Chapter 16 last shangri la

First trip to Srinagar.Indian Kashmir Time/12︱19th, 1983 Location/House Boat, Jholum River on the Julun River in Srinagar, Kashmir, the capital of Kashmir Characters/German female writer Mana (Mana Akerberg) French archaeological anthropologist Piere Guasch Chinese wandering traveler Ma Zhongxin (Fred Ma) ⊙ Second trip to Srinagar.Indian Kashmir Time/July 28, 1992︱August 8 Location / Kashmir capital Srinagar (Srinagar, Kashmir) House Boat, Dal Lake House Boat, Rezin Lake Character／Kashmir boat owner American Girl︱Joan Chinese Wandering Traveler︱Ma Zhongxin (Fred Ma) ︱ ︱ ︱ ︱ Shangri-La (Shangri︱la) is a paradise commonly known by Europeans and Americans. It has the meaning of a beautiful fairyland and an ideal dream.

People fantasize about paradise. Is there really such a perfect piece of paradise on earth?So far, where Shangri-La is still a mystery. The Indians say that it is in Kashmir, which is under their Indian administration. National Geographic magazine (National Geographic) believes from the perspective of topography that there are paradises everywhere in the world, and the paradise that can be called Shangri-La is in the range of Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, and Leh. The Chinese believe that the legendary Shangri-La should be located in Zhongdian and its surrounding areas in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of Diqing Prefecture, Yunnan Province.

Some travelers in the world believe that the legendary Shangri-La is somewhere in Tibet, China. Mountaineers and trekkers (mountain trekkers) believe that Shangri-La is somewhere surrounded by mountains above the snow line of the Himalayas, a place that is inaccessible to humans. The paradise described in the book "Lost Horizon" is said to be in the northwest region of India, near the Himalayas.Judging from such a geographical location, Shangri-la should be in today’s Indian-administered Kashmir region; and based on local on-the-spot knowledge and clear markings on the map, the last two syllables of the names of many villages in Kashmir are Lila (ri︱la); It can be imagined that Shangri-La is not far away.

In the 1970s, National Geographic magazine selected outstanding photographers and writers to conduct in-depth photographic interviews on Srinagar in Kashmir and Leh in Ladakh.Published photos and texts illustrate that both the legendary Shangri-La and the real Shangri-La exist in this less-obtrusive edge of the world. The western part of Kashmir is the India-Pakistan disputed area and the Pamirs, with an altitude of 4,000 to 5,000 meters; the north is the Karakoram Mountains, with an altitude of 6,000 to 8,000 meters; five kilometers.To the south is the low-lying Qiangmu Plateau in India, with an altitude of more than 2,000 meters. It is the only gateway to Kashmir.

In the summer of 1983, I made a special trip from New York to the long-awaited Kashmir.After crossing the mountains and ridges, I took a car for a day and a night, from New Delhi (New Delhi) where the temperature was 40 degrees to Srinagar, which was refreshing and pleasant, where the temperature was 25 degrees. Srinagar is a plateau town. The quaint and primitive streets, houses and amiable Kashmiri Muslim residents made us feel comfortable and beautiful when we first arrived here.Later, strolling to the banks of the Zhulun River, the long-standing houses with Central Asian characteristics on both sides of the river, and the water boats on both sides of the river made us travelers from modern cities feel novelty, fatigue, boredom or loneliness during travel. , was swept away immediately.

House Boat is a central Asian-style boat hotel in Srinagar, distributed on both sides of the river and around the lake.The boat hotel by the river is small in scale and cheap, suitable for self-help travelers who are simple and quiet.The boat hotel on the lake is exquisitely carved and the interior is luxurious and comfortable. It is suitable for higher-priced travelers or tourists who pay attention to high-quality accommodation. In 1983, Kashmir was peaceful and peaceful. Travelers and tourists from all over the world crowded this quaint town.At that time, I was happy with the situation, a self-guided traveler with low requirements, and lived in a river boat that cost only one dollar for a room. On the same boat were the German female painter Manna and the French archaeologist Pierre.

