Monday 17th November
Managed to change rupees for 8 $s and so having had
breakfast in the Park Tea House (eggs, toast, jam, tea cost at our rate 1/1d!).
Left Lahore and arrived at the borders, after buying some handicraft goods
(earrings, wooden cigarette box and metal plates) with the rest of our P money
at 10.30. All formalities were quickly dispensed with (including our encounter
with a delightful female customs inspector) despite the “delay” warning from
the AA.
Got a shock in Indian - the petrol rating (70 octane!!) but the old car
seemed to work. Driving is very difficult because of thousands of bikes (all
being driven very erratically) and ox carts. The roads are quite narrow so to
pass a vehicle both have to have two wheels of dust – ugh. I am still not
feeling tip-top so by Ambala I had had enough for the day.
We found the rest
house/bungalow and were given a suite containing huge bedroom, a dressing room,
and bathroom (at our rate cost 9/6). We are going to have dinner here in the
dining-cum-sitting room at a cost of 8/6. The place is super and you can just
imagine what it used to be like full of travelling English.
All the furniture
is beautifully polished, high ceilings with fans, faded photographs, flowers in
small bowls and pinned over the door of one of the four bedrooms is “Mayor
General L D Cupta” - sign of the past!! The dinner was beautifully cooked
followed by coffee. Tonight was the first night under the mosquito nets.
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