Himalayas
Since I'm unlikely to be climbing Mt Everest in my lifetime (it costs ridiculous amounts of money and really is that hardcore), I decided to do the mountain flight thing, which was well worth the coinage.
Everest is the tallest peak in the background here. Seeing the mountains below, which anyone would consider huge, really brings home how massive Everest and its friends are.
recap: India after Delhi summary
Because I can't be bothered writing my usual witty detailed analysis of the last few weeks of the trip (since I'm already home!), I'll quickly summarise for my own mental sake as much as anything. Although the last 5 days in Nepal will get its own post, it was that special.
So I went up to Amritsar to see the Golden Palace. It really was amazing. Best temple/palace/thing in Asia I've seen so far. Most of its charm comes from the fact its a Sikh holy place. So there are no specific holy shrines/images, no touts, little commercialism, free food, very clean and a real Sikh altruistic theme running through everything. Sikh's rock.
I went to the India-Pakistan border about 30km away with a couple of Russians I met in the plane. They have this big ceremony everyday for the opening and closing of the border - it's really classic India. It's actually a lot like a sporting match - both teams sit in opposing grandstands and cheer for their side as the border soldiers march around and perform crazy over-the-top manoeuvres to show national pride. Really something special. I couldn't any pics of the actual action as there were too many people and the sun was setting right behind it all.
Check the rest of the Amritsar set here.
Next, after a nightmare with the trains (I missed one after not waking up - bad follow on effects), I made it back to Delhi by car, which was a very interesting trip down the India highways. I actually found Ludhiana! The magically small town my blog is named after. It was kind of industrial and like most other Indian towns, although we literally drove through and the driver had just stopped for me so I didn't feel like asking again for a bit.
And then came Agra and its infamous Taj Mahal. It really is an amazing feat of architecture. Sure, it doesn't have much history at all, and it was just a building built by some rich leader to house his dead wife, but it's one of the only buildings that's really made me stop and think "shit that's cool!" (I haven't been to Europa yet though, so yeah.) Anyway, it's breathtaking. Not the best day for viewing though that day - was around 47 degrees and not much cooler in the shade. So, much, sweating.
Check out the rest of the Agra photo set.
I’m a dirty lier
I lie a lot. Sometimes every few minutes. And about big things too.
For instance, just the other day my family owned Feltex, the carpet company, and I was working my way up their corporate ladder: "Really, so that's how carpets are made here! I'm just doing a bit of research for our R&D labs. No, no, no (laughing) - I don't need to buy carpets, my company makes them, I get them free!"
Quite often I actually work or live in India - sometimes on a UN-related mission, sometimes doing aid work for the Red Cross, other times just doing "IT stuff." Most of the time I'm definitely not a tourist.
At other times I develop severe allergies or trauma conditions relating to certain specific objects - such as elephants, snakes or Krishna: "Oh, what do you have there, a little marble elephant? Sorry, I can't buy that, elephants trampled by parents when I was only a child and I'm deeply scared of them now."
It's what you have to do to survive the constant barrage fair-skinned folk get in the tourist-dry off season. Honest! I'm not lying this time 
the troubles
I'm not sure if much news has reached NZ/the west about what's happening in Rajasthan at the moment (where I am - Jaipur city) - I'm guessing not much, as I haven't had any "are you OK!?" email from the parentals.
Well, basically, there's conflict between two tribes/groups over one's right (Gujjars) to be included on the relatively prestigious (for rural Indian farmers) Scheduled Tribes list (it gives them Govt subsidies etc. I believe). 25 have been killed so far. The roads and train routes out of Jaipur have been blocked or damaged. Only yesterday were buses able to get to Delhi. Beyond that, in or out, it's flying. So I'm kind of stuck.
There is no direct conflict in Jaipur thankfully though - just lots of army and people on edge. There are also talks happening over the past day or so which seem to be bringing things under control. All good! Jaipur isn't a bad place to be - bloody hot (stays at around 42 until around midnight...) - lots to see and do.
More to come...