When I get up in the morning and open the wooden window, a burst of fresh and refreshing air hits my face, and the surrounding area is so quiet that no sound can be heard; it seems that even the flow of the river dare not make a sound, for fear of waking up those of us who have come from afar and are exhausted. traveler. I couldn't help but took two deep breaths of the mellow air, which was fresh and fragrant. Let's find those exotic flowers and fruits that bring fragrance!The boathouse hotel on the river and the poplars on the bank stretch far to the end of the river, and the misty mountain shadows dance in the morning mist and twilight, making you feel like you are in a foreign world.Shangri-La lives up to its reputation, and an ordinary morning is charming enough.

Good morning!Manna, how nice the air is!Do you have such a pure and beautiful morning in Germany? Manna also woke up early. She has lived here for a month, and it seems that she still doesn't want to leave.She answered well: Good morning!Frederick.Kashmir is amazing, that's why I stay here, there is no other place in the world like this. That's right.In the 1970s, National Geographic magazine published an article titled "The Last Shangrila" (The Last Shangrila), and the location of the article was written here and in the Ladakh region. It's a real Shangri-La.But I don't understand, why is it said to be the last?

Because, the earth we depend on for survival is polluted everywhere, and it is difficult to find Shangri-La.Fortunately, there is one more here, the last one on earth. How lucky we are!After crossing the mountains and over the mountains to the plateau in such a remote area, to visit such a paradise in person, I really want to stay here and never leave. Manna said she did not want to leave Kashmir because Kashmir is so beautiful that it is hard to give up.She is qualified to say such words and draw such conclusions. Manna is a professor of art at the University of Munich in Germany. She has extraordinary temperament, high art and boldness. She specializes in traveling in remote areas of the world.She has been to Chad in the Sahara Desert in Africa, Mumansk (Norway) in the Arctic Circle of Norway, the cannibal jungle in New Guinea, and the Ngari region in China's Tibet.Recently, she just returned here from Leh after a one-day and one-night bus ride.

Good morning!You two wake up so early!I just like the early morning here, the air is good and the spirit is good.Manna, how is the situation in Ladakh? Pierre is a Ph.D. in archaeological anthropology from the University of Paris, France. Because of his professional relationship, he often travels to barren mountains and wild places.Pierre has lived on the river, lake and shore of Srinagar for more than a month, and plans to travel to Leh in Ladakh by car in these two days. Ladakh does not have the beautiful mountains and rivers here, and it looks desolate and simple.It is known as The edge of the world, where people are well-fed, peaceful, and warmly welcome travelers from all over the world.

