115. KASHMIR - MY 13th TRIP

This is a passage from a long convoluted poem by Walt Whitman...


Passage to more than India!
Are thy wings plumed indeed for such far flights?
O soul, voyagest thou indeed on voyages like those?
Disportest thou on waters such as those?
Soundest below the Sanscrit and the Vedas?
Then have thy bent unleash'd.....

Passage to India
Walt Whitman 1819-1892

Our host on the houseboat was this dear old gent who babysat us in his son's absence. Soft spoken and gentle, he was thoughtful and alert, a perfect host who thought of everything. Spoke impeccable English. Prays 5x daily. I can't say if this son had the same thoughtfulness - I sent care-of his email this pic for his father - never received an acknowledgement...

















Linkway between 2 houseboat neighbours

A ride in a shikara gave me an overview of their lifestyle and their jobs. Their women are quite liberated. They move around unescorted, female children paddle themselves to school...or are sent by a boatman - they operate in a safe environment. I've visited other river communities, I may find the flora and fauna different but the communities operate in like manner - there's much give and take and a whole lot of cooperation - it takes a village to raise a child is so apt in such close knit communities...

The Dal Lake is the lifeblood of the Kashmiris. Life is idyllic. In the dark, young and old negotiate the waters and find their way around, yet nobody wears glasses. It's nice to see nothing gets wasted - womenfolk harvest the lotus and lily leaves to sell to farms to feed cattle..

Houseboats are moored permanently, they don't sail...

A popular place for rafters - the Lidder River in Pahalgam

Ice covered mountains - Kashmir gets crowded during winter when skiers descend upon these slopes...

    

 

The lodge where I stayed looked better from the outside! Somebody could climb into my room from this window but safety was never something I was concerned about during the times I've gallivanted in India, be it North or South...I mean 2 women driving around for several days with a driver...?

Gulmarg gondolas took us to a highest point to view the mountains of Pakistan! The typical Kashmiri male in mountainous border regions can pass off as the Taliban. They have the bearded look with an intense glare, hooked pointy noses, tanned, turban-ed and something lurks under those flowing robes...  

 




 
It's people know when to relax. The lovely climate makes people mellow. Young and not so young frolic in this pool...










A good place to pray - you don't need a building to pray in...

Lilies of the Kashmir Valley...

The Jamil Mosque - year 1380

 

Facing Mecca...had to cover up for as they told us 'we were naked'....!

Akbar the Great Fort dating back to the 16th Century. The Mughals were here for a long while...they left behind forts, mosques, palatial residences and some beautiful gardens. Perhaps from those gardens and private homes, the inspiration came about that resulted in some erotic love manuals...

The old part of Gulmarg, outside the capital city of Srinaga, has several interesting old buildings. Unfortunately, as it's so often the case with India, there's no maintenance or appreciation. They are left to rot and squatters have taken over...

Above this shop is a stall selling chai and snacks linked to a row of other shops by a narrow passageway - customers move from shop to shop along this passage without railings, any slip and they end down on the road below!