An Australian story about travel, and ripping yarns.

I am a sixth generation Australian of Irish and Scottish extraction. A visit to my site is a light hearted adventure across time, countries and cities.

Category: Travel Singapore

Travel Singapore

Singapore consumerism – Eating, extreme excess, and crazy rich Asians 

(This Postcard was written from Singapore in October 2022)

Singapore consumerism – welcome to excess. Singaporeans like to eat they also like to shop!

Fifty percent of Singaporeans consider shopping as a hobby, of which 55% are women between ages 25 and 65. 80% say they shop when they need a specific item, 45% say they do so because it makes them feel happy. I was three in 1965 when Singapore became independent. The Singapore I studied at School, was well pretty broke. 77 years have passed, I turned sixty this day. Shopping as a hobby, and to lift a mood: How is that a thing, for such a high percentage of a Country, which started at such a low base, in my own lifetime? Let’s jump back to 1965: What facilitated such change?

Leadership – The path to consumerism.

1965, Singapore had finally received the Property Deeds back from Britain, and had finalized a messy divorce with Malaysia, however Singapore was hardly rolling in cash. Lee Kuan Yu, Singapore’s first Prime Minister, a man of vision, educated in the Law and Economics: But, also deeply profoundly pragmatic. 1965, Lee acknowledged that Singapore had limited resources, but they had one: The ability of Singaporeans to work together regardless of race and creed and work extremely hard. In simple terms: Lee’s Leadership transformed Singapore. Lee had the vision, he backed his people, he ensured his Government Team was the best available in all manner of skills, Day 1 ‘ZERO’ tolerance of Corruption. The people of Singapore generally embraced and followed Lee’s Leadership.

Consumerism and Gross Domestic Product.

How can we quickly measure progress since 1965? Let’s look at the GDP of Singapore compared with Australia (Lee’s Poor White Trash of Asia), Britain (Lee’s former Landlord), and the United States. Great, what’s GPD?

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures a Country’s Wealth. Put simply, Assets minus Debt. So, find the loose change under the couch and the glove box, smash the kid’s piggy banks: Pay of the mortgage and all those credit cards – divide that by the number of people living in your house – That’s the GDP of your household.

Singapore’s staggering GDP growth from 1965 to 2021, is well staggering!

Lee Kuan Yu described the Leadership Values and Intent which drove this growth:

“We have had, since 1965, an undivided society, solidly behind a meritocratic system, pushing for higher standards of education, higher standards of performance, and meritocratic at every level. Instead of trying to impose Western political models on Asian realities, we sought to make autocracy respectable by leavening it with meritocracy, the rule of law and a strict intolerance for corruption to make it deliver growth.”

Lee Kuan Yu

Singapore Consumerism and Inequality.

Excellent! But has the wealth benefitted everyone?

No! It hasn’t. GDP measures national wealth, it ignores wealth distribution and inequality. Singapore displays profound financial inequality and inequity. Nothing new in this. Australia, Britain, and the US, have a similar problem of wealth accumulation at the top. However,

National wealth can also pay for public health, safe water, public infrastructure: Investment lifting the overall quality of life. Singapore has done that and shares this with Australia and Britain. Ok enough politics! What are Singaporeans spending their hard-earned wealth on?

Bucket loads of prestige and exotic cars! Significant, given it’s the world’s most expensive place to buy and own a car. Obviously, car ownership is not equitable, but then the average Singaporean has access to fast, clean, efficient, reliable public transport – Ridiculously cheap: Murah Sekali!

Singapore Consumerism – Not just exotic cars.

What are Singaporean’s buying?

Prestige goods definitely – Watches, fashion: These are big business.

Carefully feng shui-ed architecture reflects this passion, some places are aptly described as Temples of Consumerism.

Orchard Road, the prestige shopping district: Roaring, rampaging, bellowing shopping, winding up like a Lamborghini’s tachometer – quite overwhelming! As a tourist, the question is not, “Where can I buy a Rolex Watch in Singapore?”  For the answer will be, ‘Which outlet, on which floor in that same outlet, in which ‘Temple of Consumerism,’ do you wish to make your purchase?’ How can one City State sustain so many outlets for Cartier and Rolex?