Manna looks at Ladakh with the touch of an artist, and the desolation and simplicity she describes is a kind of beauty. Manna was right.I heard people talking about Ladakh in the United States, saying that its religious tradition originated from Tibet in China, and it has a nickname called Little Tibet (Little Tibet).Ladakh has a characteristic. There are many hotels and restaurants, monks and donkeys. Now, there are more and more travelers and tourists. I am as interested in Leh as I am in Srinagar. The Leh area is surrounded by high mountains bordering the Karakorum Mountains and the Himalayas, with an altitude of more than 3,600 meters; nearby is the world's second highest peak K2 (K2). The altitude is 8,611 meters; the west of Ladakh is the famous Pamirs, bordering China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. It is remote and has a unique Tibetan style. But now in Kashmir, we can't help but wonder: Where is Kashmir so exciting? It turns out that the area around the boat hotel on the river where we live is only a small part of the essence of Srinagar, and it is this small part that has given us a great shock! So, where is the essence of that large part? In fact, Manna and Pierre had already been to most of the elite areas, and for various reasons, they still preferred to live in this secluded corner of the river bank. It is the peak tourist season in Kashmir at this time, and travelers and tourists from all over the world rush to this place, which is said to be the last Shangri-La on earth.However, I think that if people continue to flock to Kashmir like this, it will not be long before this last one will really become the last one. Manna, Pierre and I walked for 20 minutes to the shore of Dal Lake.The boats on the lake are busy sending tourists here and there, and most of them are sent to the shore of the lake.Tourists who go ashore are busy purchasing, especially the silk scarves, fabrics and handicrafts here.Three-wheeled motorcycles transport tourists to various consumption places at ultra-low prices or even free of charge: leather carpets, handicraft stores and various underground trading points.Gold, dollar bills, diamonds, etc. are traded, but pornography and drugs are not traded, because this is a simple and kind Muslim world, and the title of Shangri-La must be pure.Tourists bring their families and companions to send dollars to this paradise on earth, just to spend them happily and enjoy a pure life that cannot be enjoyed in the city; the tourists are happy, and the Kashmiris are even happier.As a result, the more than a thousand boathouse hotels on Dal Lake and Ruijing Lake were all full; the hotels on the shore, whether they had stars or not, were all full. The two of us sat on the stone steps by the lake, looking at the noisy scene of Dal Lake, relatively speechless, not knowing what to say.This last is indeed at stake! The landscape in front of me is still beautiful, but the surrounding environment is worrying.No wonder Pierre moved from the boat house on the river to the boat house on the lake for only one night, and fled back to the boat house on the river in a hurry the next day. It would never have occurred to Manna to live in a boathouse on the lake. For two thousand years, Srinagar in Kashmir has attracted people with the alluring beauty of Dal Lake and Ruijing Lake. In ancient times, it attracted princes and nobles, but in modern times it attracts city tourists. The ancient princes and nobles built palace gardens and underwater arch bridges by the lake, and lived a life of extreme comfort and luxury.Modern Kashmiris have learned from the legacy of the past, but with faster brains.They make use of the unique natural beauty and the superb skills handed down from their ancestors to create a noble and luxurious boat hotel on the lake that shocked the world. Come again! All kinds of boat hotels are distributed around the lakeshore, with wooden hulls, balconies, railings and seats at the bow; the front part of the interior is the living room, and the back part is two to three luxury suites.The floor is covered with Kashmir silk felt, and the curtains are noble and elegant Kashmir craft ornaments. The furniture, bathrooms, and tableware in the ship are all traditional and elegant products of Kashmir. The room price of the boat hotel is about ten to twenty dollars, and it can accommodate two people, including breakfast and dinner, black tea and coffee, and a boat and a young servant waiting for dispatch. Being able to live in a luxurious and comfortable water palace by the beautiful lakeside among the high mountains in this remote area, with servants serving, is quite like the treatment of ancient princes and nobles; being able to stay away from the world, avoid the phone, escape from the city, and be in the pure beauty , After living a life with only brains and no computers, I realized that life does not exist just to cope with life, but to enjoy life. The meaning of life seems to be affirmed here in Kashmir! As a result, literati, poets, secular business travelers or wanderers from all over the world flock to Srinagar: those who hitchhike, walk, and fly, come to Srinagar in various ways. It seems that they have caught up (arrived), but they seem not to catch up (too crowded), this last Shangri-La. In 1992, India and Pakistan once again turned against each other over the border and Kashmir issue. India then sent troops to the entire territory of Kashmir, affirming its determination to defend the territory.The capital, Srinagar, was the first to bear the brunt. The Indian army marched into the urban area, fortified everywhere, and all light and heavy weapons were dispatched.So far, Kashmir has become a war zone. Although there is no large-scale battle, there are sporadic gunshots every night. It is not