Namaste

Oh S***t!

snowmanindia — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:09:00 GMT

This morning, as I was having breakfast with fellow guests at the Palace, I realized that I was the youngest and most adventure-seeking guest there. I was surrounded by older European and Chinese folks and each time I looked out the window, I saw no indication that there was anything I was expecting in Dehli---no cows on the streets, no street markets, no auto rickshaws, just fancy restaurants and many people tripping over themselves to serve me. I got a wild hair up my ass wanting to get a real Dehli experience, so I looked up this email I got few weeks back from a beloved yoga teacher who recommended a back packer hotel right in the heart of town. Here I am and oh shit, I’m online (at dial up speed) searching for the closest Palace or 4 Seasons, or even a freggin Hilton!!!! This is a GINORMOUS come down from the Palace. Horns are honking non stop, fire works that sound like gun shots go off every other minute, people are screaming on the streets and a bunch of dismembered folks are begging right outside. I should have known to be weary when I called this place and asked for their best room and was told that a deluxe room would be 2000 rupees ($40). When I arrived here, the palace chauffeur and the guide I hired for the day, sort of gave me a look that should have told me that I needed to head straight back to the palace. Having that craving for an adventure, I told them I’d be fine and checked into the Hotel Yes Please! (Yes, that is really the name of the hotel) A dude took me up an elevator that was no more than 2 feet by 2 feet and I suspect that the elevator doors were made of something like cardboard. The dude handed me a roll of toilet paper with a gesture like I owed him a big tip for providing me with TP! Thank goodness I took two baths and a long shower at the palace this morning because I can’t see myself showering here. The shower spout is about waist high and there’s a bucket with a pail---which leads me to believe that I’m to fill up the bucket and use the pail to pour water over my head in order to shower. What the heck was I thinking and how can I get myself out of this? The good news is that you can’t seem to get a bad meal in this town. All the food I’ve had so far has been amazing. The bad news is that I’m so tired and jetlag is hitting me so hard right now that I don’t have it in me to hit these streets and hustle my way to find a better place right now. I'm trying to be positive--there's a safe roof over my head and it's a large clean room. I'm not taking my clothes off and I'm laying my yoga mat on the bed and sleeping on it. Rest assured that my next update will be from a five star hotel. Dehli is way too intense to rough it. As I write this, I’m searching googleindia for the nearest Four Seasons. By the way, today I saw the President's Palace, the defense and finance buildings, and The Gate of India and I saw the Dehli I was looking for---millions of people in bright colors walking, running, screaming, dancing, laughing, fighting in the middle of everywhere, auto rickshaws, pollution---it was just like Slumdog Millionaire. Everywhere is smoky because of smog and because they burn inscense everywhere! Everything looks like what a picture looks like on instagram if you put it on Sephia. Namaste. . .the morning can't come fast enough. . .I need to get out of the Hotel Yes Please!!!!

Breakfast at the Leela Palace

snowmanindia — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:32:00 GMT

I have never been a fan of an American breakfast but I am a huge fan of Indian breakfast! I love curry scrambled eggs and fried basmati rice for breakfast! I think I will fix this for myself everyday when I return home. The Leela Palace spares no expense when it comes to fine breakfast. I had all kinds of stews with all kinds of fluffy breads. There was a bunch of American omelettes and pastries that I completely ignored. I wish I remembered the names of each food I ate---I'm going to start to take notes so I can report back to you!

After breakfast, I had a meeting with the concierge who basically gave me variety of things to do for the next four days before I head to Rishikesh to start my yoga retreat. I went to the fitness center and they rolled out a yoga mat for me so I did few sun salutations then headed to the roof top pool to meditate. I think that has been my first experience outdoors in India. Since it's Diwali Festival right now, fire works happen day and night and smog mixed with fireworks makes for 0 visibility.

I love the Leela Palace but at breakfast I realized that all the other guests here are predominantly old Russian, French and Chinese people who were all pretty mean to the incredibly gracious staff. (I would say that the staff here at the Leela Palace is 50% Filipino people, and 50% Indian people.) I might have to check out because of this. It's a bit too stuffy and I want to have a bit more of an authentic experience.

Namaste

Photos: India

snowmanindia — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:24:00 GMT

The Leela Palace - Dehli, India

snowmanindia — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 07:34:00 GMT

I've stayed at nice hotels in my life but this is ridiculous!!!! Someone skype me so you can see this room!!! I haven't seen a single bit of poverty in this country. (Granted, this is my first hour here.) A super nice guy in a suit walked me through secret parts of the airport. This Beemer pulled up right as I walked outside and there I sat next to bottled water, hand wipes and a chauffer. He must have driven me through the nice parts because I haven't seen one single ounce of poverty, no cows, no disfigured children begging, just a bunch of lights and fireworks as today is the festival of Diwali in India! We pulled into this literal Palace! They put this beautiful smelling flower necklace on me and everyone bows namaste to me left and right!!! Holy India! In front of my room was my personal butler with this amazing lychee fruit drink! No crazy check in counter. My personal butler walked me to the room and sat me at this presidential desk here I'm checked in The Leela Palace! I love India! Now, I'm about to shower and eat all these chocolates on each table in the room! There's also an amazing tea selection next to the TV! Can someone please be here with me!!! This is freggin fabulous!

LAX

snowmanindia — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 05:57:00 GMT

As I travelled to and through LAX, I am trying to take mental snapshots of the way I felt the air, saw the random people around me, the way I think, the way I perceive and know the world to be. I just know that I will be a deeper version of myself once I feel, smell, eat, breathe and be, in India. I have a feeling that I am on a very special journey.

I'm about to board ANA flight 005 to Tokyo then connecting to Dehli. 20 hours of flying here I come!

Siyonara! Pura Vida! Namaste!