Kashmir trip

“If there is heaven anywhere on Earth, it is here.” Where else other than Kashmir, as we decided to seek some proof to this popular maxim, and Boy!! We got ample proof of this fact. What struck me most of this heavenly place is not just the natural beauty but the extremely warm hospitality of the Kashmiri people.

Of course, it was much more than just a summer break from the oppressive May heat!! After an hour’s delay in Mumbai airport, we landed in Srinagar airport after amazing aerial views of the snow-capped glaciers. A short drive took us to Basheer’s houseboat in Nigeen lake, a welcome alternative to the crowded Dal lake. Home cooked kashmiri food on the houseboat included chicken delicacies and rogan ghosht (made using mutton). The next day was reserved for Srinagar city tour, which included many of its Mughal gardens and the Shankar acharya temple, which provides a magnificent view of the city and the Dal lake, which winds through the city like the Amazon. The 240-step staircase to the top of the Shankar acharya temple was a decent climb. The climb, which is supposed to be most challenging for children, was a cake walk for Aaditya, as he is easily the fittest amongst the 3 of us.

The next day, a short drive of about 60 kms took us on our way to Gulmarg. To prevent commercialization of this place, there are not many hotels in Gulmarg, so we checked into a new hotel in Tangmarg, which is 13 kms from Gulmarg. This is sleepy little town with very hospitable people, as many locals that we met during our evening walk, invited us home for some kashmiri mehmaan-nawaazi. The scenic beauty of this place is enthralling, as we walked along a patchy road and reached a gushing river downstream and an overhead rope bridge held together with wooden planks. We spent the evening here among the gushing waters and on our way back, enjoyed some delicacies at the local bakery and also some namak-waali chai. Another popular drink worth mentioning is the Kashmiri kehwa (pronounced as kah-wa). It is a hot tea beverage including multiple spices like cardamom, ginger, and cloves. Kashmiri doctors also prescribe this drink for medicinal benefits.

The next day was a treat as we enjoyed the Gondola ride in Gulmarg followed by the horse ride to the local points. The horse ride was abruptly stopped due to oles (or hailstorm). An evening stroll in a park in Tangmarg introduced us to a kashmiri local, who had come with his 15 yr old daughter and his son’s children. As the locals get married pretty early in these parts, this man became a grandfather at 34!!

Unlike some of the other popular tourist spots, the J&K government has not opted for out and out commercialization of its places, including Pahalgham. Some the best spots in this place are accessible only on a horse back and maintain its pristinity. We admired the horses for their strength and never-complain attitude. The horse track was slippery due to overnight rains, but the horses never stopped. Baisaran is a beautiful spot with a green spread of grass enveloped by the magnificient peaks. We clicked a lot of photos in this beautiful meadow and thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful weather and experience. The best thing is that all the tourist spots are very close to the hotels and so we could come back for lunch at the hotel and then set out again. The cool climate ensured that we were never tired and were always ready for stepping out again.

Growing Up

It’s a strange feeling coming from a weekend of tending to your 2-year-old’s needs and wants… Makes you wonder if documenting business processes in the cool and professional interiors of your workspace is the preferred alternative to spending a day (or rather a weekend) with those tiny pair of legs, that cover more distance in your mind than on the run.

But this blog is not about the process of raising a child; rather it is about the process of growing up (as experienced by a child) … so when you do look at it from a child’s point of view, it sure looks a challenging and a confusing task. So, here he is, in a strange world with stranger faces, going through a process without any defined template, nor any defined worksteps, nor does it follow any linear methodology. It sure looks daunting, considering that more experienced grown-ups still face a problem following a process, even with all their technical expertise and education. Right from the “task” of crying for food to getting their first haircut (imagine, without any “simulation”), it is a continuous learning process, without any “End” workstep nor any collaboration enabled.

Simply put ourselves into those tiny shoes and we realize how much less complicated our growing-up process had been. The universe around us, was much less sophisticated (not necessarily, easier) and things much more simpler to understand.

So while a child is the father of man, growing up is definitely the mother of all processes. It compels me to completely believe my kid’s teacher when she says she has learned more from the kids in her teaching career, than what she has managed to teach them; makes me wonder as to who is actually growing up.