Alternative Entry: the Toilet in Singapore

by - 12:00 PM

In my previous post I told you about a writing contest I entered. I had to write about a travel discovery, which was about the only criterium I had to meet. My entry didn't win anything and after analyzing other entries, I think Ik now why: I wrote about feelings I discovered because of the beautiful place I was visiting. Most others wrote about more concrete travel discoveries, like a nice restaurant, a beautiful building, stunning music... I could've written something like that too. The problem is that the only concrete travel discovery I've ever made by myself that I could think of was... a toilet. This is what my entry would have been like if I'd written about that toilet.

The Toilet in Singapore
If you've ever been on a plane for more than six hours, you know what I'm going to say about airplane toilets. Same goes for anyone who's flown for less than six hours but forgot to go to the toilet before the flight. Anyway, if you've seen an airplane restroom from the inside, you won't be suprised when I tell you that I absolutely hate those toilets. The restroom isn't just insanely small, but the toilet itself makes noises  that sound like a dying rhinoceros when you flush it. So when I flew from Sydney to Singapore, I refused to go to the toilet on the plane. Stupid idea, I know, but I really hate the dying rhino sounds that make me fear the plane is going to crash. As a result I literally ran out of the plane when it finally landed in Singapore. I wasn't very happy with the prospect of using an airport toilet, which is usually a bit disgusting, but everything's better than an airplane toilet. I quickly found the restroom - and my jaw dropped.
The restroom looked like a palace. It was very light and modern, with dark wooden doors, a high ceiling and the biggest mirror above the wash basins. There were at least seven toilets, no lines at all, which is a miracle in any women's restroom on the planet. On top of that, the toilets were squeaky clean and there were flowers in the stalls. It was heaven compared to the small compartment on the airplane where sitting down meant banging your knees into the wall.
After washing my hands, I noticed a tablet on the wall next to the door. On the screen was one single question: 'How happy are you with this restroom?' I could rate it through a series of emoticons and of course I gave it the happiest rating I could. This restroom was the best I'd seen on all my travels and heaven on earth after seven hours on a plane.

This is what my entry would've looked like if I'd chosen to describe a more concrete travel discovery. Do you think I would have had a better chance of winning if I'd submitted this one?
Stay Awesome!

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8 Fellow Ramblers

  1. I preferred the one that you submitted to the competition, but I love your approach to this one! :D

    xoxo Morning

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    1. I preferred the original one too, I wrote this one more as a joke :P

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  2. I actually don't mind the airplane toilets because the airport toilets are usually disgusting and automatic (automatics freak me out, it's bad enough that they sound like tornadoes and now I can't control them at all)

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    1. Oh god, I forgot about the horror of the automatic toilets D: I hate it when it won't flush and you'r just waving your hand in front of that movement sensor and nothing happens. Or when it flushes when it isn't supposed to flush O.o How could I forget about that?

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  3. This was a really wonderful entry, Envy! As for if it would've been a winning entry, I think it would have definitely been in the competition. Great job!
    ~ Sanjana
    peridotcove.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you :) There was supposed to be a shortlist, but I haven't heard anything about that either...

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  4. Such a well written post, Envy, always excited to read and hear about the experiences of people from other countries when they're visiting my home! And I loved the previous entry you wrote about visiting Peru too, and how just a simple smile from a stranger had the ability to change the mood and overall experience in the place. I've never been to Machu Picchu before, so it's really interesting to hear about your personal story! Both entries are equally good! :) Singapore is definitely known to be clean city, and we're known to have the best airport in the world too, haha, so the toilets in airports are certainly extra clean and classy. Love Changi Airport, and good to know you've been there before! I've yet to visit the Netherlands - Amsterdam looks like such a beautiful place in postcards and photographs, I'd love to go there one day too! I heard people frequently use bicycles there to travel around, that's so unique! :) Thank you for sharing this entry, Envy, have a lovely week. :)

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    1. Thank you Dian. It's always so great to hear from you :)
      I was in Singapore for three hours, most of which were spent running from one gate to another because we were about to miss our flight (which turned out to be delayed...), so I'd love to go back some time and see more than just a toilet XD I didn't know it was the best airport in the world, but if the rest of the place is anything like the restroom, it must be great.
      Let me know when you're coming to Amsterdam! There are a lot of people on bicycles there, that's true, but the same goes for any other place in this country :P

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