Windmills Hotel Lahore

... and helped me navigate through the maze of alleys on my way to two of Lahore's best sights.

No trip to Lahore would be complete without visiting the Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque. Both sights are separated by a large, and compared to the old city, tranquil courtyard. I took a few photos and made my way to the mosque entrance where, after removing my shoes, it opened into an even larger courtyard that can reportedly accommodate up to 100,000 people praying. The ...

... You will visit Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort a treasure of Moghul architecture from the early 16th century to 18th century (takes about 1½ Hours to visit), and Anarkali Bazaar a Bazaar with big activity and colorful streets. Half day City & Museum. Visit the Lahore ...

The bus back to Lahore was expensive but I was told I should try the Daewoo buses so I did. It was exactly on time to leave and arrive (very unusual!) and was like catching an airplane with its security checks and 'in-flight' snacks and drinks. (But yes my knives were an issue again and I had to answer questions and assure them they were ok locked in my big bag in the luggage compartment). It was an overnight bus but I only ...

... a big, in-your-face wedding ring. You think they had big guns outside the salwar-kameez shops -- HAH! There were two or three armed guards to each entrance at the jewellery shops. I've never seen shotguns so large. The jewellery here is all 22-karat, massive and intimidating. A common thing in the shops is what is known as a 'bridal set' -- necklace ...

... to knock me out at bedtime), and a bit of sunshine to smack my hypothalamus into line. 3) I am the only white person on campus, I think. The flaming red hair doesn't help. I get wide-eyed goggling stares from pretty much everyone, and I (inadvertently) frighten young children. 4) LUMS is not Lahore. Not by a long shot ...

... city most days. I met a local guy 'J' who worked a bit as a guide. I certainly wasn't interested in a guide but it kind of happened that we became friends and he showed me around lots of places and I gave him some help with a website he was putting together - I even met his web developer to talk about the best approach for him! Anyway, I saw a hell of a lot of Lahore, so I'll give a quick run down of the main sights: The old city - with its winding alleyways ...

... is that there are no laws, and if you have enough money, you can do whatever you want. When we got back to the hotel, I was starving and had a choice - eat chicken shwarma from the sketchy street vendor outside my door, or go to bed hungry. I chose the former, and at 4:30, 6:30, etc., had reason to regret my decision. Another decision I had made earlier in the day was to leave this hot, dirty weather and head north to the mountains of Pakistan.

... a crawl -- I look to my left --police barricade. This is it, I thought, even with the rose garland I was wearing around my neck I knew I reeked of hashish. I lowered my head and pulled the scarf over my face as the policeman shown his light on each of us. "Tour group --friends of Malik" our driver was saying to him and then several other things in heated Urdu until a plumper man came forward examining the business card our driver handed him. He turned back and showed it ...

... time, but never again will I trust in the common sense of immigration officials. After some arguing, I convinced the Indian official that it was the Pakistanis' job to worry about the visa, and he asked his friend to begin filling out the forms. But, the whole time, he kept grabbing my arm and saying "We are helping you out. Why don't you help us out?" "Help my friend!" "Please, help my friend out." So, it was just another story ...

... and pass the luggage carousel --there are no more men with signs. I near the exit and stand beside the armed militia and I stare.

Throngs of people -- hundreds -- are waiting to pick up the other passengers and here I stand alone between men with machine guns strapped across their chests. My heart sinks and my stomach knots. I turn to my left, "I'm looking for my driver and I don't see him." He motions with the tip of his gun for me to step back and explains that I must ...