Day 2 Kashmir

Had an amazing breakfast of Kashmir tea, omelets and pancakes and home cooked bread and then at 8.00 set off for Gulmarg – our driver Praveen organized a guide for us, which did not seem necessary but was so good for the money 900Rs – as he showed us the lines for the gondola and prebought our tickets, etc as is was crazy busy. There are two gondolas and we dropped off Granma and Grandpa on the first level about 8,500 feet and they had a great time chatting to the locals while we took the next gondola to 13,800 feet. The view was magnificent and we were standing near a sign that said the other side was Pakistan and was not to be passed. We only spent 20 minutes there due to the altitude. We got away from the crowds due to our guide who in the winter worked as a ski guide. We are okay skiers but just looking at the slope was terrifying from the top. Set off down to find the grandparents, who were surrounded by friendly people. Again we were the only non-Indians Kashmiri people. Peter my brother is a farrier (shoes horses) so he chatted with the pony owners who use the horses for tourists.

At the house boat we had tea and “went shopping” or should I say the shop came to us, when a boat selling local products pulled in and set up shop in the front sitting room. Later a large storm came through and we felt so lucky to not be on the mountain. Had an early night, exhausted.