tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817Tue, 26 May 2026 11:56:34 +0000SingaporePakistanIslamtravelpoliticsrevieweconomyTurkeyKarachihistoryliteraturereadingbookUStourismIndiaMalaysiawarChinaGovernmentreligionEuropeOttomanPAPcultureimmigrationnovelreadIraqIstanbulTurkishbooksleadershipArchitectureChristianityImran KhanPTISyriaWorld War TwofinanceEUGCCLawPakistaniSindhTalibanfictiontrainBelgradeBosniaNawaz SharifPPPSerbiaeconomicselectionsfilmgovernancelabormosquenonfictionsocietyterrorismAfghanistanAtaturkBangladeshBuddhismCold WarEgyptGermanyIndonesiaIranIslamabadLibyaMediaPRCRussiaSaudi ArabiaSecularismSingaporeanSofiaSouth AsiaThailandTurkUAEchurchcommunismdemocracyforeign talentfreedomheritageinterfaithmilitaryoilpresentationrailwaysthrillertourswealthBuddhaBulgariaBursaCatholicismDubaiEducationExistentialismFranceHDBHungaryIndiansJapanJusticeKonyaLahoreLittle IndiaMRTMalayMalayaMogulMostarMultanMyanmarPML-NRiotsSarajevoSartreSingapore Temasek Sovereign Wealth FundsSoviet 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forceairplanesairportsajrakal-qaeedaalcoholallamaarabartistsassistanceauthorautobiographybailoutbankingbankruptcybazaarbeachbeachesbigotrybirdsblack catblack historyblacksblogbloggerbloggingbondsbook reviewbrandingburialburybuscapital marketcapitalismcarscartographycasecastlecemeteriescenotaphchancechangechechewing gumcitiescityciviccivic districtclergyclustercoachingcoffeecolonialcolonialismcommentarycommentscommercecommercialcommunicationscompetitivenessconfidenceconstituencyconstitutioncontemporarycontradictcoronacorporationscost of livingcoupcouriercourseracraftsmencrisiscriticcritical race theorycustomer servicecybercafedeathdeceaseddeitydeletedeleteddeliverydemonstrationsdengue feverdesigndiabetesdisagreementdiscussiondisobediencedividendsdoctorsdollardrainagedramadrink drivingdying tradeselectorateelectrictyelephantseloquenceemigrateemloymentemployerenergyentitlemententrepreneurshipescalationessential oilethnicethnic 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quinnmaturingmemedicalmedicinememorialmenmercymeritmeritocracymetalmetropolismetropolitanmigrationminoritymiraclesmodernmodernizationmonasterymonsoonmonumentsmosaicsmosquitomotorheadmountainmovie reviewmoviesmultiethnicmultifaithmultiracialmurdermuseumsmusicmusicianmutual fundsmysterynationnationalnavalnavyneglectnirvananomadnonprofitnuclear weaponsnutsodunpazariolderopinionsoptionsorderorphanoutingpagodapapacyparliamentarianpartypeacockspersonal financepistachioplanningpoliciespolitypowerspresentprestigeprivate bankingprivate banking asia ocbcprivate banking ocbc Switzerland Gulfprivilegeprofilingprosperityprotestspsychologicalpsychologypunkrace relationsracismrain forestrainforestrandomreadersreasonrebelrecreationrefugeerelaxreligiousrescuerestretailingreturnsrockromanceroti prataruinsrumorssaintschoolsciencescientific methodseasea travelseasonssecularseniorshariahshawlsshipssingapore Malaysia Tamils Indiansskillssmokesocialsocial entrepreneurshipsocial welfaresoldierssolvencyspeakingspeechspicesspiritspyingstabilitysteamshipsstockstock exchangestock marketstock marketsstonestrategiesstrikesstupasubmarinesubwayswing tradingtaxteachingteachingstheologythreattimetipstolerancetourtouristtradestradingtraditionaltransparencytravelertraveloguetrektrekkingtropicstuk tuku-boatublic housingunionsuniversityunjustvaluesvandalismveteransvirusvoluntarywalkingwalkswaterweatherwelfarewesternswindsworkworkforceworldworld citizenyieldImran provides a Pakistani-Singaporean's perspective on Singapore, Pakistan and other subjects of relevance ... to him.http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)Blogger535125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-3486548324672886690Tue, 16 Jan 2024 08:48:00 +00002024-01-16T16:48:52.027+08:001960sAfrican Americansblack historyblackscritical race theorydiscriminationfilmfilmsmovie reviewmoviesrace relationsracism&nbsp;It's been over 50 years since the Civil Rights Movement of the late 1960s. Race relations have improved significantly as has the ability of non-whites to improve their social condition. To be sure, institutionalized racism remains stubbornly embedded in some instances but