Introduction to India

Introduction to India

By roychinnorNo Comments
The difference is immediately noticeable as you drive down the road from the Wagah border crossing from Pakistan into India. Everything is cleaner, the population more prosperous and even the traffic is more ‘up-market’. The atmosphere is also more relaxed as people do not have to worry about whether or not they will be returning home in the evening. None of that is to decry Pakistan and I stand by everything I have already said, but there is a difference and it is very noticeable. We went straight to Amritsar, a journey of around 35 miles. Amritsar is an unremarkable city with one or two places to visit plus a trump card in any game; the Golden Temple. I had heard of it from news bulletins and I knew it was the central place of worship for the Sikhs. I had even seen television pictures of it, but nothing prepares you for the spectacle that is the temple itself. Nothing I can...
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Last Days in Pakistan

By roychinnorNo Comments
What a challenge. I was told that I was mad (again) to visit Pakistan and at times I wondered if the best option was to get to the nearest airport and go home to my loved ones. Pakistan is a divided country, but there are common desires amongst all of the different groups. Uppermost in their wishes is for peace and an end to lawlessness and corruption. The image we in Europe and the USA are presented with, of a militant religous led group of terrorists and supporters is very far from the truth. By and large the militant tendancy are a very small minority and shunned by most of the population. Much of the violence in the country is directed not at western interests, but at Pakistani interests and people, and they are upset that we should believe the worse of them. I found the southern areas that I visited extremely poor but the Punjab is far more prosporous. Agriculture here is good,...
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Wakey, Wakey!

Wakey, Wakey!

By roychinnorNo Comments
The plan was to leave Quetta early and take route 65 to Sukkur. I had been told it’s a good road and not at all like the Robbers Road. I awoke at 4:50am to the sound of explosions from incoming mortars, or possibly some sort of rockets. They were landing quite close as the whole hotel vibrated and it was only a two storey building. The mortars were followed by the clatter of small arms fire. I got dressed and went down to the lobby and out into the grounds. The security guards, who are all armed with either AK47’s or pump action shot guns, were milling around the extensive garden and car park area. I went back in the lobby and spoke to the duty receptionist, asking if it he could find out from the police if it was still safe for me to travel. It transpired that “they’re not answering the phone because it’s Sunday!” I suggested they weren’t answering...
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So Into Pakistan

So Into Pakistan

By roychinnorNo Comments
The drive from Bam to the Iran/Pakistan border was a severe test for Bridget. The weather was like the hottest summers day in the UK plus a hot wind, similar to standing behind a plane’s jet engine, and, just to make it interesting, there was a dust storm as well. The dust is very fine and gets into everything reducing visibility to under half a mile. It was like this for almost the whole of the 200 miles journey which included traversing a mountain range. At least at the top of the mountains the dust was far less. There was only one service station shown on the map and unfortunately when I arrived at the site it was all boarded up and deserted, so once again I had to use the jerry cans. Anyway we arrived safely and I took Bridget into a car wash to spruce her up. The guys that operate these washes just go mad over the car and...
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