India! (Usually I try to do a greeting in the principal language of a country... but India has 61 languages: Adi, Aka, Angami, Ao, Apatani, Assamese, Balti, Bengali, Bhutia, Chakhesang, Chang, Dadri, Digaru-Mismi, Dogri, English, French, Garhwali, Garo, Gojri, Gujarati, Hill Miri, Hindi, Idu-Mishmi, Jeseri (Dweep Bhasha), Kannada, Kashmiri, Khamti, Khasi, Kokborak, Konkani, Konyak, Kumaoni, Ladakhi, Lepcha, Limbu, Lotha, Mahal, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Miju-Mishmi, Miji, Mizo, Monpa, Nepali, Nicobarese, Nocte, Nyishi, Oriya, Pahari, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Sangtam, Sema, Sherdukpen, Tagin, Tamil, Tangsa, Telegu, Urdu, Wancho -- I know because I went state by state (28) and province by province (7) to collect 'em all. Among the principal languages? English, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil, Telegu and Urdu -- take your pick.)Pakistan! (While significantly smaller in area, Pakistan also has a variety of languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%)
Since Urdu seems to be a common denominator, "khushaamdeed esteemed dostein!"
*Rubs hands together with glee*
Wagah is the only road crossing the India/Pakistan international border, and is famous for the "lowering of the flag" and gate closing ceremony each evening. It is fascinating, as the military uniforms differ little except for color and the marching and posturing has all the color and aggression of a cock fight:
Fascinating!
(Who knew that a daily spin through my site meter stats would turn out to be so much fun and educational?)
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