DROP INN

6 months anniversary!

2010-05-18T12:14:00.002+09:00

The hostel has been opened for 6 months! I have made so many good friends in the hostel and so many good memories....I think it is the best decision I have made in my life.

I always ask myself: how come I always get nice and friendly guests in the hostel? After talking to ten thousand people and pondering over this question for a while, I think I know the answer. It is because of the amazing communal area! The communal area has guests lying down, reading a book, magazine, chatting, drinking, eating, watching movie....everything is in one area! Thus, everyone has to talk to each other. And when everybody is friends with everybody, the 'combined vibe' is amazing and infectious!

People talking and laughing with one another, and all 3 of them travel alone and became friends in the hostel!

Using my slimming machine while watching movie, when I am reading a magazine...

Another thing I realised is that our hostel always have super random events! Basically, not events that was planned for weeks, or not even days! Many of our events were created either on the day itself or the day before. Events....maybe it is more of an outing I must say. Outings that involve alcohol generally account for more than 80% of our outings!

Clubbing - Attica, Clarke Quay

This club is really nice! It has 2 levels: first level plays Pop and RnB music and the second floor is mostly house music. Crowd is very good and always have lots of fun. However, if you are here to meet locals, this club will not be the one for you. Most of the customers at this club are expatriates in Singapore who have money to burn.

Clubbing in Attica, Clarke Quay (super random. think someone just wanted to club and the rest of us went along)

Good night though

Funny british boys! They are really young!

Clubbing - The Butter Factory, One Fullerton

We went to The Butter Factory as well. This club is really nice! I think the music is better than at Attica and the crowd is more diversed. We had so much fun there, and stupid Raffael (the german guy on the left in the picture below) keep taking drinks from other customers' table! Well, we had free drinks (since alcohol is so expensive in Singapore), but it was a bit embarrassing because the other customers actually realised and came to talk to us. Fun night though!

Group of us at Butter Factory!

Everyone having fun....good night!

Sometimes after a good night out, which usually involve tonnes of alcohol, some people are too tired to go up to their dormitory to sleep. Thus, seeing how comfortable my communal area is (as explained earlier), they decided to just crash on the platform. Which is usually a good idea, unless it is a night that everyone is out clubbing and coming back at different timings. Why?

Sometimes people will stack things on you

Generally, a fortress seems to be a popular choice!

Some outings is due to events that everyone celebrate, so we have to! An example is St Patrick's Day! 4 of my guests (canadians) have actually bought bus tickets to KL but because we are going out for St Patrick's day, they gave up their tickets and bought a new one the next day to join us! When I asked them the next day whether they have any regret? The answer was 'Not at all! It was a good night!'.

Late night chats are always good! However, when it gets late and we have been drinking of hours, we start taking weird pictures...

Like Mr Businessman over here!

What do we do when we are in the hostel, chatting, but really feel like going out but do not want to take a cab? We take a walk to a bar nearby and drink!

Sometimes it really seems like an excursion!

All ended well!

Usually after a night out of drinking, people get really really tired the next day. So what do we do? We can't walk around and explore the city while having a hangover....thus, we go to the beach together!

Lie around, do nothing, swim on the beach, get a tan....PERFECT!

Another thing that I did in this 6 months is that I went to KL and Melaka to talk to a few different hostel owners and to put my business cards and pamphlets there! The trip was good! All business in the afternoon, and relaxing at night! I met up with a few of my guests from Drop Inn, Singapore and went out for dinner and drinks together!

I love the girls!

At dinner

In conclusion, I think what I have learnt about my hostel in the past 6 months is that my hostel has basic facilities:

1. clean bed

2. clean toilets

3. clean linens

4. free breakfast

5. free wifi

6. 2 public computers to share

7. DVDs to watch

But most important, it is the atmosphere that makes this place special! How you meet friends whom you keep for the rest of your life and gain valuable travel tips! It is the people who make this place special, so big thanks to all of you!!!!

Chinese New Year Celebration!

