V-Day, 2008

So was I excited about this valentines day? Was it supposed to be different from the others in the past? One of my buddies just reminded me of how innovative I could get on occasions like these - Really?

1. Wished mom on waking up - something I do every year
2. Went to office - Yes, that too I have to do every year though yesterday was a perfect day to enjoy a good bloody mary with some yummy lunch in the sun. Sigh!!
3. Wrote love notes to my team members in their project evaluations vis-a-vis writing something for a loved one
4. Heard evergreen romantic numbers while driving back home - usually I just skip that playlist on my i-pod. Must've been the only mushy thing I did.
5. Ate pakoras and besan ka laddu for dinner - vis-a-vis the good candle lit italian meal with some nice wine and coffee (in my dreams now!!)
6. Worked in office till 9 PM, wherein I usually have been getting out at 7.

Ye Hai Bombay, Ye Hai Bombay...

I don't like to address the city as Mumbai, and thats one of the very very few things I dislike about the city. It has its paucity for space, but the city is undoubtedly one of my favourite cities in India - the thought of visiting Bombay always excites me. I did happen to do my post graduation from there - and that was where the love affair started (with the city, people!!!!).

The sense of safety that I feel to begin with while walking on the road, be it 2 PM or 2 AM. Its such a relief to not have people stare at you whether you walk with or without exposing any part of your body.

The taxis - Being from Delhi - they are so much of a relief - abundant and economical. Some of them even have music and blue lights.

The buses - even though I met with an accident while on one, they are so disciplined - it actually remains straight while on the road rather than tilting to one side - the BEST

The trains - Took some time of getting used to, and now that I havent lived in the city for almost 5 years, dont think would ever want to get used to them again - but appreciate them for their convenience, reach and speed. Doubt the metro will ever match up.

The food - Be it the Sandwiches (Dheeraj), the jhunka bhakhars, the Aarey Milk (Energy), the mysore masala dosa made on the road, Pav Bhaji (Maruti) or Swati Snacks (YUMMY). I dont really salivate at the paani puri, coz that I think Delhi ranks better in!!!

The choice to drink, eat and dance - phenomenal.

The 1 Re red phone booths - Atleast when I was a student and in times where the mobile phone was not as common, what a boon!!!

How every building has a unique name in that city engraved on the building - Struck me as very unique the first time I visited Bombay

The movies and Theatre - Never fear not getting a ticket. Really enjoy watching the plays there

The People - Simple, humble and helpful!!!!

I love you Bombay.

My Homes Away From Home

Work has in the last three years made me travel a fair bit around the world. Of course some people think its pure vacation, but I was just fortunate that I got to see a little teeny weeny bit of this world as a part of my job.

So, these trips that I made in the last three years were ranging anywhere between 4 days to 4 weeks. And therefore the hotels that I put up in (rather was made to put up in), irrespective of the size and service standards did mean home to me for that period of time. Just thought of penning down a few memories of the hotels I did get the chance to visit:

• Westin, Bangkok: My first home away from home. I stayed at this hotel during my first trip abroad in 2004, so therefore I don’t recall much except that it was on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok, where I had a woman walk all over me for the first time trying to give me the famous massage.
• Conrad, Bangkok: A brilliant hotel. Have stayed there about three times – It’s the first time I saw walls of the bathroom made of glass – I thought it was really cool. But it had the most amazing bell boy – He had the most unique way of calling for taxi’s for the guests – A rock and roll performance with his entire body swaying to the music only he could hear while he called for the cab. A completely impressive example of how to enjoy even the most mundane of jobs.
• Raffles, Singapore: Never got to stay at this hotel (sigh!!), but more enjoyable than having the famous Singapore Sling here was the joy of peeling peanuts served along with the drink, and throwing the peels on the floor. Yes, I was behaving my age (which was 26 at that time) - Given the hospital like cleanliness of the city, I could bet that the Long Bar would be the only place for the housekeepers of Singapore to keep themselves busy.
• Hilton, Singapore: The bell boy at the hotel had a fascination for Bollywood. Stayed at the hotel atleast 4 times, and everytime the same bell boy would get my luggage to the room, and not forget to tell me how he loved hindi movies. I still owe a DVD to him of a hindi movie which I promised him. Next time dude.
• Best Western, Paris – Yes there are tons of them, so don’t have the exact address, but it was the one closest to Galleries Lafayette. Stayed there both times that I visited the city. My first introduction to hotels without room service. And the hotel actually had a bell which you had to ring in case you were arriving after 11 PM because the reception staff used to go off to sleep.
• Hilton, Milton Keynes: Made me realize how the same chain can have such different standards across the globe. Of course, the one in Singapore is so much better.
• Sandton Inn, Johannesburg: The only hotel where I read security instructions at the main entrance. Well, though this hotel did have room service, for some reason, dinner was available only until 8 PM. Without internet in the rooms, it had this one terminal in the lobby which the entire hotel was to use for access to the internet.
• Ashford International, Kent, UK: The only hotel where I not just went to have a look at the gym, but also used it everyday. That’s worth remembering for a person like me, trust me. Yes, the motivation is another story
• Nailert Park, Bangkok: Haha. This was one experience. The house-keeper here accidentally picked the passport of my colleague as a result of which we missed the flight, and the hotel earned at extra day of revenue. Yes, they did not believe in bearing the cost for their mistakes. But this hotel also has a strange bar – it has lamp shades that look like blown condoms. And they look funny hanging from the ceiling.
• Crowne Plaza, Paramatta, Sydney: Comfortable, and in the midst of the most crowded street in Paramatta filled with every type of restaurant. Wonder, what kind of people really ate at the hotel. Something, my German colleague really had difficulty coming to terms with was the supposedly poor control they had for charging parking fees to the guests.
• Frazer Place, Bangkok – This was a true home away from home. From the luxuries of the Conrad, we were moved to this service apartment for the next trip because the hotel had substantially increased their rates – pity for us, but it was high time the hotel did do that for the quality of service it delivered. Anyway, Frazer was a nice experience. Apart from everything else, it was the only accommodation where I shared my room with my junior colleague for the fear of not waking up on the day of the closing meeting with the client. Sheelu, you are special :) And yes, this hotel also had the swimming pool on the top floor with glass walls surrounding the terrace. You could actually see the sky scrapers of Bangkok while swimming.
  

I did get the opportunity to work on a project for a hospitality major in India recently, and well, while I do appreciate a hotel much more now, my companions for future hotel stays can be rest assured of experiencing the critic in me.