it takes a film like “The Liberation of LB Jones” to remind us how bad things were, especially in the American deep http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-liberation-of-lb-jones-movie-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-7044702554198393308Wed, 15 Nov 2023 01:56:00 +00002023-11-15T09:56:42.013+08:00biographyglobal citizenImran Ahmedmenomadtravelerworld citizen&nbsp;I am a global citizen.OK, I understand being an international citizen is not unusual anymore. There are many of us around. Nonetheless, stay with me and perhaps I can bring out some of my ‘uniqueness.’Photo by Pixabay:&nbsp;https://www.pexels.com/photo/earth-wallpaper-41953/Quantifying my life on earth is as good a starting point as any. (Despite being an investment manager who routinely http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2023/11/i-am-global-citizen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-3150719970349541812Thu, 22 Jun 2023 08:53:00 +00002023-06-22T16:53:20.540+08:00entitlementJusticemoneyprivilegerefugeerefugeesrescueunjustwealth&nbsp;Is it just me or is there a clear dichotomy in the rescue attempts surrounding the Titanic submersible vessel versus the refugee boat tragedy off the Greek coast. It seems like rescuing a handful of wealthy people – no matter what their individual merit – generates more robust endeavours than saving scores of poor lives.Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2023/06/rescuing-titanics-vs-refugees-poor.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-3463777161568323150Sat, 15 Apr 2023 08:21:00 +00002023-04-15T16:21:46.115+08:00life of an immigrantlive streamSingaporetemplesThian Hock Kengtourismtourstravelvirtual tourvirtual tours&nbsp;Virtual tours became a thing during the pandemic. I was a late adopter of this new and innovative form of delivering tours to a global audience. Nonetheless, after entering the world of virtual tours I enjoyed the experience. I have conversations with travelers from all over the world – time zones notwithstanding. I experiment live streaming from places which a physical audience may http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2023/04/thian-hock-keng-comes-alive-virtually.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0158 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 0686131.280939 103.8476354-51.167091689800543 33.5351354 53.72896968980055 174.1601354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-5791232959136371127Thu, 30 Mar 2023 15:06:00 +00002023-03-30T23:06:05.583+08:00CyprusFamagustaKibrisMersinNorthern Cyprussea traveltravelTurkeySurface travel, i.e. rail, road and sea, are my preferred travel modes. Anyone can travel by air between two cities but few take the time and effort to soak in the landscape (or urbanscape / seascape) as you whiz towards your destination say by train. So when it came to planning our journey to Northern Cyprus I naturally gravitated towards a ferry journey from mainland Turkey. Indeed, I chose to http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2023/03/turkey-to-northern-cyprus-mersin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-8228926384575176934Sat, 25 Mar 2023 14:26:00 +00002023-03-25T22:26:05.352+08:00ajrakcraftsmendying tradeshairhair losshandicraftsKarachiPakistanshawlstradestraditional I visited a traditional handicraft shop in Karachi, Pakistan a few days ago. It was a typical upmarket "ethnic' handicraft shop one may find in many cities around the world. However, there was a rhythmic clanging noise coming from downstairs - the shop had a basement - which intrigued me. The sounds were like a lullaby made by some sort of wooden instrument. I went downstairs to investigate http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2023/03/of-funeral-parlours-and-pakistani.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-5286236839253678043Tue, 31 Jan 2023 12:47:00 +00002023-01-31T20:47:22.451+08:00AtaturkKemalismmodernizationOttomanSecularismtravelTurkeyTurkiyeNot many people in their right mind have the desire (or privilege!) of spending ten weeks playing in a foreign country. But spending ten weeks twice traveling in the same country, does that border on insanity? Alright, so call me crazy but we're back in Turkey to explore a different part of this vast and massive country! It's not that the COVID-19 pandemic is over (is it really?), no, it's simplyhttp://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2023/01/turkiye-or-turkey-ten-weeks-of-exotic.