Category Archives: Travel

Happenings, International Exposure, Networking, Sports, Travel

Nanyang MBA travels to a soccer tournament in Hong Kong

May 4, 2016 Laura Melina Loeven

From April 29 to May 3, a group of 17 full-time, part-time and exchange students of the MBA class of 2015/16 embarked on their last fun trip of their MBA journey. The trip´s destination could not have been more exciting, exuberant or exhilarating: Hong Kong. The MBA program of HKUST, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, invited the Nanyang MBA as well as 7 other teams from Singapore, China and Hong Kong to participate in a full day soccer tournament at their beautiful seaside soccer field.

The NBS soccer team had practiced hard and was well prepared and pumped when they boarded the flight to Hong Kong on a Friday afternoon. The players, who were supported by four dedicated cheerleaders from their MBA class, showed great excitement and enthusiasm for the tournament ahead and the class outing to Hong Kong started with great fun and laughter already on the flight to the venue.

Once arrived in the city of 7 million people, busy financial centers, super tall buildings and a seemingly endless skyline, the players and their supporting team took of to find a good place for the last supper before the big game. Well fed, the group made an excursions to Hong Kong´s ferry terminal, the best viewing spot to take impressive photographs of the city´s skyline, but returned to their accommodation early to rest well for the match day.

20160429_225716 — Students from the MBA Class of 2015/16 in Hong Kong

On Saturday morning, the HKUST representatives fetched a joyful yet exhausted NBS group to shuttle them to the soccer field on the HKUST campus. As the program is coming to an end, many final project are due soon, and the weeks before the trip had been tough so that the bus ride to the tournament venue was much less agitated than the flight on the day before. Travelling to HK, and the excitement of the vibrant city, had exhausted the players who now had to focus on the matches ahead of them.

The tournament started off with an intensive game against an MBA team from Hong Kong, followed by an encounter with the HKUST international alumni. When the NBS players finally met with a Chinese team, exchange student Patrick scored the first goal for NBS, and great cheering started from the side slide. Unfortunately, the NBS team was eliminated from the tournament after the first group stage, but thoroughly enjoyed the day, the amazing venue as well as the hospitality of HKUST, and left the field and without any injuries – a great success in itself!

During the following three days after the tournament, the class ventured out into the city in small groups and explored the streets of Hong Kong, visited breath-taking view points and embarked on jaw-dropping tours across the island. After cable-car rides to Big Buddha, double decker bus tours along the shore of Hong Kong, a short visit to the HSBC headquarters including a tour through the historic building, and finger-licking good meals at Hong Kong´s local restaurants, a happy but tired MBA cohort returned to Singapore with bags full of good memories, thousand of pictures, and an enormous sleep deficit. What a great trip!

20160501_165636 — Big Buddha Statue on Lantau Island, Hong Kong

MBA Class of 2015/16 in Hong Kong – A great trip for all!

Business Competitions, International Exposure, Life at Nanyang, Student Leader, The NANYANG MBA, Travel

Nanyang MBA enters ‘The Negotiation Challenge’ for the first time

April 4, 2016 Laura Melina Loeven

Nanyang Business School, Singapore, was recently represented at The Negotiation Challenge (TNC) 2016, held in Vienna, Austria on 1^st and 2^nd April, 2016.

It was the first time that a team from Nanyang MBA, comprising of Laveesh Hassija, Shajitha Sinasamy and Akshaya Kumar, who decided to name themselves as ‘The Nanyang Negotiators’, participated in this prestigious competition.

The Negotiation Challenge is one of the only few international negotiation competitions in the world. The competition is aimed at gathering world’s best student negotiators, allowing them to compare their negotiation skills and preparing them for the complex negotiations they will face after graduation. This year, 16 universities from across the world participated in TNC.

TNC has been an extraordinary experience for the Nanyang team that worked hard under the guidance and support received from the NBS Negotiation Professors – Valerie and Kit Wye. The team participated in a total of five rounds, wherein they were evaluated on application of appropriate methods from the whole spectrum of their negotiation skills in different negotiation situations. In some of the rounds, the evaluation was based on the team’s ability to understand interests and identify issues, as well as their ability to create and claim value,while in other rounds the assessment was based on the instrumental and/or relational outcome of the negotiations.

Though the Nanyang Negotiators could not reach the final round, they were able to demonstrate their negotiation intelligence and recall TNC as the most eventful time of their MBA journey. The team enthusiastically remembers one of the rounds where they were asked to negotiate with another team in a moving Vienna tram. This round tested their ability of managing a negotiation without being influenced by external factors.

