.....Heaven on Earth...!!!

.....the Urge for de boarding the Bus was supreme  & at Batot lunch was ordered....fairly simple aromatic Basmati rice nd Rajma(Kidney beans) with a kingsize glass possibly a Brassware with a base laden with lassi was served ,which was devoured nd gulped in no time by five of us (three brothers nd two sisters)....it was my first brush with the kidney beans nd I found the taste to be bland nd the journey to the Valley which was exciting &...on the contrary....1973 ,nd the B class quite comfortable Bus ride frm Jammu to Srinagar took nearly 10hrs...Patni Top,Banihal Pass, Verinag.....nd the mercurial Chenab with ponton bridges erected by the army is well etched in memory not to spk of the Towering Mountains .....the treacherous road dotted with apple trees,sometimes one way...nd the roadside pushtas for straightening ur legs nd inhaling the fresh mountain air.....the hotel room at Regal had no lock system nd we frm the plains were pretty much surprised, assurance frm the Inn keeper...nd we had a gud nite sleep after the arduous journey....only to shift to the more placid Rly Holiday Home of N.Rly in serene environs the nxt day.....whn the Sun set at 8pm I am taken aback nd happy for more playing hrs with my siblings,collecting all sorts of souvenirs of shapely rounded,rocks, possibly morraine left over yesteryrs....the speared fish frm the Jhelum with a telltale scarmark on the trunk nd the saffron laced tea is as fresh in memory as if it was yestday.....the "JalPari" named Shikara ride on the Dal , the House boats ,the Mughal Gardens, the trip to Khilanmarg for skiing with a view of the Nanga Parbat & Wular lake on horseback is well imprinted even after 40yrs.....the average Kashmiri looked  beautiful, Godly nd Innocent .....truly Heaven on Earth.....!!!!.....promising to return with the New Kids ......on the block......!!!!