New beginning, and quarantine in Singapore

Big changes. A friend in told me in September about a brand new MA programme in architectural conservation. Following some discussion with my wife (always a source of sound advice), I decided to apply, and was accepted, so here I am in Singapore, retired from medical practice, and newly enrolled with the first ever batch of MA students in Architectural Conservation at the National University of Singapore.

I flew out of the UK on 15 December 2020, arriving the following day at 0700 at Changi Airport. Everything was well organised and efficient with staff in personal protective equipment directing travellers along the appropriate route. I had filled in the required online health declaration prior to travel and at passport control was given a coloured sticker that identified me to the ground staff. After collecting my luggage I was directed to a waiting bus, and taken to my assigned quarantine hotel.

As a returning Singaporean who had left the country prior to 27 March 2020, and arrived prior to the end of that year, I had free board and lodging at the hotel. Otherwise it would have been 2000 SGD. There was no choice of hotel and I was lodged at Capri by Fraser, China Square. I don't know what the official rating is but I'm sure it has lots and lots of stars.

At the socially distanced check-in, I was given some forms to fill in, a thermometer, and a card key to my room. I was to check my temperature every day, which I was to give to reception when they phoned to check.

My room on level 6 was and spacious and pretty luxurious, with ample storage, a very comfortable double bed, a mini kitchen area with microwave and refrigerator, a desk with lots of power points, and floor to ceiling windows. There was no balcony and the windows could not be opened, but while I disapprove of this sort of thing in hot tropical climates, I must confess that it all felt extremely agreeable.

Three meals a day were provided, and I was asked to pre-select the meals for the duration of my stay from an online menu which had a "local", "western/international" and vegetarian option for each meal. They were provided by an external caterer and left outside the room. 

For food and other deliveries, the doorbell would be rung to notify me of the event. Outside each room was one of the bedside tables on which items could be left, and a rubbish bin. 

Had I wished, I could have ordered meals from outside through one of the food delivery apps, but the food I was provided was pretty good and free of charge, and I never felt the need, especially as I had not been eating that sort of food for a while.

The hotel also provided, at no extra charge to me, laundry services (up to 5 items a day, washed and folded), fresh bedsheets and towels if required, and toiletries on request (e.g. shaving kit). Wifi was free and fast, with no apparent limit to the number of devices that could be connected, and the large TV had a bluetooth speaker to which my devices could be connected.

The only thing missing was a supply of fresh coffee, as the hotel only provided instant coffee and tea. This was rectified by my mother who very kindly delivered coffee and a cafetiere, after which I had all that I needed.

Regular text messages from the authorities kept me informed as to what I needed to do. On the second or third day the doorbell rang and I was met by a government contracted operative who verified my identity, to confirm that I was where I was meant to be.

I was also at some point instructed by text to download the Homer app. Three times a day I had to take a selfie on this app and record my temperature and fill in a tick box questionnaire about my health. I was reminded by regular text messages when it was time to fill in a report, with repeated stern warnings not to turn the app off. Failure to comply would result in a visit from an enforcer.

I have heard that some people found their quarantine experience depressing and unpleasant but I had a whale of a time. With 3 good meals delivered to me every day, all my devices, and an ample supply of books, it was very relaxing and enjoyable. The isolation didn't bother me as I was able to communicate via telephone and the internet with anyone I chose to, and I didn't feel claustrophobic, perhaps because of the enormous floor to ceiling window.

Thanks to the excellent internet, I could watch movies on Netflix uninterrupted by buffering, listen to a streamed performance of the Messiah from the Barbican in London, attend a Zoom lecture on image perception, and so on.

Christmas was just another quiet relaxing day. Interestingly I could not see any Christmas decorations or any evidence of a festive season from my window, but I did get a nice pack of Christmas face masks.

On day 12, forewarned by various text messages from the day before, I was summoned down for a nasopharyngeal swab, carried out very efficiently by an impressively well organised team at a swabbing station within the hotel. 

Then it was back to my room for the last two days, before I was released into the wild. It was nice to be out and about, especially as I had not been back to Singapore for many months, but really, another week in quarantine would have been perfectly fine.