Just like any other post on Facebook or Instagram, everyone is free to express their own views, thoughts and opinions. However, one has to understand that one's two cents worth may not be accepted by everyone else. Clearly, when travel blogger, A Girl and A Bald Traveller, complained about Singaporeans being conformists, Instagram whores, and culturally ignorant, the nation did not take it so well. The original blog post has since been removed by the author, but we managed to retrieve a copy of it which you can read here. TL;DR: Unlike himself, the writer thinks Singaporeans aren’t well-travelled enough; we only visit mainstream places because we think 'visiting India or Bangladesh means possibly getting raped' and 'everyone in Africa has aids'. Singaporeans are not as sophisticated or culturally diverse as the writer because we choose to visit 'typical' Instagrammable places like Niagara falls and Eiffel Tower, and only because it's popular on Instagram. When Singaporeans heard the news of our passport being one of the most powerful, we “lord it around on Facebook groups congratulating each other how lucky we are that our passport is so impressive”. And yet “how many Singaporeans have made use of their ‘powerful passport’ to visit any of these 180 countries?” While the duo has visited various African and European countries, Singaporeans wield our Singapore passport like an average mortal swings the Thor hammer – a useless weapon in our hands. So why do we still deserve to celebrate our passport?

Having A Powerful Passport

The Singapore passport represents something bigger than travelling. Our visa-free escapades don't just enable us to see the world, but also the world to see us ­– our passport boasts the nation’s progress and political stability, which are definitely worth celebrating. It is the ability to whip this little red book out in a duty-free shop and command some form of respect simply because we are Singaporeans.

According to the duo, those who visit Bangkok and Johor aren’t maximising the passport’s full power because everyone else can easily access these places. Do you know that China grants visa-free travel for ordinary passports to very limited countries including Singapore? Or that Bangkok has an <a href=" immigration system exclusive to Hong Kong and Singapore passport holders? These are but a few perks that come with having a powerful passport. Perks that 'mainstream people' like me can actually enjoy. The power of Singapore’s passport is ever-present within Asia, yet because countries in Asia are considered mainstream and easily accessible to The Girl and A Bald Traveller, they have declared those to be of a lesser travelling experience.

I still stand by those Asian states and countries. Bangkok, JB, Malacca, and Perth are still my go-to places for a quick getaway because of the sense of familiarity I get even while in a foreign place. I fall into the ‘typical Singaporean’ template that The Girl and A Bald Traveller has thoughtfully conjured, except it is not my fear of ‘black’ people or of possible death that deters me from visiting Africa, India, or any lesser-known places mentioned by them. The ‘boring places’ I go to offer what I look for in my holiday and the exotic ones don't. A ticket out of Singapore has always been a chance for me to run from responsibilities and recharge. I've been on holidays that left me feeling more drained than rested. The tedious research, booking of flight transfers, packed schedules, and navigating around a foreign place stresses me out more than work itself. So, escaping into somewhere more familiar (or mainstream) is exactly what I need.

Prostituting Ourselves To Instagram

If travelling was about Instagram, wouldn't a popular feed be filled with pictures of places less travelled? Wouldn't those posted on the duo's site, photos of 'rare' and 'unique' places, garner more likes than a photo with Taiwan’s floating lanterns?

"Simply put. If it's not "Insta-worthy", it's not "Singa-worthy"."

Instagram isn’t just a platform to show off a lifestyle, it is also an informational platform. Before I visit a café, I check out their Instagram location tag to see their food, how the café environment is like, and what everyone else would recommend. It is an unbiased and collective opinion on the place. Before travelling to Taiwan, Bangkok, or JB, Instagram and Facebook help me get a rough idea of what I would like to eat, see, do, and even how to get there because of the photos and captions I see. Simply put. If it’s not insta-worthy, it’s not as easy to research on. An exotic country like Belarus and Ukraine will be a whole new experience to me, but getting there and planning my itinerary is not as easy as it is for the ‘boring countries’. Understanding their roads and deciding on my choice of transport is not as simple, especially for someone who is constantly getting lost even in Singapore.

The travel blogger has also admitted that most of the available resources for exotic travel are from sites owned by foreigners. Their blog can offer some help though (if you aren't put off by the writing style). Of course, I'd like to see the places that have been named in the article one day. As pointed out by the duo, I do agree that travelling and exploring a lesser-known place is a lot more inspiring. But at the moment, I’m not interested in investing brain juice on a vacation that is supposed to help me unwind. Living in Singapore is like a rat race – work is exhausting, school is stressful. Maybe just like me, most Singaporeans choose the 'mainstream countries' for vacations simply because it is easier to plan for and less stressful to visit.

