And see how the 154th downplay the fcuked up treatment by the Papayas?
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Mixed reviews for Aloha Loyang
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Some of those quarantined there complain of unhygienic living conditions, poor-quality food </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Estelle Low
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->About 230 people have served their quarantine orders at designated centres so far, with most at Aloha Loyang.
As of yesterday, there were still 13 people in Aloha Loyang, a cluster of 38 air-conditioned chalets.
On its website, it is touted as a beach and garden resort with 'vibrancy and a relaxed atmosphere'.
This all changed early last month when the Government started issuing home quarantine orders to those who had come in contact with people infected with the H1N1 flu.
The resort transformed into a quarantine centre to house foreigners or those whose homes were deemed unsuitable for quarantine. Recently, two more resorts in Pasir Ris were also converted to this end.
Based on interviews with 11 Aloha Loyang residents, some felt life could be better, but others emerged from the fenced-up compound with more pleasant memories.
While they were at a place landscaped with gardens, a giant fun pool and a jacuzzi, they said they stayed mostly in their rooms to observe infection-control procedures and minimise contact with others quarantined. If they needed to come out of their assigned rooms, they were advised to don a mask and keep a distance of 2m from others.
'It's difficult having my freedom taken away. I can surf the Net, watch CNA (Channel News Asia) and read the papers for a week but how can I expect my daughter to do that?' said Mr Brian Moore, who has a six-year-old daughter.
The lawyer from America was served a quarantine order after his three-year-old son was tested positive for the flu on June 20.
=> And if Ang Mohs donch comprain, the 154th won't even write about it?
His wife and two kids shared a flight with three Singaporean kids who had fever and flu symptoms.
He felt that the quality of the food at Aloha Loyang was poor, living conditions unhygienic and that there was poor service at the centre.
With no restaurant on site, food is sent to the residents thrice a day, with a choice of local, Western and vegetarian meals.
There is also a snack pack that is replenished daily.
Apart from eating, most occupants spent their time surfing the Internet on laptops provided, watching free-to-air TV channels (aka propaganda), talking on the phone and reading supplied newspapers and magazines. Friends and relatives are allowed to send food, clothes, games and entertainment devices via the security guardhouse.
A Ministry of National Development (MND) spokesman said that if residents have requests, they can call a 24-hour front desk.
In the case of 21-year-old undergraduate Sandra Vincent, her parents brought her 10 DVDs on the first day of her stay.
Ms Vincent, who stayed for five nights, found her stay satisfactory. The humanities and social sciences student from Nanyang Technological University, who was on an exchange programme in Mexico when the flu broke out, said she found the food decent and the premises generally clean.
But Ms Grace Letran, 50, from Melbourne, said the 'Western food didn't look Western, and all the food looked like it was frozen and fried'.
Some residents ordered food from places like McDonald's and Pizza Hut. The MND spokesman said ground staff also helped them to order food and provided delivery services since outsiders could not enter the facility.
Another complaint centred on cleanliness.
Mr Moore said there were ants and a dead cockroach in the bathroom of the bungalow he stayed in.
The MND said unused rooms are cleaned every day. 'Prior to assigning a room, another inspection is conducted to ensure that they are ready to receive guests,' the spokesman said.
For rooms that are used, black disposal bags are collected every morning.
Added the spokesman: 'Being a quarantine centre, there are rules based on health consideration, for their own good and that of other persons under quarantine as well as workers. However, we are mindful that staying alone in a room most of the time is not a very pleasant experience and have attempted to make life more comfortable for them whenever we can.'
The occupants do not have to pay to be at Aloha Loyang but they have to foot any laundry bills.
Indeed, a Filipino mother, who came here to support her footballer son in the Asian Youth Games, said the authorities provided laptops so that 'the boys can talk to their friends'.
The Filipino team was sent to Aloha Loyang when one player was found to be infected.
'They were not allowed to go to the garden to kick around. Sometimes, they go out to get a breath of fresh air but they can't really hang out outside,' said the woman, who declined to be named.
She thinks that those quarantined should be realistic. 'I told my son - you are not on holiday, you are under quarantine. I think this is already 10 times or 20 times better than what we can offer back home.'