2010-02-22T16:32:00.000+09:00

Chinese New Year falls on the 14 February this year, which coincidentally is also Valentine's day. Chinese New Year is one of the most celebrated festival in Singapore as more than 70% of the Singaporeans are chinese. Generally, we have public holidays for 2 days (only) while Chinese New Year lasts for 15 days.

Pity to those guests who arrive on 14 February and only stayed for 1 night as most places are closed on Chinese New Year, even the shopping malls! As a result, most of the guests stayed in my hostel playing cards, watching movies and ordered delivery for dinner.

The party for Chinese New Year in Singapore is on New Year's Eve in Chinatown. However, the feedback that I have gotten from my guests is that right after the countdown at 12 midnight, most of the people just went straight home. This is very different from most western countries as after the New Year's countdown, there is usually a huge party (or many huge parties) to attend. Some guests even saw Europeans staring at each other after all the locals had gone home, looking really bewildered and wondering where the party is.

This year, we held our celebration on 21 Feb (the 8th day of Chinese New Year). According to Wikipedia.org, the 8th day of Chinese New Year is the eve of the birth of the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor is the Taoist ruler of heaven and all realms of existence below including that of Man and Hell (again, explanation is obtained from Wikipedia.org). This is not the point though, the purpose of this entry is to show some pictures of our Chinese New Year celebration!

To celebration Chinese New Year, we bought 2 packets of Yu Sheng. Thanks for Esther who helped us to cut the carrots in order to save money as it is really expensive to buy from the supermarket! Yu Sheng is the Teochew style raw-fish salad. It consists of raw fish (salmon in our case) and shredded vegetables, with sauces and other condiments. It is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.

When you add the different ingredients, you are supposed to say very specific New Year's greetings:

Step 1. When dish is placed on the table, say 'Gong Xi Fa Cai', 'Wan Shi Ru Yi' (Congratulation and may you be properous)
Step 2. While squeezing the lemon over the fish, say 'Da Ji Da Li' (Wishing you Good Luck and blessings)
Step 3. Place the fish over the shredded carrots and radish, say 'Nian Nian You Yu' (Wishing you abundance inwealth every year)
Step 4. While sprinkling Pepper over the dish, say 'Hong Yun Dang Tou' (May you have good luck at your doorstep)
Step 5. While sprinkling Cinnamon powder, say 'Qing Chun Chang Zu' (May you be young forever)
Step 6. While pouring the Peanut oil, say 'Rong Hua Fu Gui' (May you enjoy prosperity)
Step 7. While pouring Plum sauce, say 'Tian Tian Mi Mi' (May sweetness enters your life)
Step 8. While pouring the crackers, say 'Man Di Huang Jin' (May gold falls at our feet)
Step 9. While tossing the Yu Sheng, say 'Yue Lao Yue Qi, Lao Dao Feng Shen Shui Qi' (Toss higher and higher till the wind and the oceans rise up for a good year ahead)

My 2 part timers (Yi Quan and Davian) happily volunteered to lead everyone in saying these greetings! Many thanks for that.

Everyone listening intently to the explanation

Getting ready to start preparing the 'Yu Sheng'

Everyone watching at the preparation. Some looking pretty amused.

The final product after adding all the ingredients

Everyone joining in the tossing of the Yu Sheng!

A messy event indeed, but definitely a good one!

Joy of having a hostel

2010-01-16T15:08:00.000+09:00

I referred 3 guests to The Hive a couple of days ago as my place does not have a private room available for them to extend their stay. This morning, when they left Singapore, they actually came over to my hostel and to thank me for the stay!

It is such a good feeling when you know that your guests enjoyed their stay with you!

Being a fellow backpacker, I realised how important the accommodation is. If you are staying in a normal place, the joy of being in a foreign country only comes from sightseeing and exploring new places. If you are staying in a fantastic place, you can also experience joy from talking to people and it sort of makes the trip complete!

This is one of the core value of the hostel: to create a home away from home!

A great new year!

2010-01-10T17:17:00.000+09:00

The hostel was up for 43 days in year 2009! So how have it been?

Let me just sum up the many first in 2009...

