This sign (at the Wagha Border) makes me proud! Even though there is still a long way to go before we can call ourselves the largest and the BEST democracy in the world... I feel that we are well on our way. We only need to hold our nerves... and play it till the end.

Called by God...

I have just returned from Amritsar.
The city (very close to the Indo-Pak border) is famous for a couple of things.
1) The Golden Temple
2) Wagha Border gate (between India and Pakistan)
3) Jalianwalla Bagh

The Golden Temple is the holiest of all the Sikh shrines. Their holy book the Guru Granth Sahib resides here. After having been there and felt the atmosphere I can only say that God does indeed live within the Golden Temple. The first time I saw it through the arched entryway a line popped into my mind 'I present myself before thee O God'. I must have read it somewhere but for it to pop into my mind the very instant I saw the temple for the first time. For a second time did stand still and all was at peace. I felt like a sick child being comforted by his mother where in that instant all pain is forgotten and all weight lifted off your shoulders.

It is truly an amazing place and I suggest everyone should visit there atleast once in their lives. I for one plan to go again next year!

On a lighter note, people say that you only go to such holy places when you get the 'call of God' . For example if people make it to Vaishno Devi shrine they say that 'Vaishno Mata called us so we went' and if for some reason trip gets cancelled they say 'Mata did not call us this time'. I feel like reminding them that Gods dont run an outbound call center and such changes in programs are luck. No God can be that selfish to deny the devotees an audience. Although who knows the greater truth? Is there even a God? Maybe God does run a call center and the only problem is that the inbound lines are all jammed up.

Another thing thats amazing to see is the Wagha
Border gate between India and Pakistan. This is one of the few border crossing points between the two countries. Here in this pic you can see the Indian soldiers (Border Security Forces) with their backs to the camera and their Pakistani counterparts (Pakistan Rangers) in black facing the camera. The Pakistani flag can be seen on the other side.
Every day at sunset the ceremony of closing the border gates and lowering of the flag is carried out by both sides. It is a spectacle which attracts hundreds of people on both the sides.

Everyone with Varun (all dressed up for the wedding ceremony). 

My first time wearing a three piece suit. Im looking like a monkey wearing a dress and feeling even more uncomfortable in it. 

Me (right) with Varun on his engagement day. I dont like wearing formal clothes as you may or may not be able to make out. 

Another shot of the mountains from the plane (at 35,000 ft). 

Taken from a Boeing 777 on my way home. Somewhere over the Middle East. Its hard to believe that the plane was at cruising altitude (35,000 ft - typical). I had to use the full 12x optical zoom to capture the road going through the mountains.