Trek to Karnala Fort & Bird Sanctuary

Ok, so we went for a trek last Saturday, and I was supposed to write about it on Sunday, but Dexter has been keeping me busy! I cannot believe I'm rooting for the serial killer, as opposed to the honest cop!

Due to the RA and all I've restricted myself to one trek per year, which is all my dear left knee can take before giving way! Anyway, so this year's trek was to the Karnala Bird Sanctuary.

We went as part of a local adventure group that was initially affiliated with the Company, but later had to distance itself due to a serious incident that nobody is ready to tell me about!

Anyway, I've always had a good experience with them, from climbing like Spiderman at Tikona to flying fox at a waterfall in Mulshi(Yes, I did that!!!!). Some of the best and scariest moments of my life have been with them!

So, as usual, when I went to register the first thing I asked was how difficult this was gonna be. And the POC surveyed me from top to bottom and said, "You'll do it!". I really appreciated her confidence in me, something that I was doubtful about. But who was I to second guess her, she was the expert after all.

Without further ado, a few glimpses from the trek:

 

The climb, this was where I realized I didn't have to climb one step at a time, which is what I was doing at work and everywhere else with steps. Now that I didn't want to be left behind, I had to climb normally, and surprisingly (for me at least), my knee survived!

This was as high as I could get, by then I was too tired to go any further, so we stayed & rested.

In the middle of nowhere!

A Butterfly!

View from the top..

As we were climbing, none of the phones had range, but at the top, all five bars were active!!
So this was where I called Ma and told her I'd gone for a trek, they worry unnecessarily, so I've decided the best thing is to do first and tell later! :P

Some sort of flower/leaf?

Adi trying to bird watch.

Storm clouds gathering.

It was raining heavily as we descended, and it got slippery, but there were no casualties, so all went well.

A day well spent, even though we didn't get to see many birds, it was green and a good change from the monotony of every single day!

NB: This trek happened somewhere in July I think, it was lying in my drafts for a very long time, finally decided to complete it!

Srinagar-Ladakh-Delhi Trip: Day 2: Pahalgam

The next day, on the advice of the guest house guy (cant remember his name!), we decided to go to Pahalgam, a neighboring town and hill station. 

The journey took us about 2-3 hours, which was fast due to the bandh. The roads were very beautiful, and since I was sitting on the front seat of the car, I could enjoy the scenic beauty without much effort, though I had to work at tuning out the driver's non-stop commentary on random stuff!

A lovely stretch of road with tall trees on both sides.

On the way to Pahalgam

A beautiful river with blue-green water. The Lidder river I think.

 

We reached Pahalgam and once we got out we got the news that the only way to see anything here was on horse-back! Aunt & Uncle had already gone horse riding when they'd gone to Manali, so the three of us were the only ones who were hesitant to try it out; I, cause I'd vowed never to voluntarily go for any animal ride since a disastrous camel ride last year!

After much discussion & persuasion by the locals (it is their main source of income), Pa decided to go for a trial ride. He didn't like it, but didn't really hate it either, and so it was up-to me whether we'd go or not, since Ma is always ready for anything new! After vehemently refusing the first hundred times, I finally decided to give it a go, thinking it couldn't possible be worse than a camel ride. And I was right. It wasnt all that bad, thought the first few minutes are terrifying on my horse, who was aptly named Awara (He did not like to follow the other horses and would choose his own path!).

 

Anyway, now that everyone was on board we selected the Baisaran package, which cost us Rs. 700 per person. And so with great trepidation, we set out on our horse ride.

The stony path we went by.

The whole journey till the top was terrifying, especially because the horses seemed to be finding the narrowest and steepest paths to walk on! We stopped at certain points along the way for more photos, since we'd taken the services of the professional photographer who accompanied us on foot.

It was a package deal, the photos on the horses and then photos in traditional Kashmiri costume at the top, with the Himalayan backdrop.

