More from Srinagar: We had booked a houseboat on Dal Lake for three weeks with plans for some mountain trekking (Marilyn on horseback due to her knee and me walking) and camping. Also had some day trips planned. Many of our plans were scrubbed and very enjoyable substitutes were found. We left the houseboat after four days due to rising waters (by some accounts eight houseboats capsized because their owners failed to add more rope to their anchor lines---the boats simply couldnt rise any further and slowly rolled and sank). Many Dal Lake houseboats are anchored in front of their owners homes; some of these homes are on land, others on stilts. All, including our owners home, were completely flooded. We went to the home of Manzoor Billoo, a friend of many years. It was a haven. We were dry, had good food and safe drinking water. Manzoor operates a high mountain trekking company and his home, the Snow Leopard Lodge, is a place where many in his trekking groups stay before and after their treks. He is accustomed to having many guests in his home and treated us like royalty. When the rains stopped, we enjoyed sitting in his garden and were able to begin several day trips. Manzoors house was full of relatives taking shelter including his elder brother, Kadim. I stayed on Kadims houseboat five years ago was to saddened to see that he had contracted an untreatable neuro-muscular disease AND his house was submerged. Kadim, and other members of his family (including a son with Downs Syndrome), Manzoor, us and others some nights totaled 15 or so people. Thats a lot of chai to make, not to mention meals for everyone! Manzoor and his helper, Nazira, never missed a beat. After a few days we heard a rumor that one of citys cell towers was working at low capacity. We walked a couple of kilometers to see and saw a lot of people standing near it making phone calls. We joined them. Me to our daughter, Lydia and Manzoor to his wife, Jill in Australia. We were able to make a few day trips from Manzoors place. Most to the north and east where there was little or no flooding. The roads were passable. We did get in some horseback riding (I feel the same about horses as I do camels--I like looking at them but not riding them!), a couple of riverside picnics, visited some mosques and a few other things. All in all, while our original plans were quashed, we did find some very enjoyable substitutes. (Ill try to post some pics sometime). And while we were NEVER in danger, and very well taken care of, witnessing to utter devastation was chilling and tempered the joy we felt of being in Kashmir; a place worthy of its reputation as shangrala.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 16:26:08 +0000
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