This trip came into my life at a time when I was in no mood to travel. I had travelled too much recently. Just two weeks back I had come from Bangalore and my heart and mind were still there. But since it was pre planned and I literally had to do nothing but pay my share - I neither had the heart to say No to my friend nor could muster the will to cancel.
Don’t get me wrong! I wanted to go to Kashmir of course, having heard so much about its beauty and never having been there. I didn’t want to miss this chance too because Kashmir is one place you cannot really plan to go to with just friends.
And I had this rare opportunity where I could go with friends and family together.
With this mindset and zero expectations this trip started.
Below links are the day by day account of my 5 day trip--
I also realised how a trip is a refresher. You go on a trip like a blank slate, with no past and no future. For those few days, you live in the present. So much so that, you have no recollection of where you come from and no thoughts about where you want to go.
Those few days are so happening and complete in themselves, that you are always living in the moment (as cliche as it sounds, it is true).
Now I understand why people go on trips to have a break!
In fact, I need a break after I come back from trips too. There is so much to absorb, record and place in your heart so that it doesn't fade, before you can return back to routine. (I actually had to take a 3 days break to complete this blog! :p)
I had come to this trip with zero expectations. Thinking I just needed to pass 5 days! How difficult could that be in a place like Kashmir.
Now that I am back, I want to go back again whenever I get a chance. In fact I want to stay there for a month every year. I want to sit at night at Zero Point everyday, ride in a Shikara on Dal Lake in twilight, go trekking in Pahalgam, learn to talk in Urdu and Kashmiri. Make friends with the local folks. Maybe also write my diary and some stories there.
I also have a checklist of the things I want to do when I go to Kashmir again--
Go trekking up mountains – with someone sporty and fun. Have some races uphill.
Learning to sledge
Ski
Talk in Kashmiri
Read and write in Urdu
Live there with the communities
Write my diaries and a few books
- manu
- twwg
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