The Maidens Hotel has been updated and maintained inside. The simplicity of the rooms is calming. The ceilings are white with a slight tint of cream in the walls. The central glass pendant is elegant and bed lamps traditional. The huge glass chandeliers hang in the foyer and are a magnificent sight as one decends the straight down for three stories. Just a turn for the last flight.
We enjoyed two gin and tonics in the bar waiting for Ashwinder. From 6 to 8 was the Happy hour with drinks two for the price of one.
There was no extra reading material in the room. Just information about the hotel services. The shampoos were Karma not Forest Green like the fancy hotels we have stayed.
NOW WE ARE AT SHIMLA
After two nights at the Cecil hotel situated in the Himalayan mountains at the same height as Mt Kosciusko in Australia we are gaining an insight into the Indian way of life. This city was the colonial capital of India during the British colonial times. The summer lodge was build over four years from 1893/1987 and occupied for six months from April to September then returned to Calcutta.We visited the Viceroy summer lodge. Last occupied by Lord Mountbatten in 1947 when the Indians gained independence. From the garden at the Viceroy summer lodge garden we could see a temple on a distance hill but on the same ridge Rava suggested we go there tomorrow and from there one could see 380degrees of the area. As this was the capital there were houses all through the valley. This whole area is getting world heritage status. We visited the second Church of Christ built in India. . The Mall is where the locals walk and meet. Our guide said it was very important to dress properly in The Mall. A lift took us to the upper level after our driver dropped us near to the derelict building perched on the hill where many bakeries are located. The guide said this was to be replaced. As Shimla is crowded it is hard to get a building permit. The places we walked were very clean and tidy. Notices everywhere that smoking was an offence as well as littering. We saw women cleaning up. The guide described her as the sweeping class. I noticed that no one sat on the ground as in Dehli and all other places in India we visited.
We have been treated like the Raj. The staff at the hotel always willing to help with a smile. WeU drank endless cups of coffee, then lattes. The breakfast was buffet with fruits including apples, pears watermelon, pineapple and papaya. After that we had a selection of cooked eggs. I had poached this morning and Phil chose the delicious button mushrooms. This area is famous for its apples.
Our guide left us at restaurant in the centre of town for lunch. We walked up the stairs and it was full of school girls. As I walked by everyone of them said good afternoon madam. All very impressive. They smiled for the photographs. The teacher in charge said it was reserved, but the manager over ruled the head school teacher and said come in. We
enjoyed a delicious dish with rice, chicken and peas.
We were treated so well it could be easy to ignore the slums in the valley. There area there was dirty, crowded and full of rubbish. We found it hard to understand the Indian attitude to rubbish. On the train people threw the rubbish out the window, spoiling the landscape. This town has addressed the issue and plastic bags are banned. Our driver is named Rava. Tomorrow we will have a new driver to take us down the mountain.
The dining room staff has nice names. Neeraj and
BACK AT THE HOTEL
Now back at The Cecil Hotel in Shimla. The welcome we received on arriving back at the hotel was amazing. The doormen rushed out with the umbrella and ushered Philip in. I had got out the other side with the help of the driver and managed to take a snap of Phil as he climbed from the car. The charge was R250 and he gave him an extra 20 to make it R270. It was only a kilometre from where we were caught in the monsoon rain but he had to take us the long way around. Taking the small narrow road where cars and buses have barely enough room to pass it was six kilometres. We weren't prepared for the sudden downpour. If we had been with our guide he would have produced an umbrella for us. Any way the rain was very heavy and putting up an umbrella was not enough. We would have had to stay in the shelter at the hospital.
It was a wonderful day walking the Mall. Busy with lots of people, all very friendly, holding hands and cheerful. We were amazed with the large number of pharmacies. Phil bought a few products and they we extremely cheap. No wonder Sigma share price has dived.
The food at the street stalls was wonderful. Boiled eggs with chilli powder and chives, roasted corn, ice cream, I tried the saffron and cashew one and Phil the chocolate. We inspected the Police station which was really a branch of the main station.
We had dinner in the hotel. I ordered the chicken with pomegranates and Phil the cauliflower and peas. Unfortunately I was given Rogan Josh. I asked where the pomegranates we and he looked blank. He said that I had Rogan Josh. I replied that I had ordered Chicken with pomegranates. He said he would enquire. I didn't want to make too much of a fuss and said it's ok and he has given us good service.
