The Rajdoot Incident

Usually I know of my trips appx 2 weeks before. One time I had to take an urgent fly to Delhi within 2 days.
I wasn't able to get a room at my regular hotel, so I have asked my local manager to book me a hotel room for 5 nights at the vicinity of our office.
Couple of hours later I got an email confirmation that my room is booked. It's the Rajdoot Hotel. I asked for the price, and was told: Rs 1900. (equal to 40USD at that time). That has raise an eyebrow, as the price was relatively cheap for the types of hotel I usually stay at, even for Delhi. I reconfirmed with my manager, but he assured me: "Don't worry, it's a great hotel.".

Arriving to Delhi from Europe is after midnight local time. I went to the taxi station and asked for a taxi to the Rajdoot Hotel. Now, I must tell you, this was the 2nd time that I felt something is bad. The taxi drivers had no clue what hotel I meant. After ~15 minutes, and as many as 10 drivers were asked, we were on our way to the hotel.

60 minutes on the roads, I had a strong feeling something is wrong, we were still driving to the hotel. *it usually took me 35-50 minutes to get to my hotel, so going for 60 meant we are further away.

After another 30 minutes (total driving time of 90 minutes, and the local time is 0200) we have arrived to a building, dark with front steps. As we got closer, my driver had flashed his lights, and out of nowhere, 2 people ran up the stairs, and open the lights. There it was, the Rajdoot Hotel. Can you imagine my face, understanding that they opened the hotel lights for me? well, yea, I am not Bill Gates, so why? Later I knew.

I had signed to a simple, 15sqm room, with a simple, wooden bed (imagine a door hanged on 4 wooden legs. Not a big door), which had a very thin mattress (can't think of a different name to it). It was a 2inch thick (hard to say thick on 2inches) latex foam, with the most simple bed sheet on it. I didn't complain, as I was extremely tired.

I went to the tiny shower, where there was no place to put my accessories bag, so that had to stay outside. Now, knowing India, I opened the water, and waited a good 10 minutes for the cold water to run, waiting for the hot, nice water to arrive. After 10 minutes, I took off my clothes, remember, outside of the shower, and wanted to get in. BRRR!! cold hit me. Now the dilemma:

• Wait until hot water reaches? This can take for ever.
• Go in now, take a freezing quick cold shower.But if hot water will reach at the end, you will feel very bad for suffering the cold water.

• I waited another 10 minutes, naked, cold.

• I took a freezing cold shower.

*During that time I started thinking on what's gonna happen to my local manager. My thoughts were so extreme, that I was amazed at my ingunuity.
My options were:

1. I will have him stay in this hotel for a month.
2. I will give him his wedding present as a weekend at that hotel.

Lying flat on my back felt like lying on stone. But on that piece of mattress, nothing else could do, as the bed was shorter than I by 2 cm. Which is a lot when you are trying to sleep.

I woke up (hardly) at 0700 that morning, went down to the reception and asked to check out. I had no clue where I will go, but I knew I am not staying there. The courteous employee was amazed, and noted to me that I have the room reserved for the entire week. I smiled, and said thank you, but I can't stay.

He offered me to have breakfast. It was early, I didn't eat properly (who can on a plane?) so I went to the restaurant. Without further words, that was the last time I ever saw the Rajdoot. I went out, took a taxi and went to my office.

I booked a hotel for 130USD that day, and had the hottest shower I could ever get.