Moving Forward...

Sikh’s religion is a blend of Hindu and Islam, and has a firm focus on pragmatism (a big sign reads ’service to humanity is true service to God’) and inclusiveness (Sikh always denounced the caste-system). Each temple boasts a kitchen where all are welcome to eat for free (and hide from the burning heat).

Spectacular Temple. All day chanting from the holy book engulfs the complex…

and with a kitchen feeding up to 40.000 guests daily, you have lots of dishes…

… and lots of food to prepare (this is the garlic section!).

Poverty is really awful. Many poor people show physical disabilities.

A rikshaw. You’ll have to share the road with others.

Thousands of Indians visit Attari daily to scream “Hindustan Zindabad!” a 100 times and out-do Pakistan at this surprising ceremony marking the closure of the (only) border crossing between Pakistan and India. Great event to attend.

More Amritsar and Attari pictures here.

A real bustling city center. Everything happens on the streets. It’s hot. Fortresses in the vicinity where it feels like Aladdin could come walking around the corner at any moment.

Famous Hawa Mahal. Notice the guys in the front…

Looking after others while you should be looked after yourself.

Jaipur is called the Pink City because they painted all buildings pink in 1876 when the Prince of Wales visited…

Good spot, holy cows!

Wedding procession…

Nearby Amber fort could be part of any fairy tale.

Happiness can be in the small things.

More Jaipur pictures here.

You know these things, yet it’s hard to prepare for the heat (43 degrees Celsius), the poverty (rather startling and at times accompanied by horrible physical mutilations) and the crowded cities.

But you have these amazing sparkling colors everywhere! The sari’s are so delicate, so intricate, so beautiful. And everything they say about the Taj Mahal is probably true.

One more thing: it’s fantastic to see trends in architecture, art and religion extend over thousands of miles – and constantly adapt/evolve. For instance, there are many Islamic influences here, but with a distinctly Indian twist to it.

The Taj Mahal has been ’swaffeled’ but has it been Mooned?

Hindu lotus flower in the center of an Islamic arch with Indian adaptations. Nice.

Childish, I know.

Such beauty!

The joy of stepping into a different world! Again, there is sooo much I need to learn. Fan-tas-tic!

Downtown Old Delhi

Humayun’s Tomb, quite likely Delhi’s nr 1 tourist destination.

Lodi Park is a great place to relax – and meet local students.

More Delhi pictures.