The same thing can be very different for different people. Since recently, I know it can also be very different for the same person, too. It’s all about perceptions and priorities. That’s how I ended up going three times to the same so-so resort on an island close to Singapore. Usually, this would drive me crazy. 

Let me give you some background: 

• for a beach-ie like me, the beach is really disappointing: very shallow and seaweed everywhere
• the food is extremely disappointing
• about 95% of the guests are mainland Chinese who stay for 1-2 nights
• there is nothing interesting close to the hotel
• the rooms are old and need a refresh, urgently

If my travel agent had sent me to that place, I would have been very, very upset with her. Doesn’t she know that I want a proper beach and good food? And that I hate hotels which are conquered by one single nationality? 

BUT! – the hotel had some incredible huge advantages, also turning some of the deficits into benefits. There was a kite surfing school on the shore, and that was what I came for. The mainland Chinese cared about the perfect sunrise and sunset selfie, not about learning how to kite surf, and they avoided the sun at all cost. Thus, during the day, the hotel seemed to be almost empty. It was typically only me on the beach. Alone with the instructor and the kite. The shallow water was a perfect playground to learn in a relaxed setting. Finally, the adrenalin high and the tiredness made all the other deficits disappear, too

Just the food thing bugged me still. I was really done. All I wanted was a simple, fresh salad, but the menu had only random fried stuff on offer. Then I noticed the happy Chinese having one of their big round table dinners enjoying the treats. It was me who had an issue, not the restaurant. The food was just perfect, but tailored to a different taste. To the taste of 95% of the hotel guests. 

Think about this next time you judge or recommend anything to your friends. Listen first and try to understand before suggesting your favorite thing or place or trying to convince them of something they might not want or need. It’s all about priorities. And perception. Your heaven is someone else’s hell, and vice versa.

Now you might wonder “Well, if you had that revelation, why did you stop going there?” It’s simple, I was exhausted. My body and mind were done learning. I’ll continue next time. I have already the perfect place in mind – by nature’s creation, it’s a ‘two in one.’ Beautiful beach on one side, and shallow lagoon on the other side. I am done compromising. I want it all.

Take care,
Katya