Today's Norms, Tomorrow's 'You Did What?!' Moments - 60 SG Things We'll One Day Have To Explain

Every generation has its quirks, catchphrases, and cultural milestones. But in Singapore, things move so fast that what felt totally normal just a few years ago now feels like ancient history.

From the way we commute to the way we dabao our food, life in the Lion City has changed in big and small ways – sometimes without us even realising. To celebrate Singapore’s 60th birthday this year, here’s a fun (and, honestly, kind of mind-blowing) look-back at how far we’ve come – things we’ll tell future generations about.

Some random, some ridiculous, all real, all peak Singapore.

IMAGE: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

1. The MRT Circle Line wasn’t always a full circle. From the last extension to Marina Bay station that opened Jan 2012, the loop never closed until 2026.

2. Believe it or not, $3 cai png used to get you a proper meal – two veggies and one meat, with rice and maybe even a fried egg. Now? Hard leh.

3. There was once a whole mall dedicated to tech. It was called “Funan, the IT Mall” – the place to build your own PC, buy games, and hunt down obscure cables. Now it’s all climbing gyms and cafes.

4. NS Square used to be The Float@Marina Bay, where the National Day Parade was held. If you were lucky enough to get tickets, you sat on colourful plastic chairs and waved flags as you welcomed the marching contingents.

IMAGE: 123RF

5. The old IPPT had five test stations, including the dreaded standing broad jump. Some have said they're still mentally scarred from it today.

6. Our passports used to be valid for only five years. Every renewal felt like a mini Reservist cycle. We were so happy when ICA switched to passports with a 10-year validity.

7. TraceTogether became the most downloaded app in Singapore during the pandemic. Aunties and uncles had to quickly learn how to scan a QR code.

IMAGE: UNSPLASH

8. At one point, there were seven Merlions in Singapore – including a giant one at Sentosa (RIP). The OG is still standing strong at Merlion Park.

9. Exams meant shading OAS sheets with a HB pencil. Your future depended on how well you coloured in bubbles.

IMAGE: NICHOLAS YONG

10. Before you could use credit cards for public transport, you had to rely on physical EZ-Link cards. If you forgot yours, good luck getting on the bus or MRT.

11. If you forget to top up your EZ-Link card? Die. You had to find a 7-Eleven or waste time queuing up at a machine.

12. Long before Netflix, we had Kids Central (and later, Okto). Cartoons came with commercials, and many of the jingles would be stuck in our heads.

13. Pirated CDs and DVDs were a thing. You bought them at pasar malams or from “that one shop”. And yes, the video quality was always a gamble.

14. Swensen’s and Jack’s Place were once considered “fancy”, ok. Going there for a birthday dinner was a huge treat, complete with sizzling hotplates and firehouse sundaes.

IMAGE: PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE SINGAPORE

15. When Lee Kuan Yew passed away, the entire nation grieved. It was the first time Singapore felt so silent, yet so united.

16. During the early days of the pandemic, people panic-bought toilet paper. NTUC aisles were wiped clean.

17. One of Singapore’s most wanted fugitives, Mas Selamat, escaped from detention – barefoot! The breakout became national news and was talked about during school assemblies. There were posters of him were everywhere.

18. Pokémon Go turned Singaporeans into zombies. People were crossing roads dangerously in Hougang just to catch a Snorlax.

19. “Un-un-un-un-believable!” became a viral hit, thanks to the TV show “Spouse for House” and actor Chen Tianwen’s un-un-un-un-rivalled delivery. It still randomly lives rent-free in our heads.

20. Plastic bags were free – and double-bagging was normal. Today, it’s 10 cents per bag along with 100% eco-guilt.

21. Singpass went from boring Government login to our most-used app. From showing our IC to booking vaccine slots – everything was at our fingertips.

22. People used to submit things to STOMP before helping others. Got MRT drama or fights? Snap a photo first, assist later.

23. During Circuit Breaker, bubble tea shops closed – and Singapore lost its collective mind. The queues when they reopened were legendary.

IMAGE: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP

24. Our biggest celebrity wasn’t a pop star. It was Le Le, the panda cub at River Wonders. He had more media coverage than most influencers.

25. There was a time when locals didn’t have to fill in the SG Arrival Card. Now you need to quickly fill it up before crossing the border home.

