You know something?
The exterior of Crowne Plaza Changi Airport in between the terminals of Changi International Airport is worth a shout-out.
See, it is a design that you either love, don't love, or absolutely hate.
I can't say I hate it, but I can't say I love it either. I mean, it is a gigantic steel frame protecting the glass windows from the powerful thrumming vibrations of the plane engines, but what is supposed to be like a frame of steel flower petals ends up looking like a clutter of twisted Letter X's all welded together in a cold, grid-like frame.
And if you've got a room whose windows are protected by the frame, be prepared to peek and peer through the unpetal-like, unromantic ship propellers for a glimpse of the view outside.
Thank goodness not all rooms are like that.
And thank goodness they've got a fairly serene pool that rectifies the awkwardness of the protective frame outside.
It's an interesting pool, this one, and if there's one thing really unique about this pool, it is the view. Because you can get a calming environment, you can get blue skies, poolside tables, deck chairs and landscaped trees in many a place, but where else can you get a view that has blue chlorinated swimming pool water, tall landscaped palm trees, the Control Tower and the runway all at the same time?
The rooms are a flavour of their own too.
Designed specifically for airline travellers in mind, the rooms are done in shades of soothing green, brown, and a tinge of grey. Green- different shades of it- dominates the mood scheme of the room, and it is pleasant, always, to enter and find the necessities of toiletries, nice comfy pillows, hand towels, shower stall, bathtub, fluffy robes and bedroom slippers for the taking.
That might mean little on regular days, but if you've just checked in after a long flight, if you've got stuff to do, if you don't wish to go all the way downtown and are desperate for a bit of comfort.. Crowne Plaza at the airport is a pretty good place to be.
One has to get used to the regular thrum of plane engines though, not to mention the sound of planes flying low overhead. There's no escape from it. Day, or night, you hear it. It doesn't matter if you've got the blackout curtains pulled close. It doesn't matter if you've got a mail to type or a Skype call to make. You'll hear them at the back of your head anyway.
But if you're familiar with the roar of planes flying overhead, as I am, if you're liking the convenience of Terminal 3 technically at your doorstep with her restaurants, cafes, shops and public transport, then, hey, that's no problem at all.
