TUESDAY, MAY3, 2011
AMRITSAR, PUNJAB, INDIA
Amritsar is known for the Golden Temple. The holiest site of the Sikh religion. Our first visit to the temple was the next morning at 5:30. To get a jump on the heat but also to watch the sunrise over what already seems a magical place. Adding to the mystic is the broadcast of scripture reading. A true place of serenity.
We all immediately took a liking to the Punjabi. Always extending their hand and making one feel welcome were ever we walked. Mentioning we from Canada and it seemed everyone knew of Toronto or Vancouver. They practice a caring for all mankind. The temple, as throughout the region offers a place to stay or something to eat for any soul who may walk by. As oppose to Delhi where we felt hounded by all kinds (even from previous lives) here the streets were fun to walk. Following the Sikh tradition of helping your fellow man, one passerby who stopped me and explained how impressed he was with our Canadian Health Care system for looking after our people. They love to have their photos taken with you. The girls were given an impromptu tour of the temple by elderly gentlemen that spoke absolutely no English. Once again the language of smiling and laughing rises above.
Nicola Nemy
The other notable site that we visited here was the memorial to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. In 1919 the British Army opened fire on a crowd who had gathered for part of Gandhi’s passive movement for an independent India. The “official” count of dead was 350. 1200 injured. Indians claim upwards of two thousand people lost their lives that day.
Our trip has been an experience. Some we where prepared for. Some not. Here’s one that had us looking at each other and pretty much telling ourselves that this wasn’t included in our trip-tik. Amritsar is one of India’s most western cities. It is actually only 30kms from the Pakistan Border. Heard any news from Pakistan lately. We were probably within 200kms of Pakistan’s ground zero. The taking of Osama Bin laden.
The Indians and Pakistani have a history of trying to show each up at the border. Some days with tanks (many machine gun bungers still evident) but lucky enough today with fanatic nationals with flags and marching squads with funny hats. As with thousand of others, we piled into our tiny shared mini bus and headed for the ceremony. We were managing because with the windows down, we probably enjoyed a wind chill factor of 42c. One massive Indian blow dryer. 
India is well connected. Considering if I have a problem with my laptop here, the technical support I might need might the person siting beside me at lunch. We have been studying on-line places to stay. Our room here was more was worth the search. Everything in Punjab is a deal/steal. We gave the directions to our taxi at the airport and then it just hung on. We end up in the heart of old Amritsar. Toronto s’got nothin on this place when it comes to hustle and bustle. Most places we go could with a little imagination seem 500 years ago. We have so far been happy to stay at modest places. Here we walk into a little jewel. Considering what goes on out the door the hotel, we had A/C, cable TV, Wi-Fi, full American fixture bathroom, small but beautifully marbled lobby where but 3-4 staff acted as doormen, porters and who knows what. All for $40/night.
We haved deemed Amritsar and our whole trip so far a great success
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