Srinagar

I left most of my stuff in Kargil and took only the essentials for trekking (berry jam included). From Lamayuru, on the road to Leh, it took me 6 days to reach Padum in Zangskar region. It was very fast, I walked for 10 hours each day, because I had no tent and could sleep in the villages only. It was pretty tough, beatiful though.














On the 5th day getting up and down from the passes was over, I was in the valley of Zangskar river and the road was flat all the way to Padum. I had to return to Kargil, but there were landslides on the road, I had to wait a couple of days, until the bus started going. 40 km before Kargil there was a landslide, the mud river just crossed the road. The bus couldn't go, we crossed by foot and went by jeep from the next village. Then I was on a night bus to Srinagar, Kashmir capital. I woke up to find that the desert mountains of Ladakh were gone. We were on the Zonji La pass, on the eastern border of Kashmir. The mountains were covered with green again, herds of sheep and goats around. In Srinagar the weather was bad. It was raining for the past 3 days, the streets were flooded, and the water in the river and the lakes rised. I spent 3 days in the city, on a houseboat on Jhelum river. The main part of the city is full of military and barbed wire. The recent bombings were arranged by the government, people say. Full of shops selling wood carving, shawls, jewelry, papier mache and other Kashmiri stuff. The vendors have very persuasive techniques, a lot of hassling in tourist areas. But then, there are the lakes, shanti places, the reason why this place is called paradise on earth. The nature on the lake is amazing, plenty of water birds and fish, among floating gardens and lotus flowers.














Salam aleikum.