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Rob used the Fascilities to have his blue pants & shorts laundered. The shorts he has been virtually living in for two weeks and they were starting to move about on their own. It is cooler here so we have been able to wear trouser whilst the Indian laundry service have beaten the shorts into submission and returned them like new today.
Today we have enjoyed a trip around some of the sites of Shimla with our tour rep, Ravinder (and two cars again). We went to the Indian Inst of Advanced Study (the old Viceregal Lodge).
This is where the Indian part of the British Empire was administered from during the hot summer months. Every stone, pieces of timber etc of most of these colonial buildings were hauled up the mountain on mules and wagons, as the railway hadn't been built. Mainly done because the summer heat killed so many otherwise. (It was hotter at home today than it was here!).
Next we visited a Hindu temple, which Ravinder explained the details of too many Gods, sub Gods and sons of Gods. Lots of attendees as it was Sunday and although that isn't a specially religious day for Hindus they do have the opportunity to attend is it isn't a work day.
Lots of bell ringing for luck and prayers. The access road was a mostly single track, down a 1 in 3 slope with some local guys digging a duct trench down one side of the road. Going down was relative easy. Coming out there was a major jam. Our driver, Bhupander, was helping push some of the offenders out of the way, and then took the car up through a gap narrower than the car wheel spinning up trench debris to get us out. What a driving hero.
Then on to the centre of town to walk through the town, see the Mall shopping street, the Gaiety Theatre (applied to by a UNESCO world heritage site does this count on our increasing list of sites ?)
Then up to the 'Ridge' and the Christchurch.
We had lunch at a round Resteraunt over looking both sides of the mountain. I went native with a another mystery Dahl and the others went European, well Vic had a meatless paneer burger. Then walked back to the hotel via the markets and station.
Just beer and snacks at the hotel as we are struggling to keep up with the eating pace.
Another full on day.
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