1. 1st day of opening

2. 1st customer (buying apple juice)

3. 1st staying guest

4. 1st hostelworld guest

5. 1st hostelbookers guest

6. 1st guy who uploaded his music in my netbook (first guy from the left)

7. 1st guests who picked the pictures to put in the room that they are staying in

8. 1st guest who helped me to write 'welcome' in his own language (Hebrew) on my wall

9. 1st month anniversary

10. 1st guests who took pictures for me in my hostel

11. 1st present a guest had given me

12. 1st backpack requested by me to be given to the hostel (disclaimer: the guest was about to throw this away that is why I requested!)

13. 1st christmas spent at the hostel

I guess this is all before this entry starts getting boring. And you guys can possibly tell that I am just giving an excuse to upload pictures without much writing as I know I always prefer pictures to words!

It is a new year ahead, and I got a feeling that this will be a great year! Thank you guys for making the last 43 days of 2009 so amazing!

Happy New Year!

Updates after 10 days

2009-11-29T10:58:00.000+09:00

My first customers (who bought an apple juice), Eric and Robyn, are back! They stayed for 3 nights in my twin room!

I think for the first 10 days, although business is slow, things have been moving on. Maybe it is because it is the peak season and so at least I will have customers everyday. However, I still do not have any reviews on the online platforms and it is tough as when people book through the different platforms, they actually read the reviews. When there are no reviews, there are not many bookings!

This leads to my customers being mostly referrals. I just got a referral from Takehito Matsumura. Thanks Take!

In the past 10 days, I have met very interesting people and a few of them are doing their round-the-world trip:

Matt and Leah (British couple) are the first guests to stay in my twin room! They are such sweet guests! Always so polite and considerate. Even when Leah wanted to exchange books in my little books exchange corner, she will bring to the counter to show me which book she want to exchange her book with! Before they left, they gave me their umbrellas for the hostel! So sweet!!!!

Laurent is a referral from Hauke (Timo's friend who is my first guest). A Belgium guy who is doing a 16 months round the world trip. He takes amazing photographs and very interesting videos! If you guys are interested, you can go to his website at http://voirlemonde.eu/. However, his website is in french, so you guys can go to http://www.translate.google.com/ and key in this website. The whole page will transform to the language of your choice! So amazing right? Laurent introduced me to this as well.

Bernard, an Australian man who take 3-6 months off every 2 years to travel. What he does is he accumulates his annual leave and take it at one go every 2 years!

Infas, a Sri Lankan guy who studied and worked in London. He stayed for 5 nights and I think he is one of my longest staying guest! We became such good friends that he will go with me to Mustafa Centre in the afternoon to have lunch and to buy things for the hostel! Thanks dude!

That is all about my guests for the past 10 days..............again again again.

Hostel is up!

2009-11-25T18:49:00.001+09:00

I know I have not updated in a long time. So much have happened! I tried to paint but after 2 weeks and there do not seem like there is much movement, I decided to get professional painters, which is a smart choice! If not, I think I will still be trying to finish painting my hostel at this time.

Finally, on the 18 Nov 2009, Drop Inn Singapore was opened for business! Dani helped me so much! From running around Singapore to get the furniture and plants, to helping me to decorate my place and installing my printers. This is the final product...

Written by Jasmine and drawn by Elaine.

It is NOT DR. P Inn. It is DROP INN!

Welcome to my cosy place!

We sell drinks in order to quench your thirst whenever you need to.

We have a blackboard for you to showcase your artistic talent.

Our Cosy corner to rest, relax and interact with the others!

From the cosy corner, the guests can see me hard at work.

Jasmine, Kelv, Me and Elaine trying out the chilling area to see whether it's chilled enough.

Our very own mini pantry area!

Twin Room. And, I painted the green wall!

Washer and dryer available, subjected to a nominal fees!

The stairs going up to the main sleeping area!

Room names are major MRT stops in Singapore.

14-bedder dorm. Clean and cosy!

The top and bottom of our bunk beds are not connected so even if someone who walks up the ladder, it won't disturb the person sleeping at the bottom.

