March 9

Today we basically had the same breakfast. We decided to go to the Partition Museum. Oh my, it was very sobering!! Unfortunately, it reminded us both of the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. The museum covers the time of India gaining its independence, and Pakistan breaking off and gaining its independence first. Basically my take, is the British pretty much granted the emancipation, drew up the borders in haste for the new nations, and really stepped out. Now comes the partition part. Pakistan is mostly Muslim. India is majority Hindu. The new border did not really account for this. Muslims in India wanted to be in Pakistan and Hindus in Pakistan wanted to be in India. It was one of the largest migration of peoples, and animosities sprung up. There was atrocities from both sides: stealing from anyone, raping of women, and killing. The whole scenario was not pleasant – people left their homes leaving everything behind with some of them starving along the way. The museum threw out numbers of the death toll, but it was all approximates. Pretty gruesome period of time, 1947-1951 ish. The museum then ended with a Hope section for the future.

We left and walked to get food. We ended up at Bubby Fish & Chicken Corner. We ordered Lemon Chicken, which was like a lemon chicken stew: and Mutton Champ dry – like a lamb kofta patty. Both were so good and filling. We also had a couple of roti, a small token dish of white radishes and red onions, and some green (cilantro/yogurt) sauce.

Now we just headed back to our place for a small siesta time. Deciding to take in the Golden Temple at night, we went in after we donned little orange head coverings provided. Wow! This one is truly more than the Temple we saw on our tour. And actually, this temple is a Sikh one. All the reading Jeff had done said to go at dusk, which we did. But well, it's a Saturday and the place is packed!! So we did not go inside the temple itself. The line was very long! (We met people who have been many times and did not go inside the actual temple anymore because of the line.) So we just walked around the outside along the pool. For Sikhs this is a pilgrimage site and some were doing ritualistic baths in the pool. As we were walking around, there was a service being broadcast over loudspeakers and on big screens in the corners with English translation even. But the Temple just glistened in the setting sun. Then the lights came on and it glistened more. Very beautiful! 

We went back to our place and had some red grapes and nuts. Bed by ten.