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-7969233954612862725Thu, 19 Jan 2023 04:36:00 +00002023-01-19T12:36:44.656+08:00Bani IsraelCemeteryheritageinterfaithJewsJudaismKarachiPakistanPakistaniAt Pakistan's Independence in 1947, the country's Jewish community numbered between 1,000 – 2,500, with most residing in the port city of Karachi. Based on official data, by 2019 the number had reduced to 809. Some observers suggest the actual number of Jews in Pakistan may be closer to 200 – 300 persons.A Jewish wedding Mehndi ceremony in Karachi, 1959.(Wikipedia: public domain)The reduction in http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2023/01/searching-for-pakistans-jewish-heritage.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-5795809189307180485Wed, 11 Jan 2023 04:03:00 +00002023-01-11T12:03:59.241+08:00fascismfilmfilmsIMDBimmigrationJe Suis Karlreviewsocietyterrorism&nbsp;Je Suis Karl may be cliched in many respects but the movie does represent the chaos, confusion and resultant dangers of our times.A scared, young survivor of an attack becomes another victim of a radical, extremist group plotting to shift opinion through the savvy use of social media.For some, the film will be an eye opener about the lengths to which some groups are willing - and able - to http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2023/01/je-suis-karl-slow-moving-but-great.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-616311876402159130Mon, 02 Jan 2023 04:04:00 +00002023-01-02T12:04:03.853+08:00booksfictionknowledgelistsliteraturenonfictionreadreadingThere are many ways to assess a year gone by, e.g. money, bonus, new cuountries visited, etc. One particularly useful way is to remember the books we read in the past year. To be sure, I did not complete meet my Goodreads (yup, I enjoy the app!) 2022 Reading Challenge (24 read vs a target of 30).&nbsp;Credit: Ed Robertson (Unsplash)Nonetheless, 24 is a large enough number for me to pick out my http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2023/01/my-top-5-books-from-2022.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-2575743775998170681Tue, 27 Dec 2022 06:16:00 +00002022-12-27T14:16:38.029+08:00book reviewbooksExistentialismexistentialistNietschephilosophyreadingSartrePhilosophy is not easy to dumb down - or at least a sophisticated and complex philosophical world view like existentialism. Nonetheless, in this brief work, Cox has done an admirable job in simplifying existentialism.&nbsp;To be sure, there are paragraphs which require rereading to be understood but, by and large, Cox succeeds in explaining authenticity, bad faith, freedom and other critical http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2022/12/how-to-be-existentialist-or-how-to-get.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-5798374971929778202Sat, 24 Dec 2022 02:08:00 +00002022-12-24T10:14:19.198+08:00Imran KhanNawaz SharifPakistanpoliticsSouth Asia&nbsp;It's hard to be optimistic about Pakistan these days. The country's multiple crises are coming together to bring about a perfect storm. (I can't remember when the country was last in non-crisis mode?)Credit: Unsplash - The Artist StudioThe two main political parties contending for power - Nawaz Sharif's (now Shehbaz Sharif's?) PML-N and Imran Khan's PTI - are playing a savage game of http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2022/12/pakistan-in-2023-optimism-is-hard-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-2737683204496014397Tue, 05 Jul 2022 03:33:00 +00002022-07-06T17:01:35.888+08:00escalationEUEuropeKremlinNATOpowerRussiathreatUkraineUSwarAs we head closer to the six month mark of the Ukraine war, the military confrontation is locked in a virtual stalemate. Despite Russia controlling about twenty percent of pre-war Ukraine there is little likelihood of a military victory by either side anytime soon.NATO / US will fight until the last Ukrainian and the Russians are in no mood to talk either. The implications of this stubborn desirehttp://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2022/07/ukraine-fight-to-death.