Made in India

I got called up for a flight to Amritsar, and that jus KILLED my plans for the week! (stupid gal who took last min M.C or wateva)

K fine, hotels in Bombay and Delhi are lovely, so i didn't really mind THAT much after i cooled down, plus it's my first time there so i cld do some sightseeing!


BUT, to my dismay, the airport AND hotel is probably the worst i've seen (in my work) thus far!

1) There's no arrowbridge and the plane is parked in a remote bay.
- buses are only for wheelchair pax
- airport looks like a hospital, a small housing compound
- pple waiting are just standing outside (if rain how ar?)
- not forgetting the dirt, smell, dilapitated building..

2) Room stinks and so do the sheets

3) There's no adjusting of aircon temperature and hot water cos it's a central system

4) The metal holding the shower and taps are bit rusty

5) No 24 hour room service

6) No clock!!!

7) T.V is blurry

8) Blackouts are NOT uncommon

9) Takes forever to get a request made/done, likewise with food

10) The flush makes weird noises each time after use

11) Everything is old: Tv, phone, table, mirror... ETC!!!

I can't bear to carry on, you get the drift.. N do note, it's prolly one of the better hotels ard already...


Anyhoo, i tried to make my stay the best i could...

They've got in-room massage services, and since i was pretty tired on the way up,

i could indulge in a relaxing massage.. (or at least i thought)

BUT! The gal was just jumping up and down from the bed to massage me on the queen sized bed,

when i opened my eyes she was WATCHIN t.v

and the oil/water was jus all over the sheets! (obviously i requested for a change, which took REAL long again!)

I'm goin to the salon itself next time man. Or maybe not at all.




On the bright side, I saw many pretty places!



The bridge that seperated Old and New Amritsar... That's some gate (i've forgotten its name) at the start of Old Amritsar...

Typically of most indian cities, the air/noise pollution is bad, streets are dirty and smelly..

BUT Amritsar has taken it A NOTCH higher!

The air is damn hazy,

noise pollution is deafening,

people are peeing at the SAME area as where food are sold,

traffic is jus messy as there're NO traffic lights or anything,

each time i head out i feel ample layers of dirt and dust on me (bathe also dun feel very clean),

even till NOW i still feel i've got some polluted air in my lungs transported back to Sg from there..

I was a Girl Guide and i've been camping so it's not that i can't take dirt and all, but wat really irks me is breathing in the air... CAnnOT take it..

No wonder i'm still not 100% better from my flu/cough..





Jalianwala Bagh - The place where masses of pple were killed during an independence movement in India.

The cone shaped thing is a memorial for those who died..

The well was where many people had jumped in to avoid the bullets but ended up piling on one another, leading to suffocation and death.

The wall where bullets had penetrated.. (why am i smiling? sadistic man)





The field where many of the dead laid... Buildings that were bullet torn...

There's only ONE way IN and OUT of this place... For security reasons i heard..

Ooh! This pic of my colleague and I = so MTV!!!

There was this camera man moving about and filming...

N then the locals started to come up and wanting to take pics with me!

MUST BE the shades la.. make them think i'm some sort of star.. damn funny!





GOLDEN TEMPLE!!! It's amazing how such a beautiful place came up in midst of the chaos...

It's a MUST to:

a) remove your shoes

b) wash your feet and hands before you head in,

c) cover your head (with turban, scarf, shawl...)





The temple provides FREE food and lodging!!

I participated in the food chain, where a man just dumps food on your tray

And you've got to hold out two hands as a polite and respectful gesture to the Gods..

Honestly, the food wasn't tasty,

but I HAD to finish it,

If not it's not being appreciative to the Gods or sth like that..





The tour guide showed us the making of the food! It's NOT easy making food for thousands of people man! I fiddled with it abit!

First was the manual way, then by machine..

The former way makes the food taste better, erm supposedly...





There are FOUR gates into the Temple, representing that it welcomes people from ALL walks of life..

The water surrounding the temple, forming a moat-like structure, is the HOLY WATER, which is how Amritsar got its name. (Amrit = Holy, Sar = Water)

This tree was where the MIRACLE water was first found. Cos this guy washed away his disease after soaking himself in it.

So you see like MANY pple giving themselves a bath in the water.. Hmmm.





Most common form of transport are bicycles or trishaws...

There are a lot of children who beg on the streets..

We had a few who followed us a very long way...

Pitiful things...

We were advised not to give any money, if not a whole hoard would follow and pester us...

Wagah Border - located on the Indo-Pakistan border.

It seperates Pakistan and Amritsar.

Apparently Amritsar had allowed help to go through the borders to help Pakistan post earthquake,
but refused to let anyone from the other side in.

There's an exchange of guards ceremony DAILY at 1730.
N we were seated at the V.I.P area.

The guards from both sides are TALL,

Not only it's a sense of stature, but also to intimidate the other party.

They're all SUPER PATRIOTIC!! Chanting cheers and singing songs..
N those who got picked, were so excited to carry their national flag and run!





I could see the Pakistan border building from where i was seated..

The guards march VERY fast,
they were NOT in line,
and they kick their feet DAMN HIGH! *ouch*

The lines of their flag cross while lowering the individual flags..
It is a serious and solemn ceremony while it's on.

After that, everyone cheers and tries to rush towards the guards,
N the border gates are quickly closed.

While walking along the long road to our bus,
We were stopped by many of the locals wanting to SHAKE our hands!

At night, the lights of the border are so bright that they can be seen from the plane above!!





Took the tuk-tuk to Katra Jaimal Singh Road, the bazaar inside the Hall Gate, for shopping!

The place was recommended by the receptionist at our hotel.

I bought Three pairs of shoes for less than S$20,
as well as a White Punjabi suit for S$50!!

Also got myself TWO books at real cheap prices, S$12 !!
I) Dan Brown's "Deception Point"
II) Micheal Crichton's "State of Fear"

Just only got started reading Danielle Steel's "Ransom".. I actually like Judith McNaught's, Jackie Collins and Ann Rule books.. :)



We did not walk much or stay long as it was too polluted and the arrangement of shops were just not condusive for shopping la..

All our meals were taken in the hotel..
The food outside looked WAY too DUBIOUS!!

Food was not bad.. had a mix of Chinese and Indian...
I like Indian food,
but didn't want to eat too much of it as i still have a sore throat ..




I'm SO GLAD to be HOME!!!

We're really lucky and blessed to be living in Sg!
Everything is safe, clean, convenient!

We are really sheltered here and thus our narrow mindedness at times...