first the taxi is late, then i end up being the only one that cant fit in the first taxi, then finally my taxi comes, and guess what - the driver within seconds of taking of from our hotel gets lost, ends up on two occasions to drive direct against the traffic, and even according to Indian standards this is pretty dangerous, what makes matters worse, is that the driver is on the phone, taking away with what seems to be his colleagues on what road he is suppose to go .. and to bring a bit of flavor to the whole thing, this young guy is having his pinkie finger and thumb painted in bright red nail polish .. - very charming .. eventually after driving around in what seems to be circles we end up at our destination - the "Taj Club house" - now this is the other side of what i have seen in India till now - this is an absolutely opposite in terms of the slum area - this here ladies and gentlemen, is what a couple of hundreds of USD a night can buy you of luxury, holly molly .. - first it is totally sealed of behind high and tick walls, guards standing at the gate - big wooden and metal doors, searching any car going in to the parking, that will take you to the main entrance, a main entrance the has its guess go through a metal detector, the same as in the airports.. security guards everywhere.. - and then you enter ...
(the lobby of the Taj is a sight in itself..)
you enter something that most of all appears to be any other 5* hotel in Europe, i step inside the hotel and is instantly met by a member of the hotel staff, welcoming me to the hotel, and ask on behalf of the Hotel Raj how she may be of service, i introduce myself and what i am here for and she replies "we are very happy to welcome you and your colleagues to our hotel, your visit has been awaited with high anticipation, and we are very happy that you are here.." and with that she escorts me to the elevators - and shows me where the press conference is set to be (my colleagues are already in their media brief when i enter ... )
(..what can i say - stylish and elegant .. )
welcome to the Taj hotel, or should i say welcome to another world, this here is definitely not the India i have seen and have come to love .. - but i have to admit one thing, i am impressed with the standards .. would i like to stay in a hotel like this, no, would i like to come here again, no not really .. am i excited what today will bring - for sure .. and more important, am i excited about whats for lunch - absolutely :-))
(the lobby of the Taj is a sight in itself..)
you enter something that most of all appears to be any other 5* hotel in Europe, i step inside the hotel and is instantly met by a member of the hotel staff, welcoming me to the hotel, and ask on behalf of the Hotel Raj how she may be of service, i introduce myself and what i am here for and she replies "we are very happy to welcome you and your colleagues to our hotel, your visit has been awaited with high anticipation, and we are very happy that you are here.." and with that she escorts me to the elevators - and shows me where the press conference is set to be (my colleagues are already in their media brief when i enter ... )
(..what can i say - stylish and elegant .. )
welcome to the Taj hotel, or should i say welcome to another world, this here is definitely not the India i have seen and have come to love .. - but i have to admit one thing, i am impressed with the standards .. would i like to stay in a hotel like this, no, would i like to come here again, no not really .. am i excited what today will bring - for sure .. and more important, am i excited about whats for lunch - absolutely :-))
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