Gold - Always believe in your soul - You've got the power to know - You're indestructible

Today is all about the City’s main draw, when people ask where we live, we always used to say ‘Well it’s near Brands Hatch for those older people, then came along the High Street Shops Grim Reaper aka Bluewater which everyone in Western Europe seems has heard of. But neither of those really have the same Kudos as a Temple and a Golden one at that, Punjab like other Indian states has many as I’m sure I will witness initially first hand then via an edited highlights version as we move across India not to mention Nepal’s contribution.

We’ve chatted to an older couple (yes there are some) this morning in the Hotel, they really weren’t embracing the place and had come out for the Cricket but talking to them was an experience in terms different views ‘ Do you trust them?'

We had several missions today and having always been accused of trying to pile too much into our schedule and this years and last year’s travel companions to India will testify (a three week holiday into 12 days) today was simply, Get Stamps, Get some Cash, visit Temple – you could do that in Meopham in the space of 200 yards and less than 30 mins (Granted our Church isn’t Temple status but you know what I mean)

First up Post Office for Stamps, the Hotel had kindly posted our one Postcard allowance (I know, I know , speak to Clare about this!) so following numerous blank looks we eventually found the Post Office , which is actually labelled as Post – so far so good!, even inside it’s not too crowded and regulations clearly state ‘ The staff will avail lunch break for half an hour between 1300 and 1400 by turn without dislocating counter work’ i.e. don’t take your break’s at the business time – UK Shops take note. All good and 15 Rupees worth of Stamps needed – no problem except that had run out of 5 Rupee stamps so only 1 Rupee stamps available so 15 needed which of course covers the whole card!, 1st task failed !

Next up Cash, everyone is still struggling here, we’re not at the stage yet of becoming debit card dependant i.e. choice of food etc based on the places taking a card, in fact where we tend to look to eat a card reader is a rare as a clear blue sky over here. Word got out an ATM had money nearby I managed to get about 10th in the queue which somehow became 20th as Women and Military have priority here. The ATM’s are all enclosed and would say normally meant for 3-4 people so things got a little cosy when 20+ people were inside , anyway suffice to say my UK card would not play ball with the Indian ATM and the 2000 Rupee ( £24) withdrawal didn’t happen , but plenty of people behind ready to have a go. Within an hr the machine emptied until who knows when the next cash will appear.

So even Meatloaf said 2 out of 3 ain’t bad but so far no stamps, no cash so it was all on the Temple and was sure this wouldn’t disappoint, prep work done, long trousers packed – yes I do have some!, freshly purchased Claret Headscarf, shoes and socks deposited at a small counter and metal token in exchange – I have no doubts I will get the right stuff back – Indian are really good at this type of organisation surprisingly. We follow the crowds for cleansing - hands first , then feet via a sheep dip type mini puddle , then we’re into the main area four marbled sides with a huge Golden Temple in the middle , seriously impressive , no scaffolding (St Paul’s Cathedral could learn a thing or two here).

We wandered around looking as is we really knew more about it than we did/should have but still stunned at the beauty regardless. We had been told there is one of the biggest kitchen's in the world here catering for 40,000 people each day and were pushed along the the flow into the 'holding pen' for lunch. No idea what was happening aside from waiting around, then having a metal tray, spoon and bowl thrust upon us, before be led into a massive hall and pointed to sit on the floor in a line. Next up were various people coming round with huge urn's and throwing chapati's at us i.e. here's you dinner, have to say Gobi, tarka dall , some coconut mixture and the bread washed down with Lassi was pretty tasty.

But as we all know there is no such thing as a free lunch, so whilst there were no charges the expectation is everyone helps out with serving, clearing or in our case washing up, as usual separate lines for ladies and men, I honestly think the plates came out dirtier than when they went in but I wasn't going to argue and Fairy Liquid was on a rest day!

We wandered around the rest of the Temple including the inner sanction if that what it's called and finished of with the added bonus of collecting the right shoes. I caused some amusement with the local females by taking off my long trousers (Short underneath of course) but with bigger attraction was the local girls and women having their picture taken with Clare, I just held the coats, bags etc a bit like the other half of someone famous who no-one really remembers A good 20 mins later we finally moved on.