@ arifsali...

I'm not there now - I was a couple months ago...
but things are always kinda ugly. Check out the bombed out buildings in the background of some of the buildings...

There are a few problems:

1. The Hindu governor of J&K is running for reelection, which is rigged.

2. India's inflation is out of control, and gas prices are killing them in J&K, so there are strikes to protest the lack of price controls.

3. This time of the year is pilgrimage season, when thousands of HIndus stream through the Muslim territory to worship at a mountain shrine to Shiva, Sri Amarnath.

4. The government is nationalizing territory along the pilgrimage route which means local merchants who earn mone...

@ arifsali...

I'm not there now - I was a couple months ago...
but things are always kinda ugly. Check out the bombed out buildings in the background of some of the buildings...

There are a few problems:

1. The Hindu governor of J&K is running for reelection, which is rigged.

2. India's inflation is out of control, and gas prices are killing them in J&K, so there are strikes to protest the lack of price controls.

3. This time of the year is pilgrimage season, when thousands of HIndus stream through the Muslim territory to worship at a mountain shrine to Shiva, Sri Amarnath.

4. The government is nationalizing territory along the pilgrimage route which means local merchants who earn money off the pilgrims are getting pushed out of the business, and they are raging pissed...

5. In the south, by Jammu, Indians, Pakistans, and rouge Jihadis love shooting at each other, so that's happening again...

In general, business as usual in J&K

Fast T Friend: when were you last there?

I would say it is still bustling, vivid and captivating, but there is also no mistaking it: the city is forlorn, and on edge.

More guns than I've ever seen anywhere in my life. Everyone is armed to the teeth - not just the soldiers. Businessmen carry AK-47s or have an entourage of body guards. A lot of the buildings are bombed out, many hotels are still wrapped in barbed wire, fortified, shot up, then abandoned. A lot of buildings are bombed out, and there are large caliber bullet holes everywhere.

Still, life goes on, and South Asians are completely irrepressible. But the Kashmir is a warehouse of ruins - ancient and modern.

In Srinagar, there w...

Fast T Friend: when were you last there?

I would say it is still bustling, vivid and captivating, but there is also no mistaking it: the city is forlorn, and on edge.

More guns than I've ever seen anywhere in my life. Everyone is armed to the teeth - not just the soldiers. Businessmen carry AK-47s or have an entourage of body guards. A lot of the buildings are bombed out, many hotels are still wrapped in barbed wire, fortified, shot up, then abandoned. A lot of buildings are bombed out, and there are large caliber bullet holes everywhere.

Still, life goes on, and South Asians are completely irrepressible. But the Kashmir is a warehouse of ruins - ancient and modern.

In Srinagar, there were also a lot of things that I wanted to shoot, but couldn't because the soldiers didn't want photographs taken certain areas.

Another reason it may seem dour is because I think the color censors in my Nikon are burning out. I've recently upgraded to a Pentax K20D, so hopefully the next vacation will show up online a little more vivid.