Last days in the north

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Last days in the North
Amritsar has to be the dirtiest city we've ever visited. Visibilty was so bad you could barely see the end on the hotel courtyard. But at night, the golden temple really did look quite magnificent. We almost blended into the background of Sikh pilgrims - except for a bunch of teenage girls who ran up to us to shake our hands and to tell Rachel how beautiful she was. I'd never seen her blush so much!

The next day we went to the Indian/Pakistan border at Wagha to see the famous border ceremony. After all of the pomp and circumstance - shouting soldiers with what can only be described as one of the marches from Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks, we came to the conclusion that it was simply an excuse for lots of singing and a bit of national pride. The Indian grandstands were full, but I got the impression that the Pakistanis have got a little more to worry about than to be shouting at their neighbours. Two bombers targetted Lahore and somewhere else yesterday, perhaps this explained their depleted numbers?

On the 'expensive' express train back to Delhi, it could have been mistaken for being on the eurostar. Comfortable seating, western dressed middle class passengers, air conditioning and waiter service. As a cockroach scurried out from Rachel's breakfast, we were brought back to earth remembering that this is India!

However, after a couple of hours on the train, we halted at a station to overhear the rather grotesque fat mummy's boy in front of us whining that that some Punjabis were having a sit-down protest and the train would be delayed. 7 hours behind schedule we rolled into Delhi station, surprisingly relaxed considering we should have been in Agra looking at the Taj Mahal by now.

Refusing to be beaten (and missing the Taj again because of trains), we booked tickets for the 5.30 train the next day, checked into a hotel with another couple who'd had the same issues and went for a well deserved Kingfisher.

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Photos

The Golden Temple
Absolutely stunning!!

The Taj!
After 2 days of travelling we finally made it to the Taj

Comments

[Adonica]

beautiful
Wow! You two always have smiles and look so relaxed. It seems this was a well deserved break and needed adventure! I'm loving the pictures and the stories. x

[Jane Ralph]

seeing the world
Hi you guys, many thanks for keeping your log so up todate!! Your travels sound very exciting, and 'worldly' - you seems to have been gone for such a long time already - it probably seems even longer to you! Life here goes on - but that must seems so far away to you. Where next? I guess you may have meet people that you will keep in touch with for some time and some for life. I hope you have both been well, and stay so. Preps for christmas are taking place here, and I was only thinking the other day - where will you two be for christmas? will it be a 'christian' country?? will you celebrate at all? and what is the actual date of the wedding and which hotel etc etc are you staying in for the wedding?? Look forward to hearing from you, have fun - and stay well lots of love Jane xxxx