Consumerism and a cheap breakfast.

I was born in Wagga Wagga, 60 years ago today. Wagga is a smallish rural Town in the Australian State of New South Wales. It hosts an Aussie Airforce base, the hospital in which I was born. Let’s just say Wagga is a typical ‘Aussie Rural Town’: It’s not that exciting. Now Oxford Street, Sydney, a place I’ve walked and inhaled numerous times in a long life: Oxford Street is Australia’s prestige shopping district: A short kangaroo hop from the Sydney Opera House. Where is this going?

Ok, simply put Orchard Road makes Oxford Street look like Wagga Wagga on a Sunday afternoon!

Fortunately, though I admire any Rolex, I was only looking for breakfast. And this is part of the intangible value of Singapore: On the same floor as all this luxury bling – traditional breakfast of Malay Nasi Lemak, for $6.50 – Murah Sekali!

The retailing of food is the foundation of Singapore. No more so than the cultural icon that is the Hawker Centre. You can read my Postcard describing the establishment and history of these institutions at this link.

Traditional breakfast of Malay Nasi Lemak.

Singapore – It’s not all Gordon Gekko.

Orchard Road seems like the past, it’s very ‘Gordon Gekko’ 1980’s, Greed, and Desire as markers of success, ok ask your Grandad!

There are signs that contemporary Singapore Architecture is moving in line with emerging international values – Lower environmental impact, green walls, water harvesting – electronic instant connectivity.

Singapore’s new architecture is more ‘Green’ than opulent.

Singapore has not lost any of its traditional heritage precincts, take ‘Little India,’ hardly a temple of consumerism, but there is as usual eating and consuming on immense scale.

So Little India, is commercial like say Bali, Indonesia? Absolutely not? All of this display is normal business in Little India. When I shot these photos; I was obviously one of very few tourists scrambling to avoid being runover by Lamborghini and Porsche! This is sustained by local everyday business. By example, take the Aussies out of Bali, well you’re back to growing rice or serving fake vodka to arrogant Russian gangsters!

Do I love Singapore? You bet I do!

(My further thoughts on Singapore can be found by clicking this link)

Travel Singapore

Hawker Centres – Food, eating, self-determination Colonizing Bullies. 

(Written in October 2022, after several introductory Postcards, I had finally started my Singapore adventure)
Statue Stamford Raffles founder of Singapore.

Finally, after much talk, I am on the ground in Singapore! It seems fitting to start where modern Singapore started, the Site where Stamford Raffles rowed ashore in 1819. So, as my old corpse is obscuring the most important part of this photograph.

Singapore let’s eat.

When I started this Postcard series, I had intended some serious ponderings, but the last two days, exhausted from travelling, I’m just eating, eating, and getting my bearings. So, food:

The classic contemporary Hawker Centre.

Food in Singapore means the ‘Hawker Centre’. Ok, what is that?

Think local takeaway or cafe, kind off. Similarity suddenly stops. Hawker Centres are communal buildings, providing accommodation to small family run businesses: Malay, Chinese, and Indian traditional fare. Food is cheap, meals are large, crowded, noisy, aromatic, fresh ingredients – Hard to describe, but US chef, author, and TV personality, Anthony Bourdain does it best:

“So, it was another day in foodie paradise. And that is Singapore’s singular danger. It is easy to get sucked in, to get used to the trivial things on your daily table — the tiny dishes of sambal or chopped red chili peppers, the soy sauce, even the moist towelettes. And once you get used to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes, there is no going back. Western food becomes eerily bland and flat. You find your soul kidnapped by the memory of condiments. If you like the idea of getting lost in Asia, Singapore is the perfect place to start“

Anthony Bourdain.
Watch Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Parts Unknown’ for yes plenty of great food, but some opinions on the ‘success’ or otherwise of modern Singapore.