certain that one day, the whole city will be reduced to war.Strangely, with such a dangerous war zone, the Indian government has done absolutely nothing to terminate or prevent tourists from entering Kashmir.Anyone holding an Indian visa can enter Srinagar in Kashmir or Leh in Ladakh by land and air.Of course, the safety issues after entering must be the responsibility of tourists. The last Shangri-La became the Shangri-La in the flames of war. The world travel industry announced one after another that Kashmir has been listed as a high-war danger zone. Tourists must not go there, and their lives will be lost! Overnight, the tourism industry in Kashmir fell from the peak to the bottom, and the boat owners wanted to cry without tears, and all walks of life were in an instant depression.Only those who sell vegetables and cakes are left to do business in Srinagar.Kashmiris have returned to their primitive farming life: going to church, running around in the mountains, and rowing boats on the lake. Kashmir seems to have returned to the primitive ancient times. Shangri-La has also restored its former reality: quiet, serene, and clean, which is a blessing for travelers who dare to come here. In the summer of 1992, after my trip to Nepal, I planned to venture into war-torn Kashmir.As an adventure traveler, go wherever there is danger, not to mention the unforgettable last Shangri-La that you have been to. At 9 am on July 10, I applied for a visa at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu.Since the war in Kashmir, the number of travelers to India has been greatly reduced, and there is no longer the scene of long queues in the past. While waiting, I met an American girl who also wanted to go to Kashmir, but her tone was pessimistic: The war broke out in Kashmir, I am afraid I will not be able to go there. It is said that Srinagar is under the jurisdiction of India, and the Indian army is well controlled.If the plane flies and the car drives, as long as you get an Indian visa, you can go to Kashmir with dignity. What I said is reasonable, but the actual situation is unpredictable.This American girl doesn't matter if she doesn't go, she will definitely be in trouble! It would be great if we could go to Kashmir, but what if there is a war? If there is a war, just watch the battle!However, be sure to lower your head, bullets don't have eyes! I teased her and said one thing to scare her and persuade her not to go. ah!How dangerous that is.I don't go to Srinagar, I travel to Ladakh better, it's much safer there. This American girl, like the average American, has a high awareness of safety. In one morning, ten people got Indian visas.After checking, only two and a half people are going to Kashmir, one is a German, and the other is the American girl, but she said that she will make the final decision after arriving in New Delhi.We agreed to stay at the YWCA in New Delhi; she said she would like to accompany me if she went. I'm going to make a decision.There are four reasons why I must go: one is that I have been there before and I really want to go again; the other is that there are fewer tourists now, so I can live in a boat house on the lake; the third is that I plan to take a trip to Ladakh by car; the fourth is that I want to see India and Pakistan How the battle was fought. At 10 am on July 26, I took an Air India flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi.The Boeing 737 climbed at an altitude of 8,000 meters, and its route was almost parallel to the trend of the Himalayas, and the altitude was also comparable.The weather is fine, and you can have a panoramic view of the majestic Himalayas far and near.In this way, enjoying the world's top peaks from the plane window is enough to see the mountain's addiction, and it is worth half of the fare. That night I stayed at the YWCA in New Delhi, but among the many travelers, I didn't see the American girl Joan. The next morning, I went to Air India to buy a ticket, and I easily got an economy-class ticket for a direct flight to Srinagar. The one-hour flight cost $75. Back at the clubhouse at night, I met Joan, who had already bought a ticket and was on the same flight as me. At twelve noon on the 28th, Joan and I boarded a direct flight to Srinagar.There are only about 20 passengers in the 200 seats in the cabin. It seems that there are not many people who have the courage to travel to the war zone. An hour later, the plane flew over Srinagar, overlooking the airport below, and saw armed soldiers all over the place, as if facing an enemy.To welcome tourists in this way, the situation is obviously not optimistic. After getting off the plane, the passengers first check at the airport on the spot, then take their luggage, check their documents, and check twice; when they leave the airport, they go through four checks; they take the bus to leave the airport checkpoint, and they go through five checks; examine. The front and back of the house in the sightseeing center were crowded with crowds. There were more than 200 shipowners and hotel owners anxiously and expectantly waiting to carve up the dozen or so travelers who had been exhausted by inspection. The contrast was so disparate that we became instant favourites. Five minutes later, Joan was taken away by an old man with a big beard smiling, and it was too late for me to warn her; I was worried that she would be difficult to go here, and the rescue would not be in time, I only hoped that she would seek good luck and save herself from danger. The owner of the boatman who snatched me away was grinning from ear to ear.His brother must have mistaken me for a big fat Japanese sheep, and I will let him know later that I am an out-and-out Chinese big skinny horse.Of course he doesn't even know that I've been here before, and I'm an