From Lahore to New Delhi (12-9-2005 to 18-9-2005)
On the 12 of September I took togetjer with a frenchman a local bus to the border town of Waggah. After the Pakistanies stamped our pasport we walked to the final border. We were suprised to see many camara teams before the border. One of the army officails explained to us that at there is prisoner exchange between India and Pakistan. But it would be no problem to cross the border.
We walked between the prisoner to the Indian site. We wrote down our names in the entry book just behind the entry gate. All the military where in there uniforms looking very impressive. Just after the border we had to go trough custom, normal they check the luggage, but they only did it with the french guy. They stamped our pasport and we walked to the the final gate and from there we took a cycle riksja to the town of Attari (only 10 rupies). From there we took a local bus to Amritsar. This is the cheapest option to Amritsar.
In Amritsar the French guy went to the Railway staion and I walked to the Golden Temple. The most holy place for the Sikhs.
I took a dorm (50 rps) bed inside the golden temple. There is a special dorm for foreigners. The next hours I was sitting and gazing at the splended Golden temple.
Inside the golden temple are some holy people who make prays and sing.
Later in the evening I took a free meal at the huge dinner room in the golden temple complex. The meal is very simple but enough consisting out of Dhal (lentils), rice and chapaties.
On 13 september I woke up in the early morning 4 am because some one was saying she was going to Dhamasala. I planned to go later much later like 8 am. But whynot so I got up and toegether with Amir and laila?? we took a auto riksja to the railway station. Unfortunately we were just 10 minutes late for the train. So we had to wait for an hour for another train. In only 3 hours took us to Pathankot. The weather was bad wich loads of rain. In Pathankot we walked accross the rail tracks to the other side to catch a train to Mc Leod Ganji. In Mc Leod Ganji we took an auto riksja to Dhamakot. In Dhamakot we went looking for our friends. After a short wile I found the hostel were Sander is staing (Zen and Yoga). I stayed here 3 nights? in relaxing and watching the rain (monsoon). Besides it was freezing during the day it was only 23 degree and the night is was to cold I needed two blankets.
On fridaynight 16 september I took a night bus to New Delhi. To be on time to pick up Bouke from the Airport. But Fridaynight was not good night to travel by bus.
It rained like I have never seen before. I waded trough Dhamakot, the tracks and the road in Dhamakot turned into big rivers. I jumped over rivers, before they were tracks and now roaring rivers. Sometimes to knee deep. In front of the Vipassana centre I took a taxi bus down. I was completely wet by now. The raod to MC leod Ganji was a river and if I looked to moauntain side it was a waterfall.
Mc Leod Ganji was no different the road looked liked rivers, rocks cane down the mountain in the beginning litthe rocks but later on even bigger. I walked to the bus who was down the road to Dhamasala. The water poured above my ankle. Everybodey (all wet to their underwear) was seated in the bus. But at the last moment te busdriver decided not to the drive down to Dhamasala because of some trees on the raod and some mud slides. We went down by taxi jeeps to Dhamasala (you will be suprised how many people can be fitted in taxi jeep in India). The rest of the journey was not that interested. In new delhi I checked in Ayaj Hotel at the main bezar little bit more expensive (300 rps) but is has a telly. A good way for Bouke to get used to the budget way of travelling in India. In the evening of the 18 I picked up Bouke from the airpot and I had my first "Drop" oud hollandse Snekers.
We walked between the prisoner to the Indian site. We wrote down our names in the entry book just behind the entry gate. All the military where in there uniforms looking very impressive. Just after the border we had to go trough custom, normal they check the luggage, but they only did it with the french guy. They stamped our pasport and we walked to the the final gate and from there we took a cycle riksja to the town of Attari (only 10 rupies). From there we took a local bus to Amritsar. This is the cheapest option to Amritsar.
In Amritsar the French guy went to the Railway staion and I walked to the Golden Temple. The most holy place for the Sikhs.
I took a dorm (50 rps) bed inside the golden temple. There is a special dorm for foreigners. The next hours I was sitting and gazing at the splended Golden temple.
Inside the golden temple are some holy people who make prays and sing.
Later in the evening I took a free meal at the huge dinner room in the golden temple complex. The meal is very simple but enough consisting out of Dhal (lentils), rice and chapaties.
On 13 september I woke up in the early morning 4 am because some one was saying she was going to Dhamasala. I planned to go later much later like 8 am. But whynot so I got up and toegether with Amir and laila?? we took a auto riksja to the railway station. Unfortunately we were just 10 minutes late for the train. So we had to wait for an hour for another train. In only 3 hours took us to Pathankot. The weather was bad wich loads of rain. In Pathankot we walked accross the rail tracks to the other side to catch a train to Mc Leod Ganji. In Mc Leod Ganji we took an auto riksja to Dhamakot. In Dhamakot we went looking for our friends. After a short wile I found the hostel were Sander is staing (Zen and Yoga). I stayed here 3 nights? in relaxing and watching the rain (monsoon). Besides it was freezing during the day it was only 23 degree and the night is was to cold I needed two blankets.
On fridaynight 16 september I took a night bus to New Delhi. To be on time to pick up Bouke from the Airport. But Fridaynight was not good night to travel by bus.
It rained like I have never seen before. I waded trough Dhamakot, the tracks and the road in Dhamakot turned into big rivers. I jumped over rivers, before they were tracks and now roaring rivers. Sometimes to knee deep. In front of the Vipassana centre I took a taxi bus down. I was completely wet by now. The raod to MC leod Ganji was a river and if I looked to moauntain side it was a waterfall.
Mc Leod Ganji was no different the road looked liked rivers, rocks cane down the mountain in the beginning litthe rocks but later on even bigger. I walked to the bus who was down the road to Dhamasala. The water poured above my ankle. Everybodey (all wet to their underwear) was seated in the bus. But at the last moment te busdriver decided not to the drive down to Dhamasala because of some trees on the raod and some mud slides. We went down by taxi jeeps to Dhamasala (you will be suprised how many people can be fitted in taxi jeep in India). The rest of the journey was not that interested. In new delhi I checked in Ayaj Hotel at the main bezar little bit more expensive (300 rps) but is has a telly. A good way for Bouke to get used to the budget way of travelling in India. In the evening of the 18 I picked up Bouke from the airpot and I had my first "Drop" oud hollandse Snekers.
posted by Meinoud at 8:46 AM
1 Comments:
He Meinoud,
Nog iets gemerkt van de aardbeving???
Groet Domien
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