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| How do I turn down the turn down service? |
I am now considering maintaining an open topic list for all the
little nagging things that are still remaining to be done. Moving in to the new
apartment in Germany has brought along countless tasks that are now in
desperate need of prioritization and execution. At times like these I have
always secretly yearned for housekeeping.
little nagging things that are still remaining to be done. Moving in to the new
apartment in Germany has brought along countless tasks that are now in
desperate need of prioritization and execution. At times like these I have
always secretly yearned for housekeeping.
My earliest memory of staying in a hotel goes all the way back
to one that was named “Green View” situated smack in the middle of my hometown
in India. I can’t recall what made us stay in a hotel in the same city where we
lived but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was instantly drawn to the magically clean
rooms that appeared every morning. I can still relish the memory of
experiencing air-conditioned air the first time in my life. In fact, I am quite
sure that I had to be dragged away from putting my face in the way of cold air
with stout force. The clean white sheets, the perfectly matching furniture and
the ability to call food to the room with a mere phone call indicated that I
was indeed in the right place. I was particularly thrilled with my first
encounter with a wad of toilet paper. When my brother and I were done pulling
out size-able chunks of it for no reason at it, my dad showed me how ink would
blot on such a paper. I was fairly convinced that paper with so much fun
potential should have no be reason to be quarantined to a toilet. All in all,
it left an ever lasting impression on my very young mind that staying in the
hotel would always trump staying at home.
to one that was named “Green View” situated smack in the middle of my hometown
in India. I can’t recall what made us stay in a hotel in the same city where we
lived but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was instantly drawn to the magically clean
rooms that appeared every morning. I can still relish the memory of
experiencing air-conditioned air the first time in my life. In fact, I am quite
sure that I had to be dragged away from putting my face in the way of cold air
with stout force. The clean white sheets, the perfectly matching furniture and
the ability to call food to the room with a mere phone call indicated that I
was indeed in the right place. I was particularly thrilled with my first
encounter with a wad of toilet paper. When my brother and I were done pulling
out size-able chunks of it for no reason at it, my dad showed me how ink would
blot on such a paper. I was fairly convinced that paper with so much fun
potential should have no be reason to be quarantined to a toilet. All in all,
it left an ever lasting impression on my very young mind that staying in the
hotel would always trump staying at home.
Of course, as I grew older my standards changed and benchmarks
climbed higher. It is easy for me to recall the view I had out of a porthole in
my shower overlooking Yokohama in Japan. Or being able to sit on window sill,
jet lagged sleepless but in love with the city of Tokyo. I spent the evening in
an outdoor heated Jacuzzi under the Laplandic northern lights. I stared at the
beautifully architecture of concrete steel and glass in Chicago. In Kerala,
India I especially enjoyed being greeted by elephants made out freshly
laundered towels. Not surprisingly, such hotels only re-affirmed my affinity
for checking in and out.
climbed higher. It is easy for me to recall the view I had out of a porthole in
my shower overlooking Yokohama in Japan. Or being able to sit on window sill,
jet lagged sleepless but in love with the city of Tokyo. I spent the evening in
an outdoor heated Jacuzzi under the Laplandic northern lights. I stared at the
beautifully architecture of concrete steel and glass in Chicago. In Kerala,
India I especially enjoyed being greeted by elephants made out freshly
laundered towels. Not surprisingly, such hotels only re-affirmed my affinity
for checking in and out.
In fact, if I must be honest, it would take an especially bad
hotel for me to complain of my night’s stay. I found myself completely biased
for Hotel rooms as they would always present themselves clean, with a
consistent sanitary smell, a bed that was made up and needed serious tugging at
the sheet to get in and a toilette that was dry, clean and overflowing with
neatly folded white towels. I had often wondered how it would be stay in such a
cocoon for a longer time.
hotel for me to complain of my night’s stay. I found myself completely biased
for Hotel rooms as they would always present themselves clean, with a
consistent sanitary smell, a bed that was made up and needed serious tugging at
the sheet to get in and a toilette that was dry, clean and overflowing with
neatly folded white towels. I had often wondered how it would be stay in such a
cocoon for a longer time.
