Tag: accomodation

Hotels In Singapore

If you ask the average Malaysian which hotel he or she remembers, it”ll probably be the iconic Tang’s Hotel at the corner of shopping haven Orchard Road. It is now known as the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel. Of course many will also know the landmark Marina Bay Sands.

While compiling the list for Budget Hotels In Singapore, I saw many new and exciting hotels. Singapore is a popular tourist destination and an international convention and exhibition center.

Doing this list for all hotels, brought back many memories as I have stayed at places such as the Holiday Inn, RELC, the Robertson Quay Hotel, the Copthorne Orchid, Sentosa Island resort, East Coast Park chalets, the Marina Mandarin, which once a coveted luxury hotel, now overshadowed by many newer rivals such as the Marina Bay Sands. There were many others I can no longer remember but it is nice to see so many still in operation.

During one year while attending Broadcast Asia and CommunicAsia or maybe one of the air shows, I couldn’t find a single available room. It was scary to be stranded in a modern city state. Yes indeed, Singapore has many hotels but the shows attract many visitors and trade people.

I wish things were more organised online in those years and I intend to make it easier to find a hotel on the island. According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), there were 413 hotels with 63,850 rooms as of 31 December 2016.

Here is a non exhaustive list but it should set you off on a good footing. These are hotels costing above RM250. For smaller and cheaper hotels, see also Budget Hotels In Singapore.

Here we go: http://www.mycen.my/hotels-in-singapore/

The Slim River Rest House

At one glance, Rumah Rehat Slim River looks like a charming hippie commune from the flower power days. Only thing missing is a VW Kombi with psychedelic colours.

Unlike other government rest houses from colonial days, this one is relatively recent. The reception clerk told me it was built in the 1960s.

The motel-style chalets are on stilts, clustered on a big lawn with nice countryside surroundings as a backdrop. I think I’ll stay here for this part of the journey.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f4, 1/1000 sec.

The Balcony

I think a hipster will trade his or her mason jar lamp (with the coffee filter shade) for a chance to do a selfie or a yoga pose on this balcony. Every fitting is intentionally hipsterish. The furniture is chicken (wire) coop style, similar to those found in KLPAC grounds or in Publika. Don’t ask me about the significance of that rusted and cracked wok (kuali) on the floor, though. Lol.

It is a shame that the place is categorised as luxury camping or glamour camping (glamping) though. Is more than that. Strip away all the pretensions, it is a resort hotel (minus all the staff). Taken as a whole, I found the appeal to be the subtle landscaping and blending with its environment.

Sure; there are creature comforts such as hot shower, a toilet bowl, coffee machine and a pool but then that’s what concrete jungle people expect when they pay RM 700 or more a night, I guess.

Standing on the balcony, I felt as if I was the conductor of an orchestra where the musicians were tireless birds and insects. To each, his or her own. For me; it was hearing nature’s symphony and seeing random leaves drift gently from trees. That was priceless.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 640, f8, 1/60 sec.

Wherever I Lay My Hat, That’s My Home

We finally reached the peak and before my eyes was a double-storey glass chalet. Megharaj pulled down the attic-like stairs and we did the final climb.

Wow! A room in a rainforest walled-in and roofed by glass. I can sleep and look at the twinkling stars at night, throw stones and walk around naked. I have never slept in a glass house before and I wanted it right away.

Megharaj: Sorry Sir, we don’t do walk-ins.

Me: Walked-in??? I climbed a bloody mountain to get here.

Megharaj: You can only book online.

Me: Wait! (Pulling out my iPad excitedly)

Me: Damn! There’s no bloody 4G, 3G or even 2G access here!

Megharaj: But that’s the whole idea about a jungle retreat.

Oh well. Anyway, the place is called Sekeping Serendah Retreat. I consoled myself thinking a shangri la in the jungle must charge Shangr-la hotel rates. I found out later that they do but I’m sure it will be worth the experience. There’s even a luxurious pool.

Megharaj is both the gardener and manager. Fantastic guy. Much appreciation for the impromptu tour of the place I discovered by accident. More pics of the ‘glamcamp’ coming up.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 1600, f8, 1/60 sec.