This is going to be a few broken thoughts-:
Imagine a trip where everything goes as planned and you have loads of fun.. for some it might be oxymoronish and definitely not the 'eurotrip' but sometimes there is joy in clockwork perfection too..
-X-X-X-X-
Right from Nish scaring(:P) us by turning up at the station as the surprise addition to the group to the auto chap who surprisingly agreed to drive down to Noida on the way back everything was just perfect.Although on our way to Amritsar the train was a couple of hours late but that two hours spent at the station in itself was a nice snapshot of how the trip was going to be; how else can you explain 22 year olds playing gold spot on the overbridge at Nizammudin and making complete fools of themselves.
-X-X-X-X-
Amritsar the city, was surprisingly Chandani Chowkish, something which I did not really expect. But considering that we decided to hole up in a budget hotel, you really couldn't expect the city at its opulent best. The city might not be a thriving metropolis but it sure has traces of history littered all over the place. Statues springing up at every intersection, the old buildings, the incredibly grand Khalsa College and of course the holiest place for the Sikhs, The Golden Temple.
-X-X-X-X-
While the most important thing that I was looking forward to was the Wagah Border, I did not quite expect myself to be lost in the magnificence of the Golden Temple nor feel so disturbed by the Jallianwala Bagh. To think of a place where nearly 2000 people were brutally killed can shake you up, to be at the place where it happened gives you quite a jolt. Makes you understand why we must never take our Independence for granted.
-X-X-X-X-
But the best of the trip was the visit to the border. I have always wanted to be near the border and the closest I had been to it was in Dholavira in Kutch but that was different- Miles of No Man's land separated the two nations. Here it was a white line which clearly said "This land is your land, This land is my land"--Not quite the sentiments of the song by Woody Guthrie but a strange concept of the so called 'non neanderthals' but more about that some other time.
-X-X-X-X-
Megs had warned me it would be quite an experience and it was just that! Everything there seemed to be the last--the last petrol pump, the last gate, the last toilet, the last coca cola branded restaurant ! Of course all that could be the first, based on where you are coming from.!...!
-X-X-X-X-
The Golden Temple by night was a sight to behold and that walk to the sanctum sanctorum in the middle of the water body was special. So incredibly peaceful that I just hoped the walk would continue. The number of volunteers there and the way everything was organised was as Saurabh rightly pointed out " A perfect micro example of how an ideal country should function"
-X-X-X-X-
The night was dull and uneventful and everyone was so exhausted that they just did not feel like sitting around for a chat. Hic Hic,Excuse me
-X-X-X-X-
The ride back, hmm, how can I forget the bread cutlet which makes every train ride a joyous one. I ensured I skipped lunch just to dig into the cutlet. Of course a few other things that have to be left unsaid but will remain with me for a long time. Every moment was a blast and the trip did enough to ensure three weeks of work could be swept away and recharged the body !
-X-X-X-X-
Forgive the broken nature of the diary but I will follow this up with a photology
Imagine a trip where everything goes as planned and you have loads of fun.. for some it might be oxymoronish and definitely not the 'eurotrip' but sometimes there is joy in clockwork perfection too..
-X-X-X-X-
Right from Nish scaring(:P) us by turning up at the station as the surprise addition to the group to the auto chap who surprisingly agreed to drive down to Noida on the way back everything was just perfect.Although on our way to Amritsar the train was a couple of hours late but that two hours spent at the station in itself was a nice snapshot of how the trip was going to be; how else can you explain 22 year olds playing gold spot on the overbridge at Nizammudin and making complete fools of themselves.
-X-X-X-X-
Amritsar the city, was surprisingly Chandani Chowkish, something which I did not really expect. But considering that we decided to hole up in a budget hotel, you really couldn't expect the city at its opulent best. The city might not be a thriving metropolis but it sure has traces of history littered all over the place. Statues springing up at every intersection, the old buildings, the incredibly grand Khalsa College and of course the holiest place for the Sikhs, The Golden Temple.
-X-X-X-X-
While the most important thing that I was looking forward to was the Wagah Border, I did not quite expect myself to be lost in the magnificence of the Golden Temple nor feel so disturbed by the Jallianwala Bagh. To think of a place where nearly 2000 people were brutally killed can shake you up, to be at the place where it happened gives you quite a jolt. Makes you understand why we must never take our Independence for granted.
-X-X-X-X-
But the best of the trip was the visit to the border. I have always wanted to be near the border and the closest I had been to it was in Dholavira in Kutch but that was different- Miles of No Man's land separated the two nations. Here it was a white line which clearly said "This land is your land, This land is my land"--Not quite the sentiments of the song by Woody Guthrie but a strange concept of the so called 'non neanderthals' but more about that some other time.
-X-X-X-X-
Megs had warned me it would be quite an experience and it was just that! Everything there seemed to be the last--the last petrol pump, the last gate, the last toilet, the last coca cola branded restaurant ! Of course all that could be the first, based on where you are coming from.!...!
-X-X-X-X-
The Golden Temple by night was a sight to behold and that walk to the sanctum sanctorum in the middle of the water body was special. So incredibly peaceful that I just hoped the walk would continue. The number of volunteers there and the way everything was organised was as Saurabh rightly pointed out " A perfect micro example of how an ideal country should function"
-X-X-X-X-
The night was dull and uneventful and everyone was so exhausted that they just did not feel like sitting around for a chat. Hic Hic,Excuse me
-X-X-X-X-
The ride back, hmm, how can I forget the bread cutlet which makes every train ride a joyous one. I ensured I skipped lunch just to dig into the cutlet. Of course a few other things that have to be left unsaid but will remain with me for a long time. Every moment was a blast and the trip did enough to ensure three weeks of work could be swept away and recharged the body !
-X-X-X-X-
Forgive the broken nature of the diary but I will follow this up with a photology
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