Ministry of Silly Walks

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Ministry of Silly Walks

Did anyone else see the Sanjay Bhaktar (?) - the guy from the Kumars - programme on India last night? It showed the nightly 'closing of the border' ceremony between India and Pakistan. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. The soldiers (in imitation I guess of the British) go through the most amazing rigmarole which involves the entire John Cleese Ministry of Silly Walks routine. They also had enormous and sensationally ridiculous moustaches.

Just magnificent.

It ranks right up there with the section of Paul Merton's recent trip to China where he met the man who made the best robots ever. Almost fell off my chair laughing.

Didn't see it, but loved the Paul Merton series. Did you see the one with the Chinese Fawlty Towers hotel? That was hilarious!

 

I was going to post this separately. You HAVE to watch channel 4 on Friday at 8pm, A Place In Spain: Costa Chaos. It features the strangest person I've ever seen either on T V or in real life. He has the largest nose in the world, he has comically large glasses with magnifying lenses in and he's monumentally stupid. He was attempting to change a gas canister with a cigarette in his mouth. The camera man fearing for his own life had to step in. "Rocco - the cigarette." "Oh yeh" says Rocco. He also has a girlfriend who reminds me of Cindi Lauper but more quirky. It's car crash tele best watched from behind the sofa. I'm putting money on that he's in the next Big Brother.

 

I just hope they never produce offspring.

 

If you want to see what I'm on about then try some of these videos on YouTube. None is as good as the BBC film but they will give you a flavour: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=india+pakistan+border&search... What is so wonderfully life affirming about it is the quick handshake between the two sides after much foot-stamping and knee-lifting and general show-off belligerence.
That Michael Palin clip was great Tony. I'm off to India in a couple of weeks to hopefully experience that kind of stuff at first hand.
You lucky fellow. I lived out there in the early seventies - mainly in Bangalore - but to my enormous displeasure I have not been back for all sorts of reasons. It is my very favourite country - full of madness, kindness, insanity and fun. Just be sure to give yourself lots of 'wandering' time rather then dashing around trying to see all the sights.
Well there's a thing Tony. I'm off to Bangalore. It's like my home town. My parents grew up in Bangalore and my sister was born there and they spoke so much about it that I feel I know it intimately, except I've never been there. I'm actually visiting 13 blood relatives who I've never met. I've spoken to some of them by phone and they sound like lovely people. I'll take your advice about 'wandering' time. That's the kind of holiday I prefer.
India is in my Top Five Countries to Spend At Least Six Months Travelling Around In list. Loved the video, Tony, especially the fans in the hats and the handshake at the end! Although I paused a moment to reflect on just how stupid and artificial the Pakistan/India border is (indeed, any national border); and whether or not the world would be an easier place if we did away with borders altogether. But this of course opens up all sorts of cans of worms in regard to global economics, etc. How would the world cope? Go back to the barter system?
Or just shake hands with everyone? It's better than lots of other things.
The barter system sounds good! ;) pe ps oid Blogs! "the art of tea" "that's an odd courgette"

The All New Pepsoid the Second!

Yes, I was being a bit facetious, but actually I think the barter system is quite sensible. That way we would eradicate such things as 'middle management' and 'quality inspectors'. But imagine the chaos as corporations went bust! I frankly think we humans have a little more evolving to do before we could realistically accept such things as 'no borders' and 'barter systems'. *sigh* It's a nice thought, though. No more horrid passport photos!
I think the ceremony at the Wagah Border has turned out to be a ritual. This part of the Indo-Pak border is heavily guarded, but elsewhere along the line of control, cross-border terrorism and infiltration is at the rise. August 15, India is celebrating her 60th Independence Day. The tricolour flag will fly high, but, my city Delhi is under security blanket. 'Freedom' and 'Independence' are words to be given a thought.

 

I also remember crossing that border where a legendary woman was the sole means of Customs control on the Indian side. She just looked into your eyes and asked questions - she was very intimidating - and apparently she got everyone who was trying to smuggle stuff.
"But imagine the chaos as corporations went bust! ... ;-) pe ps oid Blogs! "the art of tea" "that's an odd courgette"

The All New Pepsoid the Second!

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