IMAGE: NICHOLAS YONG

26. Once upon a time, driving to JB required just your IC and car key. Now? Better make sure you’ve sorted that VEP otherwise kena fine.

27. We used to book cabs via SMS. You’d text your pickup location to a short code and pray a Comfort cab showed up.

28. Mobile phone plans used to cost $60 for a measly 4GB of data. Now we get 100GB for $10 – and we still complain not enough.

IMAGE: APPLE

29. Marina Bay Sands used to be just three towers and a SkyPark. No floating Apple Store.

30. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people sang “Home” from their windows in unison. It wasn’t even National Day – just a show of the Singapore spirit.

31. MRT etiquette was taught via characters called the Thoughtful Bunch: Stand-Up Stacey, Move-In Martin, Give-Way Glenda, Bag-Down Benny, and Hush-Hush Hannah.

32. ERP was suspended during Circuit Breaker. Singaporeans had a taste of what life without road tolls felt like.

33. Hawker centres used to be cash-only zones. Some uncles may still give you a side-eye if you try to PayNow.

34. A $1 million HDB flat used to be a joke. Now it's an actual property listing, and we’re the punchline.

35. McDonald’s ice cream cone used to cost just 50 cents. That was the ultimate after-school treat.

36. Before Koi and Gong Cha in every shopping mall, we had Cup Walker, Sweet Talk, and Happy Cup. Their drinks were full of sugar and joy.

IMAGE: UNSPLASH/DANIST SOH

37. In Singapore, applying for a BTO flat was basically a proposal. No ring needed. HDB = commitment.

38. Dabao-ing food once meant sweating it out to the food centre in 35°C heat. Before food delivery apps, we were our own delivery guys.

39. NDP tickets were impossible to get. Actually… NDP tickets are still hard to get. Haiz.

40. Before Google Maps, we used street directories, bus guides, and vibes. Getting lost built character.

41. McDonald’s curry sauce used to be free-flow. You could dip your fries, nuggets, and even burger in it – no judgement.

42. Brunch used to be kaya toast and kopi at Ya Kun. No avocado, no sourdough, no truffle anything.

43. PMDs once ruled the pavements. Walking outside meant dodging mini speed demons at every corner.

IMAGE: PIONEER

44. National Service was once three years long.

45. Before PDPA, we gave our NRIC numbers to every lucky draw, roadshow and event booth. Privacy? What privacy?

46. Tengah used to be jungle. Now it's a car-lite town with smart homes.

47. Getting an MC meant going to the clinic and coughing with everyone else. Telehealth wasn’t even a concept yet.

48. Pasar malams used to pop up everywhere. Ramly burgers, fried Oreos, neon lights, scary rides that would put the “ill” in “thrill” – it was a showcase of local culture. Good times!

49. NS food was actually… not bad at all. Western was a solid highlight, and some guys even “double dipped” - queueing for non-halal food and going back for the halal one. Once you unlock canteen access? Confirm put on weight.

IMAGES: CHEVRONS.ORG.SG (LEFT AND BOTTOM RIGHT) AND WONDERWALL.SG

50. eMart was just a physical store. No online browsing, just sweaty queues for socks and camo gear.

51. GST used to be 7%. Every hike since then has hit our wallets (and hearts) hard.

52. Daiso used to be a truly $2-store. You could be “just looking”, end up grabbing five random things and still only pay $10.

53. Every Singaporean guy owned a Uniqlo oversized t-shirt. It was practically the de facto male uniform.

54. PSLE used to be all about that T-score. Kids compared results like Pokémon stats. Now? Just AL bands and a bit less stress.

IMAGE: PEXELS/@lynde-2123295

55. COEs became more expensive than actual cars. Imagine paying six figures just for the right to drive your vehicle on the road.

56. Before Nike and On Cloud, Bata were the OG white school shoes. Add some white Kiwi polish and you were ready for the day.

57. Those Nike squirt bottles during school days were awesome. All the kids carried one.

58. We didn't always have Full Subject-Based Banding. It used to be Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams.

59. We all bought fancy luggage for the holidays but still travelled with our trusty green SAF duffel bags. Durable and iconic.

IMAGE: 123RF (LEFT) AND CANVA

60. Before PayLah and PayNow, we had to awkwardly split bills and use, ugh, coins. And someone always said, “I’ll pay you next time ok?” (spoiler: they never did).

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