Despite the fancy Web site, our hotel does not fall under my definition of luxury in any sense of the word. I know I said I wanted to see how the other half lives, but I was wrong. I’m a spoiled North American and I’d rather be in a comfy and secure standard hotel than where we’re at now.

Where did we go wrong? Let’s see, the site advertises the following amenities:

1. 24 hours room service – not even close. I’ve yet to have a meal at this place. Not that that’s a bad thing if the rooms are anything to go by.
2. Elevator to all floors – only 2 people can use it at a time. I’ve been getting a lot of exercise on the stairs lately.
3. 100% power backup – not exactly. We’ve had a number of brown outs and my first took place while I was in the shower. Not exactly comforting when there’s no windows and no source of light.
4. Wall to wall carpeting in all rooms – try laminate flooring. I see no carpeting anywhere.
5. Direct dial STD/ISD facility – the phones in the room have no dialtone. When people try to call us, they get a busy signal and can’t get through. We’re getting cell phone simm chips so we can be reached.
6. Colour TV with satellite channels – don’t know, haven’t turned it on yet.
7. Same day dry cleaning & laundry
8. Fridge in all rooms
9. Running hot and cold water – try running cold water all around the bathroom floor from a leaky toilet and you’d be closer to the mark. There’s lukewarm water in the sink, but the water in the shower is freezing cold. I do have a nice bucket to use in the meantime *shudder*
10. Valet service
11. Safe deposit – not in the rooms. There are signs asking you to deposit all valuables at the front desk. The guy at the front desk was sleeping with a blanket covering his head. Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the security. Explains why we’re sleeping with our valuables though!
12. Credit card acceptance
13. Doctor on call
14. Travel services – just don’t count on airport pickup. We’re 0 for 2.

So, what’s good about the hotel? It’s a short walk to work, so Ted and I made the jaunt together this evening to call the boss and let her know the situation. As always, she put on the hero boots, cape and belt and is working on new accommodations for us.

There’s no way any of us could have known what we were getting into, so it’s been a learning experience all around. I’m feeling older and wiser already.

Keep your fingers crossed. We’re moving to a new hotel on Sunday.

Technorati Tags: hotels, India

Go me, I helped inspire a reading contest. Susan, of West of Mars fame, is co-hosting the Debut a Debut contest along with Rashenbo from Writing Aspirations. The idea is to pick up a book by a new (first time) author, read it and write a book review. A lot of new books come out each year and we often never have a chance to learn about a new author if their books aren’t highly promoted. In addition, it’s not always advertised if a book is by a first time author on the cover, so sometimes it’s hard to support new writers.

I printed off the list and managed to find a few of the books at the Borders in SEA/TAC airport. Using my amazing powers of deduction – I chose the book that weighed least (paperback). It just so happens that the author is a friend of Susan’s. Rebecca Drake’s suspense thriller Don’t Be Afraid is some pretty good bedtime reading. I’m about a third through the book and I’m enjoying it immensely so far.

Technorati Tags: books, reading, Rebecca Drake

But not to an auspicious start.

If this morning is anything to go by then our trip may be jinxed. Despite saying the following sentence aloud not 10 minutes before check in

“I’ll give you my winter jacket when we get inside and you can take it home.”

I completely forgot to hand over said jacket. By the time I realized I was still wearing it, I was 1/2 way through the customs line. A bout of mad packing and unpacking occurred and I’m now carting my winter jacket with me in the space I had previously dedicated for bringing back gifts.

Upon arrival at Seattle airport, I discovered that I didn’t have a gate number listed on my pass. This is also when I discovered that there are nice TSA agents and there are really rude ones. Since it was 4 hours until my flight boarded, the flight info wasn’t up on the screens yet. I stopped a female TSA agent who really didn’t seem to want anything to do with helping me find my way. Instead, she sent me on a wild goose chase throughout the airport looking for the NWA gates. After much airport speed walking, my feet were getting tired and I was becoming more and more frustrated. I finally gave up and asked two mail TSA agents for help. After declaring myself lost, the first one immediately told me he knew exactly where I was – right here! After that, they pointed me towards the train and told me how to find the TSA gates. Since the flight info still wasn’t posted on the board yet and I had some time to kill, they suggested I get breakfast in the central court as there was more selection before heading off to the “S” gate area. I don’t know their names, but they certainly made my day.