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-6985610287619427095Wed, 04 May 2022 10:37:00 +00002022-05-20T12:24:48.569+08:00abbreviationsacronymsCOECPFGSTHDBMRTSingaporetravelogue<!-- --> <!--[if !gte mso 9]><!---->Hi there! Imran here with a brief 'hello' from sunny (and often rainy) Singapore! <!--<![endif]--> <!-- --> <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE // -->http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-singapore-experience-revealed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-997578188674888447Mon, 21 Feb 2022 12:31:00 +00002022-03-28T11:00:53.329+08:00chewing gumfinesFTALawSecuritySingaporetradetransporttravelWrigleys<!-- --> <!--[if !gte mso 9]><!---->Hi there! Imran here with a brief 'hello' from sunny (and often rainy) Singapore! <!--<![endif]--> <!-- --> <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE // -->http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2022/02/singapore-decriminalizes-chewing-gum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-1561336759911880452Fri, 21 Jan 2022 05:25:00 +00002022-01-21T13:25:48.150+08:00ChinatownChinese New YearCNYethnicityLittle IndiaLittle Red DotpopulationraceSingaporetourismtravelvirtual tourvirtual tourswalking toursYear of the Tiger<!-- --> <!--[if !gte mso 9]><!---->Hi there! Imran here with a brief 'hello' from sunny (and often rainy) Singapore! <!--<![endif]--> <!-- --> <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE // -->http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2022/01/gong-xi-fa-cai-or-happy-chinese-lunar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-6862790375652201744Tue, 21 Dec 2021 02:22:00 +00002021-12-21T10:23:18.407+08:00ChinatownHDBLittle IndiaLittle Red DotlivestreamingMarina Bay SandsSingaporeTelok Ayertourtoursublic housingvirtual tourvirtual tourswalking tours Hi there! Imran here and no this is not just another marketing pitch but rather a brief 'hello' from sunny (and often rainy!) Singapore!&nbsp;http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2021/12/seasons-greetings-from-tropical.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-7053732886785278486Tue, 23 Feb 2021 10:55:00 +00002021-02-24T14:07:23.293+08:00armycoupdisobediencegeneralsgovernancemilitaryMyanmarPakistanpoliticianspoliticsprotestRiotssoldiersThailandTurkeyviolenceIn the good old days the military simply had to secure key sites like the radio, television broadcasters, airports, other transport hubs and newspaper offices. Once the sites were under control, then detain the ‘disputed’ head of government along with her key associates. Finally, put some helmeted soldiers decked out in combat gear on the streets of major cities, preferably with some tanks nearbyhttp://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2021/02/military-coups-just-arent-what-they.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-4636365906535470930Fri, 08 Jan 2021 02:13:00 +00002021-01-08T10:13:15.999+08:00commercialdividendsinvestinginvestmentmallspropertyREITREITsretailreturnsS-REITsSGXSingaporeyieldWith a market capitalization of approximately SGD 800 billion (USD 595 billion) Singapore's stock exchange (SGX) is not among the world's largest. Indeed, within the MSCI (Developed Markets) World Index Singapore falls in the 'Others' category, along with thirteen other countries. These fourteen countries share the Index's six percent exposure to 'Others.' The SGX is a powerhouse for listed Asianhttp://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2021/01/singapores-listed-reits-introduction.