings, opinions, needs, and desires are all valid. Above everything else, your well-being matters the most. Ultimately, the best relationship you can have is actually the relationship with yourself.

The unfortunate reality is that some of us have been through traumatic events growing up. It’s good to be self-aware that we don’t have to perpetuate the same cycle of pain and confusion throughout our lives. I don’t think I’m in a position to advise how to deal with this. But what I have to emphasise is that mental and emotional health matter as well. We should seek help from a professional where appropriate.

I’m reminded of a line from Guardians of Galaxy 3, when Layla spoke to Rocket in his dying moments that the ‘story has always been about you’. Indeed it is. It is our choice to let go of beliefs that don’t serve us and start living for ourselves while you are able to.

Never ending journey

And it’s the end of another beginning! I think there are so many paths that we can go from here, if we muster the courage and effort to explore beyond the convention. For most of us, the cool thing about our 20s is that we have the autonomy and responsibility to decide what truly matters to us

As we all embark on a journey of continual growth & exploration, some days will be good and some will be bad… But always keep looking forward and enjoy the small moments during the journey.

Conclusion

Some disclaimer first: these are some of my deep observations and reflections during my gap year, and not an academic research writing… So do take it with a grain of salt.

All right serious stuff aside, I’m honestly looking forward to being a student again in college after 4 years. But things haven’t been looking so bright…

I intended to post this before university began, but I kept procrastinating as usual and was helplessly swept by the rapid currents once the semester began… Now that the semester has ended, I might have to reconsider my opinions on being a student again :S

As I’ll be occupied with school commitments, I won’t be updating my blog regularly. However, I’m open to the idea of experimenting new projects during the holidays. We’ll see.

So, with another year coming to an end, I wish you happy holidays and happy new year!

PS: Reposting this due to technical errors

Hi everyone! I’m back to blogging after a long break. I’m definitely more excited to write once again and share with you what to expect next for this blog.

Bye NS

On 3rd Nov 2021, I’ve officially ORD-ed! It feels bittersweet honestly. Whilst I celebrate the return of my own freedom and sovereignty, somehow I still miss the place and the people I’ve came across. One thing for sure though – I won’t do it again.

Although 1 year 10 months don’t seem a lot as compared to 2 – 4 years of school, the many different experiences made NS feel like a long, long time. In my previous post, I’ve already took a trip down memory lane, so I won’t want to rehash the same stories over again.

Instead, I’ll like to give my final thoughts about my experience and my overall view of NS. I think this will give a proper closure to another phase of life before moving forward to bigger things.

Continue reading “Life after… ORD LOH!”

I realised it’s been a fair bit of time since I started blogging, and I’m feeling nostalgic lately… So I thought I’ll take a sentimental trip down my “1-year” blogging journey (my works and unfinished ones) just to read back and reflect, or laugh at my own work. Here goes!

Let me introduce myself… again

Throughout my experience of on-off blogging since secondary school, I’ve written couple of self-introductions over and over again. Always claiming I’ll start a great journey but never finishing anything. One thing in common – they all sound cringe hahaha.

Continue reading “Blog update 02/21”

My brain is slowly regressing from switching off in NS that I now struggle to write a proper sentence. Now how should I begin…?

Ok… I’ll be straightforward. The title says it all – one year left. To be exact, less than a year: 308 days left to the coveted day, ORD!

Upon hitting this milestone, I decided to give my view of NS another thought. Perhaps I should offer a more encouraging perspective. From my previous rant about NS, I think I might have created a wrong impression of the army in general. So I’ll like to set things straight through this post. I hope to clarify my stand on NS because some readers seem to get the idea that I hate NS to the core, which is not entirely true. As dreadful NS may be, I realised there are things to enjoy and things to learn too.

Oh… something to note: now given the extra circumstance that my commanders are aware of my blog (and disturb me about it), I have to be extra careful of what I write… 🙂

Continue reading “One year left…”

“POP LOH!”

These words are what many recruits will cry out in relief after enduring two to five months of Tekong hell.

I was no different. Like every Singaporean son, I was enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as a chao recruit in January to begin my Basic Military Training (BMT) in Pulau Tekong.

Continue reading “The BMT Experience”