If you can get past the triggering sarcasm and backhanded insults, The Girl and A Bald Traveler actually brought up really good points. And if you can ignore his arrogant remarks and sweeping statements, you might even find their blog a useful point of reference for those exotic countries you might visit in the future. But I'll just stick to my 'Instagram-worthy places' for now. Also read, Don’t Like To Travel? That’s Completely Fine. (Header Image Source: @eesonsnaps)

I’m a lot closer to my friends than my family. There’s so much more that my friends see and know about me. It isn’t because I grew up being looked after by my grandparents, relatives, or helper. I was never sent to child care centres either. My parents brought my brother and me up all by themselves. It wasn’t that I grew up in a broken family either. My parents were always loving to each other and to us. Our middle-income family lifestyle also meant a high regard for simplicity, humility, and maintaining family ties. We appreciate what we have and we appreciate each other, yet I feel a disconnect with the very people I’m supposed to be closest to – and it’s not because we don’t spend time together. Occasionally, my father will drive us across the causeway for cheap eats, shopping, or a massage. My mother’s regular home cooking is also a reason for us to huddle together for dinner every day after work. We spend a lot of time together but there’s hardly any conversation aside from my mum’s gripe about the market prices of meat and vegetables. I don't share about my day and I don't ask them about theirs. It just feels weird, unnatural. When I see social media posts of my friends enjoying movie nights, ice skating, or trips to USS together with their family, I wished my family was like that too. It isn’t where they went that I am envious of, it is the laughter and light banter in the background. It is the quality time together that I long for. Was there something we could have done in the past that would have made us closer now? Why don’t we do fun family activities together? Is it because all of us grew up too quickly? I know, it’s already a privilege to have a family. An unexciting family of four, stable and boring, but safe. Some people don’t even have anyone to call ‘family’. I appreciate what I have but if only I could draw close to my supposed nearest and dearest without feeling so awkward.

My parents’ love for my sibling and I is undeniable, but so is the ever-growing gap between us.

When I had trouble catching up on my studies, I hid it from my parents. When it came to matters of the heart and having my heart broken by the guys I dated, I turned to friends instead. When I was lost and confused about life after graduation, I turned to Google for advice. My parents didn’t deserve to be disappointed, and I never felt comfortable to share. Call it pride, call it fear but it was never a natural way of my life to talk about my feelings and emotions with my parents so openly. And now that I’m a working adult with my own social circles and partner, there are more distractions and lesser reasons for me to talk with my parents. Perhaps we were just that stereotypical Asian family who avoided complicated topics and shunned from anything related to sex. When I asked why I was growing hair at my nether regions, my mother would tell me that it is because I didn’t wash my vagina clean enough. When I had my first period and asked why we (girls) had periods, my dad said it’s just something that makes you an ‘official woman’. They never elaborated more than that and I never probed. Sometimes I wonder if this is why I’m so gullible today. However, the ‘Asian culture’ was stronger during my parents’ days and yet they still remain close to their siblings. Even though we all live separate lives, every family gathering filled our home with warmth and energy, there was always laughter and chatter. Perhaps this is the legendary kampong spirit that everyone talks about. What happened with my generation then? Perhaps it’s because life was much simpler then. In place of movies or video games, entertainment was playing marbles or fives stones with siblings or the neighbours’ kids. Social gatherings meant you had to interact with people instead of being on your phone.

As much as it feels distant, the thought of losing my parents still scares me. Besides the pain of never seeing them again, I worry that losing them would also mean losing the only thing that holds my brother and I together. We were raised by the same parents and only two years apart, but we couldn’t be more different. We have led two very separate lives and we barely look alike – we were never close, not when we were young and not now. I knew a girl in my secondary school who had a brother I wished I had. He was a senior in our school and he’d always walk her home. Even when my friend stayed back for CCAs or simply to hang out with her friends, her brother would wait in school until she was done. I wanted that protective and cool brother who would not only be my guardian angel if someone shoots rubber bands at me but would also teach me how to fire these rubber bands back with twice the power. Instead, most of the interactions I had with my brother involved us fighting between ourselves. Now that we’re older, my brother makes an effort to communicate and connect with me despite working and living in another country most of the year, but it never feels right. We speak in different languages and our conversations lack depth but I still hope that eventually my brother and I will find a connection we never had. I just hope my brother believes it, too. After all, blood is always thicker than water. Also read, 12 S’poreans Reveal The Most Endearingly Embarrassing Habits Of Their Mums.

New year, but the same desperate scamper for a university placement. After securing your spot in school, there’s an even crazier fight for a room in the hall of your choice. Staying in hall is the ultimate convenience, you are the closest you can possibly be to those dreaded morning lectures. In time to come, the late nights and endless fun with friends who literally live next door will become one of the highlights of your university life. But friends and fun aside, there're a couple of infamous hall stories that may totally change your perspective of university halls – let's just say that hall life is an eye-opening experience. We spoke to friends who've stayed in hall and here are some promiscuous stories they shared. Stories that will make outsiders go 'OMG', but are nothing but common occurrence for fellow hall residents. If you're planning to stay in hall, brace yourselves!

1. Splashing Good Time

You would think that the deepest conversations happen in classrooms, or when someone gets drunk. For hall residents, some of their deepest and most meaningful conversations happen in their shared bathrooms. Bathing used to be a private affair, until you live in hall, where the bathroom becomes a new social setting with it's own set of unsaid rules. Couples have also been known to 'triple date' in the men’s bathroom. Imagine this: girlfriend scrubbing her boyfriend’s back while he grumbles about the latest soccer match with his two bros in the cubicles just beside. Of course that’s as much physical intimacy that’s accepted in shared bathrooms. Don't cross the line!

