The Nanyang Executive Centre doesn't, one might think, sound even remotely as lavish or comfortable as, say, the Shangri-La or the Sheraton. One usually imagines it's probably a slightly better version of the average college dorm. Which adds to the jaw-dropping experience of stepping into one of its rooms and discovering that it trumps many a 4-Star (and maybe even 5) hotel you've been into.

The fact that one is provided with free (and not 10 bucks per hour!) hi-speed wireless Net access and Cable TV makes it the definitive choice for accomodation if you're in Singapore, whether or not you're actually attending a conference at NTU like the 2nd APPLE Conference & Exhibition 2006.

The conference organisation is top-quality (masala chicken and laksa for lunch, liver pate sandwiches for breakfast, Spinelli coffee all day - what else can the weary delegate ask for?).

The topics were of, quite literally, global importance (e.g. bidding for World Bank educational projects, world university rankings, 21st Century learning, etc.).