I didn't travel alone by myself until I was forty-one. I know it sounds pathetic. But then again... like they say... it's better late than never. Coming from Asian background, traveling is not in my family gene. (working hard is :) Life is about studying hard, going to college, getting a degree, getting a good job, settle down and start a family. I'm struggling my whole life to break that cycle, and I manage to do well so far... I guess. However, juggling in between working schedule and leisure time is quite challenging for me. At the same time, there is too much I want to do and see to wait for a perfect travel buddy. Certainly I have traveled before. But then I was traveling in groups. So the day has come for me to drag my small trolley bag and explore the world on my own. And I chose Singapore and Malaysia as a start.
WHY SINGAPORE?
I call my journey a self-healing journey. Due to my life experience, I have certain prejudice toward Singaporean. And what better way to prove myself wrong than to witness the true Singaporean traits in their own land... Singapore? I'll reveal the result later.
AND WHY MALAYSIA?
Because I fly Airasia. Simple as that.
So here we go....
My flight departed from Jakarta, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Terminal 3. T3 offers mobile phone recharging service at Level 2.
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cell phone charging station
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| free charging at T3, soekarno-hatta international airport |
With our lives so filled up with gadgets, the chance of a technological meltdown has also become big. You might want to make that one last call or text someone before you board your flight, or you might urgently need to send an email, only to realize your smartphone battery is dead. And when you finally find a power outlet, you realize you haven't brought your adapter with you.
Happily, T3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has kiosks that allow passengers to recharge their phone batteries for free. You don't need your adapter. You don't even need to have your charger plug with you, there are jacks for all major phone types - iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia, Motorola and Samsung - and all you need to do is plug and charge.
Located in the new Terminal 3, Level 2, two charging stations are installed in the public area, near the elevator and lifts. One at the right wing, and the other one at the left wing.
Now let's skip the boring 1.5 hour flight from Jakarta to Singapore and jump to the hostel part.Other solo traveler swear by dorms as a way to meet people, but I'm not sold on the idea. I'll never stay in one when traveling alone. I feel that dorms are uncomfortable and unsafe... but maybe that's just me.So I pre-booked a single-bed room at The Hive Backpacker's Hostel. Exploring can be stressful, but where you sleep shouldn't be.
Here is the direction to The Hive Backpacker's Hostel.
From the Changi Airport, take a train on the East-West Line (Green Line) towards Boon Lay or Joo Koon, and alight at Outram MRT Station (Station EW 16). Follow signboard instructions within the station to transfer to the North-East Line (Purple Line). Take the train on the North-East Line towards Punggol and alight at Boon Keng MRT Station (NE9). The journey from Changi to Outram takes about 38 mins and costs SGD2.1. The journey from Outram to Boon Keng takes about 11 mins and costs SGD1.5. Trains run daily from morning around 6a.m. and stop operating around 12 midnight.
(For more info on MRT network map and train fare, visit
www.smrt.com.sg.)
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| MRT Network Map |
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Then take Exit C (Boon Keng Road) at Boon Keng MRT Station and come up the escalator. Look across the open grass field in front of you and you'll see a block of shophouses with black walls facade and yellow windows. Voila... there
you go. It's The Hive Backpacker's Hostel... just a 3-minute walk away.
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| Boon keng MRT Station, Exit C (Boon Keng Road) |
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| at the end of the open grass field is The Hive Backpacker's Hostel |
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| The Hive Backpacker's Hostel |
The hostel is located at the intersection of Serangoon Road and Lavender Street.
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| source: www.thehivebackpackers.com |
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| intersection of serangoon road and lavender street |
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| singapore institute of science at the intersection of Serangoon Road and Balestier Road | | | | | |
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| the hive backpacker's hostel |
Main entrance to the reception room and communal facilities is on the right side of the building, while main entrance to the lodge is on the left side. For security purposes, the hostel is accessible via security card access so guests can come in/out at any time and there is no curfew.
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| directional signage |
No lift provided. Meaning I had to carry my trolley bag and climbed the stairs to reach my room at Level 2. So I dragged my bag passing the directional signage...
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| the alley |
... and passed the alley...