2. Lost and Never Found

Hang your clothes out often enough and someone might mistake your laundry line for a pasar malam store without a tenant – free clothes up for grabs! During your stay at hall, you may notice a few of those tiny pieces of cloth you wear closest to your body go missing. Congratulations, you have attracted the attention of the residential panty thief. Keep calm and call the police, although few have been caught despite even though several reports have been made.

3. Budget Innovation

Instead of using the clothing line where your laundry is vulnerable to the unpredictable weather and an easy target for the residential panty thief, dryers are a better option. But at $1 per use, most broke university students wouldn’t use the dryer until they have accumulated a reasonable pile of laundry. Thankfully, some hall ancestors have discovered a hack that costs nothing and dries your laundry faster. Meet the microwave. Not only is it good for heating up your late night snacks, they dry your clothes efficiently too! More importantly, it's free. But in all seriousness, drying your lingerie where people heat their food probably isn’t hygienic. Can you imagine taking out your freshly-microwaved underwear only to have it smelling like chicken rice?

4. Eye Sore

One of our friends shared a horrific experience where she witnessed her hall mate masturbating through the open window of his room. Another shared how he would always avoid looking out of his room windows because girls in the opposite block would change without drawing their curtains. While everyone makes a conscious effort not to impose on someone else's privacy, let's not make it hard for other people! Let the poor dude look out his window for his 30 seconds eye break without worrying about being called a pervert. Catching a glimpse of someone naked by accident shouldn't be a norm.

DRAW. YOUR. CURTAINS.

Needless to say, no one wants to deal with the awkwardness that ensues witnessing one of your friends naked, or having them see you naked accidentally. So unless you enjoy baring it all to anyone and everyone, close your curtains, draw your blinds, and shut the doors before you start stripping.

5. Door-to-Door Sales

Knock knock. Who's there? Just your door-to-door salesperson selling herself by the hour. According to some ex-hall students, those who live in residences with a higher population of foreign students often get offered sex at their door. As sad as it sounds, this is one of the limited ways foreign students can support themselves financially. Legally, they're not allowed to work and it's not easy finding consistent gigs that will pay cash under the table.

Wise Words

A word of advice from hall residents is to research on the hall’s ‘personality’ before you sign up. It’s weird how a building has a defined character, but check out their respective Facebook pages and you’ll discover the hall’s spunky personality and dominating trait – sporty, quiet, clubber siao, artsy fartsy, and more. You wouldn't want to be trapped in a sporty hall when your head gets more ball action than your hands. Here’s a tip for applicants with no inside connections: For halls that are more popular among freshmen, the committee tends to ignore applicants with a private Instagram account because they’re considered not ‘opened’ enough. While it is arguably unethical and not every hall has this practice, why risk it? Make your accounts public! Also read, What It Means To Have A University Degree In 2016.

There were always thoughts of changing my face, my identity, and becoming somebody else entirely. I thought of myself as a female a lot and all through my teenage years, I wished that I would wake up in the right body one day. It took me a long time before I realised that I may be transgender.

Battling My Inner Conflicts

Looking back, I’ve always known. I just couldn’t put the words to the undercurrent of discomfort, couldn’t make sense of the thoughts and feelings I had. There were so many previous beliefs and assumptions that I had to discard before I could understand what it all meant. For one, a highly heteronormative view we all have is that your gender must be concretely tied to your sexual orientation, that a man must be sexually attracted to a woman and vice versa. However, I’ve learnt that your gender (male or female) does not have any bearing on your sexual attraction. I may be biologically a male who identifies as a female, yet still primarily attracted to women. For me, it doesn’t exclude an attraction to men as well.

“I would spend my entire life trying to suppress these feelings of being in the wrong body.”

Then, there’s religion. If I had accepted the religion I was brought up with, I would spend my entire life trying to suppress these feelings of being in the wrong body. As the Good Book says in Deuteronomy 22:5, "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God." Having brought up to internalise these beliefs as the norm, it was that much harder to accept myself and my thoughts.

Coming Out

“I confessed... to my fiancee.”

Coming out was a long and hard process. I spent a year thinking about how much harder life would be, about getting accepted by society, presenting as female, and what all of that would entail. In the end, I knew that I had to at least try to become the person I wanted to be, even if it’s an uphill struggle. I finally came out as a transgender woman four years ago, at 21. While I have been fortunate to not face much discrimination from the public, it wasn’t that easy back at home. Firstly, I was engaged to my girlfriend. She was the first person I came out to as transgender. And as difficult as it was for me to come to terms with myself, it was equally hard for her to acknowledge that her long-time boyfriend is coming out as a female. The only thing she said back then was something like, "I'll... do my best to understand." After a challenging 6 months, she accepted me as transgender. We eventually made a commitment to support each other, be it emotionally, financially, or physically – even if it meant scrutiny from others. We are now adjusting to this ‘new reality’ and also continuing with our plans to get married. For all of that, I am grateful. With her support, I came out to some of my closer friends as well.