The Nanyang Negotiators in action

The competition venue in Vienna

The Nanyang MBA TNC team for 2016 – The Nanyang Negotiators is extremely proud to have exemplified Nanyang Business School at this highly admired competition that invites world’s top business and law schools. Their experience in the competition has instilled in them stronger confidence for business negotiations that they will be facing in their careers after their MBA. The Nanyang Negotiators not only got a chance to experience diverse ways of negotiation, but also to meet and network with students from various countries with different backgrounds and cultures. The learnings from the competition and the cherished memories they have from the beautiful city of Vienna are definitely going to last a life-time.

Blog, Life at Nanyang, The NANYANG MBA, Travel

Big in Japan: doing business in the Land of the Rising Sun

December 29, 2015 Laura Melina Loeven

By Laura Melina Loeven, Nanyang Business School

At the prospect of spending one week on a business study mission in Tokyo, I felt slightly nervous about offending senior Japanese managers. Being European, the manifold unwritten rules of Japanese business culture were still a mystery to me.

Thankfully, prior to my departure for my first MBA study trip I got to attend a crash course on Japanese business culture and the ‘dos and don´ts’ of socialising, hosted by my fellow Japanese class mates.

For one evening, I was fully drawn into the Japanese lifestyle while enjoying sushi and sake, admiring a traditional Japanese dance, learning bowing ceremonies, practising the correct exchange of business cards and eventually pondering the acquisition of Jim Beam whisky by a Japanese beverage company.

After I learned never to decline an invitation to socialise, I glanced at the tremendous amounts of sake that businessmen consume and quickly became concerned about the bowing ceremonies that I had been introduced to previously. The trip to Japan promised to be exciting.

Thinking about the city life in Tokyo, I dreamed of sky-high office towers, large and flashy advertisement screens and hordes of Hello Kittys. Crowds of business people in black suits, glued to their smartphones, appeared in front of my inner eye.

Yet, finally arriving in Tokyo, the city presented a very different image of itself. While some parts of metropolitan Tokyo felt like travelling back to the 60s, others were truly modern and impressed with trendy, simplistic and cutting-edge architecture. The streets of the hip districts of Shibuya and Shinjuku were indeed glitzy, but did not provoke the sensory overload that I anticipated.

Before heading to Tokyo, my classmates had warned me that most Japanese tend to seek harmony at all cost. Meetings run without friction and most people shy away from challenging authority by whatever means. I expected somewhat dull sessions on non-debatable company facts and figures and was prepared to sit through long, presentations from high-ranked executives.

What I found was the exact opposite. The executives that entertained the challenging questions of this bunch of ambitious MBAs did not fear any confrontation but exhibited great vigor, flexibility and a solid sense of humour in presenting their work. Instead of counting the minutes during dusty standard presentations, I was deeply impressed with the creativity, resoluteness and sincerity of the hosts’ responses to even the trickiest interrogations.

I learnt about the various strategic plans, experienced different company cultures and discussed Japan´s growth plans from every angle during our trip. Never a dull moment on this business study mission!

Five days of back-to-back meetings with 12 Japan-based companies and their highly inspirational leaders allowed me to gain valuable insights into Japanese management styles and to develop a firm understanding for growth strategies and corporate development tactics.

Currently, many Japanese companies find themselves at an inflection point. As a result of “Abenomics”, structural and fiscal reforms introduced by prime minster Abe, the nominal GDP has grown by 2.2 per cent over the past year, the highest growth in 17 years. How well an organisation responds to the challenges that arise in periods of change will determine the share of the overall national growth that the company can enjoy in the future.

The most common issue pinpointed by all presenters, an aging society as well as an overall decreasing population, will significantly impact Japan´s competitiveness in global markets in the long run. Further, many Japanese do not have a professional command of English so that their employers are often confronted with major obstacles when doing business with overseas partners.

The programmes introduced to improve the command of English are a necessary investment to make Japanese firms more attractive for foreign investment as it will eventually facilitate collaboration across borders.

I was delighted to learn that Japanese companies attach ever more importance on people development and increasingly focus on hiring international talent. Many of the companies who hosted Q&A sessions with my MBA class emphasised that they experienced radical progress by selectively incentivising employees and revising their HR policies. Offering flexible work style solutions to attract more women to the corporate world, providing training and international exchange programmes as well as shaping an overall growth mindset, has proven effective to nurture business success.