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| view from the alley at Level 2 |
...and passed my neighbor's room...
...and finally, I reached my room!!! The Peony Room. I spent SGD40 for the single-bed room with aircon, shared bathroom, free WI-FI and complimentary breakfast. The prices are inclusive of taxes and breakfast.
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peony room
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SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:
The official check-in time is after 1500hrs. Guests have the option to use the hostel facilities or leave the luggage and explore the city first if the room/dorm bed is not ready and return at a later time (before 2359hrs).
The official check-out time is before 1100hrs. Guests may leave the luggage with the reception if their flight/bus leaves after the check-out time.
Late check-out charges apply:
Before 1500hrs - half day's charge
After 1500hrs - full day's charge
One night charge will apply if booking cancellation is made less than 24hrs prior to arrival date.
Full payment is to be made upon arrival.
The hostel takes cash payments (Singapore dollars only) and credit card payments (Mastercard & Visa). No surcharge for credit card payments.
QUOTE:
For your
ATTENTION!!!
Check out time is 1100hrs. If you wish to extend your stay, please approach the reception by 1000hrs. Successful extension will depend on our availability.
Our reception operates from 0730hrs to 12 midnight. If you are checking out before 0730hrs, please inform the good people at the reception so they can advice you on how to return the key and get a taxi.
This is a non-smoking room. You can smoke outside the hostel should you need to satisfy that craving.
Please consume your food outside the room. No durians, especially, in the room. Offenders will have to be asked to leave the hostel with no refund.
We would appreciate you inform the reception if you have any guests visiting you in the hostel. No unregistered guest is to be brought into the hostel without the knowledge of the management. This is for everyone's safety.
We only accept cash payments in Singaporean dollars. There is a money changer and ATM nearby.
There's a penalty of SGD10 for the loss of key.
The management is not liable for any loss of belongings. Please keep your personal items safely. Should you need a locker, do not hesitate to approach the reception.
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| shared bathroom with hot/cold shower |
Go midweek if you can. I had the luxury of using the bathroom all by myself since it was low season.
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| lounge | |
The Hive provides cozy lounge for guests to sit around and take breakfast each morning or chill in the afternoon. It is fully air-conditioned at night. The friendly staff of The Hive are nearby at the reception counter, which opens from 0730hrs to 0000hrs everyday.
The hostel has free common internet terminals and if occupied, there is the option of surfing the internet in the comforts of my own bed over the free WI-FI access in my room. They also have printing, scanning and copying services readily available at the counter. Just ask the counter staff.
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| my breakfast |
Breakfast is self-help style, served from 0730hrs to 1030hrs every morning. You can eat your fill of toast with jam, cereal with milk, coffee or tea, but do wash up after you're done. The sink's just around the corner.
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| the sink |
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Overall I enjoyed my stay at The Hive. My only complaint? The room was too dimly lit. I could hardly read anything at night.
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| lavender street food center |
Lavender Street Food Center is just a few steps away from The Hive. Located at street corner Jln. Besar and Foch Rd., this hawker center is much less touristy and stays open until the wee hours. It is frequented by the late night foodies craving for supper or late night dinners.
Lavender Street Food Court
195 Lavender Street, 338758
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| quirky local eats for the sleepless |
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Hawker centers are typically a collection of stalls each serving a different selection of dishes. The choice of offerings can seem a little bewildering at first, though stalls have English signs and usually display pictures of their fare.
I ordered Pig's Organ Soup with rice. As the name suggests, Pig's Organ Soup is pig's innards cooked with pig blood. The bowl below had stomach, heart, liver, small intestine and large intestine. The broth was light and had a rich taste coming from the pig blood.
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| pig's organ soup with rice |
I'm glad I found Lavender Street Food Center while roaming around the area. Not just I had the tastiest and cheapest makan treats in town, I met a nice good-mannered girl at the food court as well. There goes my self-healing journey. As Carole King put it in her song: "People can be so cold. They'll hurt you and desert you. And take your soul if you let them. Oh, but you don't let them". My mistake was I let these people took advantage of me and I was hurt badly. Gladly it was all history. After all, it takes rain and sun to make a rainbow, isn't it?
