Lahore in between tests

So we leave Multan, with a police escort of course, for a trip to Lahore. Journey of four/five hours and we lose the police escort as we get on the motorway after 30 mins or so. 

The experience with police is very different in Lahore. We are allowed to come and go as we wish BUT the coach gets stopped a lot by local police - probably five times over the two full days we are here. Some random traffic offence is mentioned - given what you see on most roads it's difficult to believe there are any actual traffic laws - but eventually a cash fine is requested and given. Fairly typical low level corruption.

Lahore is a very different city to Multan. We are still interesting to locals but they appear more used to westerners and it seems a more relaxed culture, with the young of both sexes dressing in a more modern style. There is also a more confident approach from staff in serving tourists.

We spent two full days. Day one consisted of a tour of Lahore fort and neighbouring mosque. We had seen this the previous night from the top of a local restaurant and it was equally impressive during the day. Being stopped by police had delayed us, so we only briefly visited the mosque and returned the following day. We needed to get to the Waghar border with India for the daily ceremony. Difficult to describe but a combination of changing of guards, trooping the colour and Monty Python ministry of silly walks. All accompanied by nationalistic chanting both sides of the border. Quite surreal.

Day two saw an interesting walk through Bazaar, visit to a historic Hammam, a new mosque and the return to same mosque as yesterday to see inside. All very interesting and relaxed. Final visit to national monument and then back to hotel.