All the leaders who welcomed me and my classmates to their office agreed in saying that heavy investments in research and development programmes are crucial to compete on an international scale. While attentively monitoring innovation cycles, the firms aim to stay on top of market trends and best tailor products to customer needs.

With limited talent pools and only little entrepreneurial spirit in their own country, Japanese businesses focus on expanding through investments beyond the saturated Japanese market by asset purchases, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions.

Nikkei Inc., publisher of the largest Japanese financial newspaper, has recently announced the acquisition of the Financial Times to strengthen its global and digital growth profile. Suntory, a Japanese beverage distribution company group, has taken over the American whiskey brand Jim Beam to enhance its footprint beyond Japanese markets.

Even though Japan was not on my list of most intriguing business environments, the insights gained from the visits to companies have definitely put Japanese businesses on my radar as future employers.

published on: Financial Times – FT. com

http://blogs.ft.com/mba-blog/2015/11/18/big-in-japan-doing-business-in-the-land-of-the-rising-sun/

Blog, International Exposure, The NANYANG MBA, Travel

Nanyang Business School Goes To Myanmar for Business Study Mission

November 20, 2014 WONG LINLING Leave a comment

Submitted by Raymond Rueda, Student Exco VP Career Development

Myanmar, compared to its Asian counterparts, has been lagging behind for decades in terms of socio-economic and political stability but thanks to U Thein Sein’s rise to presidency in 2011, it has now opened its doors to the global market, bringing in investors from various industries. Multinational companies see its huge potential—it is strategically located between Asian countries with huge populations—India and China—and is next to some developing Southeast Asian nations as well such as Thailand.

Because of these factors, the Nanyang Business School has chosen Myanmar for the second time as a destination for its students’ Business Study Mission (BSM), which was scheduled last October 25 to November 1. Now on its second year, the redesigned MBA program requires participants to go on a BSM either in Singapore or overseas. This year, 11 full-time students, 3 part-time students, and 1 EMBA participant joined the Myanmar group, which visited both local and multinational companies with offices in Yangon.

A trip abroad, however, would not be complete without sight-seeing so the BSM also had its fun side. During the first two days, we visited popular tourist spots in Yangon such as the Inle Lake, Botataung Pagoda, the Rangoon War Cemetery, the Shwedagon Pagoda, and Bogyoke Market. We also tried out local Burmese dishes in popular restaurants in the city and found them uniquely delicious.

After a weekend of touring the city came the more serious part of the trip—the company visits. Companies that the group got the chance to interact with include Chevrolet, Consumer Goods Myanmar Limited, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Samsung, Coca-Cola Pinya Beverages, Ooredoo, Kia Motors, Schneider Electric, CNQC, and Petronas. Aside from the private sector, officials from the government and non-profit institutions also gave insightful presentations about the current challenges, opportunities, and programs being promoted in Myanmar.

Seeing Myanmar suffering from poverty and corruption is quite saddening especially when one learns that it used to be the the second wealthiest in the region during the British occupation. Nevertheless, it is slowly making progress especially as it gains support from more powerful countries such as the US and Japan. All of us saw how promising Myanmar could be and we hope that one day, we will see it as competitive as or even more developed than its neighboring countries in the region.

To Prof. Ravi Agarwal, Prof. Chung Lai Hong, Ms. Lindsay Tan of the MBA Office, and everyone else who made the Myanmar BSM possible, chezu tinbade!

For more information about Nanyang Business School click here.

Blog, Travel

An Underwater Escape to Pulau Redang

July 19, 2011 Joan Wee Leave a comment

Author: Jennifer Cheong, MBA Office

Redang 01 — Sandy white beach of Pasir Panjang, Redang

Pulau Redang is one of the largest islands located off the east coast of Malaysia in the state of Terengganu. The area is a conserved marine park ideal for snorkeling and scuba-diving activities. Redang was used as the backdrop for a Hong Kong summer holiday movie – Xia Re Mo Mo Cha in 1999. Ever since the movie was screened in Asia, the pristine warm white sandsand mesmerizing turquoise sea has beckoned many to the island. From Singapore, the island is easily accessible via an affordable overnight coach ride.

There is a wide range of accommodation from budget to four-star hotels. Most are located at Pasir Panjang beach and a handful at Teluk Kalong. Only Berjaya Resort has its own private beach. All the resorts in Redang offer all-inclusive package holidays which include boat transfers, accommodation, snorkeling or diving & meals. These can be arranged directly with the resort of your choice. Meals provided at the resorts are often local dishes served buffet style. If these do not suit your taste, you can always try one of the restaurants at a neighboring resort for a western style burger or go for a more authentic taste of nasi goreng kampung (fried Malay rice with anchovies).

