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by Erica Jahn

My first day in Singapore

In Uncategorized
August 8, 2013
194
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Greetings from the beautiful Lion City!  

Hello Merlion! At last we met!

Thank God my plane safely landed here in the wee hours of Saturday morning after being airborne for about 3 hours and 40 minutes. Current local time is not different from Manila so I needed not to adjust my watch… I missed a good night’s sleep for I travelled the evening before from Manila to Clark. I left Cubao at 10 pm and reached Dau Bus terminal station after an hour and 50-minute ride. After that, I headed straight to the airport lounge and stayed there for 4 hours, waiting for the shuttle to DMIA…then I checked in at 4 AM. I was relieved I didn’t have a problem with the BI officers. I triumphantly boarded the plane and now here in Singapore!

I had slept a bit during the flight probably for 2 hours before the sun rays hit me from the window. I opened my eyes and saw the vastness of pseudo fluffy clouds. I thought they are ever pretty up there. That moment reminded me of Super Mario Bros. I used to play in the family computer. You know when a character auspiciously grows a beanstalk and spends the rest of the game leaping through the clouds—splendidly magical!

cotton candies!!!

When I walked inside the Changi International Airport my jaw literally dropped for a moment. So they say it’s one of the most sophisticated airports in the world and by then I understood why. Darn the carpeted floor, the number of free computers situated almost everywhere, the massage chairs, x-box with a 54-inch screen, meditation rooms, well-maintained comfort rooms, lounge chairs where one can lay flat!!!

this carpet is very welcoming…

In Philippine airports, one ought to pay travel tax which costs Php1620 if I’m not mistaken and terminal fee of Php450-650. FRUSTRATINGLY and IRONICALLY, they remain off the scale compared with International airports like Changi, that lets passengers use such facilities for FREE!!! It’s really a puzzle to me, WHERE DO OUR TAXES GO? Really?

The first thing I did after I claimed my luggage was eat at McDonalds in Terminal 2. Though I ate breakfast on the plane, my friend Shiela insisted on eating there. Apparently, his son was craving for pancakes that time. After that, we headed to their house. Ah! The premier taxi was Mercedes! A black one! The Indian driver was very entertaining. The whole 33 dollar trip went off as quick and relaxing as Ed Sheeran’s Small Bump melody.   

So here’s my home for the next 7 days 🙂 Woodlands! 🙂

The photo above was taken after I had lunch at a noodle shop, in Bugis,
which to me seemed like Divisoria only much safer and high-class…

It was a relief to leave the 33+ temperature of the Philippines, as well as the dust and squalor of Manila. It feels much cooler here in Singapore… perhaps the trees? I appreciate the trees a lot for your information… and I look forward to seeing the dinosaur(?) trees tomorrow!

Trees at the Esplanade 🙂

Singapore is very advanced. Economic prosperity is evident. One can see projects of high risers and lands being developed all over the city. Crime rate is extremely low… Apparently, some ASEAN countries like the Philippines lagged behind it. I can’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy. If only Filipino taxes are decently spent and government funds be properly allocated to genuine, cost-effective, sensible projects, we can at least have a convenient MRT system around the metro. Singapore’s MRT, like in Hongkong, is utterly amazing!

I’ve heard that Singaporeans are disciplined. I’ve mentioned earlier about my friend Shiela. She lives in Singapore with her family. She’s married to Khairul, a Singaporean, who’s also my friend. So, Khairul told me they’re raised to do the right thing… to not litter, to keep left, to save energy, to follow rules… And yes, now I’ve witnessed it! They are well-ordered in keeping time, following directions/ traffic rules, maintaining cleanliness—no wonder they’re a wealthy nation.