Hawker Centre History.

Where did this all start? The success of Raffle’s ‘Asian Pub‘, oh he also built a Trading Port: Well, it attracted workers from all over, and workers need to be fed and these workers, well let’s say Raffles and Co, were here to make money, worker’s welfare was not a huge priority. Up stepped the Hawker:

The Hawker Singapore. Now a essential aspect of Singapore's culture and history. It all started with street Hawkers as shown in this photo.
The Original Street Hawkers. They fed Singapore’s growth.

Hawkers, rode and strode Singapore’s Streets, feeding this new workforce, with the only food they knew, the traditional cuisine of their home Countries. This started, well pretty much immediately that Raffles opened shop. By the start of World War 2, Hawking was feeding most of Singapore, but that came at a price: Street congestion, no sanitation, gangs fighting for territory, rampant serious disease. The English Colonial Government tried what colonizers often do: Stamp out the problem but give scant attention to an alternative – How to feed the working population, the engine room of Singapore’s wealth.

Fascists come and go, Colonizers return.

The Japanese Invasion of 1942 stopped the Hawkers in their tracks: There simply was no food! Besides, the Japanese also wanted plenty of not just cheap labour, free forced labour.

1946, Britain, Holland, and France – having recently crushed Italy, Japan, and Germany, for their sheer audacity in trying to take over someone else’s Countries, well these European powers have returned to business as usual: Running someone else’s Country! Britain – Singapore, Holland – Indonesia, and France – Vietnam.

It was back to business for the Singapore Hawkers as well, but the same chaos, hygiene, health issues remained despite another 19 years of authorities trying to eliminate the Hawkers.

Food becomes a resistance movement.

The crack down on Hawker Centres post WW2 came to symbolize National Identity, IE: Singapore’s struggle for self-destiny, free of European or Asian empire building. During the 1950’s Hawker Centres frequently were the subject of ‘resistance’ art:

Street Hawkers running from Security Forces.

Hawker’s scrambling in response to ‘cockatoos’ warning of an authority raid. Having now walked the Singapore’s remaining back blocks, I cannot imagine apprehending such ‘villains’ was an easy business.

Singapore commences time travel into the future.

1965, Singapore has received the property deeds back from Britain and settled an ugly messy divorce with Malaysia. Lee Quan Yu’s new Government takes a different approach to the Hawkers. Lee considers the continuation of traditional regional food critical to building the multicultural society he has in mind, but he is ever pragmatic. Street Hawking is banned full stop, but not before the creation of the ‘Hawker Centre’ in which the same Hawkers can continue business. The new Hawker Centres are structurally sound, hygienic, and well maintained. Rents are controlled, the traditional Hawkers are never pushed into profit deficit by a greedy landlord. The same policy has continued down to today. But does it work?

Well US President Joe Biden thinks so:

US President Joe Biden – Any chance of a Hot Dog?

Anthony Bourdain also thinks so:

“I come here mostly to eat because that’s what Singaporeans do here. And they arguably do it better—with more diverse, affordable food options per square foot than just about anywhere on Earth”.

Anthony Bourdain

UNESCO also thinks they work pretty well, in 2020 Hawker Culture was added to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Seriously, I have no idea what that means, but I do know, UNESCO has not recently added my local Fish and Chip Shop or Macca’s to that list!

Intangible Singapore.

Three days in, I get the intangibility of Singapore, as Anthony said, it’s something to do with:

“Jam-packed in between the carefully feng shui-ed architecture, the skyscrapers, and office blocks are rich, deep, very old, and deliciously funky remnants of the Old World – Chinese, Indian, Malay – and a culture that still cherishes the joys of a simple, good thing.”

Anthony Bourdain

I can’t help pondering, that for a government, often accused of totalitarianism or at best a benevolent dictatorship, well the Lee Government handled the Hawker issue with sensitivity, taking something flawed, something that others had tried to destroy and made it endure – There is great Leadership on display here. Or,

Perhaps the Hawker Centre is simply an excellent place to eat?

