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Last full day today.
Stripped pants, two fried eggs and an omelette.
Today was a leisurely start to day with a 10 AM meeting with Bunty to go and see the Shri Durgiana Temple. Unusually instead of going through a demolition site this time it was more of a construction site with fresh concrete being pored randomly around the place. This is the Hindu version of the Sikh Golden temple, its guilded the same and sits in the middle of a calm lake, very impressive. Rob and I did a walk around the edge of the lake and did the usual white boy dance when we came to he dark stones in the path. Met plenty of people wanting to practise their English and take selfies with us, including some apprentice priests.
After the temple we said back to the hotel to Bunty, which appeared to greatly dismay him as he could see his free lunch evaporating. However he did persuade to go to the India Craft house. This was full of the usual India made silks and jewellery and run by a woman from South Wales. She had been over for about three and a half years and still suffered the odd bout of Delhi Belly, she was amazed when I said I had been over for 3 weeks eating street food and curry for breakfast and not suffered.
Once we convinced Bunty we really didn't want to his favourite uncles lunch parlour he took us back to hotel saying he didn't feel well and another guide would be taking us to the border that evening.
Relaxing afternoon in the hotel with swimming and snoozing.
In the afternoon we were taken to the Pakistan India border to see the ceremonial lowering of the flag. There was the usual levels of chaos, we were told that we would go through gate 3 and sit in the VIP area. Of course when we get down to the front there are crowds jumping over barriers and ropes and we are studiously ignored by the border guards who put us in the middle of the somewhat crushed Indian crowd, however after much pointing and walking round the back of guards we got into the VIP area. This is ceremony played out on both sides of the border which much silly stamping of feet and puffing out of chests. There is a lot of jingoistic nationalism and whipping up of the crowd of around 10,000, however as long as they are doing this show they are not actually shooting at each other. Plus about 100yards over the fence we could see the real border crossing being used by trucks with according to our guide is increasing levels of trade.
Back through the chaos for snacks, beer and IPL before bed time.
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