Hostel is up!

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!!!!

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!

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?

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!

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