Landing in Amsterdam was like visiting a whole other world. Wandering through the airport, I kept smelling heavy cigarette smoke and kept looking around for a smoke room. Instead, I found people lighting cigarettes beside my gate. There was a small coffee shop outside of it (no separate ventilation) and people were smoking away at will. Odd that this would be such a culture shock since I can recall similar situations in Canada only 15 years ago. It’s amazing how fast you can become accustomed to the “new way” when the old way is outlawed.

I had a 3 hour layover in Amsterdam – not enough time to enjoy the city – so I checked out the Rejk’s Museum. It’s the world’s only free airport museum and they had a display of Maritime artwork interspersed with some portraits and landscapes. Not a bad way to kill some time when you’re waiting for a flight.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to India without something happening to my luggage. One of my bags was ripped open at the side and I have to go hunting for a new bag on Sunday. Rest in pieces little Windriver, you were an excellent traveling companion for many years.

Ted, my traveling companion who arrived in Delhi the day previously, met me at the airport. He had come with a driver from the “luxury hotel”, but the driver didn’t wait for my flight to arrive. After much searching for the driver in the parking lot (over an hour), we called the hotel. They promptly informed us the driver had never left and was waiting outside. So, outside we went.. and waited another 45 minutes for the driver who was supposed to be parked in the lot in front of us to appear.

The hotel needs a post all of it’s own…

Quite an eventful night. I’m off to go pass out now.

Technorati Tags: India, flights, travel, luggage

Ow! My arm is killing me. I’m sure MOT is cursing his offer to act as a photographic model after our stint at the Traveler’s Health Clinic for last minute vaccinations. Since I had 90% of the vaccinations when I traveled to India in 2003, I only needed to pick up a few boosters (Typhoid, Diptheria, Polio) and some anti Dehli-belly pills this morning.

When I called to make the original appointment over a month ago, I was annoyed that the only one available was only a few hours before I leave. Granted, my chart was pulled up and mulled over before this decision was made. I had all the important shots and wouldn’t need multiple visits for boosters, so I wasn’t an emergency case. On the bright side, this scheduling decision did mean that I didn’t have to get a Rabies booster for this trip. I swear those dogs in India knew I was the only one in our group with the shots and chased me on purpose [also here].

I have to be careful, like all other travelers, but the Rabies shots made me so sick last time I’m glad I won’t have to get the booster now. Lucky me, I also won’t need the full round of treatment if something does happen, since my first full series of shots will provide some protection not available to someone who hasn’t done the Rabies song and dance before traveling.

With the exception of my carry-on bag, which can’t be considered packed until I pull the plug on my laptop and add it into the mix, I’m finally packed and ready to go. At around 3am last night I gave up on the idea of attempting to only bring one giant bag. Sure, the hockey bag was big enough to fit a body in – but trying to keep its weight under 50lbs was killing me. So, I’m back to using the two bags I normally bring with me.

The hubby is not impressed that I dragged him out hockey bag shopping to end up putting it away in the closet this morning.

Hopefully I’ll have enough room to bring lots of gifts home with me. As is, I’m pretty full on the way out. It’s not that I’ve packed enough clothes to last a month (honest, there’s only 8 days of clothes), it’s that I don’t like to travel to India without the important toiletries and sundries. Mosquito repellents, antibiotic cremes and pills, antacids, band aids, tylenol, etc., all take up room and I’ve already jettisoned clothes in favour of extra Deep Woods Off.

I did manage to get 6 of the 8 chocolate bars in my bags, so at least I’ll come bearing yummy gifts for my Filipino friends.

Technorati Tags: travel, vaccinations, India, rabies, packing

Thanks to Susan, I’ve learned that my comment form (Contact She link) isn’t working. Anyone who has used this form to contact me in the last few weeks is owed my deepest apologies. Until I figure out how to get the form to actually SEND me email, please just use the comment option.

Update: Back in Dehli for a few more days. Heading to Mumbai on Thursday.