Thank you for your report and lovely photos.

In 1988, a month or so before a scheduled renovation, I stayed one night at the Raffles Hotel on an airline employee rate of $30.00 USD. I was excited to stay in the hotel but was advised that my room did not have air conditioning and “had yet to be updated.” I didn’t really care, as I was on my way to the Maldive Islands where there wasn’t even desalinized water or air conditioning in the best resorts. So it sort of prepared me for the trip.

The room was small but very charming in a colonial sort of way. No television and a large fan chugging away in the ceiling, and windows wide open facing a courtyard. A few minutes after I was in the room there was a stern knock at the door. It was an older Chinese gentleman with a white coat and the Raffles insignia. He asked if I wanted music. I was pretty surprised and curious. He then brought around a large cage with a bird inside. I nodded affirmatively and in a moment I had a bird in my room for the night. The bird chirped and cooed, and along with the churning of the fan, I forgot about jet lag and the heat and fell into a long sleep. I guess the bird slept too after a time. I awoke to a cool breeze and the bird singing away. It was early morning.

There was another knock at the door. The same man appeared and took the bird back and told me to go to breakfast.

In all of my travels I will never forget this.