Passing out parade

My younger brother, Isaac had his passing out parade one day before I left Singapore. For the non-Singaporeans, compulsory military service in Singapore lasts 1 year 10 months and the first 2 months is called "Basic Military Training ("BMT")" During BMT, the guys are all "stranded" on an island called "Pulau Tekong" where they have to undergo basic training as a soldier. They are only allowed back on the main island on Saturdays before having to book in on Sunday evenings. In short, its a tough time cos they´re basically stuck for 2 mths. Isaac completed his first 2 mths, which was commemorated by a "passing out parade".

The parents are normally invited and I went on behalf of my Dad, since he was in Malaysia and wouldn´t have been able to make it back on time. It was quite emotional at some points cos its like I had to keep thinking "This is my little brother, 7 years younger than me, being a MAN now..."

The ceremony was actually pleasant, with the usual marches and speech by some VIP. My role was to put on the cap of my brother as a symbol of completing this phase of his armylife. That was the emotional part for me. Some of the guys didn´t have any parents or friends there, so they had to put their caps on themselves. Its really heart-wrenching to see their faces, cos they had this sense of expectation that someone would come, but nobody came.

The only negative part about the ceremony was the waiting of the ferry to get back to the mainland. We waited 2 hours! That was a bummer! I played personal photographer for Isaac during the meantime and we played some finger games to pass the time. Couldn´t have thought of a better way to spend my last day in Singapore -> listening to songs like "Stand up for Singapore" and knowing that I´m leaving Singapore the next day, where I´ll be contributing to the economy of another country. Singapore will always have a special place in my heart, but for now, Germany is where God wants us to be.

Isaac´s company is the one in the background left

The sea of parents and friends colouring the parade ground

Here you go, with your cap!

What did I do wrong? Isaac was flabbergasted that I put his cap on "wrongly"

Siblings....what a precious shot

All of us with my Aunt Yvonne(beside me) and Isaac´s girlfriend - really sweet girl

The view from the ferry terminal - one would ask how can a place as serene as this be so dreadful for the guys who enter in every year?

Oh and the SUPERB seafood dinner at East Coast No Signboard restaurant. I shall miss my chilli and pepper crabs till the next time I go back to Singapore!