Isn't this an artistic photo?

Get ready for our 6-bedder dorm!

Spacious area within the dorm

Nice piece of green wall which I painted a couple of coats!

Clean toilet for your comfort

Heading over to our one and only double room!

As the name suggest, this room is exquisite.

Own little window and lockers for your comfort.

It even comes with your own little slacking corner,

while you enjoy the beautiful scenery out of the window.

My first customer was a couple who happened to walk by that very night! They came in, I showed them around the place, and they bought a bottle of apple juice!

The next few days were spent trying to get into hostelworld.com and hostelbookers. I realised that it takes a few days after you apply before you can get on hostelworld.com although it was put on the website that they will reply you within 24 hours! However, to give them credit, whenever I call, the people are always very patient and friendly. They are also very helpful and help whenever they could!

My very first guest (as in for stay and not just to buy drink) is Jasmine's bf's friend, Hauke from Germany!

Of course, I have to take a picture with my first guest right?

Alright guys.....that's all for today!!!!!

Photos are up!!!!

2009-10-26T17:51:00.000+09:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. Have been pretty busy getting myself released from PwC and to work on my hostel. Been going to the hostel every 2 days to check on the progress, and here they are!!!!

Before

I shall upload the during renovation pictures in the next few days!!!

New happenings!

2009-10-08T00:04:00.000+09:00

A couple of milestone type of things have happened!!!!

I have finally tendered my resignation!
Last day in PwC will be 4 Nov 09!!! Unfortunately not that I have tendered, I totally don't feel like working anymore, especially when I am booked on assignments all the way till 4 Nov 09.

To a certain extent, I really think that I should be responsible and continue to work hard while I am still in the firm, however, I just cannot seem to concentrate. Urghhh!!!!!! I feel bad for my team, that is why I keep hinting to my TIC to try to get someone else to do those jobs since they will definitely be more efficient than me, with my loss of concentration at work, but he just didnt seem to get it! What can I do?

I have signed the lease to my new place!
Now, I can officially say that, I have leased the place and the address is 253 Lavender Street! Contractors should be going in next week and I will be painting the walls probably 2 weeks later!

The whole setting up a company is really exciting, and it seems like having a baby, I am pretty sure I have said that before! However, I will be lying if I say that I am not scared at all. My lifestyle will be completely changed when the hostel is set up:

1. No more clubbing and drinking at night
2. Waking up at 6:30am everyday to prepare breakfast for my guests
3. No more traveling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Solar Power?

2009-09-28T14:38:00.000+09:00

The use of energy have been getting a lot of exposure lately and renewable energy is something that we will want to incorporate in our business to do our part for the environment. However, it's always a cost-benefit kind of issue. How much does it costs to build solar panels and how much energy are we able to save?

Definitely, we will like to have solar panels so that we will only be using renewable energy for the operations of the energy but the first quotation that I have gotten from 1 company is $60K! Such a huge amount of money for a small startup does not seem feasible, and I did not manage to find any grants to subsidise this initial capital outlay. The grants offered are mainly for new technology and research rather than for capital outlay.

Next option is probably doing whatever we can within our means, and that will be to use solar heaters. Not sure how much it will cost and whether it is possible to fix the heaters within the shophouse...

Webhosting is another issue that is high up on the priority list as we want to make sure our website is up before we officially starts operations. Being a complete IT idiot, I always thought it's as simple as just buying a domain and start to create your own website. Webhosting is a time that I see for the first time in my life last week! IT is so complicated! Luckily I got a friend who is willing to help for a nominal sum of money to create a website! I just have to draw the layout and tell him what I want...

I love my friendssss!!!!

Bank account is opened!

2009-09-26T12:44:00.000+09:00

Thing are moving along really quickly! Bank account is finally opened today.....next task is now to sign the lease agreement!

Incorporation of the company!

2009-09-24T10:24:00.000+09:00

The incorporation of the company is finally completed! Just paid the $300 for the incorporation and it's about one of the only few times that I am actually happy paying for something!

