I travelled to 30 odd districts/small towns of Karnataka, and few districts in Tamil Nadu and Bihar and I stayed in hotels, well at least the idea of a hotel.
Hotel owners are torn between their distorted ideas of what a hotel is supposed look, feel, and act like; to what kind of experience a small town businessman expects. This mixed-up state of mind produces a design that reflects perhaps: What is/was considered affluent in that town or by the hotel owner? And what the hotel owner’s or the town’s thinking is about this idea of an ideal hotel?
I believe there is synonomity between the thinking of the ‘hotel owner’ and ‘town’.
All most all hotels are a mishmash of time, and the photographs should show how various objects are juxtaposing each other in this space of time.
Uniformity or thematic design is a rarity.
Effort is often exhibited than realised - it counts for a better tip. The next thing he's going to do for you is switch on the television and watch it with you - till you get the hint to tip him.
Of course it isn't intuitive! I found on a number of occasions that the one on the right gives you hot water. And yes if you don't wake up before 9am you're likely to a have cold bath.
Colour pink and all other unsubtle colours signify "wealth". Keeping walls white or a lighter colour means that they couldn't afford the second coat of paint.
Glossy oil wall paint allows easy cleaning. Also, they have pillow overs made of rexine so that it is easy to wipe off hair oil stains that were left behind by the previous guest.
These are all steps to taken so that they can charge you as low as 150 rupees a night.
Wondering what this elaborate design is for?
It used to a cupboard but now it has no doors, so its... its... just a thing now.
Hair oil and a soap. All to provide you one/few uses only.
All furniture points to the podium, the television. A day in this hotel costs 500 rupees. The television is how the hotel owner is able to provide satisfactory service.
Serving you since 1979
The previous picture is from the same room - Some things and telephones get left behind in the lapses of time.
Palm trees, parking lot and symmetrical building are ideas of a Motel, "aint that r(a)ight" ?
In the middle of the night you wake up to the light in your face - You need a few seconds to realise where you are.
Don't be alarmed when something sounds like its creeping under your door at 6:15 AM.
