HE'S a celebrity wakeboarder who is the title holder of the China Open 2007.

He was also the third-best Asian wakeboarder at Doha's World Wakeboard Championships this year.

And, to boot, he has acted in several Hong Kong films like Fantasia, which starred actress Cecilia Cheung, his elder sister.

The 26-year-old, who was in town over the weekend, wondered why he was made to stay at a budget hotel there.

Speaking in English, Cheung remarked: 'The room is this 'big' (he gestured the size of a small box) and there is not much space to get around.'

On the hotel's website, it states that the 'rooms are admittedly smaller than those of other hotels'.

The standard and superior rooms are priced from $70 to $90 a night. Each provides a queen-sized bed and basic amenities.

Cheung was also left wondering what was going on in Geylang, after seeing the hordes of men and women hanging around late into the night.

'The people... there were some interesting ones hanging around there,' he said, looking amused. 'Wait, let me show you.'

The former actor imitated their actions.

He slouched, placed one hand on his waist,tilted his head before pretending to takea drag of a cigarette and blew smoke in the air repeatedly.

'LOCATION'

So why is a hotshot like Cheung staying in a budget hotel?

Said the event publicist: 'We chose the hotel because it is only a 10-minute walk to the Kallang Riverside Park where the competition is held.'

Cheung's economy-class flights and accommodation were sponsored by Red Bull.

The two-day competition was organised by the Singapore Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (SWWF).

Mr Paul Fong, SWWF's general manager, said: 'We organise at least four events a year and we usually use the Hotel 81 chain for the foreign riders. The chain offers simple but decent lodging.

'So, if an event is held at Marina, the riders will stay at the Bencoolen branch.

'Proximity is important so they can get to the competition site quickly if they are late. This time, they are putting up at Hotel 81's Princess and Orchid hotels.'

The foreign competitors, like Korea's top wakeboarder Kim Yongil, did not mind staying there. Mr Fong said it would be Kim's second visit to the budget chain.

Cheung had also stayed at a budget hotel when he was in town in July.

Despite being amused by the size of his current hotel room, the Hong Kong wakeboarder, who did not win any titles this time, took it in his stride.

He agreed that it was 'very convenient as I (can) walk to the riverside'.

Pausing for a few seconds, he added: 'But the room really is this big.'