When we reached the place called "mini Switzerland", the view was breadth-taking! I've never been to Switzerland, but I'm sure the Alps are just as beautiful. The sprawling natural lawns, the tall pine trees, and finally the majestic snow-capped mountains! Wow!

Mini Switzerland!

Zorbing: we didnt try it.

Descending was a bit trickier, I kept thinking that I'm gonna fall and tumble the rest of the way down; it would've been painful, but quick! But we somehow managed, and reached the base point safely.

After paying them, we went to a nearby dhaba owner by a Punjabi gentleman, and had some tasty food, the paneer was as soft and delicious as before.

 

Gujrati Thali

Punjabi Thali

After lunch, and another quick photo session, we started on our was back to Srinagar. Stopped on the way at some places designated (by our driver) as standard tourist spots for photography, and some apple orchards.

 

Apple Orchards

We stopped on the way to have tea in one of the villages and saw the locals having a yellow colored drink. Its a kind of tea only, but with dry fruits like almonds.

A tea with dry fruits

As we were nearing Srinagar, movement got very very slow due to the traffic. At a certain point in time, when we were stuck at a traffic signal, there was a loud sound, like an explosion just behind us, and a small cloud of dust rose in the air.
First thought: Terrorists!!!
Within seconds of hearing the sound, all the pedestrians lowered their heads and started running helter-skelter! There was a young mother with her daughter right outside our car, who we were observing just before the sound, they disappeared in the time it took us to look behind and back!
Anyway, it was over before we had time to react, apparently a car's tyre had burst, causing the loud explosion-like sound.
I guess this reaction kind of explains the presence of the defense personnel all over the busy streets of Srinagar.

They were present at intervals of a a few meters all all the roads.

As we reached home, it started getting darker, and as soon as we got out of the car at the guest house, it started raining. I was already under the balcony cover, when I realized that the rain was making loud noises as it fell, and on looking closer found that it was hail!! My first hail storm!!

Hail!!

 A good end to an adventurous day!

Srinagar-Ladakh-Delhi Trip: Day 1: Srinagar City

Its been a week that since I've been back from my holiday, and I'm still feeling the withdrawal symptoms! It was the best holiday of my adult life, and I just didn't want to come back to my  mundane Pune life!
Anyway, its over and I'm gonna have to survive on these memories till the next holiday, so just sharing a few here.

Before leaving, we had to weigh all the bags, since we couldn't cross 15kg per person, and we had a lot of stuff!

In the air finally, after months of planning!!

We left at 7.10 am and reached Srinagar at around 1pm, after hour long halts at Mumbai & Delhi!

There was a 2-day bandh in  Srinagar, to protest the Zubin Mehta concert taking place here, and these two days just happened to be the first two days of our holiday! Though it turned out to be a good thing for us, since the roads were practically empty, and we didn't have to face any crazy traffic.

The deserted streets of Srinagar

After checking in at the guest house (courtesy of my aunt, who has contacts!!), we went out for a quick lunch at a dhaba, and had the best, most awesome paneer ever! It was so soft and just melted in my mouth; now I know how my North Indian friends feel when they have the paneer here! The dhaba was just opposite the famous Dal lake, and so after eating, we went to have a look at the Shikaras there.

The area was empty of tourists, and only the shikara/houseboat owners were sitting, and looking around for tourists. As soon as they spotted us, we were surrounded by them with various offers of shikara rides and houseboat stays also. One old guy got hold of us a little early and convinced us to have a look at his houseboat, after which we could decide whether to spend the night there or not. I wanted to, since it would be a totally new experience, but I don't think and of the others were that enthusiastic, other than my uncle.

Anyway, we hired a shikara (400 INR for an hour-long ride), and decided to have a look. Getting into it was a very complicated feat, and required us to properly balance ourselves, since the boat would just sway in either direction and look like it was about to capsize with us in it. All of us got on safely, not without a few scares though, and left the shores.

