Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Day 120 - July 6 - In Srinagar

July06 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: GPS Trip

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Thought of hitting Gulmarg today. But whats the hurry? With a cozy room and nicely located, decided to chill out for the day. Shikara ride is scheduled for the evening. Wake up pretty late and its just a lazy walk in search of Medical shop. Just replenish my medical kit. The five minutes here only sir; takes me half hour to get till the Dal gate circle to find the lone medical shop in the area. After working my way through and shopping was too lazy to walk back so took a rick back!

Fought with the tata indicom connection all noon till evening just to upload one day's log. Tata indicom is getting sicker and sicker. 5.30 ask the hotel guy to arranged me a shikara for the evening ride. It was still sunny at 6pm and looks like i am kinda early. The boat man Irfan instead of sitting behind the sofa sits in front of me saying that he is happy that there is only 1 person and can chat! Duh i am not here to socialize. It was pain to looks backwards. On insisting that i like to be going looking ahead like others, which he heeded to at the Nehru park. It was like a picnic out there... There was even water skating option. Did not really look exiting. Now the boat man lured me to show the market. Get out of the open areas. We get onto narrow water ways and was taken inside a actual village. Where there is hardly any noise except the chuckles of kids. There are houses and vegetable garden. After some time in there we get to Meena bazaar market. i was told like since the boat man's number is done any time i spend in between is free of cost! we stop at handi crafts and such places, man i am not into shopping, 'looking is free sir' and get insisted. work my way back to the boat much to their disappointment. Row through the market with lot of shops on the waters edge and get to open areas. Now the weather is pleasant and feeling like spending time out there. But now the boat man is in hurry! I insist on staying put some time. It was like couple of hours the whole ride any way. It was very nice for some time. Guess skipping the market would be a good idea. The last half hour was very nice and pleasant. There is sunlight till late in the evening. As late as 8.15 pm, it gets completely gets dark only after that!!

Just take a walk by the lake for quite some time and that was it about the evening. Kinda tempted to stay back for one more day. I am kinda liking it around here. After quite some time its not too hot or cold and just right. Crash for the day not sure of what i will do tomm.


Moring view of Dal lake and the house boats...








Not really that deep i guess...


Shikaras waiting their turn...


There are water roads too...


Hotel Aziz where i stayed...


My Shikara...


The boatman Irfan..


Me ofcourse...


Paddling the way...


The open lake ahead...





The cylinder boat!!!


I was talked into buying a suvaneer!


Floating shop...





The name of my shikara is Fight Club!!


Flowers at Nehru park...


At Nehru park...


Water Skating any one?


I was told Mission Kashmir's scene was shot on this house boat...


Many house boats... As pretty they look, din feel like staying in them. Kinda feels like lack of freedom. From the windows you see only the other house boat. From front in the small place you can see the world but cant go any where. And the boat does not move...


Market by the waters....


We sail through....


Floating fridge!!





Some birds...


Now rowing towards Village...


Into the narrow path...


Vegetable gardens by the path...


Going into the water jungle!!


Shot this bird...


Few ladies rowing their personal boat to their home...


A swift water bird...


Kids by their home...


House by the lake...


Shops...


More water ways...


Sailing through the market...


Expensive handicrafts...


Finally back to open'ness...


Me at the pleasant sail...


Other Shikaras...


My bike parked safe at the hotel...


Pic taken as i go for a evening walk by the lake... Its around 8.15 pm!!


Moon...


The Nathu's where i have food these days ;)

1 comment:

Arun said...

the evening Shikara and its peace was mesmerizing..completely opposite to the 'blasting' image of Srinagar! ..we 2 guys were sitting in a trance mode and after some time we saw each other face thinking what nonsence we are doing here without our girls!..pitty u got boat man to face! :D