Return to Lahore

Tour of Lahore (Mar 5)

Our new guide Ahmed arrives at 8:30 and we are off for a tour of Lahore, at site seeing tour showcasing all the beautiful sites of this city. First stop Lahore Museum – it has some of the oldest artifacts of the Asian subcontinent. Our tour was brief but interesting, of course with the requisite stop at the gift shop for some prints and souvenirs. The Lahore Fort was next, an imposing structure in the center of the city, adjacent to the old walls of the city. A 1600 century Mogul structure for kings and queens with plenty of room to lounge about and be served.

We also stopped at two mosques – beautiful – by chance it was time for prayer and I took the opportunity to do so in a great historic structure. Upon prayer completion the Imam did as our guide about the Islamic-ness of this visitors – But he assured them that we were Muslim and that all was OK. I was dressed in Shalwar Kamees but the boys, in their Gap, looked questionable.
After the last mosque- in the old city – zipped across for fresh Keema Naan fresh from the tandor in the open market – 7 Naan and sodas 250ruppees 5$ - Fresh tasty deal. The days journey allowed us to see many of the British influences building and styles of the city. Before going back out for dinner that evening and on the way home from the Lahore visit we asked the driver to stop and get some kites so we could fly them in Bassant – The famous Lahore Kite festival. After we arrived home we could already see that 100’s of kites already aloft. Actually official Bassant was moved to next week due to GW bush again, but 100’s, maybe 1000’s were already flying. The fun of the Bassant is to try to cut down others kites as the kite string is coated with a fine glass. The practice is somewhat dangerous as you can imagine several 1000 kites and line cris-cros-ing the sky. By the time we had arrived home we already had 3 stray kites on the roof. Rather then take our new ones we laced up the victums – added some tape and put them aloft again. In a few minutes we were aloft and within several more our neighbors had cut us down from their adjacent roof. Cheers from the 10 adults and children on the adjacent roofs. We strung up another stray and were a loft again – this time we were able to cut down a victum. The third kite we flew achieved great height but again able local flyers were able to cut our line and our kite flew to another far away roof top to be flown again. The time ticked closer to dinner and we left for ‘The Village’ a fine local restaurant style after a market. Buffet style service with all the Pakistani specialties that you can eat all prepared fresh in a hot self serve market. Extreme service by the dozens of waiters and supervisors and managers - especially to the white guy. Full from the meal we did however visit ‘Food Street’ – for a look – each night the street is cordoned off and dozens of food vendors ply their wares including street smart restaurant staff you entice you with their menu as they walk by. Too full to eat – of course – we may try this option tomorrow. We head home – tired again for the night.

Washing – Resting (Mar 6)
As tomorrow at 7:00am we leave for a 10-hour drive to the Cholistan desert we need to rest and sleep and wash some clothes. I head off to Mobines office in Lahore to finish blogging and get another several thousand rupees for the trip south from the ATM. I am sure we will not have Internet until Karachi so stay tuned for further recounts as we emerge from the 40degree desert.