 

Shikaras

The water was filled with some weeds of some sort, so I think even if we fell into the water, we might not have sunk too deep. There were some people fishing as well. When we asked about the type offish and if crocodiles were there in the lake, the guide seriously replied: "Crocodiles are not allowed in the lake!" I instantly had a picture in my mind of a crocodile being denied entry and having to go back sad!

Apparently, they had experimented some years back by putting a crocodile in the lake, but it caused a lot of disturbances, overturning the shikaras and all. And so was removed from the lake, and since then crocodile are not allowed in the Dal lake!

 

Houseboats

There were a wide range of houseboats to suit nearly every type of tourist, domestic, foreign, rich, not-so-rich. The one we were taken to was very old, and dusty and moth-ridden! Yes, we got one of the sad ones. Anyway, I didn't even go inside since we were asked to take off our shoes before entering. The others went and had a look and didn't like it at all, so we carried on with the shikara ride.

Below is one of the older houseboats in which people still live. It was the biggest one we saw.

The lake was filled with lotus plants, whose roots I think are used by the locals in cooking.

Half an hour was already spent and we had another half remaining, so decided to go to the market area, which was also practically deserted due to the bandh. A few shops were open, mostly of clothes/shawls and dry fruits. We stopped at one one of the dry fruits stores and got on to dry land. We left after considerably lightening the load in our wallets, and went back to shore.

 

The Shankaracharya temple at the top of the hill.

 

A shikara selling stuff like cold drinks and chips!

 

Lost of birds around

After the shikara ride, we wanted to go shopping in Srinagar city, but due to the bandh everything was closed and so we couldn't go anywhere. Our taxi driver Tahir, suggested going to the Jama masjid, and being without many options, we agreed. The area around the masjid had a lot of shops selling burqas and such. Tahir took us around the mosque for a tour to see it from all sides. Its supposed to be one of the oldest mosques here, with a capacity to seat around 30,000 people! Anyway, as we were walking, we noticed some young boys playing cricket within the compound, and when they saw us, they suddenly started saying slogans(?) out loud, like: "Go back India! Go back!" We were shocked! I mean, this was India, so where were we supposed to go?? Makes me think that they were in the wrong country!
Anyway, that worryingly summed up the attitude of the locals here. Apart from those profiteering from the tourists being here, the people (mostly men) around looked very unfriendly and downright hostile!

As we took a full a circle, we met two adorable kids who were out for a walk. The people here are really very good looking. All fair and light-eyed, with sharp features!

 

Later on we went looking for a place to have dinner, which was proving to be difficult since most places were closed.Tahir finally found us one restaurant that was open. Decided to try some of the Kashmiri specialties, like Gushtaba (a mutton dish). The food wasn't that great, but thankfully it was jut this one restaurant that was a problem, the coming days brought us yummy, tasty food!!!

 

Stepped into a neighbouring bakery and had a look around. The bakeries here are supposed to really good with breads not found elsewhere. 

 

We went back to the guest house and to our beds, and thus ended the first day!

Mumbai: Day 5 - Wedding Day!

Ok, so it was finally the day of the much anticipated wedding. All in all a fun, but tiring day.

I got up early, and had my complimentary breakfast at the hotel, and got back to the run to get dressed. Ma, although she wasn't really feeling well (feverish and stomach upset), got up early and dressed me in the sari, and put on some makeup and stuff. And when she asked for a smile while she took a photo, all I gave was a frown, and told her to hurry up! I don't even know why I was that irritated! Sometimes I think I'm the most ungrateful child ever born. My parents do everything they can to keep me happy, and I repay them with a frown and angry words. Every time I do this, I resolve never to do it again, but I just cant seem to help it!

While dressing, I got multiple calls from my friends, questioning the delay, since I was supposed to be in their hotel by max 8 am, but it was 8.30 am and I still hadn't reached. There was actually (!) a stunned silence on the phone when I told them I would come already dressed, as initially I was supposed to get dressed in the hotel with them, and a lady was supposed to come to drape the sari. Apparently, the lady had closed her parlor since she had to come to dress us, and so she would take the decided upon amount, whether the work was required or not!

