Some hostels in Delhi

Hostel owners play it strategically. In a place where people are likely to chat about poor service and dodgy deals, there is a practical solution: don't afford them the place to chat! This seemed to be the setup in my particular hostel, part of the New King chain that includes Kuldeep and Yes Boss. They comprise more than half of the cheap hostels in Delhi. Damn monopolies. I couldn't find any Delhi hostels with good common areas.

When I come back after a day of wandering around, I enter the room to find water running all over the floor, when all i wanted was to take a pee break. I hold it in. go downstairs. The 14-year old porter wants to blame me for turning a tap. I haven't touched a thing, and it occurs to me that this is the first pee all day. It's 6pm, and not going well so far. The toilet is naturally filthy, and the water and condensation running all day has made the room humid and hospitable to mosquitoes. I hold my breath, and make the best of the situation by taking a combination toilet break. I have to borrow tissue from the danish couple next door, who may have been scammed into paying $2000 for their 23 day trip that must include every single site in Rajasthan.

It will suck if they have paid for nothing: they have not even been allowed to see their train tickets there. It may be great and reasonable value too. Wish them the best. But I am so tired that I can hardly even understand what they are saying in Danish. Everybody is travelling in pairs or triplets, and it's completely understandable. India as a backpacker is an overwhelming place and meeting up with Shome's friends on the weekend could not come sooner I'm really looking forward to a break, to trustworthy people. To ... chillaxing :P