to note down where exactly i've been, before i forget
11 (Sat) - Delhi, Paharganj. Terrible weather, crappy room, chaos, disgust
12 (Sun) - Arose at 5am for trip to Agra. still ridiculously hot, tourist trap. another crappy room Agra Fort is really something. Taj Mahal is something else too. FWAH-ness. ridiculously crowded but beautiful sunsets.
13 (Mon) - Stuck on train whole day. interesting squeeze on chair class on way to Amritsar. 3 hours late (woo Indian times!). People in Amritsar are really nice. Woke up innkeeper on arrival at 1am. Got turned away from free accom, but surprisingly nice room.
14 (Tue) - Heavy day. Sikh temple is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. pilgrims, mass (free) lunch, surprisingly orderly and clean. don't really get the Sikhs - they're really nice, but their history is crazy violent. odyssey on 3rd class local bus to PK border. wonderful show, great atmosphere for the flag-lowering. def a bizarre yet safe and good natured sight. excellent punjabi dinner. i like this place.
15 (Wed) - another train odyssey. my indian friends will tell me i'm nuts to take 2nd class unreserved on an indian backwoods local train. but butt hurts, but the scenery from the toy train chugging up into the mountains is cool. got to dharamsala late. surprisingly cool, nice cottage (but noisy), no haggling. i like the tibetans
16 (Thu) - walked around tibetan temples, cow paths, etc. serendipitieously met ex-straits times section 2 editor, now living there. intro-ed to a few tibetan exiles with fascinating stories. liked these people even better. thought deep thoughts about governance and the management of minorities. hopeful yet disappointed. bone-shaking overnight bus ride back to delhi. wished i could have stayed longer.
17 (Fri) - stayed in Tibetan enclave. still bloody hot, hate this city, but glad to be going soon. did some minor shopping. hope i don't miss the flight!!!
kp
PS - think getting minor case of "Delhi belly" but not v powerful leh. anyway can't wait to eat SINGAPOREAN FOOD again.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Saturday, 11 July 2009
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