[email protected]
Additional reporting by Teh Joo Lin
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Mixed reviews for Aloha Loyang
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Some of those quarantined there complain of unhygienic living conditions, poor-quality food </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Estelle Low
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->About 230 people have served their quarantine orders at designated centres so far, with most at Aloha Loyang.
As of yesterday, there were still 13 people in Aloha Loyang, a cluster of 38 air-conditioned chalets.
On its website, it is touted as a beach and garden resort with 'vibrancy and a relaxed atmosphere'.
This all changed early last month when the Government started issuing home quarantine orders to those who had come in contact with people infected with the H1N1 flu.
The resort transformed into a quarantine centre to house foreigners or those whose homes were deemed unsuitable for quarantine. Recently, two more resorts in Pasir Ris were also converted to this end.
Based on interviews with 11 Aloha Loyang residents, some felt life could be better, but others emerged from the fenced-up compound with more pleasant memories.
While they were at a place landscaped with gardens, a giant fun pool and a jacuzzi, they said they stayed mostly in their rooms to observe infection-control procedures and minimise contact with others quarantined. If they needed to come out of their assigned rooms, they were advised to don a mask and keep a distance of 2m from others.
'It's difficult having my freedom taken away. I can surf the Net, watch CNA (Channel News Asia) and read the papers for a week but how can I expect my daughter to do that?' said Mr Brian Moore, who has a six-year-old daughter.
The lawyer from America was served a quarantine order after his three-year-old son was tested positive for the flu on June 20.
=> And if Ang Mohs donch comprain, the 154th won't even write about it?
His wife and two kids shared a flight with three Singaporean kids who had fever and flu symptoms.
He felt that the quality of the food at Aloha Loyang was poor, living conditions unhygienic and that there was poor service at the centre.
With no restaurant on site, food is sent to the residents thrice a day, with a choice of local, Western and vegetarian meals.
There is also a snack pack that is replenished daily.
Apart from eating, most occupants spent their time surfing the Internet on laptops provided, watching free-to-air TV channels (aka propaganda), talking on the phone and reading supplied newspapers and magazines. Friends and relatives are allowed to send food, clothes, games and entertainment devices via the security guardhouse.
A Ministry of National Development (MND) spokesman said that if residents have requests, they can call a 24-hour front desk.
In the case of 21-year-old undergraduate Sandra Vincent, her parents brought her 10 DVDs on the first day of her stay.
Ms Vincent, who stayed for five nights, found her stay satisfactory. The humanities and social sciences student from Nanyang Technological University, who was on an exchange programme in Mexico when the flu broke out, said she found the food decent and the premises generally clean.
But Ms Grace Letran, 50, from Melbourne, said the 'Western food didn't look Western, and all the food looked like it was frozen and fried'.
Some residents ordered food from places like McDonald's and Pizza Hut. The MND spokesman said ground staff also helped them to order food and provided delivery services since outsiders could not enter the facility.
Another complaint centred on cleanliness.
Mr Moore said there were ants and a dead cockroach in the bathroom of the bungalow he stayed in.
The MND said unused rooms are cleaned every day. 'Prior to assigning a room, another inspection is conducted to ensure that they are ready to receive guests,' the spokesman said.
For rooms that are used, black disposal bags are collected every morning.
Added the spokesman: 'Being a quarantine centre, there are rules based on health consideration, for their own good and that of other persons under quarantine as well as workers. However, we are mindful that staying alone in a room most of the time is not a very pleasant experience and have attempted to make life more comfortable for them whenever we can.'
The occupants do not have to pay to be at Aloha Loyang but they have to foot any laundry bills.
Indeed, a Filipino mother, who came here to support her footballer son in the Asian Youth Games, said the authorities provided laptops so that 'the boys can talk to their friends'.
The Filipino team was sent to Aloha Loyang when one player was found to be infected.
'They were not allowed to go to the garden to kick around. Sometimes, they go out to get a breath of fresh air but they can't really hang out outside,' said the woman, who declined to be named.
She thinks that those quarantined should be realistic. 'I told my son - you are not on holiday, you are under quarantine. I think this is already 10 times or 20 times better than what we can offer back home.'
[email protected]
Additional reporting by Teh Joo Lin