The Hardest Hit

However, I never intended to come out to my parents, unless I had absolutely no choice. I had already been treated with scorn when I told my highly religious parents that I am an Atheist, and sat through three hours of a pastor (a friend of my mother’s) explaining to me why I ought to give God a chance. I had already been called a disgrace and the family disappointment when I left junior college to study theatre arts at LASELLE. I had already been called ‘disgusting’ when I confessed to them about being bisexual. What other painful remarks would they make if I told them I am transgender? I didn’t want to know.

"In my mother’s eyes, I was a rebellion against God. In my father’s eyes, I was a rebellion against him."

The truth came out when my mum discovered that I was taking estrogen pills. Needless to say, they didn’t take it well at all. My father constantly reminds me that my "life choices" will eventually ruin me and almost daily, my parents will remind me that because I am born a male, I will always be a male. My father also loves to say that I'd end up, in his own words, "不像人，不像鬼", which loosely translates to mean that I’d end up neither a human nor a ghost – implying that I’d never truly be female and never fully a male. They don't seem to understand that all those words are extremely hurtful, furthermore so as they come from family. And (I think) they sincerely believe that they are leading me back to the path of righteousness.

Living An Authentic Life

It was a long time and many nights of crying alone before I finally accepted the fact that my family would never be able to accept me wholeheartedly. Eventually, I stopped bothering.

“I’d just smile and agree with them instead of arguing because it’s so much easier than fighting, and far less painful.”

Today, I’m not living as female as yet because I'm not fully comfortable with the way people may respond. To strangers, I'm still entirely male. However, being transgender for me has mainly been about living the most authentic life I can under the circumstances of Singapore’s extremely anti-LGBT laws. Learning to accept my own body, and coming to terms with the fact that it will never be an idealised female form was the most difficult, but I am so much better as a person now. I am calmer and have a clearer sense of who I am. Most importantly, I feel so much more comfortable with being my true and authentic self in front of my loved ones. Life is not about pain, suffering, and renunciation, and it should never have to be seen as such. Despite all the obstacles I’ve faced and am still facing, these words from my favourite author, Ayn Rand, pushes me to live a fuller life every day: “Learn to value yourself, which means: fight for your happiness.” – Clara, 24 Also read, “I Kept Hearing Voices Of People Criticising Me, And I Could No Longer Tell What Was Real”.

Most of us spent our teenage years wishing for adult life. We grew up wanting the freedom, the monthly kaching, and to not have to cram for exams. But when adult life finally hits us in our faces along with the many adult responsibilities, we wonder why we were so stupid to wish for time to have passed faster. Of the many responsibilities, one of the biggest headaches is insurance. Let’s face it, most of us hate dealing with insurance even though it’s supposed to be good for us. I’m not sure about you, but when it was finally (or dreadfully) time to buy a policy to insure myself, I wondered how other people did it. I had no idea what I needed, what was good for me, and whether I’d be ripped off with a crappy plan. I’m pretty sure many other millennials feel the same way about insurance. And who has the time to read through the entire policy and T&Cs anyway? How much do you really know about your policies then? I spoke to four millennials to see how much they know about their own insurance.

Shaan, 20

“I’ve never bought insurance for myself before but I know I’m still under a plan that my parents bought for me. I intend to get one myself once I start working. I get the general idea that it’s to protect my life but I don’t really know what kinds of insurance are there and what I need.”

Pro-tip on what to look out for as beginners:

There are several things to know before buying a plan: the policy term, sum assured, and hospital preferences. You can also ‘customise’ your policy by adding riders – which are additional options to cover you in more areas on top of the ‘default’ plans offered. If you’re concerned about your finances, there are also different ways you can pay your policy premiums. Opt to pay your premiums at one go (lump sum payment), or break them up into annual or monthly instalments if you need to ‘spread out the damage’. Above all, don’t be afraid to ask insurance agents questions. It’s more important for you to know what you’re buying than be worried about them getting annoyed. Still not sure what you need exactly? Set up an appointment with FRANK by OCBC here!

Marc, 25

“My parents bought some sort of family package for us so I believe I’m covered under that package in terms of life insurance or any accidents. So instead of buying any other insurance for myself, I spend that amount investing instead.”

Pro-tip on knowing the different types of insurance coverage:

In case anything happens to you, you’d want to find out how much you are covered for under policies your parents bought, and to review the sum based on life stages. Also, did you know that it takes more than one layer of insurance for you to be fully protected? The four main layers of protection are Hospital, Life Insurance, Critical Illness, and Endowment.

The closer the layer is to you, the more important it is. It doesn’t mean that you have to buy every type of insurance either. You just need to know what each type of insurance does for you, and get what you need. In Marc’s case, he should check on how much hospitalisation coverage he has in his existing policy for a start, as it’s the most important layer of protection. The other basic coverage to look out for is Personal Accident, which will cover Marc’s hospital bills if he happens to meet with an accident. For more details on each layer, head over to FRANK by OCBC’s website here. They’ve broken it down to very simple terms for the beginners!