Compare with Mount Kosciuszko
We enjoyed two gin and tonics in the bar waiting for Ashwinder. From 6 to 8 was the Happy hour with drinks two for the price of one.
There was no extra reading material in the room. Just information about the hotel services. The shampoos were Karma not Forest Green like the fancy hotels we have stayed.
NOW WE ARE AT SHIMLA
After two nights at the Cecil hotel situated in the Himalayan mountains at the same height as Mt Kosciusko in Australia we are gaining an insight into the Indian way of life. This city was the colonial capital of India during the British colonial times. The summer lodge was build over four years from 1893/1987 and occupied for six months from April to September then returned to Calcutta.We visited the Viceroy summer lodge. Last occupied by Lord Mountbatten in 1947 when the Indians gained independence. From the garden at the Viceroy summer lodge garden we could see a temple on a distance hill but on the same ridge Rava suggested we go there tomorrow and from there one could see 380degrees of the area. As this was the capital there were houses all through the valley. This whole area is getting world heritage status. We visited the second Church of Christ built in India. . The Mall is where the locals walk and meet. Our guide said it was very important to dress properly in The Mall. A lift took us to the upper level after our driver dropped us near to the derelict building perched on the hill where many bakeries are located. The guide said this was to be replaced. As Shimla is crowded it is hard to get a building permit. The places we walked were very clean and tidy. Notices everywhere that smoking was an offence as well as littering. We saw women cleaning up. The guide described her as the sweeping class. I noticed that no one sat on the ground as in Dehli and all other places in India we visited.
We have been treated like the Raj. The staff at the hotel always willing to help with a smile. WeU drank endless cups of coffee, then lattes. The breakfast was buffet with fruits including apples, pears watermelon, pineapple and papaya. After that we had a selection of cooked eggs. I had poached this morning and Phil chose the delicious button mushrooms. This area is famous for its apples.
Our guide left us at restaurant in the centre of town for lunch. We walked up the stairs and it was full of school girls. As I walked by everyone of them said good afternoon madam. All very impressive. They smiled for the photographs. The teacher in charge said it was reserved, but the manager over ruled the head school teacher and said come in. We
enjoyed a delicious dish with rice, chicken and peas.
We were treated so well it could be easy to ignore the slums in the valley. There area there was dirty, crowded and full of rubbish. We found it hard to understand the Indian attitude to rubbish. On the train people threw the rubbish out the window, spoiling the landscape. This town has addressed the issue and plastic bags are banned. Our driver is named Rava. Tomorrow we will have a new driver to take us down the mountain.
The dining room staff has nice names. Neeraj and
BACK AT THE HOTEL
Now back at The Cecil Hotel in Shimla. The welcome we received on arriving back at the hotel was amazing. The doormen rushed out with the umbrella and ushered Philip in. I had got out the other side with the help of the driver and managed to take a snap of Phil as he climbed from the car. The charge was R250 and he gave him an extra 20 to make it R270. It was only a kilometre from where we were caught in the monsoon rain but he had to take us the long way around. Taking the small narrow road where cars and buses have barely enough room to pass it was six kilometres. We weren't prepared for the sudden downpour. If we had been with our guide he would have produced an umbrella for us. Any way the rain was very heavy and putting up an umbrella was not enough. We would have had to stay in the shelter at the hospital.
It was a wonderful day walking the Mall. Busy with lots of people, all very friendly, holding hands and cheerful. We were amazed with the large number of pharmacies. Phil bought a few products and they we extremely cheap. No wonder Sigma share price has dived.
The food at the street stalls was wonderful. Boiled eggs with chilli powder and chives, roasted corn, ice cream, I tried the saffron and cashew one and Phil the chocolate. We inspected the Police station which was really a branch of the main station.
We had dinner in the hotel. I ordered the chicken with pomegranates and Phil the cauliflower and peas. Unfortunately I was given Rogan Josh. I asked where the pomegranates we and he looked blank. He said that I had Rogan Josh. I replied that I had ordered Chicken with pomegranates. He said he would enquire. I didn't want to make too much of a fuss and said it's ok and he has given us good service.
Compare with Mount Kosciuszko
Mount Kosciuszko
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