Author Archives: donavan

Are end-of-year notes still a thing? Even if they are not, I think it is good to write them, even though I plan to take a different approach to this. I don’t think you, as a reader, would appreciate a “year summary” very much. However, there is a central question I have for this year, […]

I travelled to understand the world and what the best talents could do – that was through a unique road trip through the United States. I travelled to discover just how different people can be even in close proximity – that was through train rides for city escapades in Europe. I travelled to sense, with […]

Flight DetailsFlight: BR216 from Singapore to Taipei-TaoyuanFlight time: 4 hours 40 minutes (scheduled)Departure: slightly after 1525 hours.Arrival: approx 1945 hours. (plane caught up!) Review As a traveller who often leans for a full-service carrier instead of a budget carrier should the price differential not be great intra-Asia, I have expectations that the premium I pay […]

A number of my friends had strong responses to Prof. Koh’s claim of Singapore being a “first-world country with third-world people”. It was also fairly interesting some responses online became one of blame, as opposed to constructive feedback. That has been a theme for a while in civic society, which supports Prof. Koh’s claim. Many […]

I miss school very much. At times, I wish I can just go back to school and simplify life to one dimension: work on graduation! I have a soft spot for education partially because I have also been a tutor. In fact, besides writing, the only other job I have ever done part-time was being […]

“When Breath Becomes Air” was a breathtaking read. I thought I could finish a short book in one sitting, but I couldn’t help tearing as I read through the second half of it. Why did I tear when reading the book? It forces one to think about life, and provides a good glimpse at how […]

Someday, the student will eventually surpass the master and the child will eventually outgrow the parents. There are many times where we are put in situations of privilege. These can include positions of power and control, or positions of responsibility. For all that leadership workshops market, there are really only a few principles that anyone […]

Having been a visitor to Japan twice, I am still impressed by its breadth of tourist pickings and its hospitality. Just food alone, these range from the delectable yet simple delights of melons in Furano to the intricate kyo-kaiseki (Japanese traditional haute cuisine) in Kyoto. I would be greeted with the impeccable hospitality of the […]

I used to have many friends who had strong ideals. Sometimes, we would not agree with each other as our opinions simply do not converge. Of late, I’ve been sapped because, one by one, when conversing with my friends, they express the shadows of their former selves. The usual “narrative” goes like this (if you […]

A friend recently opined that there was a case for a meat tax (particularly red) to help mitigate climate change. Taxes are imposed to discourage consumption, such as hefty taxes for smoking and alcohol consumption. If done right, taxes can be cost effective. This made me decide to go read more whether there could be […]