(I explore Singapore’s success in my Postcard ‘Eating, extreme excess, and Crazy Rich Asians’, you can read it by following this link.)

Travel Singapore

Time Travel, and Singapore’s Autocratic Lee Kuan Yu 

(This Postcard was written in September 2022, prior to commencing my October 2022 adventure in Singapore)

In October 2023 I am commencing an Adventure in Singapore. In preparation a little time travel, let’s briefly discuss a short history of Singapore. “You can’t really know a person until you get in their shoes and walk around in them,” so said Atticus Finch in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. So, in regard Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yu, Prime Minister 1959 to 1990: Since I will soon literally be walking in his footsteps, well I thought it smart to put on his shoes.

Let’s start with what I know:

Young Mr. Lee Kuan Yu.

Lee Kuan Yu was born in British Empire, Singapore 1923. Pondering the young Lee, I reflect that all people start as a child – If the adult becomes brilliant, average, a force for good or evil, or time travels through history: We all start as a simple innocent child. Life changes us, our past makes our future or can do: Time travel (click this link to understand my view on time travel)! Ok, I’m stalling, what do I really know? Not much:

Lee, like my dad was alive when the invincible British Singapore fortress fell to the Japanese in oh, about 1 week. Lee lived it up close and personal, my dad, just like so many Aussies, just felt the fear of Japanese Invasion from afar.

Making of Singapore.

Lee, made Singapore, how? I’m very sketchy on the details.

Lee once told Australian’s, “You will be the poor white trash of Asia.” This I did live, and I remember it aroused many budgies, in the land of smuggler’s descendants.

Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Prime Minister Lee.

Then, oddly Aussie Prime Minister Bob Hawke agreed with Lee: Some of those budgies got really aroused!

Lee frequently had people flogged for chewing gum and dropping rubbish: I recall very well the West’s shock. Australian’s recoiled, we might be trash, but public floggings: How backward was this Lee character? Seems, we had long forgotten Britain, actually sent its ‘white trash’ Down Under, for petty crimes: Aussie authorities had a flogging penchant right up to 1958, when shock and horror Lee was alive. And that’s about all I know! What shaped him?

Time Travel with Mr. Lee Kuan Yu.

Lee was Cambridge educated, 1950 admitted as a Barrister. So, it seems he was a proper part of the Established British Empire. Whereas Ho Chi Minh, Uncle Ho to his mates, leader of the Vietnamese Communist Party: Well, the best the French and the United States could do for him were menial café jobs. It seems Lee understood the British, so when he, in his best Cambridge English, politely asked them to leave, well they actually did. It took over 100,000 dead French and US boys, and well over 2 Million Vietnamese: For those Western powers to say, Ok Uncle Ho, you can have your Country back.

Jumping to Feb 1942: Singapore has fallen to the Japanese. 80,000 British, Australian, and other Commonwealth troop, marched off to build Japan’s Death Railway, try and stay alive – 40% did not. Lee was arrested, mainly because he was educated and Chinese. Randomly separated into two groups, Lee’s group worked for Japan as British Intelligence Officers: The others were shot and fed to Singapore crabs. Perhaps another example suggesting that some people are just destined to be greater than crab poo. So,

Singapore, no bullying policy.

Lee witnessed all of this; it shaped his future. In 1961 Lee issued a public radio address and stated:

“I emerged from the war, determined that no one, neither Japanese nor British—had the right to push and kick Singapore around, we could govern ourselves”.

Lee Kuan Yu

Singapore became an independent State on 3 June 1959. A brief merger with Malaysia followed racial and economic conflict broke the marriage. In August 1965, the Republic of Singapore we know today emerged.

Singapore, successful time travel.

In 77 years, Singapore went from in Lee’s words: “Third World to First World”. Just how much of the Singapore we know, reflects Lee’s values? In 1974, Lee promoted water recycling – by 2015, Singapore achieved permanent water self-sufficiency. Although Singapore is very wet, that’s foresight many Countries would be envious of. Singapore in 1965 was illiterate, squalid housing, limited health care – Lee established world class education, health care, with 90% house ownership through public finance. So, yes today’s Singapore has emerged to Lee’s vision. Ok, so where’s the downside?