Redang is a small tropical island good for a weekend getaway. Most choose to spend their days idyllically napping away in a swaying hammock or revel under the sun for a nice golden tan. You can also join one of the snorkeling trips organized by your resort. However, you can also choose to just snorkel at the shallow reefs of Pasir Panjang which can already give you a glimpse of the rich ocean life of Redang.

For the restless at heart, you can opt to try a Discover Scuba for non-divers during your trip. This will be an instructor-guided dive where you will be introduced to the basics of diving and have a taste of the underwater world. It is usually a short half day session and allows you a preview of the colourful tropic reefs.

: A curious clownfish

: A colourful nudibranch

Those determined to add a PADI scuba-diving license on top of achieving a prestigious MBA degree in Asia, an open-water course can be done with any of the dive centers in Redang. The open-water course teaches you the foundations of diving with both theory and practical tests. This can be done within 4 – 5 days at the resort dive center depending on the aptitude of the student. Do note that an open water course (equipment rental inclusive) with full-board resort stay cost about SGD 500 – 800.

What does the underwater world in Redang have to offer? One can often spot reef sharks, beautiful corals, stingrays, barracudas and many fascinating ocean life in the Redang waters. Occasionally, lucky divers may even get to spot whale sharks on their migratory routes! Redang also has an important conservation site for turtles which include the Green Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle. Turtle or wildlife lovers can even sign up at the conservation website to serve as a volunteer. By the way, visit first Singapore’s world-renowned Underwater World at Sentosa too! These two locations offer different experiences despite offering similar things!

Meeting Nemo face to face can be an interesting encounter. Watching a swift reef shark majestically gliding through the waters can be a humbling experience. Weaving through a vibrant forest of corals can be a bewitching memory. All these with just a bold plunge into a whole new world beneath the waters. So head off to Redang in your next break and enrich your knowledge of a secret world hidden away.

Redang 06 — Redang Kalong Resort: A typical basic budget dive resort.

Getting There:

Berjaya Air flies to Pulau Redang direct from Singapore. (www.berjaya-air.com) Return airfare is

as low as SGD 170 including taxes. The flight takes only 1 hr 20 mins.

For a more budget option, Konsortium and Five Star coaches can drop you at Merang Jetty (Note: not to be confused with Marang Jetty). From the jetty, board the boat transfer arranged with the resort. Return coach fare is as low as SGD 90. About 12 hours ride overnight.

For more information on Redang resorts: http://redang.org/resorts.htm

Blog, Travel

A Day in Historical Malacca

July 12, 2011 Joan Wee Leave a comment

Author: Jennifer Cheong, MBA Office

Malacca (or Melaka) is the third smallest state in Malaysia which had Dutch, Portuguese and British influences and earned its title as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. Just 2½ – 3 hours drive away, it’s easy to make a day trip from Singapore. Malacca is charming in her own way with her rich historical heritage and is also famous for her Baba-Nyonya food. It is a small city which can be easily explored on foot, taxis or for a more unique experience, trishaws.

Dutch Square (or Red Square) next to the Malacca River is a good starting point for visitors. The buildings around this area are painted red and especially prominent is Stadthuys & Christ Church believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the East. Visitors interested in taking trishaw rides can easily take a ride from here.

Another interest place to visit is A’Famosa Portuguese fort believed to be the oldest surviving European architecture in Asia. It was built by the Portuguese who saw Malacca as an important port in the spice route to China. The Portuguese also built St. Paul’s Church – another heritage site in Malacca. Climbing up a long flight of stairs up St. Paul’s Hill, you will be rewarded with the magnificent church ruins and a breath-taking view of the city.

Just across Dutch Square is Jonker Street, the heart of Malacca’s Chinatown. Here, you can spend a leisurely afternoon shopping and indulging in the best of Malacca’s food. Along Jonker Street, you can find interesting souvenir and crafts shops and Baba-Nyonya shops selling traditional snacks such as pineapple tarts, ondeh ondeh (coconut snack) and a variety of cookies. There’s also a great selection of restaurants and eateries to tease your palate. After a hot afternoon of shopping, drop by the Geographer Café for a cold beer and relax. And when the sun sets, the street transforms into a bustling street market. Watch as the local hawkers push their carts out and display their fares to curious visitors.

