To be spontaneous, infinitely flexible, and adventurous like impetuous youth is what we (specially us retired folks) secretly aspire for but our physique, respectability, maturity in terms of advanced age deters us from bringing out the inner child – till one leaves the known territory and dashes off to unfamiliar idyllic surroundings escaping the prying eyes of neighbors ! A drastic transformation in attire, looks, hairstyles … then happens !
Amusing incidents, faux pas and goof-ups are the essential masala to happy trips. As we landed in Srinagar (for the first time in our lives), our designated Driver-guide was not to be found despite our instructions to display a name-sign for us. However, there was a tall, fair man in a cap curiously looking at us till we actually approached him – ‘Yes, I’m Rashid and looking for a family of four senior citizens, but you four don’t fit the bill’ ! Moral of the story – look reasonably old and weather-beaten if you’re a senior citizen !!
Moving on, our image of Kashmir was about snow, chill and icy winds ( at least very cool climes) but here we were sweating at 30 degrees day temps. Ironically, we had packed lots of woolens and too few tees and light wear, it was as if climate was globally mocking, guys mess with us, we’ll make it hotter ! No parkas, jackets, shawls & scarves then on !
Our abiding image of ‘paradise on earth’ was of the Bollywood stars and their interludes in various picturesque locales back in the 70s-80s.Our first tourist spot in Pahalgam was famously known as “Betaab Valley’ after Sunny Deol’s debut film, shot there. When we reached (it was a Sunday) an avalanche of tourists were jostling to enter an incredibly stunning bowl surrounded by high mountains, an amazing fun-land with horse-rides.
Though no shooting was in progress, people we doing their own stuff and we joined the ‘bonne soiree’, leaving aside our seniority-induced inhibitions, posing for various pics with mountain goats, using a bird as head-gear and trying out the traditional Kashmiri finery against backdrop of mountains, frolicking in the pretty little streams and clicking a thousand memories for posterity, pretty juvenile but in true-blue Bollywood tradition ! Thereafter every trip and ride in the mountains and valleys was a story of pure romance.
Coming to our hotel stays, not every experience was great though staff were hospitable and courteous but happier when tipped nicely. Eat here as ‘kashmiris’ do but we found the exotic cuisine generally spicy and high on salt. On our request it was toned down by Chefs and the dishes turned salt-less! But, piece-de-resistance was Kashmiri ‘Wazwan’ !
Finally it was time to catch the flight back to Mumbai after a whirlwind trip across the state, but we were in for a shock. The pilot welcomed us aboard the flight to Colombo !! Just as fliers started protesting , the pilot guffawed “Aw, just kidding, we’re to Mumbai’. Not so funny if your’re a Senior Citizen with creaking joints after a long & ardous trip !
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