It’s been a few (three I think) weeks since my last posting. I’m getting a little behind on keeping everyone abreast of my adventures in the Far East.
I left off with our Christmas dinner prepared by the wonderful chefs at my hotel. And, here is where I put in a little plug for home away from home. Should anyone desire to come to Navi Mumbai, I highly recommend the Royal Orchid. However, with that recommendation comes a few caveats.
My room is nicely sized. I especially like my bathroom and shower. The shower is BIG! The hot water is immediate and the shower head is removable from the wall… something that is really nice especially if I choose not to wash my hair each day.
I have a huge king-sized bed and I guarantee, I use every inch (I’m all of 5’ 2”, but boy, can I spread out!!). The staff is very generous with pillows – six nice, fluffy pillows adorn my bed. When one gets ‘hot’, I simply pull one from the other side of the bed and voila! – a new pillow for the taking!
I have a nice desk, Wi-Fi and every evening I have fresh fruit (usually apples) and cookies! Of course I do love the cookies – they’re the shortbread kind and just perfect for a quick snack before dinner.
Television is… well…. It’s unusual. I have three movie channels that come in fairly well. TV here is unlike home that’s for sure – but then, this is India! At home, I can find a Law & Order at nearly any hour of the day or night. Not so here. For some reason, those channels are blocked. If I catch them just right at the right time on the right day, I might find a CSI if the signal is clear.
Some of the Indian channels are very interesting however. They have a channel just for sleeping babies! The cartoon channels are really kind of cute – if I only knew what they were saying. And, the Indian movies – now there is an experience! Most of them are similar to musicals in the U.S. but with a lot more dancing. The costumes and dancing are really phenomenal!
But back to the hotel. This past weekend, I managed to catch whatever bug was floating around and was stuck in bed for two solid days. Because I felt so badly, I turned on my privacy button – the one that is supposed to let everyone (the staff that is) know that I do not want to be disturbed.
Three times during the day I received a phone call, “Madame, we notice your privacy light is on, are you all right?” If I had a voice, I would have screamed by the time the third call was made. I wake up Monday morning to a note that had been slid under my door. “Your privacy light was on all day, we are checking to make sure you wanted it on.” Well…………DUH!!
Oh, I forgot one of the calls – “Madame, our staff member is outside your door with your laundry.” Again, privacy light is ON, can they wait until tomorrow? It’s a good thing I’m not having a torrid affair of some sort! Those dang phone calls would probably happen at the most inopportune times!! But, it is nice to know that they do care and want to make sure their guests are getting the best care possible.
Speaking of laundry, this is the part I love! No need to bring 50 pairs of underwear, 10 t-shirts or other items that normally would be all used up in four months. I just put my dainties, t-shirts, jeans in the laundry bag provided, circle my selections, drop it on the bed and by the evening when I return home – fresh, clean undies await me. Not only clean and fresh, but ironed and folded! I’m lucky they make it out of the dryer when I’m at home!
I don’t know how much more of this spoiling I can take….. !