Singapore a flawed democracy.

The West has frequently criticized Lee’s authoritarian rule. Only in recent times has the Government included substantial representations of Parties other than Lee’s. But voting is open and free: Not surprisingly, Lee’s party receives more than 80% of the Vote. So, Benevolent Dictatorship it may well have been in its turbulent birth years: But it seems it’s a benevolence most Singaporeans freely vote for. However, Singapore is now considered a ‘flawed democracy,’ Lee’s party just can’t let go of control of journalism, elections, and the court room.

Singapore has at least one essential democratic issue in common with its ‘white trash’ neighbours: Both Singapore and Australia have compulsory mandated voting. But, whereas Australia rates number 13 in the International Democracy Index, Singapore is way down at 86. Some context to this Index – New Zealand 8, US 36, Ukraine 92, Russia 144.

Singapore, time travel and a serious destination.

In 1965, 100,000 tourists visited Singapore, in 2019 2.75 Million. In 24 hours, Lizzie and I will increase that number by two!

Young Mr. Lee, you created a serious Journey destination. (click this link to gain an insight into what I love about Singapore.)

Travel Singapore

Time Travel – Desperately seeking a Singapore Sling 

(This Postcard was written in September 2022, from Australia whilst preparing for my adventure to Singapore. I had only just started writing and admit to having little if any idea what I would say, how to start, or even if I could.)

Firstly, my apology: My Postcard Number 1 introduced my intent to write about my upcoming Journey to Singapore. Since then, 6 Postcards, no Singapore. Just, distractions, crossroads, sidetracks, and lame dabbling in some form of written Stand-Up Comedy. Ok, I admit I’ve been delaying, I have absolutely no idea what a Travel Blog is, let alone how to write one! So, how about I document what I know off Singapore? While I’m about it might even do a little time travelling to reinforce my knowledge.

Sir Stamford Raffles – Colonizing Hero or Self-seeking villain?

Sir Stamford Raffles arrives.

Stamford Raffles rowed his pinnace ashore in Feb 1819, founding Singapore. With a ‘chilly bin’ full of Guinness he started a Pub, it became the internationally famous Raffles Hotel. A deck hand press ganged in Hong Kong, being of cultured upbringing, did not like drinking without food. Try these Singapore Noodles! Stamford’s French Chef, abhorred Guinness, saying: “Labière anglaise a le goût de la merde“, Aussie English translation meaning kinda: “English beer looks and tastes like something me bluey passed“: Try this Singapore Sling.

I first visited ‘Raffles Pub’ in 1986. It was somewhat run down and scruffy, rather rakish, and charming. Not very posh and none to selective about clientele, after all they let me drink in the main bar.

Singapore loves its Colonial Heritage.

Now ‘Raffles Pub’ is top shelf all the way. I took these photos a few nights back. Wet through, and rung out from walking Singapore: Well, I could not get in! Besides, $35 for a Singapore Sling, well that’s not really my cup of tea!

Without question ‘Raffles Singapore’ is the finest of the colonial architecture of Singapore, says a lot, because though the Singaporeans, were keen to see the British return to Europe, the Singaporean’s have spent considerable wealth maintaining the architectural heritage that remains in consequence of the British Empire.

Singapore, how did we get here?

Ok, that’s about my limit of knowledge on Singapore, other than:

The Singaporeans were mighty pissed in 1942, when Britain’s unconquerable armoured gunned fortress, fell quickly to Japan. The Japanese plan was really complicated: Let’s knick a pile of pushies from China, then ride down into Singapore from the opposite side of all those British guns. The British Commonwealth were dismally badly prepared for World War 2. One of many strategic failures was to underestimate the grit, tenacity and creativity of Japan. I suspect racism and bigotry played no small part in that.