The setting up of the hostel seems on track with the following pending:
1. transfer of funds
2. transfer of shareholdings
3. signing of lease agreement
4. sourcing for furniture
5. registration for website
6. setting up of website

These are the more important issues that are still pending but it is great! Things are moving, and it's a huge joy!

Now, I need to get free labour for painting the hostel...

Investor!!!

2009-09-09T23:42:00.000+09:00

I found half the money I need for the hostel! Working on the others now....trying to arrange a meeting with another guy who may be interested on Friday! Hopefully everything turn out well!

Got 2 contractors to view the place I've found and asked them to give me a quotation. Hopefully prices will be cheap cheap and cheap!

A Potential Place in Lavender!

2009-09-04T10:32:00.000+09:00

Thanks to Mr S, I got this amazing place in Lavender! All the fire safety licensing had been approved, and license for a hostel has already gotten! However, after I built my partitions, I will need to get the fire safety officers to come for another approval!

I was losing hope after I almost signed a brothel!

Anyway, I am now hunting for investors which after finding a place, is the next most important issue to make this whole thing work. I talked to Mr G for a short drink and he told me that my initial proposal is not very attractive to investors as according to my computation, the hostel business will make a net profit which is basically kept within the company and not distributed to the shareholders when they are taking the risk. I agreed after thinking about it and decides to change my proposal such that the shareholders get more returns back due to their risk.

In addition, he also told me that when the business picks up in the second and third year, it may be cheaper to borrow from banks than to use the retained earnings as no use diluting the shares of the shareholders and I agree to a certain extent, but need to do more computation before I come out with a decision.

Finally, the hostel business seems like it's heading somewhere and I just hope that I can get investors. I need quite a bit more but meeting a couple of friends this weekend to discuss.

Keeping my fingers crossed!

Unsuitable location

2009-08-31T16:02:00.000+09:00

Jonas and I went to meet the landlord again for the 3rd meeting this morning and realised that the whole thing was a scam! After asking him about his background and what he does for a living, we realised that he runs a series of sleazy bars around the area, and he even suggested that he can refer his customers to me! Why will I want sleazy people to come to my hostel? It is a backpackers hostel, and not a brothels!

He seemed proud that the Vietnamese girls will always go to his bars whenever they are in Singapore before heading somewhere. After I started asking all the questions about whether it will be sleazy and I am not interested in running a sleazy joint, he tried to redeem himself by saying that he was only talking about his other businesses and this place will be a mere 'meeting place' for the Vietnamese girls. I was like 'whatever'. It is definitely going to be a brothel.

Luckily I have not signed anything or sent any email correspondences, otherwise I am more than screwed! How am I going to answer to my investors? That I did not do my due diligence in checking more about the place that I am renting? It is definitely going to be bad and I can almost forget about setting up a backpacking hostel again!

Setting up of a hostel

2009-08-30T21:39:00.000+09:00

Just viewed a place in Jalan Besar 1 week ago.

Things seemed perfect initially:
1. Area is able to partitioned into the ideal number of dormitory beds and private rooms
2. Landlord will take up the cafe and we will have a partnership but at least I do not have to take care of the details
3. Landlord has a few bars around the area and it will be easy to organise pub crawls
4. Landlord will take care of all the licensing required so it will be even more hassle-free
5. Air-con, electricity and sewage are in place and only require servicing

I have been asking around for about 1 month and it is really difficult to find a suitable location. Property market is striving in Singapore now, and prices are getting higher. Sometimes I really wonder when I will actually find a suitable place?

It is especially difficult when you are working alone. You basically have to solve all the problems yourself and there will not be anyone to share your workload. Especially when I am working as an auditor currently and it is not exactly the slackest job around! Luckily I found a friend who does not mind listening to all my problems and giving me his opinions even though he has a full time job and a part time job at this moment!

Singapore's newest Backpackers Hostel is coming...

2009-08-24T15:52:00.000+09:00

Stay tuned in late 2009 when Singapore's newest and most vibrant Backpackers Hostel opens.... The Drop Inn...

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