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Golden Hospitality (21-11-2008)

Bikes all over the place and cars getting on top of you, no respect for cyclists, the law of the strongest rules. So much pollution that you have to put on a scarf round your mouth to protect your mouth and nose, although it is really hot.

It has taken me two hours to exit Lahore. Finally we got to the border with Pakistan.The show has not started, policemen are relaxed in their uniforms. The show takes place every day when the flag is lifted and the fence closed. For half an hour the highest policemen of Pakistan and India perform their show, good for a Hollywood film. Hundreds of people travel every day by bus to the border to cheer their country. This martial show started back more than 40 years ago, it looks more like a children show than a performance by fathers.

When we crossed the border the show had not started. Policemen are really nice, above all the Indian ones, they even bring us some beer. We enter the crowded and noisy Amritsar founded back in 1577 by the fourth guru of the Sikh. There is a golden temple by a lake, as big as el Escorial. You can sleep for free in the Temple, and they give you some food from 5am to 22.00. You only have to satisfy two requirements, leave your shoes in the room to walk around on bare foot. The floor is cleaned frequently and the water runs through the channels you have to cross to move around the Temple. Music is heard on the loudspeakers, hidden behind some lights.

Now the target is Daramsala, the residence of the Dalai Lama on exile. Maybe we get to see him. Daisuke wants to. He has taken pictures of him with many Nobel Price Winners and some famous people, like Edmund Hillary. Salva and I joke saying better not take a picture with Daisuke or we may die........We have a good laugh, get on really well. there is only a common aim, cycle further.

From India, Peace and Well Being, Alvaro the biciclown.