καιρός remembered

The hotel room

I’d arrived at Haldwani station in the middle of the night and saw that the town was shrouded in complete darkness due to a power cut. With some difficulty, I found someone who could guide me through the darkness to a nearby guesthouse, where I was offered this room. I still remember clearly how I inspected the beds by the light of my torch and chose the one on the left. Looking at the photo now, I’m not sure if that was the right decision. Anyway, luckily I’d brought my own sleeping bag with me, which I could spread out so that no part of my body had to touch the sheet. Then I lay down and fell asleep.

I woke up very early that morning and was ready to leave the room in no time at all. But before I closed the door behind me, I had the presence of mind to take a photo – this photo – as proof and a memento of the most disgusting hotel room I’ve ever stayed in. Fifteen years on, its position on the list of all the hotel rooms I’ve ever stayed in remains the same, and I hope it stays that way.

Photo of the week: Haldwani, India, 1998