Brenda, 26

“I’m not very sure what I got. I just know that I’m covered for certain terminal or critical illnesses and death. Also, I’ll get a lump sum when my policy matures at 55 years old. This is the only plan I bought as I think it’s good enough – it covers my health and also gives me some money back when I’m old.”

Pro-tip on Endowment VS Savings VS Life Insurance Plans:

What Brenda described is an Endowment Insurance Plan, which helps to grow your wealth while providing you basic insurance coverage. The returns you get may not be as high as stocks and shares, but Endowment Insurance Plans are less risky and give you better returns than a deposit account with a bank. There’s a difference between a Savings Plan and an Endowment Insurance Plan too. Where Endowment Plans give you coverage on certain things like critical illnesses or death, Savings Plan don’t. Then there are Life Insurance plans, which are designed to not just help you, but also your family. Should you happen to pass away, get diagnosed with a terminal illness, or have a total permanent disability, a Life Insurance Plan will grant you (or your beneficiary) a sum of money that will help greatly in that time of need. You can find more information here.

Esther, 25

“I have three insurance plans: Life Insurance, Hospitalisation, and Endowment. The Life Insurance Plan is to help "protect" my loved ones (children, spouse) financially should anything happen to me. Like if I die, they get a sum of money.  I got the Hospitalisation Plan to cover me up to A Class government hospital. And for Endowment, it's more of a savings plan that my husband and I bought so that we can get a certain percentage of return after 18 years.”

Pro-tip on Life Insurance VS Hospitalisation VS Endowment Plans:

You can never be too sure when it comes to health, so it’s important to be fully aware of what kind of coverage you get under different insurance plans. Hospital bills can add up to a hefty amount and a Hospitalisation Plan helps cover the expenses for treatments and staying in hospital wards. Note that there are limitations though. Treatments for certain critical illnesses may not be covered under the Hospitalisation Plans, which is where Critical Illness Plans come in. A Critical Illness Plan will cover the expensive treatments for illnesses like stroke and cancer. Learn more about the differences in Hospitalisation, Life Insurance, and Critical Illness plans here.

Plan Your Future Wisely

As a millennial, I fully understand the pain of paying a few hundred dollars a month on something that doesn’t give you immediate gratification. But from another perspective, you’re actually diligently saving this amount in a bank every month – a bank that will actually help you in times of need in the future. Learn more about the different types of insurance and how it covers you differently at FRANK by OCBC.

Enjoy Special Promotions (Till 31 Dec)

Whether you’re a first time insurance buyer, or looking to get another layer of protection for your life, here are three promotions FRANK by OCBC is running till 31 December 2017:

1. Enjoy S$60 Cash Rebate when you purchase the Regular Premium Endowment Insurance –Annual Premium <S$4,999
2. Enjoy S$30 Cash Rebate when you purchase the Regular Premium Endowment Insurance –Annual Premium, S$300 – S$799,
3. Get S$100 cash credit when you buy 2 out of the 3 insurance below
   • Hospital: Supreme Health
   • Term Insurance: MaxTermValue CI
   • Personal Accident: PA plan (PA Protect, PA Supreme, PA Cashback Plus, Great Protector)

For more details, head over to FRANK by OCBC here. Or set up an appointment with OCBC here. This post is written in partnership with FRANK by OCBC. Also read, Don’t Know What The Heck To Do After You Graduate? That’s Okay, We Didn’t Either.

When we were kids, we were like a sponge soaking up everything we hear and see. We copied what our parents said and pretended to be our favourite cartoon characters. Above all, we were cheeky little buggers who’d get ourselves into facepalm-worthy incidents. We asked Singapore millennials about the ‘stupid’ things they had done when they were primary school kids or younger. Here are 10 of the funniest incidents.

Shaver As Comb

I remember playing Pretend with my cousins and we were using a real shaver as a comb. I used the shaver to comb my hair then freaked out when I saw my hair falling off. – Anmol, 24

Playing With Fire

I was playing with fire and candles with some friends during mid-autumn festival. One of them started swiping their finger across the candle flame and before you know it, all of us were doing it because it was cool to us, kids. I wanted to be cooler, so after doing the same a few times, I tried to hold my finger in the flame longer. I got burnt. – Betty, 26

A Sticky Situation

I got bubble gum stuck in my hair because I wanted to see if I could ‘balance’ the gum on my head. It got stuck so badly and became a badly tangled lump of hair. My mum had to rub it off bit by bit with olive oil. – Bling, 26

A Tic Tac Addiction

I was so addicted to Tic Tacs and the sound from shaking it that when I finished the candy, I put in a five cent coin so I could continue shaking the box. When I shook it, I tilted the box above my head and ended up swallowing the five cent coin and had to go to the hospital. – Sammie, 25

Brow Game

My primary five classmate shaved his eyebrows off to prove that eyebrows served no purpose. He looked ridiculous after that. He kept quiet when everyone started poking fun at him. Poor boy. – Shi Ling, 26

Pet Rock

My friend and I picked out a random rock at the garden near our place and kept it as our pet rock. We even gave it a name and brought it with us everywhere in school. One day, we hid the rock in some part of the garden and we couldn’t find it when we went back the next day. We felt so sad after that, it was as if we really lost a real pet. – Marie, 23

