Dusty road and rich valley, two different realities to pictures what this land can offer. With the shadow of giants snow mountains, a dream can be flourished or vanished in a blink of an eye. Decades of conflict can always bring dark memories, but the life that needs to keep going teaches how to be grateful for the simplest thing that you can find in life.
The paddles of the shikara boat swing and twist in the skillful hand of boat paddler, splitting the calm water in the heart of Dal lake, Srinagar. With the view of the Zabarwan mountain range as the background, shikara become a witness of how economy turnaround in this place. Not only as the main transportation, but the growing numbers of tourism also make the boat become the home where they put their dreams on.
Dal Lake, with the famous boathouse, is not only the place for tourists but also a home for a lot of the locals. The guide explains that each boathouse has a chain that can be adjusted according to the water debit for each season. When other places drown in flood during summer because the snow from mountains starts to melts, the boathouse is the only place that stands strong.
Sunrise can be surreal in this lake. Sounds of chirping birds, the body that was shivering from the cold of winter wind. But when the gold sunrise appeared, my body was warm, and my soul was sold.
The fact is, this region offers a mixture of hope and despair. Due to decades of conflict, the rich pristine mountain ranges become confinement for all the dreams to fly free. But despite all limitations, this place is the warmest that I found on my little journey so far. Laugh, storytime after dinner from Ayyub and papa with a cup or two of Kashmiri tea melts the heart easily, and it’s a reminder that happiness can exist wherever you are.
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