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-5396257419505751243Fri, 25 Sep 2020 04:46:00 +00002020-09-28T07:44:54.251+08:00airportsbailoutChangieconomicsEmiratesfinanceGovernmenthospitalitySIASingaporeSingapore AirlinessolvencySQTemasektourismtravelThe COVID-19 pandemic has upended many assumptions about the world’s normal state of being. New business trends have emerged or intensified while existing norms are being questioned in a rapidly evolving environment. Many businesses are forced to reinvent themselves in the throes of a crisis and do not have the luxury of time. For many, this is an existential crisis. Among the many affected is http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2020/09/thecovid-19-pandemic-has-upended-many.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-4138463197121652514Wed, 26 Aug 2020 08:35:00 +00002020-08-26T16:39:31.721+08:00ANPcivicdrainagefloodsgovernanceImran KhaninfrastructureKarachileadershipneglectorphanPakistanPMLpoliticiansPPPPTIrevenueSindhtaxationwater On a trip to Karachi during the summer monsoon season 2019 the Federal Government made loud promises about cleaning up Karachi (and its drains) within one week. To add substance to the claims the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and the Pakistan Rangers, both branches of the powerful military establishment, were handed the task. The Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping was appointed to http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2020/08/karachi-pakistans-orphan-without.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-115439914850283876Sun, 09 Aug 2020 10:14:00 +00002020-08-09T18:14:08.536+08:00bookbooksequityfinanceFXlearningliteratureNYSEoptionspersonal financereadreviewstocksstrategiesswing tradingtrading A good introduction to swing trading. The authors do a good job identifying and explaining the multiple tools and instruments most commonly used for swing trading. Be warned, however, the book does not go into enough depth to be a stand alone master class on the subject. Traders are well advised to continue their education into the subject before taking the plunge into trading with real http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-swing-traders-bible-by-matthew.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-6538154016325846722Mon, 08 Jun 2020 05:16:00 +00002020-06-08T13:17:13.322+08:00AlliesbooksCS ForesterGermanyliteraturemilitarynavalnavynovelpsychologyreadreadingreviewsubmarineThe Good Shepherdu-boatUSwarWarfareWorld War Two “For in war the character and personality of the leader is decisive in events much more than questions of material.” The Good Shepherd is a naval military classic - perhaps slightly dated for contemporary readers as it revolves around a group of naval vessels protecting numerous merchant ships in convoy transporting cargo from the US to its World War Two allies in Europe. Ships from http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2020/06/forin-war-character-and-personality-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-4593926787493823603Sat, 16 May 2020 07:24:00 +00002020-05-17T11:05:04.919+08:00BangladeshicoronaCovid-19economicseconomyforeignersIndianslaborlabourpoliticsrightsSingaporesocietyviruswagesworkersworkforce Singapore's foreign workforce has been in the news lately. It seems to happen every so often – generally for the wrong reasons. The last time Singapore's foreign worker presence hit the headlines was in December 2013 with the infamous Little India Riot. (Yes, riots in Singapore and that too within the last decade!) Today I would like to shed some light on Singapore's foreign http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2020/05/singapores-achilles-heel-foreign-workers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-7433317906461828895Sun, 12 Apr 2020 01:42:00 +00002020-04-12T09:42:20.173+08:00bookDeniseEmile ZolaFranceFrenchliteratureMouretnovelParisreadreadingretailretailingreviewsocietysociologyThe Ladies ParadiseZola French author Emile Zola (1840 – 1902) was above all a social observer. His works provide a window into the nineteenth century. The Ladies Paradise, first published in 1883, is a sociological study of the time disguised within an exceptional novel.&nbsp; The novel uses the lives of two principal characters – Mouret and Denise – to illustrate societal dislocations as a new order slowlyhttp://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-ladies-paradise-by-emile-zola-book.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0