Delhi Diwali and Decadence
Trip Start
Sep 22, 2006
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Trip End
Oct 05, 2006
New Delhi,
India
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Once we landed, however, I could smell the intense sulfur from the fireworks all over the city blended in with a general city funk. It was a bit jarring and certainly woke me up a bit. The airport was crowded but not as much as I expected due to Diwali, I suppose. I grabbed my luggage and as my companion and I walked through the throngs of men holding up signs with their parties' names I thankfully spotted my guy. This is my first taste of karma in India...
After a thoroughly miserable plane ride both from Lufthansa and from my companion, I am greeted by my hotel's "Guest Liaison" (what?!) who then introduces me to my driver who is miraculously wearing a spotless white uniform. GL guy hands me a silver tray with a cold wet white cloth for cleaning my hands and a gorgeously condensated bottle of water. I could have kissed the man. The driver, in the meantime, had whisked all my luggage away into the car and was pulling the car up to the door for me. It was a bit overwhelming but I kinda like it! Being a bit travel weary, it was nice to not be "on" and have to worry about all the logistics. I looked over to my travel companion (who had spent much of the trip bragging to me about her accommodations and other thoroughly miserable topics) and noticed she was a bit green.
Edward Scissorands Landscaping
Karma. Gets ya every time. I was liking India already.Truthfully, I was a bit worried, so I told her to call me when she got to her hotel so I knew she was safe (her driver looked a little shady). In the meantime, my driver, Santosh, was a great guy who spoke little English but was so animated that I seemed to understand most of what he said. We drove through a military post with very army-like imposing gates and when I asked where the hell we were, he said, 'in teh diplomatic enclave.' This was not like Embassy Row in DC! I was very safe, he reassured me; however, I doubt these guys were here to protect me if the shit hit the fan.
The hotel was spectacular. I stayed at the Taj Palace and it was worth every penny. Upon walking into this place, you are greeted by several people who are enquiring after your well-being, your state of hunger and thirst, and your general comfort. I felt like a rockstar, actually. I was escorted to my room straight away forgoing check-in where another butler waited outside my door with another silver tray holding an array of "refreshing" juices. Yes, please. Once in the room, I was offered snacks, room service, more drinks, water, etc etc. For a moment, I was afraid that I would never be alone, but eventually I was and it was a sweet, long silence. Then I spoke with my plane companion who arrived at her hotel safely. As I listened to her bemoan the atrocities of her hotel and how she berated the manager upon arrival, etc etc., I prepared a nice relaxing bath.
The gods were smiling down on me because the bathroom was stocked with Molton Brown, there was a box of truffles on the vanity and the only thing on my " to do" list was sleep. India, how I love you. I could hardly wait for the next day.