Mal 05 — Street vendor selling popiah – a thin crepe roll of savory turnip, jicama & other fillings.

Mal 06 — Delicious little pineapple tarts from Jonker Street (Madam Goh Pineapple Tarts)

Mal 04 — Jonker 88 Desserts is housed in a traditional Malaccan shophouse

So what are some good Malacca restaurants to try? One of them is Hoe Kee Hainan Chicken Rice Ball restaurant. Located at the entrance of Jonker Street, they sell steamed chicken served alongside with steamed rice mixed with sesame oil and rolled into little balls. Walk a bit further down (opposite Geographer Café) is Jonker Desserts 88. Here, enjoy some traditional Nyonya desserts such as durian chendol (side photo), ice-kachang or a hot bowl of laksa (curry noodles). Venturing out of Jonker Street, you can try a traditional Nyonya restaurant serving tempting dishes such as Ayam Ponteh (chicken in bean paste gravy), Sambal Udang Petai (chili with prawns and petai beans), Cincalok Omelette (egg with preserved shrimps) and Jenak Goreng Chili (fried fish with chili). A good place to start is Restaurant Makko (located opposite Hotel Equatorial).

If you would like to spend a night in Malacca, you can try staying in one of their boutique hotels which offers you a room filled with the splendor of their rich history. One such example is Courtyard at Hereen which is an old shop house that is converted into a small, cosy hotel.

All in all, Malacca is an interesting historical city and definitely worth a visit. It is a quaint city that engages its visitors with its history, friendly locals and exotic flavours.

Malacca is only a short drive away from Singapore and you can easily spend a short weekend here lost in its culture, history and food. So why not organize something with your class and have a fun cultural experience together? Please remember to check on your visitor visa entry requirements into Malaysia though.

Getting There:

Grassland Coaches: http://www.grassland.com.sg/ (About SGD 18 one way)

Delima Coaches: http://www.busonlineticket.com/ (About SGD 25 one way)

Various Coach Companies: http://www.easibook.com/ (About SGD 35 – 20 one way)

Blog, Travel

Bali: Asia’s Little Paradise

July 4, 2011 Joan Wee Leave a comment

Bali Uluwatu — Magnificent view at the cliffs of Uluwatu

Author: Jennifer Cheong, MBA Office

Bali, an Indonesian island located between Lombok and Java, is one of Asia’s popular travel destinations. Although there are many beach retreats in Asia, this paradise island is still worth a visit with its offerings of beautiful beaches & landscapes, sumptuous yet affordable food and friendly locals. It is ranked as one of the top 5 best islands in the world by Travel & Leisure Magazine (the only island in Asia to make it to the top 5 list) while Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel 2010 ranked Bali second place among the world’s Top Regions. What makes Bali so unique? From pristine beaches, lush green rice paddy fields, gorgeous romantic sunset or a mysterious peek at the volcanic Mount Agung, Bali welcomes its visitors with its very best. You can choose to seclude yourself for a peaceful recharge, party to a beautiful sunset or just enjoy the turquoise sea and the lively greens of Bali with your family & friends. What’s more, this luxurious yet romantic oasis can be enjoyed at an extremely affordable price.

Beaches

Bali is blessed with quite a few beautiful beaches with soft, powdery sand. The beaches are usually popular with surfers and not all are safe for swimming with its big waves and strong currents. Kuta beach is the most popular amongst tourists with availability of a multitude of restaurants, shops and pubs within walking distance. However, the place can be rowdy and packed. Sanur beach is more popular with families with children with its calmer waters. Seminyak beach draws a more high-end crowd with its trendy shops, cafes and bars. The beach has strong waves but is good for surfing and body-boarding.

Bali is also ideal for scuba-diving with its most popular season in August. During this period, scuba-divers have a high chance of seeing the rare ocean sunfish or mola mola. Macro-lovers can also enjoy Tulamben wreck and Secret Bay. There is also spectacular wall diving at Menjangan known as one of the best diving spots in Bali.

Less adventurous travelers can head to Lovina beach for a dolphin watching cruise.

