Something I very well know about myself is, I like to be comfortable.
Whether that is choosing to wear a pair of chucks instead of heels on a night out, or bringing a jacket even though I know I will have to heave it around all day (like a commoner) until i’ll actually need it just so i’m not freezing my pits off later that night. If I am a passenger in your car, you bet your ass i’m reclining the chair back or crossing my legs on the seat!
So as I enter the hotel room, I take a small unappreciative glance around and soon discover that there is nowhere else to glance to. Something else I know about myself is, I value space and that the environment surrounding you plays a big role in your wellbeing.
Now the one prerequisite I had coming into this quarantine was a window that could open. Above all things, this is what I cared about the most – fresh air and the touch of the sun.
The windows at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney in fact, do not open…
After finally discovering the creative side of Twitch, I had the camera rolling on my old Mac-Pro and the live-stream up and running. It wasn’t long until I forgot I was on camera… I had more pressing matters to attend to.
I settled into the “space”, took a few deep breathes and tried not to be dramatic and pretend to claw at the permanently closed windows. I immediately took note of all the dust laying around since (fun fact about me) I’m allergic to dust. So I called the front desk or “Magic” hotline as the Hilton calls it and to my great displeasure, I was turned down upon my request for a vacuum but was offered a dustpan instead. I rejected this “solution” by saying no thank you, I would not like to attempt to sweep up the dust, to find that it is now flying about the room for me to be showered over and choke on from inhaling. I didn’t say those exact words but although polite, my underlining sarcastic tone (that I am not so proud of now) made it quite clear to whoever I was speaking to that this was a dumb idea.
So now a room full of dust and no opening windows for the dust to blow out to.
I have to keep reminding myself that this is only temporary and everyone else in this hotel must be experiencing the same thing so I should just get over it. But I am human. So although I may not like it, I will complain every once in a while.
I now move on to the second most important thing besides fresh air – the environment surrounding me. It was not 2-hours later that I find the room I was first introduced to had completely disappeared and I was now in what I can only describe as one of those Tumblr or Pinterest type studio appartments. You know the ones – fake brick walls, lots of green plants, fairy lights and those clean white sheets that seem to never discolour or get any spills on. Which is quite unrealistic. I have tried to obtain this style of bedroom before and I can honestly say that I enjoy drinking black tea in bed far more than keeping up with the aesthetics of “picturesque minimalism”. And if you are wonderind, yes I have already got a tea stain on these white sheets from trying to get some sunlight in the window frame.
I did have a little idea at the back of mind that this new layout may only be a temporary solution but it was good enough for the moment and I definitely lost the idea of feeling like I was in a hotel room.
Mission accomplished.
Now the Hilton is not all sealed shut windows and piles of dust. Something that I am clearly taking for granted is the catering service they have provided for this quarantine experience. I arrived just after lunch and was delivered a fat baguette coated in pesto, stuffed with roquette, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and pumpkin, a beetroot and feta salad and three mini donuts (cinnamon, sprinkles and chocolate) and a huge cookie. I devoured all this although I was still full from the aeroplane breakfast that I wasn’t sure I was even hungry for (it was free food, so I ate it!). And I know what you’re probably thinking, “if you’re full, just dont eat it then”. And waste precious food that was intended for me? I think not!
A very short couple of hours later (still full) I was delivered dinner which included rice with a veggie/curry side (I am Pescatarian so if there’s a meat dish that isn’t seafood, I will get whatever the vegetarian option is), a small slice of mango cake (yes I ate that too), and a serving of edamame.
I am comfy, I am full and I am ready to re-set for tomorrow.