(Late post, written just after quarantine ended but haven’t got around to posting it)

So as part of entry requirements into Brunei I obviously had to go through quarantine. The good thing is that based on past experience (from a grand total of one friend), quarantine period is short for arrivals from SG (due to the relatively low risk given that community cases in SG have remained low for quite some time) even if they still require you to book a minimum of 6 nights of accommodation, take your pick from the list of hotels providing quarantine services (do you call it a service?). 

Went for Parkview Hotel because a) it’s one of the cheapest (though I later discovered Higher Hotel rates are like $20 ish per night?!) and b) it’s a 10min drive from home so it’s easy for meal deliveries. And I was very smart (I am still proud of it) to split up my bookings so that in the event I get released early, I can cancel the remaining nights and get refunded (if I cancel in time, so there was this anxiety from not knowing when my swab test is, you’ll see later). The alternative is of course to select the option of paying directly at the hotel (so you can just pay for the length you stayed) but cheapo me also wanted to earn my credit card miles from online payment lol so oh well. 

Wanted to record down the various thoughts and OS I had throughout my 40 hour quarantine, couldn’t think of better ways or platform to do it so here it goes.

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12.22am 

Checked in! Room is dated hahah. In need of maintenance but generally quite liveable and ample space to move around. 

12.52am 

Just tried connecting wifi. It’s very questionable uh oh. Weak signal. And my data isn’t exactly unlimited... 

1.00am 

Just got around to read the quarantine instructions from hotel. So those amenities are meant to last 14 days ahaha. Can request for more if it runs out but they give more to begin with hoping they don’t have to deal with you later on hahaha. 

9.25am 

Rise and shine! Suddenly remembered that I am on leave and this is not any regular weekend. 

9.44am 

No signs of breakfast outside room, so I called reception to check. Apparently “it’s maybe on the way and they are still packing” hmmm. Snacking on my leftover airline food from last night in the meantime. 

10.02am 

Still struggling mightily with getting stable wifi. Zzzz not going to turn out well but thank goodness I have offline entertainment plans in place.

10.40am 

Not that I usually eat breakfast to begin with but since I paid for it already I better get it. So called to check again, this time a second receptionist told me since the rate I booked on agoda doesn’t include breakfast, I am not getting it either. Oh wellll. 

Also asked her to help check with MOH on swab test and she said she will get the contact point to check. Which I think going by the level of efficiency at this hotel it isn’t happening anytime soon (the checking). 

11.05am 

Have taken to shift an armchair near the door and camping there in a bid to improve wifi connection. Still not working great on phone but surprisingly ok on iPad. Maybe only one device can connect at a time or sth. 

11.32am 

Think I’ll start on my book after lunch? Aircon is getting quite cold so gonna off it for a bit. 

11.46am 

Le mum is here to deliver lunch. Waved from window. Can’t believe my legs are shaking. 

11.50am 

What’s taking them so long to deliver up my stuff...and there isn’t even a chair outside my room for them to place the stuff. Every other room along the corridor has one except mine leh. For some reason. 

11.55am 

Oh it’s here. They just didn’t knock. 

12.02pm 

This is for two meals I guess. 

12.46pm 

Yummy in tummy! Might be planning for an in-room exercise session or two HAHAHA 

1.15pm 

Anxious to know about swab test why aren’t they more proactive 😕 I don’t want to have to call reception for the third time today leh. 

3.00pm 

A form is stuffed under the door for me, for registration of Bru-HIMS (health info management system?) with no further instructions. So I am supposed to fill in? And pass to someone? Or eat it? Gosh. At least call to explain mah. 

3.08pm 

Oh the call came and OOH I AM DOING SWAB TEST TODAY. That’s what the form is for. 

4.33pm 

Off to swab test! Driver came back from Sg Tujuh presumably picking up someone from Miri. Reception was supposed to call again to tell me what to bring but never did, instead driver came up to my room directly and had to wait a bit for me to change. 

5.02pm 

At RIPAS! Registration procedures (done back end I suppose) done and I am waiting for I am not sure what. They know what they are doing but they don’t seem to see a need to communicate to the subject, so it is a bit unnerving sometimes. 

5.14pm 

Swab test done. Turns out I was waiting for the actual test rather than any other procedures (not sure why I can jump queue too? Lots of people waiting, looks like locals maybe they are non urgent cases coz after all there’s no local transmission?). Same discomfort if not more than the last time round, then I was told well done and I can go. Had to ask how i receive results (apparently I don’t, they will call up the hotel who will release me if all’s well). Then I was left to leave on my own so I just exited and went back to the car. No escorts even for foreign cases? Hmmm sketchy. 

5.25pm 

Back in room! One thing is that I find that they don’t take much care to ensure that you don’t mingle with public while moving around hotel premise as long as you are with the staff (e.g being led in and out of hotel). I suppose the risk of transmission is low ba, since you don’t stop to interact with anybody. 

5.46pm 

Wondering if I should exercise. A bit lazy alr hahah. 

6.38pm 

Forgot how early it gets dark here. Room lights are a bit too dim for my liking, so I miss the sun already. 

7.27pm 

Done workout eventually, with spare blanket from spare bed as a makeshift exercise mat oops. And time for chicken rice dinner! One mouth and there is no doubt where it came from. Taste of home is unmistakeable. 

8.36pm 

There are people living in rooms opposite me, judging by the trash bags left outside before 8pm deadline. Wonder how long they have been here. Wonder if this is the floor dedicated for quarantine.

9.24pm 

This wifi is killing me. 

30/1/21 

9.39am 

Spied (via peephole) the neighbor in the room opposite mine leaving. Good for you! Hopefully it’s my turn soon. 

10.12am 

Don’t want to jinx it but wifi is suddenly a lot better. Maybe someone was hogging the bandwidth earlier? 

10.47am 

Cleaning staff cleaning room opposite. No PPE etc but I suppose since the guest is negative it should be ok? 

11.45am 

So excited to hear phone ring. So excited that results (negative of course) are out so early! But apparently still need to wait for official MOH letter expected later in the afternoon and hotel estimates that I can leave at night.

But wow this efficiency from MOH. Pleasant pleasant surprise. So the quarantine is unofficially over and I am just on a staycation now until tonight? Lol. 

12.30pm 

I didn’t get to start on my book LOL. And got through 2 episodes out of 31 Top Chef Seasons 11 and 12. Maybe can squeeze in a couple more later while waiting but that’s about it alr haha. I did get to workout once. And only two home cooked meals needed in the end - today’s is tapao-ed food. 

2.20pm 

All packed, room restored to original condition, still waiting for official notice to be let go 😕 

3.45pm 

The call is here! Let’s goooo. Apparently BFF duo wanted to do the whole visiting and waving from downstairs drama but never got the chance to do it coz Stel didn’t think I’ll be released that soon lol.

4.05pm 

Showered, last look, check out. The various transports to hotel and swab test costs $15 per way zzz oh well. At least I managed to get refunded for 3 out of 6 nights I booked heheh 

4.15pm 

Official end of the entire quarantine journey!

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So the experience has been a positive one. I might even enjoy it or do a longer one if it’s free (like the SG one before 31 Dec 2020). But of course I hope I wouldn’t have to go through it again the next time I am back.