Pretending To Be Wrestlers

The boys watched a lot of WWE back then. Once, I went to a friend’s house and a group of us were trying out some wrestling moves. I tried to mimic the wrestlers and jumped down from the top of a ladder and broke my arm. That was the first and last of our ‘wrestling session’. – Neo, 30

Raining Barbie Heads

My sister and I had a lot of Barbie dolls. At one point, I realised that I could pull the dolls’ heads off and fix it back so I started removing the heads quite often. We have this small window at the top of the toilet facing the shower area and once when my sister was bathing, I threw in the dolls’ heads through that window, for fun. She freaked out. – Jennifer, 21

Marksman

I was staying on the 9^th floor and whenever I see kids playing at the playground downstairs, I'd take my water gun and shoot water at them from my window. And when their parents come up, I’d close all the doors and pretend no one was home. – Fabian, 24

Exploding Shit

I spent my childhood in Philippines and it was around New Year so my friends and I were playing with fire crackers. We stuck a fire cracker in a pile of dog shit and lit it up. The firecracker exploded along with the shit. It went all over the road and the cars around. We saw the car owners horrified as they came out to check their shit-stained cars but they never found out it was us. – Raymond, 20

Were You A Cheeky Child Too?

Childhood has got to be the best years of our lives. When else can you do and say darndest things like these and get away with it? And if you’re looking for someone to share all your embarrassing childhood tales with, try here. We’re pretty sure these have brought back some childhood memories of yours too. What are some of the stupidest things you’ve done as a kid? Share them with us in the comments! Also read, Meet 14-Year-Old Riddhi And Her 77-Year-Old Best Friend, Aunt Louise.

You may have forgotten everything you've studied, but some things will always stick with you even after you've graduated and gone on to adulthood. The memorable chill out sessions with your buddies, the delicious yet cheap food from the canteens, and the many student discounts. Ah, fun times. Something else you'll never forget: the infamous ghost stories in your school. The ones that have been passed down through generations. Those that seniors love sharing at orientation camps, because nothing helps the freshies bond a little faster than instilling some fear in them before a night walk right? With Halloween around the corner, we’ve compiled a list of ghost stories in Singapore’s polytechnics and universities, as told by students and alumnus, so you can 'relive' your poly or uni experience through these legendary tales.

Republic Polytechnic

Eerie Presence/Sally at E2 Building

Most RP students will agree that there’s just something about the E2 building that makes it very eerie. Maybe it’s the lack of natural light or the maze of dimly lit corridors, but people have always felt like someone or something was watching them when they walk along the corridors there. In one of the most popular tales, there's supposedly a little girl called Sally who haunts the E2 building. They say that Sally's a lonely child and if you say her name three times at Level 3, she will appear and ask you to play with her.

Haunted Toilets

There have been multiple accounts of ghostly sightings at the W6 and W3 toilets (just to name a few). Some say that there is always one cubicle that’s locked from the inside even though it’s empty, and it cannot be unlocked. Others say you can hear weird noises like the running of the tap or even a girl crying from inside the cubicle even though there’s no one.

Grandmother and Grandson

It’s against the rules for students to stay overnight in the Club Rooms but a group of students decided to spend the night in their club room after finishing up some work. At night, they locked the room and turned off the lights so that the security guards wouldn't see them. In the middle of the night, they heard a knock on the door but they just hid because they thought it was the security guard going on his rounds. After awhile, they heard another knock. This time, it was louder. Then, they heard the voice of an old woman asking, "did you see my grandchild?" Legend has it that it was the grandmother who had lost her grandson there and that till this day, the grandson is still lurking around the RP Fountain.

Singapore Polytechnic

The Red Bridge

As the oldest poly in Singapore, you’re sure find many terrifying tales of it, each with its own variations. The most infamous story is of The Red Bridge at the School of Business and CASS. They say that back then, a girl had jumped off the bridge and when she landed on the ground, her blood splattered up onto the bridge. The blood stains could never be washed off completely and would always reappear even after being painted over, so the school decided to paint the whole bridge red to mask the stains. Some people have also warned against walking at the sides of the bridge as the girl’s spirit will attempt to pull you off the bridge and join her in her realm.

The U-Shape Toilets

There are some U-shape toilets around the main library and many students have felt strange vibes whenever they use those toilets. It’s said that in one of the orientation camps, a freshie got possessed in one of the U-shape toilets when he stopped there as part of their night walk route. Despite his small build, he had the strength of almost 10 persons and even the biggest guy in the camp couldn't restrain him. They only managed to chase the spirit away when they called a medium down to help. Rumour has it that this incident is also the reason why SP ‘banned’ night walks.

Temasek Polytechnic

Design School Toilet

There’s one toilet in the design school that’s said to be haunted. Once, a girl went to shower in that toilet alone late at night. While showering, she heard someone kicking open the first cubical door. The person, or ghost, then kicked open the second cubical door, and as it did each door, it counted down in Malay. When it was reaching the girl’s cubicle, which was the last one, the ghost went, “Satu Laaagi”, which translates to mean “one more”. Some sources said the girl fainted, others say she hightailed out before the ghost reached her.

