Sleeping Around

When I travel, I like to try out different kinds of lodgings. I love staying at the offbeat and the unusual, especially places that are unique to that area. From treehouses, to huts on stilts, to Buddhist monasteries -- I would choose unique over luxurious any day.

Here, a sampling of the range of places I've slept in over the last three years.

This treehouse in southern India provided many hours of enjoyment	One of my favorite accommodations: a water bungalow on stilts in Kuramathi, Maldives.
This boat was my lodging during a 3-day cruise through the mangrove forests of the Sunderbans in West Bengal, India.	On the Mt. Everest trek in Nepal, I didn't care where I slept, as long as I could be horizontal. Exhausted and altitude sick, I crashed on a bench in the lodge.
The bamboo windows in this houseboat in Kerala, India provided a lovely breeze at night.	The breathtaking view from my bedroom at Hotel Everest View, in Nepal.
Along the Himalayas trail, accommodations were strictly bring-your-own sleeping bag, here drying out in the sun.	This dormitory in Nepal consisted of bedrooms the size of a closet, but made up for it with a fabulous view and a resident yak.
These traditional cottages in the Andaman Islands (India) are called Nicobar huts.	Clare and I spent a night in this guest house at a Buddhist monastery in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India.
This all-natural ayuervedic resort on the Malabar coast had walls made of layers of cuscus grass.	A posh hotel in Lombok, Indonesia, where the pool (front) met the ocean (back).
Form + function: An elegant poster bed provides the frame for mosquito netting at a resort in Kodappuram Beach, Kerala.	A fresh orchid on my pillow greeted me at this hotel in Phuket, Thailand.
I've spent many a night on the top bunk of a train compartment on overnight journeys to new cities!	The home of a family in a small village in southern India, where I was graciously invited by a friend to share in Pongal festivities.
This charming bed-and-breakfast in the heart of Rome, Italy, was just a room in someone's house.	A rarity in the heart of New York City: a clean and inexpensive room in the Chelsea district.
The first month of my residence in India was at this Park Sheraton hotel in Chennai.	This hotel on Baratang Island (India) takes the prize for being the worst place I've ever stayed in.
This stand-alone hut on stilts was part of the Bolgatty Palace hotel in Kerala, which was formerly a Dutch palace.	This sitting room of the Fairlawn Hotel in Kolkata, with memorabilia covering every inch of wall space, felt like the house of someone's great-aunt.
High up in the Kodaikanal Hill station in Tamil Nadu, India	The Tibet Peace Guest House was not in Tibet, but in Kathmandu.

Comments

[kevin g]

Wow, you've certainly moved about. A tree house hotel room sounds great, at least to me. To look out on Everest, to stay at the Tibet Peace Guest House (even in Kathmandu), and a water bungalow, not too shabby! Thanks again for sharing your photo travel diary!

[Max]

There's something about huts on stilts that gets my interest. That hut in the Maldives looks the business. Here in Thailand there used to be a lot of accommodation like that but sadly it's all fast being replaced by hotels and facilities catering for the package tour market.

[DonnaK]

The old Basia is back. Yes, Yes, Yes!

[Basia]

Kevin: You're welcome, glad to know you are enjoying.

Max: Yes, huts on stilts are the best! And the one in Maldives was one of my favorites.

Donna: Yeah, this blogging thing is an addiction. Not as easy to quit as I thought! :o)

[Gayathri]

Woah! U've been placed :) Way to go Basia!

I absolutely love the houseboat in Kerala. Not ever been on one, but would love to. In the pic, it looks quite lovely and serene!

[Prasi]

I'm so glad that it's so difficult for you to stop blogging! :-)