Chandigarh - a city designed on the drawing board

I arrived in Chandigarh around 10 am and then looked for a hotel, as a lot of them were booked due to a banking exam on Monday.

Chandigarh was designed on the drawing board by the French Le Corbusier who used a lot of concrete in the mid of the 20th century to build the city. Actually, I did not like the city too much, maybe just to modern. It was lacking character.

One place was enchanting nonetheless and this was the Rockgarden designed by Indian Nek Chand.

He used garbage from the city to create formations, structures and figures.

The Rockgarden features water falls, a swing park and a nice surrounding to hang out.

The swing park was amazing, bringing back childhood feeling. As many as 20 to 30 people could swing at the same time under big arches and enjoy themselves.

I would have stayed there, if somebody had hinted me that this was the best part of Chandigarh. But I left to have a look at the Sukhna Lake where an artist made a drawing of me in which I look so old I will never show anybody.

Then I was really big disappointed by the High Court & Secreteriate and nearly blamed the rickshaw wallah for bringing into a concrete construction site, but that was it. So I left in a hurry for the city centre in Sector 17 and had a look at the shops, before heading back to Sector 22 in my hotel.

Attari - Wagah: a trip to the Pakistani border

I took a jeep from the Golden Temple to the Pakistani border to see the closing of the same. That's just a 35 km drive away.

Every day in the afternoon before sun down, both sides (Indians & Pakistanis) come together on their side of the border and enjoy the procedures of the border closure of the day like festival.

It starts off with flag running to the border and back and then handing over the flag to the next girl runner.

In between the last bus for the day leaves India for Lahore in Pakistan.

A man in a white training suit is encouraging the masses to sing and dance. Between the Indian shouts, you can hear the shouts for Pakistan where something similar is going on.

When all the spectators are seated the Border Security Force starts the official procedures with shouting orders, marching and stomping. At the end, both flags are lowered and brought to their respective houses for the night.

Amritsar

After a 20 hour train ride that I spent with another John Grisham novel (The Associate - very good read) and sleeping, I arrived in the late morning in Amritsar - the capital of Punjab. A cycle rickshaw brought me to my hotel Haridarshan, just next to the Golden Temple. After some negotiation, the price was finalised for my double bedroom with bath and balcony with view on the Golden Temple complex.

I took some rest before exploring the Golden Temple that is the holy place for all the Sikhs. As there was a crowd I decided to join a border trip (read the next blog entry) and to come back later.

In the evening I walked from the Crystal restaurant (bad Italian food) back to the Golden Temple and bought the next John Grisham novel (The confession) at the BookLovers Retreat, a little shop I have seen from the rickshaw in the morning.

Back in the temple complex, I handed in my shoes and strolled several times around the holy lake. Then I bought some prasad and went over the Guru Bridge to bring it as an offering at the Golden Temple. Some Gurus inside the marble temple are singing from the holy book Guru Granth Sahib the whole day. After I passed the temple, I drank from the holy water of the lake and still enjoy my health:).

The next day, I wanted some nice food but was disappointed again when they brought something I had not ordered and a mouse showed up next to my table in this star hotel restauant. So I left paying just for the sweet lime soda and ate some Hide & Seek cookies (my favorites). Got a cycle rickshaw to the Sri Durgiana mandir - a Hindu Temple - that resembles the Golden Temple from the layout.

Next stop was the Mata Temple that stars an interesting interior with staircases, rock formations, mosaique work and water alleys. Women come here to pray for a child.

In the Ram Bagh I visited the Museum of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who united a big Sikh territory in the 19th century and expanded it into nowadays Pakistan. That were the great days of the Sikhs.

Next I have seen their biggest defeat at Jallianwala Bagh, a garden where British general Dyer gave the order to shoot the peaceful manifesting Sikhs in 1919. More than 400 died and over 1500 were insured.

Gunshot marks

Before leaving the city tomorrow early morning by MERCEDES bus to Chandigarh, I will visit the Golden Temple again.

Back again in Gwalior

After a nice delayed train ride, I arrived in Gwalior where I met Saket, Dipti, Shikar and Vividha again. Got my old room and we went to the mall in the evening and looked around.

The next day, Dipti and me found finally some jeans that fitted me - a big success in India where everybody seems to be tiny or is wearing saree and khurta if they are not.

Dipti & me

In the afternoon, Saket, Vividha and me were roaming the streets of Gwalior.

building in central Gwalior

We also paid a visit to the Sun Temple built by the Birla family.

Saket & Vividha

At the fair, Vividha and me starred with some Bollywood actors for this nice shot.

Usual street view: woman in saree riding in woman's seat on a motorcycle.

Jaipur mein doston se mili - Meeting my Jaipur friends

As I nearly have seen all the touristy places, I occupied myself with meeting friends and shopping in all the Malls of Jaipur.

Last outstanding tourist to do: Sound and Light Show at Amber Fort. 20 minutes into the show, the rain started and rushed Sankalp's parents and me back home.

Amber Fort

I went shopping several time, alone and with company, visiting many malls (Central, City Pulse, MGF, Gaurav Towers, Crystal Court) and several bazaars, buying khurtas, suits, earrings, DVD, books and many more, never returning empty handed:).

City Pulse Mall

As the wedding season is on, I also got some invitations and became nearly as busy as my Indian friends with the social obligations.

Amit's sangeet

Having pasta and potatoes at Chhavi's place. Even Panther (the dog) is eagerly waiting.

Chhavi's mother and aunt with me in the middle.

Chhavi, me & Shanky

Me & Mr Sankalp Gupta dressing up for Lokesh's sangeet in Choki Dhani.

A day later, coming back for Lokesh's shaadi. Jyoti and me.

Here comes the bride.

Sankalp's Dad & Ansh

Meeting Sakshi for a lovely lunch at Little Italy with Bruschetta & Pasta. Before I checked out Anokhi (a garment store) and Crossword (a book store) below.

After more than ten days of shopping, meeting old and new friends and several weddings it has come the sad time to leave. Next stop will be Gwalior.

Come fly away

The year has not yet really started but I am already enjoying my first vacation. It's INDIA again.

Took a flight from Munich to Istanbul, food was great. Then stopover there with no internet connection:( and another flight to Delhi. I could not sleep at all as the "Fasten your seatbelt" sign binged every other minute. At least there was no queue at immigration and I go a pre-paid taxi really fast so I made it just in time to Bikaner House to board the 6 o'clock Volvo bus to Jaipur where I arrived around noon.

I met all the Gupta family including the new little family member called Janya ("new life") - just a month and some days old.

Christmas Time 2010

Christmas Time started this year with my best friend's wedding. Inka and Andreas got married in a white winter wonderland in Leipzig.

The next weekend I joined a cooking course to prepare gifts out of the kitchen. We were preparing more than 10 recipes including liquors, cookies, jams and chutneys.

The weekend before Christmas I went to Micha's birthday party in Regensburg. In the evening, we all went to the romantic Christmas market in the Castle of Thurn & Taxis. We drank Glühwein and Punsch.

For nearly four weeks so far, we have been really lucky as all the country is covered in white snow and the glistening sunlight conjured the countryside in a Winterwonderland.