The Little Boy at School of Engineering

It’s normal for orientation camp leaders to patrol the camp area at night, but in one particular night, two camp leaders experienced something not so normal. They saw a small boy running in the distance on their patrol and decided to chase the boy to find out why he was there. They kept chasing the boy and shouted at him to stop but the boy didn’t. When the camp leaders were climbing up the stairs at the engineering block, the boy started playing hide-and-seek with them. Eventually, the boy disappeared. Sensing that that was odd, the camp leaders reported the sighting to the security guard. The security guard then came with a guard dog to comb the building but they didn’t find the boy. However, the dog kept barking at one particular corner. All of them felt that something wasn’t right so they quickly left the area and pretended nothing happened.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic

As the second oldest poly and rumoured to be built atop a cemetery, Ngee Ann Polytechnic is also known to have many paranormal hotspots.

Freak Accident at the Engineering Workshop

Rumour has it that a girl got her hair stuck in a machine, had her scalp ripped off, and died in one of the engineering workshops. Some people claim that you can still hear her screams when you walk pass the workshop at night.

Blocks 50 to 53

They say that beneath the hilly terrain of blocks 50 to 53 lie the bunkers that were used back in the day, and it’s the reason behind the countless stories of hauntings at these blocks. For one, the railings at block 52 or 53 are said to be painted red for the same reason as SP’s Red Bridge – someone had committed suicide there and the blood stains could never be removed. As for the notorious block 50, you’ll notice that the lift only brings you to the sixth floor even though the block actually had seven floors. The staircase to the seventh floor is blocked too, so it’s believed that if you do get to the seventh floor, you’ll start seeing things like people burning incense, and bad luck will follow you. The female toilet on the third floor of block 50 is also known to be extremely haunted. In one scary tale, five Student Union members visited that toilet late at night only to anger the ‘residents’ there.

They were there to recce the place for the upcoming camp’s night walk. Four of them had the third eye and sensed a very strong presence the moment they were at the door, so they went in while the one guy who didn’t have the third eye waited outside for safety reasons. The foursome initially saw just one spirit and tried to ask for its permission to use the toilet as part of their night walk, but it didn’t go well and one by one, more spirits appeared in front of them. Time passed as the students tried to appease them, but the situation got worse. It was only when the one guy who waited outside came in to check when they grabbed the opportunity to run out. During the debrief session, the one guy said that he couldn’t see the foursome in the toilet mirrors at all even though they were directly across the mirrors. It was then that they realised, instead of the 7 or 8 spirits that they thought they saw, there were actually so many other spirits surrounding them that their reflections were completely blocked from the mirrors. The next morning, they made offerings to the spirits and placed them outside the toilet to pacify them.

School of Business and Accountancy’s Camps

According to a BA alumnus, the BA camp committee is known to be very ‘siao on’ with their night walks, even using real obituary photos as décor and splashing animal blood on them, which led to many unexplainable incidents on their night walks. One such is the use of this very old photo of an ah ma (grandmother), which has been passed down from batch to batch to use as a night walk tradition. Seniors have reported incidents where people have fainted when they walked past or saw the photo. One guy even bled when he fainted and hit his head after seeing this photo. In another night walk incident, one of the committee members, a girl, was dressed up as a mannequin and campers had to brush her hair to pass the station. As the girl was wearing a used wig, it made her itch and she felt uncomfortable. During the debriefing, she thanked the team for assigning someone to be there behind her all night to help comb her hair, scratch the itch, and ask if she was alright. But there was no one there with her the whole night.

National University of Singapore

Headless Ghost (Bukit Timah Campus)

Not only were there signs put up warning students about the ghost of a headless woman roaming the campus, it was even reported in a Singapore newspaper, Sin Chew Daily. It’s said that the headless woman is dressed in all white and would wander the upper quadrant of Federal building. Other spirits have also been known to haunt the building corridors, making lights flicker and chairs and tables to move by themselves at night.

South Buona Vista Road (Kent Ridge Campus)

Those in the Kent Ridge Campus would know of the female ghost haunting South Buona Vista Road. In one particular story, three friends were driving back to NUS along South Buona Vista Road late at night. All three friends (who were in three separate cars) and their girlfriends saw a young woman running out of the forest onto the road. They slammed on the brakes, then all of them heard a loud bang. They all thought the first car had hit the woman, so they got out to check. But they couldn’t find anyone. They even looked under the car and at the surrounding forest area but couldn't find anything. When the first driver was reporting the incident, the policeman froze at the mention of ‘South Buona Vista Road’. He warned them, "if I were you, I'd go to the nearest temple or church or whatever you believe in, and go cleanse your cars and wash your hands and faces. This is not the first or second time this was reported."

Wailings at Kent Ridge Halls (Kent Ridge Campus)

Some say that you’ll hear the cries of a female spirit searching for her lost child in the old Kent Ridge Halls building. It’s believed that the hall office even got a Chinese shaman in to stop these wailings, who then instructed a door to be built to open up to the place of this spirit’s lost child.

