petem
Well-Known Member
Described in the Rough Guide as "the stately home among India's top hotels". Public rooms overlook the Gateway to India and the Arabian Sea. Moored in front of the hotel you'll find plenty of local fishing boats and amazingly a solitary Princess of 1980's vintage. (Indians do not understand the concept of any leisure activity that involves spending large amounts of money.) Despite showing symptons of ameobic dysentery I had an excellent curry washed down with bottles of kingfisher. My colleague (female) asked for a toasted cheese sandwich (lightweight) and was asked if she wanted extra chillies in it. Watersports are not recommended due to the untreated sewage pumped into the sea from the slums further up the coast. In fact, you wouldn't be swimming, but 'going through the motions'!
Also worth note is the Leela Kempinski where I stayed (Rough Guide describes it as 'ultra luxurious'). Here they have 1500 staff for 750 guests. This results in fantastically over the top service, such as a boy posted in the restaurant toilet who would switch on taps, pump the soap machine and pass you a little towel. Hilights of the restaurant are the massive tiger prawns (the size of little lobsters) and the beautiful 'eye dancer' who performed in the restaurant one night.
For a complete opposite experience try a 'Masala Dossa' at the Mumbai municipal sports club cafe. Don't whatever you do use the toilet or peer into the kitchen. Still, not bad value at 70p for 3 meals and 3 cokes.
Also worth note is the Leela Kempinski where I stayed (Rough Guide describes it as 'ultra luxurious'). Here they have 1500 staff for 750 guests. This results in fantastically over the top service, such as a boy posted in the restaurant toilet who would switch on taps, pump the soap machine and pass you a little towel. Hilights of the restaurant are the massive tiger prawns (the size of little lobsters) and the beautiful 'eye dancer' who performed in the restaurant one night.
For a complete opposite experience try a 'Masala Dossa' at the Mumbai municipal sports club cafe. Don't whatever you do use the toilet or peer into the kitchen. Still, not bad value at 70p for 3 meals and 3 cokes.