I started in the North and Saturday evening I decided to stay for the Sunday (21.01.07) at the
Taj in Chandigarh
I wanted a relaxed day and was a bit disturbed when at around 15:15pm some people knocked very strongly and impatient on my door. I opened and they
told me to leave the room immediately because of a
fire in the hotel.
Now a realized that the corridor was full of smoke and I got into my shoes but had to leave without any belongings, even my coat I could not grab. We found our way down the, smoke filled, emergency stair and reaching outside I noticed a lot of activities.
The fire brigade was in full action and attacked the fire, which broke out in the banquet hall.
There where many bewildered hotel guests roaming around and wondering what is going on. After a while I realized that it was quite cold but I was not allowed to go
upstairs to get my stuff. After a while with little information about our feat I decided to get to my room anyway. With the help of a hotel boy (which I bribed) I got up the smoky staircase, reached my room, grabbed my belongings (did not forget the safe where my passport
and cash was laying!) and went out again. Later we where brought to the
MountView Hotel, my preferred hotel at the time. I was very happy to have all my belongings with me. The others struggled to get it eventually!
I continued my trip to the South and than to
Mumbai. A positive highlight was the conclusion of the big deal at
Alok Industries Ltd., Silvassa (with Rahul Joshi and some help by Jörg Büchler) and an emotional fare well to
Mr. Ravichandran.