Urban Legends or True Stories of Misadventures?

We may not have Pennywise or Chucky in Singapore, but we do have plenty of ghost stories in schools to go around. Are the rumours true, or are they just tales created out of paranoia? We will never know, but one thing's for sure: you should never ‘clown around’ when it comes to such paranormal matters. Do you have other horror stories of your school? Share them with us in the comments! Also read, 8 Confession Stories That Are Like RL Versions Of Taiwanese High School Dramas. (Top Image Credit: <a href="

Is it possible to have a friend 60 years older than you? In today’s digital era where Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook are the average millennial’s best friend, you’ll be hard pressed to find millennials connecting with their family members ‘offline’. As millennials ourselves, we know how hard it is to feel and be close with our parents, much less our grandparents. And as our folks age, we do too. We start living our own lives and they start to lose touch with our generation. The many commitments and distractions don’t help either, and most of us are skeptical at the thought of bonding or being friends with our parents and grandparents. However, a very unlikely pair has proved us wrong. Meet 14-year-old student, Riddhi Rai and her best friend, 77-year-old retiree, Louise Bell.

When Riddhi Met Louise

Riddhi and Louise were complete strangers when they met at a social experiment Channel NewsAsia ran. Titled “Back to School”, this four-part series followed Riddhi, Louise, and 4 other pairs of strangers as they spent 10 weeks together.

Watch Episode 1 of Channel NewsAsia's Back to School <a href=" The experiment gave invaluable insights into 10 average Singaporeans' lives and proved that despite the huge age gaps, friendship is possible. While the episodes presented very interesting and endearing interactions between the Secondary school teenagers and their elderly partners, we wanted to find out more about what went on behind the scenes. We spoke to Riddhi, Louise, and the production team. Here’s how they succeeded in making friends out of strangers who are generations apart.

Breaking The Barriers

Like most teens, Riddhi has no clear direction in life yet. She doesn’t fit in with peers in her school either, and prefers her world of fan fiction and indie music.

As for ex-headhunter Louise, most of her time is spent on church activities and picking up different interests like crochet (to help with her Parkinson’s) and acro-aerobics (to keep herself fit).

Naturally, it took a bit of time to warm up to each other over the palpable age barrier. “She was shy, tall, and thin,” Louise recalled, “she reminded me of myself when I was younger, and I knew that I’ll need to be patient if I want her to open up.” Similarly, Riddhi felt nervous and a little bit awkward to be meeting someone she knew nothing about. Then, things got a lot easier when the pair found out that they’re both bookworms. Speaking to Louise over the phone, I could picture Louise smiling as she shared a fond memory of when they were getting to know each other, “Riddhi even brought me around her school library and we picked out books together.”

Becoming Friends

Despite the challenges in accommodating to each other’s needs, Riddhi and Louise grew to not only embrace, but help each other in their weaknesses.

In an Escape Room game, Riddhi went out of her way to lift Louise up as Louise was having a bit of trouble with her weak legs. It was there that Louise saw a different side of Riddhi: that she isn’t that shy after all.

As for Riddhi’s lack of confidence, Louise managed to break down the walls and got her to be more vocal about her inner thoughts and feelings.

As the pair did more activities together, producers saw how they started to inspire each other. “There’s still a bit to work on and I really hope to help her be more confident about herself,” Louise shared about her wish for Riddhi.

More Than Just Companionship

Having set out to test the success of intergenerational friendship researches done in US and Japan, the producers were “quite apprehensive about whether a simple friendship could make a difference, but the results showed a definite improvement.”

Not just for Riddhi and Louise, but the seniors from the other pairs also showed significant improvements in fitness, memory and mood, while the teenagers got a massive boost in self-esteem and a better attitude towards life. The pairs also formed real friendships and saw the other generation in a significantly better light. “She taught me to be more responsible and punctual,” Riddhi said. “(And) she opened up my eyes to how teenage girls today are like,” Louise added. Now, besides writing stories, reading books, or going for piano lessons, Riddhi would hang out with Louise. And Louise is more than happy to spend quality time with Riddhi, “Riddhi would actually call me and ask me if she can spend the day with me. I’d cook for her and we’d just talk about anything under the sun as we ate.”

Best Friends Forever?

Now that the 10-week ‘project’ has ended, how do Riddhi and Louise see each other? While Riddhi sees Louise as a good friend whom she can share problems with, Louise thinks of herself as Riddhi’s surrogate mother without the parental control, “I think Riddhi trusted me as an outsider, that’s why she shared her worries with me. It’s easier to share your problems to outsiders than to your own parents.” What is the secret to their surprising bond? “Listen, listen, and listen,” Louise emphasised, “seniors must take the first step to reach out, and don’t rush to impose or impart your knowledge until the young ones are ready to listen. Be patient.” And for the young ones, “Don’t judge someone just because of their age,” Riddhi shared. Watch the 10-week journey of Riddhi, Louise, and the other senior-teenager pairs on Channel NewsAsia’s Back to School <a href=" This story is written in collaboration with Channel NewsAsia. Also read, These 14 Heartwarming Stories Show That A Mother’s Love Is Like No Other.