In the 1950’s Singapore asked the British to go home. Unlike the French response to Vietnam’s similar request, surprisingly they actually did. Perhaps they remembered Publican Stamford’s advice:

“Better to walk out of a Pub Brawl, then been thrown out“.

Sir Stamford Raffles.

Singapore managed communism with just a little slaughter and mayhem, well by Vietnamese and Indonesian standards.

Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, warned Australia in 1980, “You will become the poor white trash of Asia‘. Very surprisingly, Australia’s Prime Minister Bob Hawke agreed with him.

Singapore, myths, ripping yarns and lies.

So, all of my extensive knowledge is true, or perhaps not?

in Feb 1819, Stamford did indeed establish the Singapore we know. A little time travel to 0135BC finds Claudius Ptolemy, a Roman Geographer, writing of the existence of the geographic place we know as Singapore. Which, introduces another of my pondering obsessions: Just how much knowledge of the Ancient World has been lost? More so given in 1776, British Captain James Cook, after several weeks Rugby Touring in New Zealand, literally ran into an unknown Australia! An Island 10,700 times bigger than Singapore.

The Buddhist Kingdom of Sumatra actually founded Singapura in 1250. Singapura means ‘Lion City’ in Sanskrit. Remaining the National Symbol today. Genghis Kahn, obsessed about time travel, also had a penchant for ‘Duty Free,’ establishing a Singapore trade mission in 1320. Singapore is hence the oldest location where a thriving Chinese community existed outside China.

1613, the Portuguese destroyed Singapore. Why? Perhaps the sailors were thirsty, and no one loves A Pub with No Beer. Indeed, their time travel was 200 years too early. Singapore sank into obscurity until Stamford decided, what a great place to build a pub!

Cocktails, noodles and other truths.

Singapore Noodles, well they are actually ‘Hong Kong Noodles,’ created by Hong Kong chefs in 1955 to add a little panache, to oh so common stir-fried noodles. Perhaps, Singapore had already established its position as an Asian food paradise for international travellers.

Stamford’s pub did indeed create the ‘Singapore Sling,’ but in 1915. Bartender Ngiam Tong Biam, an empathetic soul, realised some ladies, actually like a serious drink, but walking around in those high heels and silk sarong kebaya, carrying a double scotch was, well not very lady like. But a pink coloured drink, with fruit and an umbrella: Who could possibly know it has 3 times the boot of Stamford’s Guinness!

The value of Travel.

I have to catch the post now, so, why did the British leave so willingly? Can wait for another Postcard.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.” So wrote Mark Twain in 1880, and it’s true. In our troubled international times, and abundance of open mindedness would surely be a positive attribute in all society.

Travel is excellent, even more inspiring when you actual know something about your destination.

Travel Singapore

Singapore Adventure – Crazy Exciting Negative Emotions

The author, Peter, loves travelling and adventure. This photo shows his backpack from his Army days in contrast to the backpacks he uses for contemporary travels.
Backpacking for Adventure – Then and now.

Negative Emotions Haunt Me.

Packing for my October 2022 Singapore adventure. Negative emotions haunt me, ghosts of my preparations, almost 20 years back, for one of the other great adventures in my life.

I had enlisted in the Australian Army at age 38. Why do something stupid like that?

I had wanted to enlist in 1979, Australia had only just extricated itself from the bloody war in Vietnam, my Country was giving shelter to refugees: War was fresh in our minds. My mother had endured my father’s 30-year military service, which had caused her great stress. She was also devoutly Catholic, and South Vietnam, a predominant Catholic country had just fallen to the ravages of communism, which added to her emotional stress. I did not want to break my mother’s heart by continuing the family military tradition, so, I became an Architect. But that urge and drive never left me. 2003, age 41, enlisted 3 years in, serving as an infantry soldier part time and volunteering for short term continuous full-time service: The Aussie Army was busy: Iraq, Timor-Leste – such things meant soldiering work for even middle age-old people.