Bali Paddy Fields — Lush green paddy fields in September

Scenery

Bali is known for its rich green paddy fields which can be a sight to behold. Tirta Gangga in central Bali is home to some of the most beautiful rice paddies in Bali. Around this region, enthusiastic hikers can also arrange for a hike up Mount Batur (1,771 m) – a volcanic mountain in Bali with a beautiful view of the surroundings and Lake Batur. The hike takes about four hours round-trip. For those who are not hiking, you can arrange a day trip with a personal driver for your group to have lunch in Tirta Gangga while soaking in the enchanting views of the rice paddy fields or enjoy a cup of coffee at a café with a view of the volcano and the lake. The drive can also the hilly region of Batur which has a multitude of small shops selling local crafts and furniture as well as some art galleries where you can obtain a large, beautiful oil painting for about SGD 100 or less. Most will also include Ubud as part of their destination in the day trip where you can visit the Ubud Market, Monkey Forest or even head off for white-water rafting at the Ayung River!

Relaxation

Those seeking peace and quiet can find respite in Ubud – a mountainous area in Bali which has a few resorts offering yoga retreats. Bali is also known for its spas which one can easily find in any hotels or tourist areas. One can choose from a simple foot, head or shoulder massage or a full body treatment that includes a body wrap or scrub, bath and massage. A good, luxurious full body treatment typically does not cost more than SGD 120. Those on a budget can enjoy a 1.5 hour massage for SGD 20 at Cozy Spa – a simple and basic massage center popular with locals and backpackers. But for those who wish to indulge a little, a good place to visit is the Mango Tree Spa at the Kupu Kupu Barong resort in Ubud. It is a unique experience where you can to enjoy your treatment on top of a tree inside a cosy bamboo tree-house whilst listening to the soothing rhythms of the Ayung River. The two-hour Mango Tree treatment cost about SGD 200. Do note that reservations are mandatory for any kind of spa visit to avoid disappointment.

Food

Bali offers a wide variety of food options partly due to its foreign settlers from mainly Australia and a large community of Europeans. One can choose to have a nice fine-dining experience (around SGD 80) or a rugged meal consisting of rice with mixed vegetables and meat at a local warung (eating house) for as low as SGD 2. Some of the popular establishments with tourists are Made’s Warung (Indonesian food), Naughty Nuri’s (bbq ribs at Ubud), Ku De Ta (fusion) and Trattoria (Italian). Made’s Warung offers mainly local Indonesian dishes among which Nasi Campur (above picture) and Nasi Goreng (fried rice) is especially popular. Those wishing to enjoy a beautiful sunset, good western food and drinks can visit the swanky Ku De Ta which converts into a trendy club by night.

What you definitely should not miss is the sumptuous selection of fresh seafood available in Bali. Jimbaran is an area synonymous with fresh seafood in Bali. Here, there are many restaurants serving fresh seafood by the beach. The setting is typically a romantic candlelit table on the beach. Feel the soft sand on your feet while you feast on your grilled seafood. Another place for fresh seafood is in Echo Beach, Canggu located on the south-west coast of Bali. It’s a good idea to check with your hotel on the local sunset time before heading out. This way, you can enjoy the sun painting the sky and the sea into a magnificent golden hue while having dinner.

Bali 05 — A villa with own private pool and 4 bedrooms in Seminyak district

Accommodation

There are a variety of accommodation options available in Bali: from backpacker’s lodges, boutique inns, hotels to villas – a vast selection for travelers to pick from. It really depends on the travelling group size, the activities you’re planning and of course your budget. Bear in mind that even the most luxurious option of a villa may not always be the most expensive. If you are travelling in a group of six or more, a villa may be an extremely feasible option. These villas are self-contained with your own living, dining area, kitchen, 2 – 4 bedrooms and even your own private pool. Search for online deals for villas in Bali and you may pay as low as SGD 40 – 50 per person a night!

Transportation

It is fairly inexpensive to get around Bali. One can easily rent a bike or car. Taxis are extremely affordable. A more popular way is to hire a driver which typically, for a group of eight, can cost about SGD 60 nett per vehicle for a full day of touring any destination of your choice. Some resorts even offer free shuttle transport to popular tourist areas.

Getting to Bali

There are daily flights from Singapore to Bali daily. The flight only takes 2½ hours. Major airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Qatar Airways all fly direct to Bali. For the cost conscious, budget airlines such as Jetstar and Air Asia flies direct from Singapore to Bali as well. All-inclusive fares cost as low as SGD 128 for promotional fares offered by the airlines.

Remember, it’s not all about studies and gaining professional experience while in Singapore. Take off during a long weekend and bask in the sun & sea of mythical Bali! After all, it’s not every day one gets to earn a world-renowned MBA degree and yet have the opportunity to enjoy one of the world’s top 5 best islands at the same time.

Note: You may like to avoid the Nyepi – Balinese New Year in March to travel. The Balinese calls this day the Day of Silence and the shops and restaurants will be closed.