India Alas!!

Goodbye Pakistan hello India. 16 countries, 13,000km's, unwanted cultures in our sensitive North American tummies and we're still pushin' pedal!

What a relief it is to get out of Pakistan. My intention is not offend Pakistani's as Pakistan is geographically stunning and the people are very hospitable and enjoyable hosts. It is just a relief to be in India where women can be women (not possessions where they rarely leave the house) and the people are used to seeing tourists. Pakistan is the most oppressive country we've been in so far.

We (Steve, Luke and I) are in Dharamshala beside the Himilaya's now. This is where the exiled Tibetan government lives along with the Dalai Lama. There are a few Buddhist monks in the internet cafe right now. It is funny seeing monks on cell phones and internet. The mountains are frickin massive here. The lowest one is 4050m. We climbed a 10km killer hill to get up here. All in all I think we climbed around 2000m of roller coaster scenic mountain scape. We rode well into the darkness of the night. No matter though as there are people everywhere in India. Every 5 km there is a city, town or village. Crowded but not overwhelming like Pakistan. Man is Pakistan a mess. Another story for another time. It is exciting that there is women around you can talk to without fearing reprecussions from small minded, insecure, very religious muslim men that will go straight to hell, do not pass go,(if there is a judgement day) for their treament of women. This is my experience and opinion from travelling through the south of Pakistan and not seeing any women at all. The Pakistani's are very nice people otherwise. That's my rant for this post.

After leaving Islamabad we bused back to Lahorrible(inside joke concerning severe air and noise pollution along with diahrea and stomach ailments that seem to plague foreigners) with double entry visa's for India at the cost of 3300 rupees.($85 canuck buck) We will be heading through the Himilaya's and into Kathmandu for the next month or so. Exciting stuff. We stayed in Lahore for another night and did a little sightseeing and bike cleaning before leaving Bobby's house for the Indian border. Thanks for the hospitality Bobby and Shumella!

We had our most thorough search at the Indian border crossing where they opened our bags and pulled out a few things. Nothing overly invasive. Just a quick check for the sake of procedure then we headed for the border again to see the infamous closing of the border. Bleachers lined the border where hundreds of people watched the soldiers march to the gates where the Indian soldiers taunted the Pakistani soldiers and vice versa. Chanting about Hindustan filled the air and the soldiers marched up and down with colourful outfits in a manner reminiscent of Monty Python's ministry of silly walks. Quite comical.

We cycled on to Amritsar and visited the Golden Temple. Astounded by the beauty of this wonder we walked around snapping pictures and marvelled at the holiest site in the Sikh religion.

After arguing about cold eggs and poor service at our hotel, we rode a comfortable 110km's to Pathankot, where we were treated to the most visually stunning fireworks display I've ever seen. Literally hundreds of thousands of fireworks went off simultaneously for over 6 hours in celebration of Diwali. The equivalent of Christmas for the Indian people. We lit off a few ladyfingers of our own and drank a little whisky on the rooftop of the hotel whilst taking in a fireworks display that could blow up a small country.

That's what's happening in the land of two hammers and one Kiwi. Lots of photo's and stories that are too much for this website will come when we return!

A little advice for anyone coming out this way. Do not, I repeat do not drink the water or eat the salad. Luke is suffering again from what we believe is a water problem. Unless your stomach is made of cast iron and you have bowels of titanium one should avoid road side restaurants and drinking water! Yikes!