It had been a long 3 years, undertaking study to achieve a commission from the Australian Royal Military Academy (Duntroon). Serious academic study are you serious! I am an Architect, it’s not that serious academically, I signed up to shoot and blow stuff up! Ok, I get paid to fire thousands of rounds through machine guns, sweet as Bro: What? You’re now telling me I have to hit a moving target at 300 metres, with just one shot! Sorry, Sarge can I ask, why you gave me an automatic weapon if I am only allowed one single shot? Ok, I will shut the F*ck up, and no I don’t want another arse hole, but I can’t even see that far! And, if I don’t qualify on that ridiculous task, twice a year I’m out!

Military Memories.

Oh yeah, long weekends, long weeknights, and regular trips away out to a month, but nothing like the last adventure. What was I thinking? Enlisted at age 38! Fat, heavy drinking, chain smoking over working Architect, then divorce. 20 years older than my Duntroon class mates. Dislocated shoulder from a horse-riding accident, lost me a year. First year was tough, how does one turn around a neglected body: Running, lifting, boxing, cold turkey on the smokes: And just digging deep most of the time. So,

Age 41, off on a two-month adventure, my last combat course: Hopefully, the Queen, would see fit to offer me the Commission I had wanted at age 17. How did I feel?

Nervous: What am I doing? Why? This is going to be a shear nightmare! Apprehension. Going to miss my family. Fear, yes! Little sleep, disgusting food and let us not think about the academic stuff. Face it, you are no ‘Rocket Scientist’ nor the sharpest tool in the shed! Ironically,

Welcome to the ruling Class.

I actually had a mate at Duntroon, who was doing his PHD in Rocket Science! See, I was a working-class boy from a working-class town, educated at a working-class Catholic School, I did not even go to University, I completed my architectural degree part time at a technical college in the evenings. My peers at Duntroon, many of them: Well, let me just say for the first time I met the ruling class. Sons and daughters of Generals, Senior Officers, Politicians and Corporate Titans, realization that indeed some people start life with one foot up the Journey of Life ladder. An awful lot of fire power to open doors for you. However,

Egalitarian Australia saves me.

Fortunately, Australia still holds onto to its desire for egalitarianism, embraces meritocracy. There were just as many from the back blocks, and every race, colour, and creed: It really represented contemporary Australia. Generally – Merit, drive, and determination had been their entry ticket.

So, yes 20 years previously I was far from excited – Negative emotional overload, definitely!

What else am I pondering?

Travelling companions.

Well, looking at my old once best companion: My standard Aussie Army Backpack and Combat Webbing. Like a shell to a tortoise, it had been my bedroom, kitchen, pantry, wardrobe, protection, and shelter. Contrasted with my Singapore kit: I think what a load of crap! All soldiers will tell you, check your kit, remember your government had it made for the lowest possible tender price. Check, check and check again.

What of my new adventure to Singapore?

Excited cannot describe it! Every corner I turn will be new, fresh full of opportunity. At age 60 it is so important to avoid physical and mental staleness. The narrow mindedness of age and experience. Mark Twain, writing in 1880, captured my feelings:

A photo of United States author Mark Twain. Twain was a prolific adventure traveller. He recommends in the quote that travel is a antidote to prejudice and bigotry.

So, what about my adventure of 20 years previous, what happened?

Smirking your way through life.

If in doubt, well smirk your way through life!

Well, I passed my course, never had to reset any academic subjects. The old corpse stood up pretty well, though I lost 8 kilograms. Posted out as a newly printed Troop Commander to First Field Artillery. I remember doing an awful lot of smirking, which is really my message to the world, that I don’t take either myself or it very seriously.

But I moved on again after several years. Life changes! Was all that work wasted? Not really. I spent another 14 odd years Project Managing Defence Construction Projects. I had the time of my life, complex, tough projects, long, mostly satisfying hours, collaborating with incredible people: None of that would have happened without doing something really stupid, like enlisting at 38! Certainly, none of that would have happened if I remained a fat, heavy drinking, chain smoking over working Architect.

Every Journey requires a forward step.

