A few months it has been since I stayed at the One Farrer Hotel and Spa along Race Course Road in the vicinity of Little India.
Now that I think about it, what a long time ago that one overnight stay seems to be.
It might be due the events of the circuit breaker, it might be due the impact of the Coronavirus upon the worlds' economies, but 2020 is certainly turning out to feel like an extremely, extremely long year.
Not only do we have no international travel, there is limited domestic travel, and hotels in our country have (more or less) been repurposed for the sake of quarantine
Maybe it is this sense of disquiet that makes the memory of my stay here a very precious one.
To begin with, One Farrer Hotel and Spa is an unusual one. It is likely (to date) the only hotel property that has located itself right next to a hospital, near a mega department store open 24 hours, and yet, keeping well within the boundaries of a rich cultural enclave.
To stay here means you're literally above the Farrer Park MRT station, less than five minutes away from the shopping of Mustafa and City Square Mall, right in the heart of Little India, and a short stroll away from the Pek Kio Market and Hawker Center.
There is much to appreciate at this property, especially the fact that there are three categories of rooms, out of which the 20th floor is a penthouse kind of suite, the 19th floor is the suite, and the rest of the floors are the executive. It makes the decision-making process much simpler.
My stay this time was on the 19th floor.
And so surprised was I by the design of the room that I completely forgot to take the picture.
Never had it been thus far in many of my stays that I'd seen a room specially designed for the use of a wheelchair.
I wish I had a picture.
But I don't, so let's just imagine a long corridor sort of design that marks the length of the foyer to the space beside the bed, the entrance of the bathroom so wide, to the size of the shower area also so wide.
Simply put, the foyer is long enough for one to zip into the room after closing the door (no awkward turns there). The space beside the bed houses the mini bar and the kettle pot and is convenient for one to make a spinabout between the working table, the kettle pot, and the bed. No problem when you want to get a cup of coffee or a Coke whilst typing up a paper, or sending an email.
Simply put, the foyer is long enough for one to zip into the room after closing the door (no awkward turns there). The space beside the bed houses the mini bar and the kettle pot and is convenient for one to make a spinabout between the working table, the kettle pot, and the bed. No problem when you want to get a cup of coffee or a Coke whilst typing up a paper, or sending an email.
The entrance to the bathroom is a little tight (and which did make me wonder for a while) but depending on the need, it is doable with transfer chairs. What strikes me is that the bathroom has dual sliding doors- one between the room and the sink space, the other between the toilet and the shower area. The sink space is huge, the toiletries and bath amenities are a soothing green, and the wardrobe opens up right inside the bathroom so the convenience of dress for the guest is thoughtful, and remarkable. There is no glass door at the shower area, by the way, so the chair can go smoothly in, and everything lies within an easy hands' reach.
I like the full-scale amenities that One Farrer provides. On one hand the muted, soothing colors make it a place for rest and recuperation. On the other hand there is a place for (professional) work with a good writing table, comfortable chair, writing planner, stationery set and coffee table books. You don't have to worry about missing out on toiletries- they provide an adequate supply, mouthwash and vanity kit included. And they have bathrobes, slippers and hair dryer. Hungry, peckish guests have Tai Sun peanuts, Jack and Jill's potato chips, gummy bears(!), Nespresso capsules and soft drinks.
I like the full-scale amenities that One Farrer provides. On one hand the muted, soothing colors make it a place for rest and recuperation. On the other hand there is a place for (professional) work with a good writing table, comfortable chair, writing planner, stationery set and coffee table books. You don't have to worry about missing out on toiletries- they provide an adequate supply, mouthwash and vanity kit included. And they have bathrobes, slippers and hair dryer. Hungry, peckish guests have Tai Sun peanuts, Jack and Jill's potato chips, gummy bears(!), Nespresso capsules and soft drinks.
It's as if they've thought of everything for the guest who needs, or wants, to stay all day in the room for rest and respite, and whom may not wish to go out at all.
Or, even if they do, that all they need is to head down to the lovely, clear waters of the swimming pool with a book, a magazine, the soft drinks, the nuts and the gummy sweets.