Anyway, Pa walked me to the hotel where my friends were getting dressed. When I entered the room, at first I thought I'd got the wrong room, due to all the unknown faces staring at me in the doorway.But on going further in saw my friends. The unknown faces were the parlor ladies. Anyway, there was a lot of chaos in the room, stuff thrown about and girls in saris running around looking for things. Everyone was almost ready, and were just applying the finishing touches (of makeup). I spoke to the lady about the sari, and she agreed to do my hair for the amount she would have charged to drape the sari, so that wasn't a complete waste.

Anyway, when everybody was ready, we had a quick photo session, and left for the wedding hall, which was just across the road.

This was a typical Marathi style wedding, so not a lot of noise, but no dancing at all. The groom arrived soon after us. When he first reached the hall, the bride's mother welcomed him with aarti and stuff. For that, he needed to remove his shoes, and step on a small platform stool kind of thing. When he removes his shoes, the girl's side people (cousins, siblings, friends) snatch his shoes, and then ask for money in return for the shoes. Its tradition! I missed most of this since I was on a call, but one of our friends got the groom's shoes, getting scratches and cuts while doing it! She actually fought the groom's cousins and screamed "My Sari! My Sari!" when they tried to gt near her!! She was my hero!

 Colored rice to be thrown on the couple (like confetti?)

Anyway after that the wedding ceremony started. All the pooja, pheras and everything. We didn't get to see much of it since it was taking place at the front and people were crowding there. We just sat back and tried to take photos. After that a fabulous lunch, and it was time to leave.

Some of us:

The Couple

We went back to the hotel where I was to share a room with Mag. So, the two of us went to our room, and had yet another quick photo session, after which we washed and changed and went off to sleep. After we got up and had some yummy chicken sandwiches, it was time to get dressed for the wedding reception. There wasn't much chaos this time around since most of us weren't wearing saris, so we all got dressed in our respective rooms, and left for the Reception, which was at the same place across the road. 

We wished them again, another photo session and went to dinner, which was pretty uneventful. Caught up with some other friends who came late. With our stomachs overfull, we left the hall to say buy to the bride.
It was a very emotional farewell for her and her parents, lots and lots of crying and hugging, I don't really know why. I mean its not like ancient times, she'll keep meeting her parents and even staying with them and all. Anyway, to each his/her own.

We reached the hotel and with not much time to sleep, since we would be leaving for the bus stop in like 4-5 hours, we all gathered in one room and got to talking shit and stuff. That was fun, but I fell asleep halfway through! I guess everybody was getting sleepy after a point, so we just moved to our rooms and slept for like an hour. Got up and half asleep we left for the station. Back to Pune and back to work!

Goa Trip: 1-3 June 2013

Ok, so I was in Goa for a really really short trip. Some glimpses:

Bored in the bus: With nothing to do except listen to music or sleep, I took to photography!

View from the bus as I reached Panjim: It was raining heavily which would have been a welcome change from Pune, if I'd not been wearing cloth shoes!

Reached home, and after a quick shower, re-arranged the book shelves: I take books I buy home, once I'm done reading them. Filled one of the shelves, and so had to make space in the other.

  

Inaugurated the new wine glasses: Homemade Red wine with lunch and dinner, in the most beautiful glasses ever!

Yummy lunch: Rice with Prawn Curry, Shengo (Drumsticks), Tisreo (Clams), simple and tasty.

Followed by the best chocolates ever!!

The next day: Had a sari modelling session with Ma.

  

Another modelling session, with a cousin: History repeating itself? I used to play dress up with Ma's saris all the time when I was a kid.

MaPa's Wedding Anniversary Party (The main reason for the trip): 28 years together!

All the cakes:

The next day: Bully!!!!

Bully & Zac: Brothers!

 

View from the same bridge, in the opposite direction though.

Spider on my wall: Yes, we get spiders, snakes, centipedes and all sorts of creepy crawlers in the house.

~ The End ~