STALLEN HOSPITALITY

CX697 was delayed in Hong Kong so it was 105am when we landed in Delhi last night. Believe it or not there was a long queue at Immigration. Flight time was 5.5 hours but it took another 2.5 hours between getting off the aircraft to entering my room at 330am.

Stallen Suites in Defence Colony, a suburb of Delhi about 8km from the city center. I do not have a single clue where I was and the diver meandered through one circle to another because the subdivision gates were closed after certain hours and it was almost by luck we found it.

Speaking of old world charm, what a breath of fresh air. For starters I had to sign a huge register, IN BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE, the Receptionist quietly reminded me .. with the 'age' column front and center. I dared not look at his face when I put down 66 as I could well be their first guest over 40 judging from earlier entries. The setting was '80s, a tad tired but very homely. BTW the theme of my cooking sojourns is "Back to Basics" and the Stallen has met all my requirements of simplicity, efficiency and practicality. The sheets clean, the shower works, the in room WiFi flawless and the cabled TV stations a-plenty including amazing Indian cooking shows. All of this, plus breakfasts, for US$50 a night! Welcome to my reality check, the world I love, and missed.

STALLEN SUITES & APARTMENTS
A-153 Defence Colony New Delhi 110024
(91) 11 461 70124
www.stallenhospitality.com