India-Pakistan Border

At the border between India and Pakistan there's a militaristic flag lowering ceremony every night - much high kicking, shouting and saluting by the guards; while the crowd chants 'Hindustan zindabad!' on one side and 'Pakistan zindabad!' on the other side of the border. As an outsider it's all a bit bewildering, and a little tragic.

Wagah Border

Still, at one point it was lightened up by a bunch of girls invading the pitch and dancing to Bollywood hits. That's how a border should be closed. Both nations speak the same language and watch the same films, after all...

Wagah Border

Jaisalmer

After we left Ladakh, we headed back south into the hot indian summer. The first place we visited was Jaisalmer, in the deserts of Rajasthan. After Ladakh, the daytime temp of 40C was much too hot!! I spent most of the time lying in the shade, sweltering.

Jaisalmer

Motorbiking in Ladakh

Ladakh is a great place to learn to ride a motorbike - wide roads, not so much traffic, only desert to shoot off into, and none of that pesky license or insurance stuff. It's also really stunning - but you need to wrap up warm.

Motorbiking

Later I found out that the bike I was riding - a Bajaj Pulsar 150 has it's gears arranged differently to most other bikes - so I'll have to re-learn. Still, it was a great way to get around, and I'm now a convert.