Road to Pakistan

[Sri]

I got the wonderful opportunity to see Pakistan.

Yes Really. We could see Pakistan’s entry gate.

We started our journey from Amritsar.

Lots of private vehicles start their business at afternoon hours.

From Amritsar it is better to start at about 1600 hrs.

We started towards Pakistan at 1600 hrs.

They call this road as GT Road.

The road is wonderful.

After a smooth journey of 40 minutes we reached ATTARI ROAD.

So many small north Indian small village type tea stalls and Dhabas welcomed us.

We could see few modern shops also.

We were stopped at a place some 200 meters from the gate.

We walked over.

Fortunately one highly influential sardar doctor took us to the VIP area.

I got the great opportunity to touch the Indian Gate.



Oh wonderful.

Just in front of 1.5 meters Indian border is represented by small wire.

Just in front at 3 meters a Pak Ranger is smiling towards us.

BSF Guys are controlling the crowd.

We just sat on the platform just in front of the gate.

Huge crowd started gathering in Indian side.

I could see Pakistani Rangers controlling their crowd.

The speaker on Pakistan side keeps on singing Pakistani Jindabad.

Our side Speaker keep on singing Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

BSP Guys keep on motivating the Crowd.

On each side suddenly people start taking the flag.

Crowd on each side start applauds their respective flag bearers.



From our side there is no separate view gallery.

On Pakistani side there is separate gallery for Gents and Ladies.

There too VIPs come to the front.



From our side ladies also run bearing the flag.

But on Pakistan side never a lady moved with flag.



The Parade started little late. In this part of the country, the sunset is only at 2000 hrs.

The Parade started little late at 1850 hrs.

A bugle started first at our BSF end.

Immediately the Rangers also started their bugle.

They parade started with perfect match from both sides.

They keep walking in huge steps and put very heavy thump.

It was great enjoyment to see that.



At one sudden moment both gates are opened simultaneously.

I got shocked.

The road is open.

The BSP personnel and Ranger come in perfect harmony and handshake each other.

They exchange official documents.

They exchange daily newspaper also during the Parade.

One BSF Officer takes the salute and gives permission for the retreat.

Then finally the retreat starts.

Both flags are stepped down very slowly.

They almost cross each other.

They thread is thrown in style.

Finally BSF guys folded the flag, and took through the crowd with great applause around all over.



We came out with little sadness.

Here Coke is sold at subsidised rates.

Just Rs 8/- for full bottle.





Then along the road you could see the international immigration offices.

Then we came to Attari village.

We could see Wagah railway station(Pakistan) at a distance.

We could see the Attari international Railway station.

I could see immigration offices there.



Some body told me that during partition so many deaths took place here.

With heavy heart we returned to Amrit Sarovar.

[lonewolf]

Hey Sri,



How did you to go there? Not that I would want to go to Pak in a million years, but I'm just curious. Do you need to get a special permit to enter their country, or do you apply for a Pak visa like others? How long did it take you? Did you go with your colleagues or alone? Thanks.

[CtrlAltDel]

he didnt go to pakistan...that ceremony takes place at the border gate and we stay on our side and they, theirs.



i witnessed that ceremony 3 years ago and it gave a thrilling feeling!

[lonewolf]

he didnt go to pakistan...that ceremony takes place at the border gate and we stay on our side and they, theirs.

i witnessed that ceremony 3 years ago and it gave a thrilling feeling!

Oh ok. More like a joke.

[edward]

wonderful post

[edward- England]

At 6.05 precisely (this is, after all, a military ceremony) a bugle sounds, and, to resounding cheers, two of the tallest people I've seen in Pakistan march out towards the border gates. These are Punjabi Rangers and to say they march is an understatement. Every movement is executed with barely suppressed fury. Arms are snapped out like freshly drawn swords, legs fly into the air, high enough to brush the nose with the knee, before thudding into the ground with the force of a steam-hammer. This study in bellicosity is emphasized by uniforms as black as their smouldering eyes. Fan-shaped headdresses rise like hackles from their turbans.



They are followed by a squad of 12 more Rangers, who emerge with a splendid mixture of panache, aggression and bad acting that has the crowd roaring.



Speeding, slowing, high kicking, strutting, stamping, grimacing, leering and hissing with a finely honed ferocity, they create the impression of caged beasts ready at any moment to bite their opponents' heads off.



The Indian guard, in light khaki with red and gold turban plumes and white gaiters, march out to meet them. They try hard to be as theatrically aggressive as their Pakistani counterparts but somehow you don't feel their hearts are really in it.



Nevertheless, the show must go on and both sides, now eyeball to eyeball, contrive to present a quite surreal display of precision nastiness, raising their forearms like weapons, pawing the ground, baring their teeth and snarling at one another like turkey-cocks.



Even the lowering of the flag is conducted with a tight-lipped, carefully choreographed, competitive swagger, the final flourish of which is the controlled slamming of the gates between the two countries.



Applause and cheers follow the two flag parties as they march rabidly back towards their respective arches.



