Singapore Trip August 2006

Again...

Fernloft Chinatown Backpacker Hostel

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

Going to Singapore? If you're on a budget and still looking for a place to stay, I highly recommend that you check-in at Fernloft. This hostel has two branches, one in East Coast and the other is in Chinatown. Fernloft offers accessibility to different types of travellers. If you're the laid-back type, you might want to stay at their East Coast branch which is close to the beach and far away from the City's center. On the other hand, if you're the type who wants to shop, their Chinatown branch would best suit you, as it is close to the bustling Chinatown district and only a few MRT rides away from Clark Quay, Orchard and Bugis.

The hostel in Chinatown is cozy and gives you a homey feeling even if you're staying at the dormitories. Compared to other hostels, rooms are limited, however, this limitation should be viewed as a perfect setting to get to know all the hostel's guests. The exclusivity gives a more personal experience to your stay at the hostel.

The best thing about Fernloft that you won't find in any other hostel is the staff's personalized service. David, the all-around guy in Fernloft Chinatown is the best host one can ever hope for. Compared to other hostels, the reception you get in Fernloft is very warm. It's like staying at your friend's place. David makes sure you feel comfortable during your stay and his hospitality is a welcome respite from the coldness of some of the locals we encountered. David is also very informative and helpful, so you can ask him about anything--your travel itinerary, places to go to in Singapore, best places to shop, and even your astrological sign.

Fernloft is also licensed by the Singapore Tourism Board so do not hesitate to ask for perks such as free transfer to Singapore's famous tourist spots. If your itinerary includes Singapore Zoo, Night Safari or Jurong Bird Park, just say so, and David will book you for a free transfer to any of these places. You can just add an additional 5sgd for the van to pick you up after your sightseeing and drop you back to the hostel or any other place in Singapore that you want to see.

Aside from the personalized service that Fernloft offers, the hostel is also known for its cleanliness. The sheets are changed regularly, the rooms are tidy, the kitchen area is spotless. It's a wonder how David keeps it all together. But of course, you are reminded to do your part in keeping the place clean, and washing your own dishes is a must (after all, it's not a five-star hotel).

Fernloft's unique character and its one-of-a-kind brand of service has kept some guests coming back. It is undoubtedly one of the best hostels to stay in Singapore.

For more information on Fernloft's facilities and room rates, please visit their website:
www.fernloft.com

Fernloft is located at:
Chinatown: Block 5, Banda Street, # 02-92 Singapore 050005
+65 6323 3221
East Coast: 693A East Coast Road, Singapore
+65 6449 9066

Lost: Season 2 (Part 2)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

And you think the plot's complicated? I'm not even done yet. This TV show is the kind that gets your mind working overtime. Just when you think you have the answer, another plot shakes you up. And it's not all about the plot and the mystery. You get some good acting too from the cast. Matthew Fox's character as Jack is really starting to get on my nerves. Talk about believable acting.

As the story progresses, you find each of the character's intertwined past. Just before the crash, almost each of the survivors have had some contact with each other and had affected each other's lives in some way. A good example is the case of Libby and Desmond. They met before the crash in a coffee shop by accident, had a conversation and before they even finished their coffee, Libby is already giving Desmond a boat. Yes, the same boat that he used for a race around the world to win back the love of his life... except that he crashed on the island, a few years ahead of Libby. The ironic part is they never knew each of them managed to get themselves in the same island. Libby died before Desmond circled his way back to the island, after leaving the hatch.

Another baffling scene is the presence of the remnant of a statue with four toes. Sayid, Jin and Sun, while navigating the outskirts of the island to set a trap for Michael and the Others saw the magnificent remains of a four-toed foot of a huge statue. The workings seemed ancient, and yet, you couldn't help but ask, "What does an ancient statue have to do with the island?" And the four toes... that's really odd. Now, Atlantis seems to be inserting itself in the plot.

By the end of Season 2, you not only get some answers, you get more questions. That means we get more of Lost in the next season. Despite it's omission in the recently held Emmy's, I think the producers still have a lot more surprises in store for the faithful viewers. With the departure of Michael and his son Walt from the island (oops... another spoiler), I wonder how they're going to start off from there. What would happen to Jack, Sawyer and Kate in the hands of the Others? Would Hurley tell the rest of the survivors about what happened to them?

Now, if you're still asking what Lost is all about, I think you should just get lost. I can't believe you're not watching it. It's rare to find an interesting TV show nowadays, what with everyone borrowing ideas from everyone. If you have a short attention span to TV programs, I highly recommend this one. Every show makes you feel like you're watching a new one. No dragging plots, no overstated melodrama... the only downside is you keep thinking about it.

In this age of technology and advance science, how could it be possible for an island big enough for a group of people to get lost in and still remain uncharted. Now, that's the mystery. It's the ultimate "what if?" and it's in that direction that the writers and the producers have made the show a success.

I still keep wondering how the producers will manage to extend the plot for a few more seasons without ultimately revealing the island's mystery and without dragging the story. But if they have managed to sustain my interest after two seasons, then I have to say, they're doing a good job. I just wish they would ultimately end the alpha male battle between Jack and Locke, with one of them murdering the other.

For all it's worth, Lost is the kind of TV show to wait for every week. With season 3 just around the corner, you can't help but review the previous season and formulate your own theories hoping that they're in sync with the show's plot.

The parting scene of season 2 is the ultimate cliffhanger. In another part of the world, two men (probably scientists or researchers) detect an electromagnetic signal from their machine. They dial a number to report the anomaly and at the other end of the receiver, Pen picks up the phone. Pen, who? The camera zooms in to a familiar picture on the bedside table. A couple during their happy times. The woman in the picture is the one holding the receiver while the man is a younger looking Desmond. Now tell me, what's your theory? (End)