Solo Travelling Day 2 | Kashmir Tour | Local sightseeing | Local Market | Local Garden | Pathani suit and Stoll | Amazing rainbow | 05/07/2024 23:48

Hello There,

I hope you are at peace. Take a deep breath and calm your mind.

The day started with a light breakfast, after which I went in search of an ATM to transact money. I was successful in withdrawing money. Although it was my plan to get a SIM card, I found the ATM first.

A kind person accompanied me to the SIM vendor. We walked around a kilometer and he was very gentle with me. I got the SIM and planned to go for a ride to Dal Lake. I used the local ride application, using the OTP generated on my phone. The person who came as a cab driver suggested that I go for local sightseeing at a nominal rate. He took me to several places and negotiated the money as much as he could from his side.

I visited a lot of gardens, mosques, dargahs, markets, Dal Lake, the Ghantaghar, and more. I tried several recipes such as Rogan Josh, Rista, Rice, etc.

I found a uniqueness in the Kashmiri people - their smile on their red cheeks and their hospitable attitude. They seem to be less worried about anything and are well-behaved and polite.

I like the silence in their words, the peacefulness in the surroundings, and the smell of the grass and mountains.

I bought a good Pathani dress with a stole for myself.

I love the green mountains and lush meadows.

I like the taste of water and was in search of Gulab Sharbat.

Dal lake from Internet | Original will be uploaded consequently

That’s all for today, I’ll come with a brief update upon my return.

How can I forget to mention that I visited the mosque and I liked the ambiance there? Today was Friday and everyone came for Namaz. I sat there and listened to their prayers, then also prayed and touched the Chadar-e-Shareef, took Jamjam water, and donated as well.

That’s all for today,

I’ll come with another fascinating blog tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Namo buddhay,

Vivek

Reached Srinagar | Flight delayed | ATM card stopped working | Phone number stopped working | Biometrics locked | 4th July 2024 | 11:23 pm

Hello Everyone, 

Hope you're amazing. 

I got up early to catch the bus from Swargate and then from Mumbai walked 2 kms footstep to reach Domestic airport and then currently in Srinagar. 

I met a person on flight and got some gist about the place and he was coming from Saudi Arabia and he seemed to be much helpful. 

Upon reaching the Srinagar, I couldn't get a sim from J&K since my biometrics was locked and I can't get an OTP since it is out of coverage area. 

The shopkeeper told me to get a new sim from City. 

The problem doesn't stop till this point because my ATM card didn't work as well and I had not even 100₹ cash with me and it was night, a stranger in the city and whom to ask? 

I requested the military personnel and he told me to go to other ATM, I tried to withdraw 5500₹ and the money didn't come out then I tried with 2500₹ still no response. 

I felt unsecure what if the money has been withdrawn but it's not coming from machine that means I won't even know because my sim has stopped and there is no internet. 

I went back to military personnel asking for help and he helped me with his WIFI and then I could connect but unfortunately I wasn't able to login to ICICI application to understand whether there is a withdrawal or not, I wasn't even sure if it will even work online or not. 

It meant I had no internet, no sim, no money, no UPI. 

The military personnel gave me 5000₹ and I was really happy yet felt weird what if the Phonepe won't work? 

I still tried and it worked and then transferred him the money. 

Now I know there are a lot of scams in J&K especially with the tourists and for dropping me to hostel it charged 900₹ but I have him knowing that it's late night and I can't do anything. 

Upon reaching here, I talked with one of the hostellers and order through zomato since the restaurant in the hostelnwas closed. 

Now after dinner, I feel tired and I need to sleep to get up for a new sim card and travel nearby areas. 

Keep an eye on my next Blogs, Stay tuned. 

Namo buddhay! 

Vivek

Walking into a New Life | A Life-Living Trip to a New Place | Finally, MONETIZATION is ON | In Search of One Tangible Thing - The Meaning of Me | 03/07/2024 23:24

Hello everyone,

Hope you're amazing!

Today is very special for me. Having said that I missed the fulfillment of pursuing challenges, I gave myself a stronger challenge to step out of my comfort zone and rigorously use the muscular, emotional, and soulful aches to fulfill my purpose by traveling solo to Srinagar.

The day was a complete rollercoaster. I suddenly thought of going to Bali while talking to a colleague, who shared an itinerary for Mauritius. Then, I spontaneously called a travel consultant, and amidst various confusing thoughts about Bali, Vietnam, and Cambodia, I ultimately decided on Srinagar. I booked the flight and thought to step ahead.

The story doesn't stop here. It's already 12:30 am on the 4th of July, and I have a bus at approximately 7 am. I need to wake up by 4 or 5 at the latest. The motto of my life is to find what has been lost. I am looking back into myself to search for it, understand its meaning, and gently push the present in the right direction for my future—something I wish to understand.

I am happy because I had a great lunch today prepared by my friend, and I am grateful. Additionally, I have been awarded Google monetization for my blogs.

Fulfilling food.

I shall keep you posted, but for now, here are some modifications to the challenge before I land in Pune:

• Journaling challenge. (One special picture which you found to be a connection, one thing you learned self or by interaction, one smell that made you feel connected and grounded, one taste that you never had in your life, one feel on skin that will be inked forever)
• Hydration challenge.
• Exercise: 10-15 minutes of stretching.
• Expense tracker update.
• Personal belongings check.
• Hand sanitation check.

Best regards,

Namo Buddhay,

Vivek Sunny.