Gladys Tan

16/03/2026

Grateful to be quoted in The Straits Times!

Thanks Patson Goh for the opportunity to share on a common pitfall: delayed expense claims turning into personal financial stress. Drawing from client stories I've seen, unclaimed reimbursements often mean cutting back on insurance or investments – don't let it happen to you.

Key advice: Prioritise claims to safeguard your future 🙂

10/03/2026

南二段

南二段 runs along Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range - consisting of more than 70km of ridgelines, exposure, and ever‑changing weather – it’s one of Taiwan’s classic high‑mountain traverses, and now I understand why they say it’s physically and mentally demanding.

I hit my breaking point on Day 3.

13 hours on the move, soaked from head to toe in relentless rain - shivering and exhausted. When we finally reached the cabin, I realised 80% of my clothes were wet. For the first time ever, I told I wanted to withdraw from a hike.

But 南二段 isn’t a loop – we were crossing from near Chishang to Taichung, with no U‑turn or easy exit. In that weather, even evacuation would mean days of waiting and holding the team back.

The only way was through.

Then the only thing left to do was to breathe, and take it one step, one day at a time. With a 15kg backpack, I kept repeating to myself: every step brings me closer to home. When it was too cold, I prayed for uphill just to generate enough heat to warm my wet clothes. Downhills were a different battle – steep, slippery, and exposing every bit of my inexperience and fear. I couldn’t afford to lose focus for even a split second, yet every night I struggled to sleep and recover.

At any given moment, I was either fighting for my life or fighting not to lose my mind.

What kept me going: our trip leader, our local guide, my teammate, Michelle, and my family and partner waiting at home.

As the days went by, the skies finally cleared. We even had full days of sunshine toward the end, and it hit me how much I had taken good weather for granted.

This hike reminded me:
- Storms don’t last forever – sunshine will break through.
- Mountains rise and fall, weather shifts without warning, yet nothing stay the same.
- When it all feels overwhelming, one step. One breath. One day. That’s enough.
- I don’t need a lot to get by

8 days. 70+ km. 7 peaks. Countless bruises and lessons. Greater resilience than ever.
Thank you, mountains, for always teaching me something.

Come what may, 2026 – we’re in for a ride. 🌤️🏔️

14/02/2026

My ride-or-die ❤️

04/07/2025

Ever wondered what it really takes to change someone’s life?

I’m raising funds for The Small World, a grassroots organisation in Nepal that provides education, shelter, and care for girls who need it most.

I’ve seen the impact this fundraiser can make. I first did it in 2022, and the experience stayed with me. I’m doing it again because these girls still matter, and the work is far from done.

Head over to my GiveAsia page to learn more about the cause and how you can be part of it.

Every share, every donation, every small act of kindness adds up. 💛

Link in bio.

18/06/2025

In 2022, I ran a birthday fundraiser to support the girls cared for by The Small World in Nepal. It turned out to be one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done, and I knew I wanted to do it again.

This time, it’s not for my birthday.

It’s simply because I don’t think we need to wait for a special occasion to do the right thing.

There are still girls who need a safe place to call home, access to education, and the freedom to dream about their future. And The Small World continues to make that possible.

So here I am again, inviting you to support, to give, and to believe in the quiet power of change.

The link is live in my bio.

If you feel moved to give, I’d be deeply grateful. And if not, perhaps you could share this with someone who might be.

02/05/2025

14/04/2025

I recently attended a training by Dimensional Fund Advisors on how to communicate more meaningfully with clients about investments - especially in a world where media noise is constant.

It brought me back to my university days studying Communications, and how headlines can shape perception more than we realise.

Swipe through for a few takeaways—and one question worth pausing to reflect on.

01/04/2025

Six days, just the three of us—our first sisters-only trip in over a decade.

Geraldine had planned a solo birthday getaway, but Georgina and I decided to crash part of it. We see each other almost every day, but between work and life, we barely get to have proper conversations.

We made up for it on this trip—sharing meals, new experiences, and every waking (and snoring) moment together.

Georgina and I thought we could ‘switch off’ since Geraldine planned most of the itinerary. Turns out, she’s still as blur as ever—so unless we wanted to end up at the wrong place 8/10 times, we had to step in.

So much food.
So much shopping.
So much laughter.
And of course, some bickering.

Our day trip to Jiufen and Shifen was the most memorable. After hours in the rain, we were stuck in the freezing cold for nearly an hour, waiting for a bus to take us back. Watching how each of us coped was hilarious.

The youngest—Georgina—has become the most responsible one. She made sure we stayed on track, packed her luggage neatly every night, and got exasperated by Geraldine’s “I’ll pack later” attitude.

Some things change, some things don’t - like their synchronized snores every night. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. ❤️

(Now I need a break from both of them for the next few days. Kthxbye.)

18/03/2025

13 - 15 February 2025 - Summit Day + Descent

Our scheduled summit attempt was on 14th February, from Camp Colera (~6000m). However, with winds forecasted to reach 100km/h the next day, our guides made the call to move the summit attempt a day earlier. We would start from Camp Nido (~5500m) instead.

This meant a 1,400m elevation gain, ideally completed in under 12 hours to allow for the descent.

We left Camp Nido at 2am on 13th February with another group of climbers. However, about four hours into the summit push (an hour after leaving Camp Colera), I started struggling with my breathing.

My pace slowed, and the gap between me and the others widened. kept checking in on me, noticing my heavy panting, and we also realised that my lips were turning purple. Gently but firmly, he told me that, given my pace, I wouldn’t make the summit in time.

I was disappointed, but deep down, I knew my body couldn’t go any further. I remember procrastinating the descent, hoping I could push through just a few more steps. Then, we heard that other climbers had turned around, so we waited for them and began our descent back to Camp Nido.

Had I taken the altitude medication, could it have prevented this? I don’t know. Had we pushed from Camp Colera instead, would I have had a better shot? I’m not sure either.

What I do know is that I gave my best and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, despite the outcome. No regrets. After months of preparation, every step I took on that mountain was a celebration of my journey 💙

Congrats once again to Uncle Khoo and Steve on reaching the summit, accompanied by the speedy 👏🥳

Many have asked if I’ll try again. For now, no. But hey, never say never, right? 😉

16/03/2025

8 - 12 February 2025 – Load Carry to Camp Canada + Ascend to Camp Canada and Camp Nido ⛺️

The climb to Camp Canada was tough. 700m elevation gain, 2.5km, and about 15kg on our backs. Calves were screaming, legs burning - but honestly, it was fun.

Spending time at the high camps was an experience I’ll never forget. The team at Mulas was so kind, giving me some paper and a pen when I asked for them. I spent hours writing, reflecting, and thinking - partly inspired by Steve, one of our teammates 💡

Ah, and special thanks to - he said he felt like he was ‘mothering’ me with all the tips and guidance he was giving me. I’ll remember them 😂☺️

12/03/2025

6 February 2025 - Trek to Plaza de Mulas, the second-largest base camp in the world 🏕️

It was a looooooongg day 🥾

12/03/2025

5 February 2025 - Acclimatization walk to Plaza Francia. It was fun packing our own lunch 🌯🥪