The HIGH places
Our family trip to Kashmir this May was an uphill task, both literally and metaphorically. It was more of a road trip, except for the necessary airlifts.
This gave me an added advantage of taking away everything I could from every possible nooks and corners of Ladhak, which we had treaded. By this, I do not mean any materialistic stuff but the usual sights of the local terrain, the people, the bazaars, the roads taking curves here and there. At one time, you are on the side of the rocky mountains and at the next minute you on one edge of the road.
Then there are rivers running along with you; only they are a hundred times louder, fiercer and more powerful than you are and a beauty to watch. At one time the river runs on one side of yours and later they are on your other side; then you realize its you who is changing mountains.
(Here in this altitude we do not change directions as much as we do mountains!)
The winding roads take you to every terrain of the gigantic chain of mountains.
Once you are on the valley surrounded by hills from all the sides…hills carpeted with snow or even without; then you turn around to see a patch of lush green trees…all at one place.
You feel the coldness of the snow, the freshness of the scanty greenery around and the dryness of the barren landscapes here and there.
I do not know what one should call such a thing in the world.
You are at three different kinds of places on one land called Ladhak (in early May, precisely).
The locals here, greet everyone “jhuley,” that is ladhaki for hello.
One thing, which I noticed, that is very much prevalent here is the local youth’s unimaginably mad fetish for western brands or personalities.
For me, it was unusual to see Che Guarav’s sketch on a Bajaj scooter!
Alternatively, say, Nike written on windscreens.
One would also find other leading names too Adidas, Puma, etc. on rear screens (provided, windscreens already flaunted other brands)
No offense to the people but it seemed as if you bring a Firangi and tell them,” He’s CEO, Puma.” They would all prowl on him out of love & respect!
The Ladhakhi people are full of energy and life. Unlike the plains, the women there worked on crop fields and the men…half of them are lamas, some are cab-drivers and rest, I guess must be into some kind of business.
I saw a young lama driving his own Alto and a middle aged driving a Scorpio
(I know these observations are childlike & alone these can't help you infer anything about the locals.) The bazaars are full of local stone jewelry, shawls,etc.
You’ll’ve all varieties of food there, only with a local flavor.
Nevertheless, it’s okay and edible.
For the adventure-seekers, there is plenty of stuff to choose from mountain-bikes can be got on rent, trekking groups etc are there.
However, most importantly, people from the plains should give their body a minimum of 36 hours of acclimatization time. That is an utmost essential to enjoy your stay at this spectacularly fantastic place.
This gave me an added advantage of taking away everything I could from every possible nooks and corners of Ladhak, which we had treaded. By this, I do not mean any materialistic stuff but the usual sights of the local terrain, the people, the bazaars, the roads taking curves here and there. At one time, you are on the side of the rocky mountains and at the next minute you on one edge of the road.
Then there are rivers running along with you; only they are a hundred times louder, fiercer and more powerful than you are and a beauty to watch. At one time the river runs on one side of yours and later they are on your other side; then you realize its you who is changing mountains.
(Here in this altitude we do not change directions as much as we do mountains!)
The winding roads take you to every terrain of the gigantic chain of mountains.
Once you are on the valley surrounded by hills from all the sides…hills carpeted with snow or even without; then you turn around to see a patch of lush green trees…all at one place.
You feel the coldness of the snow, the freshness of the scanty greenery around and the dryness of the barren landscapes here and there.
I do not know what one should call such a thing in the world.
You are at three different kinds of places on one land called Ladhak (in early May, precisely).
The locals here, greet everyone “jhuley,” that is ladhaki for hello.
One thing, which I noticed, that is very much prevalent here is the local youth’s unimaginably mad fetish for western brands or personalities.
For me, it was unusual to see Che Guarav’s sketch on a Bajaj scooter!
Alternatively, say, Nike written on windscreens.
One would also find other leading names too Adidas, Puma, etc. on rear screens (provided, windscreens already flaunted other brands)
No offense to the people but it seemed as if you bring a Firangi and tell them,” He’s CEO, Puma.” They would all prowl on him out of love & respect!
The Ladhakhi people are full of energy and life. Unlike the plains, the women there worked on crop fields and the men…half of them are lamas, some are cab-drivers and rest, I guess must be into some kind of business.
I saw a young lama driving his own Alto and a middle aged driving a Scorpio
(I know these observations are childlike & alone these can't help you infer anything about the locals.) The bazaars are full of local stone jewelry, shawls,etc.
You’ll’ve all varieties of food there, only with a local flavor.
Nevertheless, it’s okay and edible.
For the adventure-seekers, there is plenty of stuff to choose from mountain-bikes can be got on rent, trekking groups etc are there.
However, most importantly, people from the plains should give their body a minimum of 36 hours of acclimatization time. That is an utmost essential to enjoy your stay at this spectacularly fantastic place.
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