all-knowing veteran.I chose this dangerous time of war to come to Dal Lake because I planned to spend the least money and enjoy a cheap and comfortable quiet time. After boarding the boat, the boss raised the price fiercely, and the price reached 1,000 rupees; I also ruthlessly bargained down the price to 100 rupees (about 7 U.S. dollars at the time).During the war, tourists were almost extinct, and it is better than nothing.The boat owner had to bite the bullet for a special offer; seven dollars a day, including breakfast and dinner, luxury suites, a maid, a boat, and more. After the price was negotiated and the room was settled, I generously gave the boss a pack of Dunhill cigarettes, and the boss laughed. During the trip, I bring cigarettes instead of smoking, and use it to make friends and make things go smoothly, and it works quite well. After everything was arranged, I began to worry about Joan's situation.It is estimated that the owner of the boat owner knows the bearded old man who took Joan away.After inquiring, it was as expected.The boss said that the bearded man lived in Ruijing Lake, and it took a four-hour boat trip to go there, plus the time of inquiry, it would take ten hours to go there and back, which happened to be a whole day.The boss also told us that we must rush back before dark, otherwise there will be military martial law at night, and if there is any movement, we will be killed. With the magic of Dunhill, the boss enthusiastically explained the surrounding environment to me, and drew a topographic map of the two lakes and the lakeshore, detailing the boating route from Dal Lake to Ruijing Lake.It seems that the lake is vast and the waterway is tortuous. The boat is not for paddling. If you get lost and paddle into an important military location, you may be shot by both sides. Indian soldiers and Kashmir guerrillas have a record of not following the rules. , I didn't think I was unlucky when I ran into it, but I dug my own grave! Joan and I belong to the same country on the documents, but at the same time, we are in a foreign country in the middle of war and this is a Muslim area that is unfavorable to women.In any case, I should care about her safety and help her when necessary. Plus, there's one big draw that makes me think it's worth the risk of paddling into Lake Ruijing: It is said that Ruijing Lake is known as the legendary Shangri-La, where the environment is particularly elegant and quiet.When the lotus is in full bloom in summer, boating in it is like being in a fairyland.In ancient times, princes and nobles built palace gardens around Ruijing Lake, and there are still traces to this day. At six o'clock in the morning on the 29th, I took the camera, legal documents, drinking water and dry food, and set off in a small boat. To be honest, being able to travel in Shangri-La, which is recommended by National Geographic magazine, is a sunny day, and you can go boating on the lake freely, see whatever you want, and take whatever you want, how comfortable and comfortable it is.Tired of watching, I paddled into the lake where lotus flowers were blooming, lay down and rested for a while, looking at the blue sky and white clouds, without any distracting thoughts in my heart.How rare is such a process.In the whole world, I am afraid that it can only be found at this moment and this place. As we paddled, the exquisite houseboats in front of us passed by from time to time, and occasionally a foreign traveler smiled and waved to me.Nearby, a Kashmiri youth was rowing a boat with me, showing a kind and simple smile.What a lovely morning it is! The camera was in and out of my hands constantly, and the boat rocked and moved slowly. Suddenly, someone behind me warned me: Hello!Be careful, the front is the Indian army base, and photography is prohibited. Looking back, it was a foreign traveler who seemed to have come here to warn me. After speaking, he rowed to the houseboat. In front is an open lake with crystal clear water; in the morning, the lake is calm, and occasionally you can hear the sound of birds chirping; then there is the sound of my breathing, the crisp sound of paddling water; and the sound of chickens crowing in the distance , very far away, I can't hear clearly. The huge tree shadows around the lakeshore show a mysterious and phantom scene in the morning mist, and the light-colored boat houses are dotted among them, which makes people want to find out, but is reluctant to get close to it. I paddled slowly, there was only me and a boat on such a big lake; everything here belonged to me, and the scene that I could never dream of was right in front of me. At this moment, I have already forgotten what the foreigner warned me just now.At present, the beauty is beautiful, but what about the Indian army! No matter how bad it was, a small boat rowed up one hundred meters ahead on the left, and two armed soldiers on board signaled me to stop the boat for inspection.I had already prepared for this kind of thing. I opened my bag, took out my belongings, showed my ID, put on a smile, and solved it in three minutes. Looking at the departure of the Indian soldiers, I am deeply moved. If they don't come, how can I enjoy the tranquility and beauty that I can't enjoy in this life! The boat rowed on the lake for three hours, crossing the open lake and entering a winding channel lined with reeds.Turning and turning, it seems to be rowing in the depths of a swamp.From time to time, one or two Kashmiris appeared, and they were kind and sincere, pointing me to the waterway of Ruijing Lake. Behind the lush green reeds, there are ancient wooden buildings with Central Asian style in the countryside on both sides of the bank; the protruding pavilion balconies show the joy of life and unique architectural art of Kashmiris.Women