Aarkay Hotel Srinagar

... amount of Indian tourists.
We leave and are back on the shikara after we stop for a milkshake. We pass under the camel bridge which appears to be remnants of a bridge that used to traverse the lake.
I relax for a while taking in the scenery and watching the eagles circling above the water looking for a snack.
After a while I help paddle when requested and we eventually stop at an incline leading up to a bridge near to the ...

... some four pillars holding the cellar, these are decorated colorfully with some sort of banners. One of the walls is a kind of alter, I guess. It is covered with all different images of Buddha (i think:). A big portrait of Dalai Lama is hung there as well. Some blinking lights are attached all around - honestly these look pathetic. The monks are sitting in symmetric rows, facing the center of the room. There is a principal who sits closer to the alter and conducts the process. There are ...

Taking a ride to Diskit. Initially wanted to take off at 7, but of course with all the fueling, etc I was on the road only at 10. On the way I made a small accident - hit a female donkey which was running away like there is no tomorrow from a mating male. Of course I have also mistaken with the road, and had to take a shortcut to the proper way. At the beginning it all looked very nice - the road was in a very good condition, the riding was pleasant. 
But as I went higher and ...

... guests in a strangers home, in a strange land, so again, we did as he said.

Dinner was more curries that were simply wonderful. The food was just incredible... followed by more tea and charas... and it was in this stupor of wonderfulness that he sprung his trap.

"so if you want to trek for a week" the guide began.

"...we are only here for 4 days" I interjected.

"but after you stay here, why not, you are in Kashmir, trek a bit." He ...

... saapaid pisut puhtamaks küürida. Jões käies said need küll puhtaks, aga sellele järgneva turnimise käigus on uuesti omandanud senitundmata räpase välimuse. Ma ei suuda selle vastu just palju saavutada.
Temisgam paistab, aga asfalttee tundub kuhugi majadest mööda suunduvat. Turnin mingi väikse templi katust mööda külavaheteele, juhuslikult kohatud mees viipab külalistemaja peale mind põldudevahelisele teele. Kulgen siis kitsaid radu pidi keset otra ...

... ki jätkub trall mõnevõrra hoogsamalt. Pidu peab kestma kuni changi lõppemiseni. Mida edasi, seda lõbusamaks lähevad noored ja seda rohkem tuleb diskot. Võib selgelt näha, kes kellele meeldib. Ka vanem generatsioon veetakse diskotama.
Väljas on juba ammu pime, kui otsustan magama kobida. Taevas kubiseb tähtedest. Pimedas orienteerumine võtab kõvasti vaeva, aga pärast mõningasi eksirännakuid olen oma katusekambris, kus vaatamata õues valitsevale jahedusele on meeldivalt soe.

... ds demurely covered by pl*in muslin cloth or sm*ll, flowered print fill the benches with their children clinging to their frock t*ils. Their f*ces *re *ngul*r, st*rk, long. Their pl*in he*d coverings *re tied up behind their e*rs, which *re *ccentu*ted further by the he*vy, golden e*rrings d*ngling from them. This is *pp*rently their only jewllery. A couple of Sihks, strong *s oxen, hiding their long h*ir bene*th k*ki turb*ns clutch the h*nd b*rs firmly. They count *s reli*ble people ...

... kleding uit Shimla en we kunnen hier een soort traditionele poncho, panchu in het Kashmiri, lenen. Dit zijn heel oncharmante maar ontzettend confortabele, warme jurken. De mensen gebruiken hier ook een kangri om zich warm te houden. Dit is een rieten mandje met daarin een kleie pot. In de pot zitten smeulende kolen en ze zetten hier de kangri onder de panchu als ze zitten, een soort "intern" verwarmingssysteem. Dit zijn de ...

... with a full moon. The trek was amazing. The scenery was breathtaking and I would love to return again, probably in the summertime, to trek further into the mountains. Returning to the houseboat both rooms where occupied so I have a choice of moving into the ...

Why, when I type 'rafting', does it always come out as '*******'?? Anyway, it wasn't the Indus, but the Zanskar River I rafted. ******. Whatever. T'was fun. Got soaked due to being sat right at the front, and then on the lighter stretches got burnt on my upper left arm. Go me. No pictures since I had no desire to damage the camera ...