Why do I (and many others) keep returning to stay at Ali's Nest, time & time again as we pass through Singapore? Many good reasons why I stayed there several times this year (and last year, and the year before that . . .). Its location in Little India is a perfect stone's throw from Farrer Park MRT Exit E, a short walk across the road to Mustafa's 24/7 department store, it's surrounded by more eating houses than you can count, the family atmosphere is friendly, safe, relaxed & easy-going, the people you meet here (over the kicthen-table) are (predominantly) down-to-earth, and other than Ali's Nest, there's very few places in Singapore these days that offer such an affordable backpacker-bed-rate. As an added bonus, it even has (clean) hot-water showers that work, and (clean) modern-day toilets that flush! What more could a traditional backpacker wish for?
Nowadays, its often heard that Singapore is "that sterile place" with very little of its traditional character remaining. Many of its hostels now cater to new-age flash-packers, who seek Hilton-style facilties at rock-bottom prices, who then complain when they find a few cracks in the paint or a book-shelf that's not been catelogued correctly.
Ali's Nest is a traditonal chinese-style family-homestay. Take it or leave it. So if that style doesn't suit your sensibilities, then best you leave it, rather than complain that its not in keeping with your own personal expectations.
