by Kenneth K. Ong
Mixing and matching oftentimes creates the most interesting of experiences, and Eugene Lee, Far East Hospitality’s Business Development Manager promised me and fellow traveller, Jinggoy S., just that for our transfer to Albert Court Village Hotel, one of Village Hotels and Residences’s seven hotels and residences in Singapore.
True enough, our transfer came pedaling along in the form of Singapore’s classic form of transportation, the trishaw. One would say that a car would be more appropriate and i was actually a bit hesitant to try but after a block, I was giggling like a little child taking in the sights of the city as pointed out by uncle trishaw driver and at the same time enjoying with the wind in my hair and many a pedestrian staring at me and Jinggoy in utter envy (or was it pity for uncle trishaw driver?) It was a blast!
So after around 20-minutes of biking, and a bit of pushing uphill, we arrived at the stately courtyard of the Albert Court Village Hotel and greeted by hotel manager Koh Yan Leng and Far East Hospitality’s Senior Marketing Communications Executive Dennis Yong. Located in a complex of prewar shophouses and named after Prince Albert, The Prince Consort, husband of Queen Victoria, the Albert Court Village Hotel is a charming boutique hotel that reflects the dynamism of the growing arts culture scene. The hotel is also a mixing and matching of old and new as its 210 rooms are all located in what used to be old shophouses, but with modern amenities made for every discerning traveller.
Its amazing that when you look at one side of Rochor Canal Road, you can see the many shophouses and eateries of Little India selling everything from extravagant gold jewelry, to Bollywood movies on DVD, and uber sweet Indian desserts complete with edible silver leaf; and on the other side of the road you see every techie’s dream mall, Sim Lim Square that houses every gadget, camera, or computer from A to Z.
What also fascinates me are the new art schools around the area like the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the Lasalle College of the Arts, that answer to the City State’s need to inject more appreciation of the arts and culture. I love the ultra modern campus of Lasalle, with its classrooms and galleries that are literally open for everyone to see since everything is in clear glass. One can even look in through glass portals on the floor and have a peek at the dance rehearsals being done in the studios below. If you really have the guts then aim for your fifteen minutes of fame at 15 minutes. A cafe that has open mic sessions that are open for everyone who was balls of iron and a performance that can kill a crowd.
And as the day wound down, and thanks to the Albert Court Village Hotel’s central location and having the Little India MRT station mere minutes away, it is easier to go from shophouse to art house and I would definitely love to go back and explore the nooks and crannies of Little India some more.
Village Hotels and Residences, is owned and operated by the Far East Hospitality Group, and offers authentic, friendly, comfortable and memorable stays, where guests get a unique experience of the Singapore’s local culture and indigenous offerings of the communities where its properties are located. You can learn more about the Albert Court Village Hotel and suites by visiting their website at www.stayvillage.com/AlbertCourt.