My first day here is like being in a tropical paradise! And I can’t wait for tomorrow! 🙂 

Author

Erica Jahn

Erica is a former PR pro turned entrepreneur. Her greatest joys are family, blogging, music, skin care and social justice. As a Muay Thai enthusiast, Erica prides herself on working with increased focus, humility and diligence. She believes in living a fit life doing everything with a flair of creativity and love! Stalk her social channels @thegirlwiththemujihat

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Why you should stay in Bali Bee House in Seminyak

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“Wise traveller’s heaven” is a perfect description of what ‘Bali Bee House’ is. A good pick if you’re looking for a place to just sleep and shower, this property will surprise you with its top-notch design, clean facilities, great food selections, tons of books available to read, place dedicated for yoga or workout, and fast internet connection.

I stayed in Bali Bee House in Seminyak with four of my friends. It was remarkable. Here are the things I loved about this budget hotel and some good reasons you should check-in at this property too:

1. Cleanliness

Whether you are staying in a private room or at the bee dorm, you wouldn’t need to worry about hygiene and sanitation. Bali Bee House has fairly good standards of housekeeping. Rooms, beddings, bathrooms, towels, common areas, floors are thoroughly cleaned every day. There is no awful smell. You can peacefully sleep the night in a comfortable, clean bed.

Bali Bee House common area
At Bali Bee House Private Room

2. Safety

On the hexagon bed

As important as getting a good night sleep is securing your belongings during your travels. At Bali Bee House, you don’t need to worry about getting any of your stuff stolen back in your dorm-type room while you are out sightseeing. With huge lockers, you can safely keep your belongings, again, worry- and stress-free.

3. Interesting designs

As Bali Bee House is owned by creative entrepreneurs, it makes sense that the owners regularly make the most of art: creating picture-worthy a.k.a. “Instagrammable” interior designs and food presentations! If you are a fan of food plating or artistic co-working space, you should also check out their newly opened restaurant in Ubud – MOCBA!

It’s increasingly common for hotels to have instagrammable spots (thanks to social networking sites like Instagram), so if you’re in for an “IG-worthy” shot, Bali Bee House is a great choice.

You can also check my instagram acocunt for more photos!

Just laying here on the hexagon bed

4. Value for money

Bali Bee House common area 

The main reason I chose this hotel is the price. Before I even read the reviews or looked at the property’s photos, from the outset I clicked because of the cost of stay per night. I talked to my friends about this because some of them wanted to stay at a fancy hotel but I convinced them otherwise. Point is, it’s impractical to splurge on a room when you are actually out the whole day touring. [Read about our tours with AMAZING BALI TOURS]

In retrospect, it turned out to be a remarkable choice. Think about the “basics”––you get to have a filling breakfast, reliable internet connection, relaxing hot shower, and comfortable bed to sleep in for less than 10 US dollars per night.

5. Experience

I was blessed to meet the lovely people who own and operate Bali Bee House – Mr. Erik, Mr. Putu, and Chef Tonny. It was a memorable time spent (albeit not long) with these genuinely accommodating people who gave interesting insights about Balinese food and culture.

Mr. Putu was particularly helpful. He attended to my requests like towels, extra bed, hair dryer, and even hot water for my tea!

with Mr. Erik and Chef tonny

Parting Words

When you stay in budget hotels (or any kind of hotel), you gotta set the right expectations. Cheap or expensive, you should get the value you pay for. Bali Bee House however, is among the exceptions. In this cozy accommodation, cheap price doesn’t mean cheap service or low value. From the welcome drinks to the clean rooms, safe lockers, comfortable beds, tasty and affordable food, excellent common room, fast internet, very hospitable and helpful staff––you’d appreciate the experience and be more than happy to recommend!

Would love to go back to Bali and stay in this property soon, meanwhile, I am happy to recommend Bali Bee House to you dear friends and readers!

  • [message]
    • Check out Bali Bee House
      • Website: www.beehousehostels.com
        Address: Raya Kesambi Gg Permatasari 11, Kerobokan – Badung, Bali T.
        GSM: 082359507456
        Facebook Page: BALI BEE HOUSE

Click image to book a room at Bali Bee House:



What do you think about this article? Have you ever stayed at Bali Bee House? Do you want to stay in this budget accommodation? Let me know your thoughts below! Thanks!

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