I do not understand why, in choosing travel accommodation,
some people would say dismissively, “oh, we’re just sleeping there
anyway.” Hotels, inns,
bed-and-breakfasts, hostels, homestays – are they nothing more than
places to sleep? I think not. They are an essential part of the whole
travel experience. In fact, some of my
memorable experiences on the road involve--and revolve around--the places I
stayed at.
Here are my favorites:
Teresek View Motel, Kuala Tahan, Pahang, Malaysia
This inn is included in the tour package for Taman Negara
National Park that we got so I had no idea how it would be like. It turned out really crummy: the smell of durian that pervaded the place
and engulfed the senses; a bathroom you wouldn’t want to set your foot in
without slippers on; the smell of moldy linens camouflaged by perfume; a
‘private’ balcony that turned out to be not so private after all. But our stay at Teresek View became the highlight of our trip. The sheer shabbiness
of the place changed the way I look at life on the road and life in general. It taught me that when I’m in a foreign place I can’t afford to be fussy and fastidious, and yielding to the place and to the
moment is the best way to have fun. From then on, travel became less of a
‘vacation’ but more of experiencing both the niceties and nastiness of every
day.
Umaid Bhawan Hotel, Jaipur, India
Umaid Bhawan is a favorite for how it looks. I felt like a maharani staying in such a swanky place.
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Royal Suite, Umaid Bhawan Hotel, Jaipur, India |
Hotel Centre Pointe Silom, Bangkok, Thailand
It was my first time to go to Bangkok when we stayed at Centre Pointe. I thought at that time that the high-rise
hotel with its sanitized feel and modern facilities looked incongruous with the
chaos that surrounded it. Stepping out of its doors, we were greeted by the ceaseless
tumult of everyday life: colorful tuktuks
all around, people walking to the Saphan Taksin pier to catch a riverboat taxi,
street vendors hawking charcoal-grilled fish, yen ta four, rompers, dragon fruits, lottery tickets—an entire
world of goodies that enchant wide-eyed tourists like me. Without this
incessant commotion in its surroundings, Centre
Pointe would be like any other nice yet dull hotel.
8 Auspicious Him View Hotel, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, India
I am not a religious person, but I loved how this inn named
and decorated their rooms with the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism. We stayed
at the White Conch room wherein I can see the stunning Dhauladhar range without
having to get up from bed.
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White Conch Room, 8 Auspicious Him View Hotel, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, India |
The Green House, Urubamba, Huaran, Peru
The Green House remains my favorite among all the hotels
and inns I’ve stayed. Let me quote from a post I’ve written earlier:
… The Green House offered
us a restorative sojourn. Located in the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley, this
bed-and-breakfast became our sanctuary from noise and disquiet, a place where
the din of hooting horns, screaming brakes and prattling tourists is
refreshingly absent and the modest sound of the stream behind our room blended
with the place’s tranquil silence.
Its splendid isolation,
away from life’s daily disruptions and distractions, rewarded us with the rare
chance to be together - to go on quiet walks, discover the depths and delights
of the community, picnic on freshly baked bread and fruits in the middle of
harvested corn fields and drink in the magnificence of the Andes.