I was still tired when I awoke, and not in the best of moods. Shimla hadn't impressed me on my drive through. The area where I drove looked like any other indian town, I was tired, hungry and confused and looking for faults.
After a breakfast of scrambled eggs I decided to explore. Within about 20 minutes, I had revised my opinion of the Shimla. The air was lovely and crisp, but still warm in the sun. The ridge road where the hotel is spread up hill, almost completely closed to traffic. Great big gothic and colonial buildings on both sides interspersed with views down the valley on each side. It reminded me more and more of an alpine town.
The pathway eventually opened up to a plaza called Scandal point (pic below). Reminded me of Italian plazas, people wandering round, gawping at each others, little children being given rides on horses (although the nags looked fit only for the knackers yard), helium balloons.
In a little band stand there was a display of Korean Energy treatment. Therapists waved esoterically round seated patients whilst making bizarre whooshing sounds (pics below). Looked very strange so of course I had to have a go. Apart from making my little finger twitch uncontrollably I could not make out any other effects.
On the other hand, perhaps it affected my self belief. I came across a sign to the Jakku temple on the hill, that gave you walk times depending on your age and how fit you were (pic below). Bearing in mind I am going to be climbing up to Everest base camp in December, I thought I would try it out.
The headline is that I made it in 22 minutes, it (or do I mean I), did not look pretty at the top. Purple faced, sweat soaked and gasping, I was fit for nothing but reeling at the foot of the huge terracota covered statue of Hanuman.
It didnt stop groups of Indian kids of all ages wanting to come up have their picture taken with me. Lots of them. Relentlessly. Had quite good fun with a lot of them, and it is the closest I will ever come to being papped. Gave out my facebook details, so I expect a few of them may well be in touch. Have put a pic of the four most faithful, Tej, Manoj, Santosh and Hand Raj below.
Walked around the streets of Shimla for a couple of hours, in the really nice bazaars. It appears that Indians like buying tourist crap as much as Europeans, and there was nothing much that caught my eye.
On the way back to the Lodge, stopped at a barbers for a haircut and shave. This is a pleasure I have been anticipating for ages. There is nothing like a cut throat razor shave - feels like you have been peeled inside out. It was so relaxing I almost fell asleep.
As I left an Indian lad spotted me from about 30 m away, ran up quickly and virtually begged to speak to me. Abhay really wanted to practice his English so he could understand American Rap songs! He accompanied me all the way back to the hotel and we discussed the economies of India and England, corruption in politics, the genetics of height and the frustrating mysteries of females!
Had a rest, and then dinner. The only down point of the day is the loss of my kindle. A plug fell on it, and the screen now wont work. This is a double blow as not only does it have all my books, both travel guides and fiction on it, it also has a 3g connection and can connect to the internet even when my Iphone can't. I am now completely cut off from connection back home. So it will be back to internet cafes. Just like travelling in the late nineties.
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