Sometime, life requires a step into fear and the unknown. Opportunity seldom comes to the sedentary man. Ernest Hemingway captures it for me:

United States author, Ernest Hemingway, states in the quote, "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

Ernest Hemingway

What a journey Singapore will be!

Travel Singapore

Head over Heels in Love with Singapore

A photo of a traditional Post Card from Australia. It portrays classic Australian animals, wombats, kangaroo, etc.

Welcome to my first Postcard. What is this about? Well, since I no longer work fulltime, I have decided to write a public journal about things that interest me, and things I ponder. Starting with Singapore. My Singapore adventure will include, history, politics, war, eating, and retail therapy.

Contemporary Singapore – World Class Destination.

First a little about me.

A coloured photo of the author as he prepares for his Singapore adventure.

I am a sixth generation Australian of Irish and Scottish extraction. Probable convict heritage, but certainly Irish economic refugees. I have worked as an Architect, was in harness to the now past Queen Elizabeth II; (as an infantry soldier, then artillery officer), before ending my work life as a construction project manager.

I am fortunate to be interested in many things, I am tragically also just as passionately obsessive about just as many. I do write a lot about the following topics:

  • Leadership Learnings from Experience;
  • History and its bearing on contemporary life;
  • Military History, avoidance of those mistakes; and
  • Building stuff and the shear joy of craftsmanship.

Not being an expert nor qualified in any of this, I can only try to keep my ponderings ‘real’ and ‘grounded.’

My wife Lizzie and I were fortunate to start our Singapore adventure in October 2022. What did I know about Singapore?

Singapore 1986 – Broke and Seedy.

Well, I did not know too much. I previously visited in 1986 as architectural graduate, not a dollar too my name, so yes it was a ‘seedy’ side of Singapore for me. Today’s Singapore, well much of it is no longer seedy, far from it! Take Raffles Hotel:

When I propped up Raffle’s Tiger Bar in 1986, it was a little shabby, very rakish and none to discerning about clientele, after all they let me in!

Singapore contemporary.

Today, Raffles is top shelf all the way! Perhaps the best remaining example of British Colonial Architecture.

Contemporary Singapore is completely different politically, economically, and architecturally. Not that I remember much from 1986, I did get drunk several times in Raffles, well who didn’t in those days? I worked for the Republic of Singapore Airforce in Australia for 2 years, building runway infrastructure. I found the Singaporeans; friendly, intelligent, charming, and very professional.

Intriguing Singapore Adventures.

So, what intrigues me about Singapore?

Australia has had a difficult relationship with Asia. Wars with Japan and Vietnam, ongoing non-violent tension with Indonesia. Australia is or was, a transported English culture, out of place. Perhaps. We do not see ourselves as part of Asia, though a previous Prime Minister argued strongly that we should.

In February 1942, Singapore was overrun and occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army. Many Australian troops fought, died, and were captured. Since then, Singapore has morphed into what some say is the Earth’s most modern city. How did that happen? What about Politics?

Communism is a dominate thread in Asian development since World War 2, that and casting off European Imperial Colonization. Indeed, they both go hand and hand. But,

Singapore did not fall to Communism. Vietnam obviously did. And poor old Indonesia had a ‘Year of Living Dangerously,’ when the communist presence was brutally exterminated.

Singapore has been described as a ‘Benevolent Dictatorship,’ Is that really true? The people generally seem; healthy, well housed and have access to amazing built and natural environments. Has this form of government actually had a positive outcome?

Singapore – Much more than war and politics.

So, such topics intrigue me. How did Singapore do all of this?

However, I am also obsessively passionate about Asian Food, Gardening, Planting Trees, Cool Cars, Affordable Watches, Persian Rugs, Fishing, Literature, Ancient History, Book Collecting, Biggles, Winston Churchill, and all manner of beautiful objects to fill your home.

That is my early warning: I am quite a stream of consciousness pondering person, seeing connection between all manner of things, not necessarily in the same place or time, ok that can be annoying. I will try to stop short of some lame stand-up comedy routine, cannot promise anything. But,

I will try not to be boring.

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