Friday 28 Dec Friday Jammu/Srinagar/Tang Marg

Our driver arrived at 4am on the dot.  He said he was worried we wouldn’t be ready but we were waiting in the foyer.  There were three other passengers, two army guys and an auditor.  The auditor, how rude I didn’t even ask him his name, he was keen to practise his English so asked lots of questions.  He was the interpreter for the others.

We stopped for a tea break at 5am putting us ahead of all the trucks.  It didn’t become light till after 7am.  Once we started to climb up the mountains the scenery was spectacular.  We stopped for a toilet break (for the boys, no where for me to go on a mountainous road, good thing I didn’t have a cuppa earlier) and look down the valley. 

Driving over the mountains we stopped again to look at Titantic Viewpoint but it was snowy and foggy, couldn’t see much.  On the other side the weather cleared and remained that way till we hit Tang Marg. 

We were due to arrive in Srinagar at 1pm and we did, on the dot. 

Bashir, from Ski Himalaya was in Srinagar to pick us up and take us to Tang Marg, which is 50km away.  We will stay in a guesthouse across the road from Bashir’s house for a couple of nights before heading up to Gulmarg (13kms).  This is the guesthouse Jim stayed in three years ago, it is owned by Manzoor.  He lives here with his family.  They are very friendly and helpful.

5am teahouse

Scenic view

Toilet break - over the edge

Titantic view point

Cricket bats drying, many many along the drive into Srinagar