Feeling quite ropey today after one too many portions of mustard seed leaves and decide to steer clear of spicy food for a while, and stick to Chinese. Take some local medication and start to feel better.
As we’re so close to the border between Pakistan and India, we take the opportunity to head to the line of control and to watch the ‘changing of the guards.’
As we head to the border, I get a call from London regarding a project payment which has stalled – some paperwork hasn’t yet been signed by the partner which is slowing the process, but without my usual files and documents around me, it’s hard to check the status of the project.
Feel frustrated that I can’t do anything, and like I’ve been jolted back into another reality. As I stare out of the window at water buffalo and fields, I get a strange sense of being in two places at once.
The changing of the guards is an incredible sight – we are ushered through the border gates, and seated in separate male/female areas within a metre of the border itself. Indian tourists are being seated opposite us at the same time in a mirror of the process, and both the Pakistani and Indian tourists eye each other suspiciously across the white line.
Pump up the volume
The show opens with a competition for musical supremacy – both sides blasting out their own individual brand of uplifting, patriotic music, and someone keeps nudging the volume control up and up. Then, with a flurry of fancy footwork, the real show begins.
The Indian and the Pakistani guards take it in turns to strut across the parade ground, slam their metal-plated shoes defiantly slam to the ground and puff their chests out whilst lifting their bayonettes high above their heads. Tried to block memories of Monty Python’s Ministry of Funny Walks from my mind…
Posted by LucyM
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