Airlines Hotel Amritsar

After 6 days in China, it's time to climb the mountains to conquer the highest paved mountain pass in the world: The Khunjerab Pass, to cross into Pakistan. Highest point at 4675m (depending on which map you have, all claiming different altitudes…). The amazing moment did bypass me a bit as we drove through a Chinese gate entering Pakistan quite suddenly a few km after the last Chinese checkpoint. Only to realize later that this also must have been the highest point ...

... the next day in Amritsar walking around streets with car garages, white goods stores, second hand false teeth shops, and eventually found another piece of calm in the way of the Crystal Restaurant, where we had a very upmarket meal by our standards (5er).<br><br>That night we waited for a few hours for our first overnight trainthat would take us to our next destination, Rishikesh. We couldn't wait to get back into the mountains.<br><br>Over and out.

... booked our tickets made sure to give us the upper berths because he said those are the best and offer the most privacy. Normally, the three people in the bunks on each side sit on the lower bunk until it is time to sleep, at which point the middle bed is created out of the seatback. But by the time the train had gotten to our stop, the two people below me were already asleep so I was forced to climb up to my bunk already. Another problem with getting on after the first ...

... and rice pudding on to our metal trays. We had failed to pick up a spoon, so had to eat with our fingers, using bits of chappatti as a spoon.<br><br>We were also given a bowl of water, which I thought must be a finger bowl and dipped my fingers in it. This amused the men opposite but horrified our new friends. Suddenly our sitting was up and we had to take our trays down. It was a chaotic system but it worked.<br><br>In the evening we had a thali at a cafe called ...

Sat writing this at the Golden Temple complex. Not staying h**e mind. People stay h**e for the exp**ience but I feel no need. I'm at Lucky's Guest house a stones throw away, and boy do I feel lucky punk. I can see the temple from the roof top. Not that you would want to be on the roof top of course. Its a building site that houses a huge incredibly loud back up gen**ator. Obviously this is just next to my room. Howev** this immense noise is not a problem. With my door closed, TV, fan ...

... mode of transportation other than a bicycle rickshaw. The theme of Amritsar would seriously be a defiance of our expectations however, and he led us to his mangled bicycle. He somehow packed our backpacks into it and fit us on top, and after pulling up a sun cover uncomfortably right on top of our heads, he jumped on and took off. I can't imagine a vehicle more awkward, more degrading, and more regretful than the bicycle rickshaw (except maybe the rickshaw that's pulled by some guy). We ...

... English girls ran off to do something and I met these two people from the dorm. The guy was from Ottawa (and flaming gay) and there was a girl named Lavinia. I am not sure what the guy's name was and I can't remember where Lavinia was from. But anyway...the two of them said that they wanted to go to the border ceremony (between India and Pakistan) that evening. I said that I also wanted to go and that some other people from the dorm would want to go as well. They said that they had ...

... religion, any race, either sex, all castes. Estimates put the number at over 40,000 pilgrims fed EVERY DAY. We went twice. It was only simple dall and some Chapati (and some sticky sweet **** that tasted just like the rat temple smelled), but the experience was crazy. Nearly 500 of us were admitted, fed til our bellies were full, and let out in under 20 minutes. WE all carried our dished down to the washing area, were they ...

... through donations. To enter the temple area, everyone must remove their shoes, wash their feet and cover their heads. Entering the temple area, you find yourself presented with a square man-made lake with a striking golden temple in the middle. Golden as in 750 kg worth of gold used to make the temple and its inverted lotus flower dome roof! As you can imagine, when the sun is out it makes for quite a sight! The 'lake ...

... but to sit and wait 2 hours for a train back again. Finally I reached the Sikh's holy city of Amritsar...<br><br><br><br> Sunset at the temple is a magical experience. I can't imagine that it would leave even the most hardline atheist unmoved. Entering the complex in bare feet, to be washed in the footbaths, through an arched gateway and down steps, the Golden Temple lies ahead, appearing to ...