Hotel CJ International Amritsar

... but the crazy holes-avoiding-driving that makes me fear for Frits! I will never again complain about Kazakhstan roads, they are amazing compared to this ;-))<br><br>We cross a few police check points at which we are kindly offered the national drink: Pakistani milk tea (black tea with a lot of milk and sugar!). No time to linger, so we continue. The road finds its way through the mountains, following a river, like a little back road into a hidden valley. Everywhere we ...

... inside then. The net was taken down and we finally got some sleep. The next morning we started to get ready and noticed that we both resembled something out of a horror movie, we'd been eaten alive! Nicola had bites up her arms and on her shoulders, I had the same however they'd even attacked my head! I quickly bought a bandana which is now being worn Rambo style to cover the awful mess up! Quite a rubbish start to the day, it could ...

... around and distribute sheets, blankets, and pillows for free, but there was no meal service so I was glad I had already eaten. The train left Haridwar around 9:40 and by 10:30 most people in our section were trying to get to sleep and wanted the lights turned off, so I put on my iPod for a little bit and then went to sleep.<br><br>I slept surprisingly well and the AC was strong so I had a cool night for a change, but the cramped position I was forced into made me wake up ...

... We have just visited the Jallianwalla Bagh, a garden memorial where in 1919 General Dyer of the British Army massacred 2000 peaceful protesters. It was a very peaceful place, and we sat under shelter as it rained for half an hour or so, meeting some more Indian visitors and having some more photos taken.<br><br>We have just found out that our train tickets are confirmed, and we will be leaving Amritsar later on today.<br><br>Hope all is well at home, I'll write again from Agra.

... hotel. not a problem Sir. Don't think I'll be wanting any hot show**s. Just 5 rupee ice creams and those ultra refreshing 250ml bottles of pop.<br><br>Anyway the room continues to amaze and I wond** if I would have been bett** staying at the temple dorms. As I go for my cold show**, I discov** they have a slight limescale problem. Cillit Bang anyone. Wh**e's Barry Scott when you need him. Three squirts of wat** em**ge from the head so thin, its as if the molecules of H2O have ...

... of America that can compare to the amount of devotion that is directed to the Golden Temple. What makes it even more strange is that Amritsar itself is kind of a downer. But two blocks away from the Lucky Guest House was the Temple, and we walked in it completely oblivious to the degree of this religion that's been expanding and thriving in this region for several centuries, and it was kind of like walking into an alternate reality. The Temple is open 24 hours a day, and I think at all ...

Our train to Amritser was not direct so in Jalandar train station we met this Indian lad of 22 who was just finishing his landscape architure degree and stayed talking to us while we waited the hour for the train. When we arrived in Amritser he got us an autorickshaw and refused to let us pay for it which was really nice and restored our faith in Indian people again. He offered to drive us around the city to see the sights in the evenings when he finished college and we intended on ...

... 10 minutes or so and had to go through multiple security points. You can't take ANY bags with you (something I wish someone had informed me of BEFORE) and I was worried about having to carry my wallet, cell phone and documents (as well as camera) in my hand. Latti gave me a small plastic bag and said that I would be okay. I thanked him and was off. They had special panelled security areas for the women to go through. I guess so that the Indian men couldn't get off on watching a ...

... a precision and harmony of action that belies mutual respect and appreciation. There are loud yelps, synchronized marching, high kicks, seemingly chanting/cheering contests between the Pakistanis and Hindus, puffed-out chests, and staring contests all performed in lieu of the lowering of the flags and closing of the border gates...and it's done every single day! It's a strange ceremony, but if you decide to visit ...

... robes with vivid orange turbans, carefully groomed white mustaches and beards, traditional swords hanging by their sides. As the sun sinks, the temple glows, as does its reflection, and the religious music becomes hypnotic...people sit gazing out at the sight, and I am one of them, unable to take my eyes off the reflection, almost in a trance from the effects of the music.<br><br><br><br> Sunrise ...