Logistical issues with my move to Germany meant that I ended up
spending close to nine weeks in a hotel. By the third week I started to get
antsy. The room walls closed upon me inch by inch, every night. I started to
despise the exact same orderliness in my room. I found myself staying out as
late as possible. In fact by the fifth week, I craved for chores! By the sixth
week, I despised the art piece that was on the room wall. I was convinced that
it was selected without the slightest bit of artistic appreciation. By the
ninth week, I was gob smackingly giddy with the prospect of checking out.
spending close to nine weeks in a hotel. By the third week I started to get
antsy. The room walls closed upon me inch by inch, every night. I started to
despise the exact same orderliness in my room. I found myself staying out as
late as possible. In fact by the fifth week, I craved for chores! By the sixth
week, I despised the art piece that was on the room wall. I was convinced that
it was selected without the slightest bit of artistic appreciation. By the
ninth week, I was gob smackingly giddy with the prospect of checking out.
I question if any hotel can be good enough to consider staying
for longer periods. Or rather what is it about the same four walls of a home
that draws us back in every day without it being monotonous?
for longer periods. Or rather what is it about the same four walls of a home
that draws us back in every day without it being monotonous?
Every morning beds have to be made. Cleaning dishes and floors
remain constantly on your to do list. Occasionally this list expands to cover
other rooms but almost never reduces. Moving in to a new apartment brings with
it an additional list of chores, each of which always manage to take way more
time than needed or planned.
remain constantly on your to do list. Occasionally this list expands to cover
other rooms but almost never reduces. Moving in to a new apartment brings with
it an additional list of chores, each of which always manage to take way more
time than needed or planned.
I sit here in my new apartment and everywhere I look, just allude
to a task that I haven’t yet done. Empty cartons need to be disposed, light
fixtures need to be installed, curtain hangings and planning needs to be done.
The floor could well use a sweep and mop and the bare white walls need
desperate adornment with pictures. Very important documents lie on window sills
awaiting their permanent homes in files and drawers.
to a task that I haven’t yet done. Empty cartons need to be disposed, light
fixtures need to be installed, curtain hangings and planning needs to be done.
The floor could well use a sweep and mop and the bare white walls need
desperate adornment with pictures. Very important documents lie on window sills
awaiting their permanent homes in files and drawers.
Yet, all is in order. There is no checking out of this one. There
is a strange solace that comes with these endless chores. And within these four
walls that constitute my home external differences disappear. Regardless of the
continent, the country and the time zone, the aroma of my living will stay
constant and grounded.
is a strange solace that comes with these endless chores. And within these four
walls that constitute my home external differences disappear. Regardless of the
continent, the country and the time zone, the aroma of my living will stay
constant and grounded.
Interesting! Loved the bit about the toilet paper 🙂 I remember collecting the tiny soaps and shampoo bottles for my doll house!
I guess home feels like home because you call it your own. A colorless empty space that you embrace and bring to life.
~Blissenobiarella
Blissenobiarella: Thanks! Yeah, it's just strange how ancient memories can remain so crystal clear. Thanks for visiting.
Like the new blog look
I like the cozy homes with list of to do chores…I am jealous that you have new place to make it look somewhat tidy somewhat meessy..the starting and arranging and rearranging..have fun..
black and white car in background is giving a vey nice look to the blog 🙂
Mahesh: Thanks!
Birdy: Yeah, but don't be too jealous 🙂 Its only grass that appears green..
Dear Dushyant,
Your penchant for retrieving minor memories and making them memorable is amazing. Strictly speaking I do not remember why we had gone to Green View Hotel. It could be 1987, when as a Plant Head in the midst of severe Industrial Unrest, with Sunil Bagul as my opponent, I was holding secret meetings with Union Leaders in the Hotel by hiring a room.
Baba, now that you told me this may be it wasn't such a good idea to find out. Lucklily I was small enough to be oblivious 🙂
my god uncle, that's such an interesting story. What were these secret meetings, very filmy 🙂
.Imagine a lion that peed on an area to mark its territory…Only to find that the next day room service has come in and cleaned up all the pee….Thats probably what you were experiencing….
There is something to being in a "home". It is our way of marking our space…
So view all the unfinished chores as metaphorical peeing…There is an incentive to clean up right there,,,,
August born : hehe. Only you could come up with this 🙂 good show I say.