After this the whole thing degenerates into a PR exercise as the men who have terrified us for the last 30 minutes reappear to mingle with the crowd and have their photograph taken with kiddies and members of Parliament.



This pantomime at the border sends out confusing signals. Beyond the arches and the terraces where this carefully calculated piece of theatre has taken place is the reality of the Indo-Pakistan border: a mile-wide strip of no-man's land, guarded and patrolled as far as the eye can see by troops armed with more than high kicks and grimaces. Follow this line north into Kashmir and you will find several hundred thousand heavily armed men facing each other, not for entertainment, but because 56 years after independence, the line of partition remains a deep, unhealed wound.

[Mayavi Morpheus]

Now where did I hear all this

aaahaa... Himalayas with Michael Palin!!

[Sharjeel]

Now where did I hear all this
aaahaa... Himalayas with Michael Palin!!

Read the ebook

[Velu]

A very nice post.

[Blue]

That last line so penetrating

[akhilis2cool]

which part of ur body did that penitrate...

[Sharjeel]

which part of ur body did that penitrate...

ROTF!!!

[Lucifer]

Just one question Sri. Exactly what kind of a doctor are you? I mean, all you seem to do is travelling. When do you ever cure people?

[lonewolf]

That last line so penetrating

In what way?

[CtrlAltDel]

Just one question Sri. Exactly what kind of a doctor are you? I mean, all you seem to do is travelling. When do you ever cure people?

i think he is a travelling neem hakeem - u know, the ones who pitch tents by the roadside and hawk herbal cures for impotency...

[Sharjeel]

Just one question Sri. Exactly what kind of a doctor are you? I mean, all you seem to do is travelling. When do you ever cure people?

i think he is a travelling neem hakeem - u know, the ones who pitch tents by the roadside and hawk herbal cures for impotency...

:lol:



As an aside and completely off-topic: the herbal cures work, but sometimes the effects can be the reverse of the desired result.

[CtrlAltDel]

Just one question Sri. Exactly what kind of a doctor are you? I mean, all you seem to do is travelling. When do you ever cure people?

i think he is a travelling neem hakeem - u know, the ones who pitch tents by the roadside and hawk herbal cures for impotency...

:lol:

As an aside and completely off-topic: the herbal cures work, but sometimes the effects can be the reverse of the desired result.

try kab kiya baap...?

[Sharjeel]

Just one question Sri. Exactly what kind of a doctor are you? I mean, all you seem to do is travelling. When do you ever cure people?

i think he is a travelling neem hakeem - u know, the ones who pitch tents by the roadside and hawk herbal cures for impotency...

:lol:

As an aside and completely off-topic: the herbal cures work, but sometimes the effects can be the reverse of the desired result.

try kab kiya baap...?

heheh....



I have a person in my karate class who is a practising vaid. Doesnt take money, and he is a genius. And hes only 25. MMost times he is out of herbs, because nowadyas herbs have become rare.

[Sri]

i think he is a travelling neem hakeem - u know, the ones who pitch tents by the roadside and hawk herbal cures for impotency...

Hare this is absolute nonsense and silly.

I am on Central services and I have been appreciated as a sincere employee.

Believe me I am true.

My travel letters are appreciated kind-heartedly in other international travel web sites.

But we Indians like CAD are throwing shit on each other. Especially WOUNDING gentle persons like me.



Hey Control, leave the grudge on me(if any).

[Sri]

Exactly what kind of a doctor are you? I mean, all you seem to do is travelling. When do you ever cure people?

Hi Lucifer,



I am allopathic doctor.

Graduated in Government Medical College.

Presently on Government service.



I do see patients daily.

Curing the patients is the real relief for a doctor.

Only doctors can realize that.

[Lucifer]

...Curing the patients is the real relief for a doctor.
Only doctors can realize that.

That is why I asked. When do you get to seem them with all the travelling that you do.

[lonewolf]

...Curing the patients is the real relief for a doctor.
Only doctors can realize that.

That is why I asked. When do you get to seem them with all the travelling that you do.

Sri is a doctor who loves to travel.

[CtrlAltDel]

But we Indians like CAD are throwing shit on each other.

but i wear gloves while handling all the shit!

Especially WOUNDING gentle persons like me.

but y'see gentle n sensitive persons are the easiest to wound...and its fun too

Hey Control, leave the grudge on me(if any).

ok...here it goes....i left it!

[DQ]

[quote="SriMy travel letters are appreciated kind-heartedly in other international travel web sites.



Sometimes we Indians perceive "Subtle Mockery" as appreciation. Would be very eager to see the appreciation you receive.



Kindheartedness is rampant in the olive complexioned, and you blame them of shit? I AM REALLY EAGER TO SEE THE KIND HEARTED APPRECIATION

[lonewolf]

My travel letters are appreciated kind-heartedly in other international travel web sites.

Sri, I am not surprised that your travel experiences are published in international travel sites because they are so lucid and interesting and detailed. People should love them.



I usually take a diary with me when I go on vacation, make points and note the time and place when something interesting happens.



Keep up the good work and lets hear more of your trips.