We arrived in Delhi very late on Wednesday night. We knew we wanted to treat ourselves to a nice hotel but we didn't want to waste the money if we were getting in late so we went to a cheaper hotel on the night we arrived. As soon as we got off the train we were swamped by touts again! They are very intense here and it can be quite scary when they surround you in their masses shouting things at you about their taxi/rickshaw/hotel. I have learnt to call the hotel in advance and get them to advise me on a sensible price for transport from the station to them so that the drivers don't take advantage.
The heat in Delhi is suffocating, even at 11pm at night, and it is dirty, dusty, noisy and there are people sleeping on the roads and under bridges. It's an attack on the senses. Here you have to have five arguments before you get what you need be it transport, drinking water or even a shower. The next morning (after a good few hours of arguing over rickshaws in the street in the ridiculous heat) we finally reached our next hotel; my maximum spend on a room for the night would normally be £9 (on average I spend £5) but I promised myself that once a month I would go somewhere decent to recuperate plus I was splitting the cost with my friend so we spent £27 a night on this one and all I can say is, WOW! It was gorgeous and probably would have been several hundred pounds in England.
The hotel was in the south of Delhi which is much less hectic and it was in a rural, gated complex on large grounds so we escaped the usual car horns and shouting. We didn't leave the hotel for two entire days and spent our time relaxing, having room service, going in the pool and to the restaurant.
One night we noticed they were preparing for what looked like an extremely extravagant event so we asked what was going on and they explained it was an Indian ring giving ceremony (an engagement). The wedding industry is massive here and the celebration looked bigger than most weddings we are used to and so we wondered what the wedding would be like if this party was only the engagement!
At first the all-male staff were polite and kept their distance and we were grateful to finally escape the intense, unwanted attention from the men in Delhi. This gradually changed though and towards the end they started to make us feel uncomfortable so we knew it was time to move on. Nevertheless we were able to forget we were in India for a while and we felt sufficiently prepared to face Delhi again after that!
Millions of hotels!!
The heat in Delhi is suffocating, even at 11pm at night, and it is dirty, dusty, noisy and there are people sleeping on the roads and under bridges. It's an attack on the senses. Here you have to have five arguments before you get what you need be it transport, drinking water or even a shower. The next morning (after a good few hours of arguing over rickshaws in the street in the ridiculous heat) we finally reached our next hotel; my maximum spend on a room for the night would normally be £9 (on average I spend £5) but I promised myself that once a month I would go somewhere decent to recuperate plus I was splitting the cost with my friend so we spent £27 a night on this one and all I can say is, WOW! It was gorgeous and probably would have been several hundred pounds in England.
A big soft bed after sleeping on narrow wooden boards for a month!!
The hotel reception.
After the stresses of Delhi we felt on top of the world to be in a clean, quiet, luxurious hotel room - we were so HAPPY!!!
The pool at night.
The hotel was in the south of Delhi which is much less hectic and it was in a rural, gated complex on large grounds so we escaped the usual car horns and shouting. We didn't leave the hotel for two entire days and spent our time relaxing, having room service, going in the pool and to the restaurant.
Mojitos in the pool = heaven!!!!
Underwater camera fun!
Preparations for the Indian engagement.
At first the all-male staff were polite and kept their distance and we were grateful to finally escape the intense, unwanted attention from the men in Delhi. This gradually changed though and towards the end they started to make us feel uncomfortable so we knew it was time to move on. Nevertheless we were able to forget we were in India for a while and we felt sufficiently prepared to face Delhi again after that!
Wow Jennifer!!! That fab hotel is such a contrast to the others! Bet it felt like heaven.Where did you say Paula was from? How long is she travelling for? Loved the underwater shot! Love Mum x
ReplyDeleteShe is from Chile and she will be travelling for quite a while because she might be living in Bali once she has travelled for 6 more months. We are parting ways in a week though but will probably arrange to meet up in the next few months x
DeleteBet that felt like heaven being there after all the places you have been recently- so glad u've managed to go swimming!hopefully now you will start to get a tan?ha!xxx
ReplyDelete'Start' to get a tan??? I have never been so tanned in my life thank you very much!!! Ha x
DeleteNo one looks tanned underwater! Look at the photo of me on the big bed! I thought I was doing well hahahaha
DeleteI'm only joking!you look really good!im going to be jealous of your tan when I see you!!will have to cram loads of tanning in when I see you at Christmas!!x
DeleteYou're looking amazing wennifurr! The hotel looks so luxurious compare to the shacks x and mojotos are a must ha xx take care - where ne'xt? X
ReplyDeleteOvernight train to Varanasi to see people being cremated! X
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