How cool is this!

I've been told in places like the UK you need to pay to use these trolleys here they are neatly lined up waiting for you!

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A typical Air India flight

Our Air India flight to Delhi was on schedule, filled with the most happiest lot of folk off to pilgrimage. Some were sitting in other peoples seats but that was fine, everyone was patient one or two even found alternate seating. By now even I wouldnt mind moving for a couple or family or anyone for that matter. The inflight meal was palak paneer with rice and a local sweet dessert. Although ive never purchased anything on the plane, because they seem to always be selling overpriced gifts as an afterthought for loved ones...I just dont buy anyone gifts. Nevertheless surely in a bid to make India a greener place and the world at that, Air India has made their catalogue thumb sized and only included the real necessities of what people would purchase categorically for the rest of you're life. 

Step 1 - Get married, expect jewellery, buy a 5kg safe on a plane to "secure you're emotions"

 Step 2  - Reward that loved one with a set of non stick cookware so that she will be happy and so will your tummy

Step 3 - Ok you got the pots now you need to give her a tandoor, cos what good is a nice chicken curry without tandoori naan - India's fastest selling electric tandoor!

Step 4 - Too much curry can be unhealthy, so keep a check on your health with this nifty blood pressure monitor and thermometer

Cricket isnt just a sport its a religion!

In India, cricket isnt just a sport or pass time, it is part of daily life, every taxi driver can rattle off the South African cricket team the stadia and colours worn among all other stats possible. International games are seen as battles between countries, and truly the locals have embraced their country's national pride. Some of the trees we saw in Srinagar were chopped up into neat sized pieces ready to be made for hitting red leather balls around the world. Every restaurant, bank, hotel, bar, barber, coffee shop, electronic shop(what else would you be buying a tv for...oh and Shahrukh I forget), Mcdonalds, airport TV has the cricket on. There are a few dedicated cricket channels on tv that play reruns and current matches 24 hours a day! The airport TVs attract a large number of people almost as though they are all in a movie theatre.

Flight out of Srinagar

When flying out of Srinagar you will be required to endure a few more airport checks than normal. It goes something like this, a couple of kilometers before the airport building, taxis will have to go through a waiting area with small buildings that house baggage screening machines, all your luggage must be offloaded, sent through the screens and reloaded in the taxi.

Once at the airport again an armed military officer will require your printed flight itinerary and passport/ID before getting you're baggage screened before getting the usual pat down search, males and female separately as in all airports in India. Once this is done, your baggage is strapped up with a strapping machine.

Due to security reasons all flights from Srinagar do not allow carry on luggage with the exception of laptops, cameras and money. We were sent back to the screening because we had some souvenirs. Once your luggage is sent through, laptop/camera/handbags have to be checked once again before two more pat down checks....despite all of this, the process is systematic and may only take an extra 30 minutes at most so be a bit earlier and have no unnecessary baggage(no one likes extra baggage)

Like before Srinagar's airport is very basic. Apart from a handful of general shops and a single 2m x 2m cafeteria, plenty of seating with a few birds that have somehow made themselves inside, they also went through all those security checks if you are wondering... while waiting for our flight to Delhi we watched them slipping and sliding as they walk on the shiny porcelain floors.

Srinagar City

 

I think 3 nights is plenty in Srinagar, maybe 2 days in winter because everyone here has told us not to bother with the gardens being out bloom. Today we decided to go to the town to buy some traditional souvenirs, saffron and spices.

It seemed like my camera was attracting a bit of attention, and so my sister had sent me to sit across the road everytime she went into a pashmina shop. As you can see the photos I took while waiting, again in India, you could just sit and snap away randomly with your eyes closed for a memorycard filled with the most amazing shots ever.

 These 3 women selling fish checking out the days catch...no pun intended

 Catching a bus...

 Local Butcher

 Mulberry trees - the leaves are used to feed the silkworms which make silk for the pashminas!

Local supermarket!

It is probably the oldest market i've been to in the world which services its local community, there are no supermarkets here, so there is no other source of getting groceries. A contrast to the olde world is the trendy “cafe coffee day” coffee shop, which seems to also have branches across India and still manages to maintain very affordable prices. It seemed to attract the trendy(or so they thought still in traditional garb) who spend their afternoon gossiping over coffee, me trigger happy but these patrons did not seem pleased at my taking pictures of the witty comments on the walls. 

No idea what this means? Running man in Shawl!?

Fakes or are these the real originals

 

Im really not sure who copied who, but because everything looks older here I think all these world brands came to India and now feed us their fakes that we think are originals!

Sonamarg

Sonamarg 80km from Srinagar is another mountain region which also during winter boasts the most picturesque snow plateaus. You will pass Sindh river, and towns so old it makes Sringar look like current Hong Kong. Ancient chinnar trees, padi fields and hydro power stations along the route, these sights will make one hardly feel the 2,5hour drive each way. It began to snow and again the roads were closed at Kund about 15km before Sonamarg.

Abdul Rashid obliged kindly everytime we wanted to stop for a picture and philosophically imparted his take on life along the drive, interestingly much he told us he was married for 33 years, well done for that alone, but he went on and said in the 33 years he has never had a fight with his wife, not once. Really! Dude 33 years...Well I hope it all isnt bottled up... In shock with nothing to really say my sister and I smiling ear to ear, as we heard on, his secret, “when my wife says anything, I just think about it...then later I realise she makes some good points” after a brief pause relishing in his accomplishment he went on to tell us that when he got married although poor he took nothing from his inlaws as dowry, which left him under no obligation. He also told us in a very humorously that new brides are usually given copper pots as a present, and the bride doesnt want to use them to serve her new inlaws which is causing marital problems. Speaking of marriage there is a matrimonial pull out section in the daily paper here, havent they heard of shaadi.com???!?

Along the way back to Srinagar, my sister needed to use the bathroom so desperately that another minute longer she would have messed Rashids nice car, we stopped a couple of times where we saw amongst the old buildings some really new public facilities, unfortunately though they were closed. She ended up going to what was called a restaurant but inside seemed as though there was an exodus and all but tables and chairs were left, while she was using the inhouse restroom, I felt obliged to buy something to compensate for her relief, but all he had was some packets of chips expired for 8 months and so thick with dust that I thought it was part of their packaging, dusty masala? I still bought them for 20rupees each. I enquired if there was any food being prepared and he said no the restaurant was closed for 2 months, he just comes to serve tea and let passers use the toilet. He was really more interested in knowing if there was snow at Sonamarg and how far we'd travelled.

Ab Rashid was kind enough to take us through the 3 sections of the Dal lake on the way back, the reflection on the lake almost seams surreal, 2 of the areas does not allow houseboats, and whatever houseboats that are in Srinagar have been sold or given as gifts by the British, who built them because they were unable to purchase immovable property here. Although there is enough space to accommodate more houseboats no new houseboats may be constructed, and only the current ones may be upgraded.

We had dinner at the Lalit, winter being off peak season, their heated 50+ seater restaurant was empty, I still asked them if they had a table just incase the guests were all invisible or camouflaged in red saris and suits to the décor. I couldnt take any photos though, it was awkward enough ambushed with the 7 waiters ready to serve us like Muhgal kings, every time I had a sip of water the waiter would refill it, while I was trying to finish my glass of water they were trying to finish the bottle so I had to stop drinking. The food was out of this world, the naan was bathed in butter(more butter than naan) which went great with the chicken murg masala and waza kebabs. I think we were early though because a few families made their way for dinner, more waiters were brought in as we finished up.