BheartINDIA: KARGIL AND KASHMIR

Dreadful Delhi..here i come again (for transit to Mussoorie)

Free drink with your boarding pass

Off to New Delhi. To transit for Mussoorie

A notice at the entrance of the Srinagar airport

Modelling a trench coat. It belongs to Father host. He bought it for sale at the Dal Lake.

Fayaz aka Mr Gym enjoying his dinner. Eating also so handsome! (sorry, singlish)

My sumptuous dinner (last dinner in Kashmir). The extra bowl of rice was not mine. It was excess rice from everyone's bowl.

Hospitable father host ask me to 多吃多吃

Had to use spoon due to the bandage on my hand

Yummy!

Warm coconut based dessert cooked by Mother host

Family portrait. (L-R) Father host, Mother host, Afrooza (3rd), Umer (youngest), Fayaz (2nd) and Farooq (eldest)

Fayaz's cousins with their mother

Father host came back from his boat trip

Umer went out to porch to pose with his bike and the roses

Umer gave me a rose to cheer me up (bitter smile..)

Bad luck day..with a bandage and going back for the 3rd injection in the evening. I am feeling moody...

Hair make time by hairdresser Nazima

Mr Firdous Shah, the internet man aka Superman.

Shukuria for helping me complete my stuffs for 3days non-stop. Your kind effort meant alot to my Host and me.

Umer aka Mr Cool with Beautiful Eyes

Breathtaking views

Pahalgam

Approaching Pahalgam

On the way to Pahalgam

Aqib and me. He can dance and whistle very well!

Mother host and me

Front (L-R) Tasleema, Afrooza, Aqib

Back (L-R), Farooq, Me and Father host

No matter how Umer asked this little girl to pose, she kept looking at the floor. She is very shy.

Neighbours. Ive got similar hairstyle too!

Beautiful Kashimir ladies. Fayaz's cousins. They have very good complexion.

At kitchen entrance..Afrooza, Mother host and me

The most delicious Kashmiri dish, mutton in yogurt. Eat with hand is the best (i ate with my hand 80% of the time)

Kashmiris have very exquisite utensils. They are made of copper. Bought a set as souvenir

Pink Peony?

Garden trip with my friend, Fayaz aka Mr Gym (and Mr Handsome)

Thank you Fayaz for inviting me for a homestay. It was really enjoyable and unforgettable!

Beautiful flowers

Lovely garden

Seeing a big barb wire for the first time

A small shopping complex

Even dogs are tired of curfews?

Beautiful historical buildings

Cant get to your destination by road due to curfew? Go by shikara (boat)

Going home from Dal Lake

(L-R) Afrooza, Me, Father host and Umer

Me and Mr Beautiful Eyes, Umer aka My Bodyguard (he accompanies me almost daily to the Internet cafe and the Doctor)

Umer has the MOST BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF EYES i have ever seen in my life! His eyelashes are at least 3cm long and his bottom eyelashes are at least 2cm long. You must see it to believe it!

The World famous Dal Lake (and boat houses)

The World famous Dal Lake

Sister, Afrooza and younger brother, Umer. BEAUTIFUL EYES!

On the way to Dal Lake

On the way to Dal Lake from my host house. On my host's shikara (house boat). The guy handling the boat is Afrooza's younger brother, Umer.

Lal Chowk (bazaar)

This was the only time that was opened during my 8 days trip in Kashmir.

Lovely bangles (gift for me) from Afrooza...bling bling!

(L-R) Tasleema, Meg, Afrooza, Me and Mother host

Went to my friend, Fayaz's house because everywhere was closed (curfew). Stayed at a boat house for the first 2 night in Kashmir. Next 6 nights with my host (his family).

(L-R) Meg (their cousin), Fayaz and his younger sister, Afrooza.

Kashmiris have VERY beautiful eyes.

The driver, Mr Hussein. Thanks to him, else i cant find lunch for the day as all shops were closed (curfew)!

1st canned drink, Peach fruit juice in Kashmir during curfew. We (Mr Hussein and me) found a small sundry shop which has half opened shutter.

Truck going down the slope..waited for 30mins. Our turn next. We are lucky to have an experience driver, Mr Hussein!

Waiting for our turn

Every vehicle is queuing for its turn to go down the slope. Road is narrow and pitch black

Drass

Our car was pulled over by the police. Our driver went to the police station. I went to take picture of the surroundings.

Initially, the police officer told our driver in the police station that we had to stay overnight at Drass and can leave only tomorrow morning due to some road problems along the zojila pass. Luckily the officer came out to the roadside and saw me (tourist and the only woman?) among other passengers. He signaled us to go. Phew...

Kargil to Kashmir. My dreadful MIDDLE SEAT.. insisted by the driver

Kargil to Kashmir

Kargil

Last minute, I decided not to stay overnight here as it is really a small town. I was lucky to meet a kind soul, Wajid on the Leh-Kargil bus. He helped me find a shared car that goes directly to Kashmir the same afternoon (from Kargil). Thank you Wajid!