washing clothes on both sides of the waterway, children playing around, owners of handicraft shops, beautiful girls who occasionally appeared, and elderly people on the window sill, all of them smiled and waved to me; The camera is aimed at them, and I want to leave a beautiful and true picture of this scene superbly and accurately. Here, the shadow of war seems to have gone away; the original innocence of Kashmiris will always exist; they show peaceful tenderness and sincere kindness everywhere; in their waving hands and smiles, it shows that what mankind wants is peace, No war. The boat rowed out of the country waterway, and suddenly there was a large lake covered with lotus flowers.Adjacent to a row of exquisite boat houses, the eight windows of one of the big boats all open to the surface of the lotus lake. You can imagine the fascinating taste of living on this boat. Ruijing Lake started the legendary Shangri-La from here. The boat goes around this fascinating lake and enters a very spectacular long and narrow water area. There are long row of houseboats with no end or end; Amazing, every boat is unique in its own way. The boat stopped unconsciously in front of a huge boat house shaped like a dragon's head, and boarded the open deck. The owner of the boat smiled and let me in for a visit.Luxurious carpets, high-end sofas, resplendent chandeliers, curtains, and furniture are breathtaking, and it's nothing more than a palace.The boss said: The bathtub is made of 14K gold.Asked him the price, he smiled without saying a word, and held out two fingers.I didn't ask further, I guessed that it was two thousand dollars in normal times, and two hundred dollars in wartime.I sighed again, Kashmir is really great, in normal times it realized the dream of tourists and tourists to be princes and nobles; in wartime it realized the dream of us poor travelers to be princes and nobles.To be honest, I definitely can afford two hundred dollars, but I don't want to live there. Kashmir's mythology is particularly abundant at this time.A turn around, a corner, and another breathtaking picture: ah!This is the legendary Shangri-La! The first thing I saw was an arch bridge emerging from the water, which was elegant and peculiar. I was surprised how it was built?There is one arch bridge, there must be two or three or even a series of arch bridges.It's been a long time, maybe it's collapsed, can it be repaired now? On the bank behind the arch bridge, you can see a large stepped courtyard from a distance. With green lawns, various plants and flowers, you can imagine the nobility, luxury and glory of the royal family back then.It is said that there is a lingering romantic story, a love triangle between a prince and a princess, plus a commoner. Most of these stories end in tragedy, either parting from life or death, or committing suicide for love. The general environment of Kashmir is full of tragedy. The ancient Kashmir was at a loss and isolated from the world; today's Kashmir is divided into two, and it is also at a loss.In the 1970s, when people discovered that Kashmir was the only paradise in the world that could escape the pollution of modern civilization, it suddenly became the darling of the world overnight.As a result, the Kashmiris only care about making a lot of money, and then fall into a perplexed situation of not knowing what to do.In the late 1970s, the Kashmiris made enough money and experienced the cruelty of war. To fight?Yes and?Another at a loss! The boat was wandering near the ruins of the broken bridge in the lake, and unknowingly, it found patches of swaying duckweed floating around. These duckweeds seemed to be at a loss, drifting east and west with the current. Being in such a natural atmosphere where time and space have changed from ancient to modern, but the scenery remains the same, I suddenly became at a loss as to what to do. In the situation where Kashmir's illusion and reality complement each other, what should be done in front of you: seize the time, enjoy the space, and save the moment! Thinking of the time, I looked at my watch suddenly. It was already one o'clock in the afternoon. I hurriedly pulled back my emotions and turned the bow of the boat, and quickly rowed to the depths of Ruijing Lake to find a partner who seemed to need help. The boat rowed quickly, aiming at the lakeshore waters in front of a dense forest.Due to the oblique reflection of the sun, looking from a distance, you can only see the gray shadows of mountains, trees and a row of wooden shadows of boat houses.Looking closer, the lake is covered with duckweed, the boat house is surrounded by aquatic plants, and there is a bush behind the boat. Against the backdrop of gray mountain shadows, green tree shadows, blue sky and clear lake water, the houseboats here are elegant and detached. I couldn't help but think: just move here to live! (I really moved here later). At this moment, a change occurred nearby.On the surface of the lake and between the grass and trees, due to the convective effect of the night cold and the sun, a light mist appeared, faintly lingering, and the boat rowed into the fog and out of the fog.In order to avoid hitting the houseboat, put away the wooden oars and wait for the fog to clear. The boat is not moving, let time pause now! Suddenly, I felt like I was looking for the fairy in the mist, and I forgot about the American girl. Back to reality, the fog had cleared, and a blonde beauty appeared on the balcony of the houseboat. She was obviously not Joan, but she told me that before noon, an American girl with a high fever was sent to the houseboat next door.Ten minutes later, I rushed to check and saw the bearded old man was busy fetching water and medicine.Three young and strong men gathered in the bedroom, and Joan was indeed lying on the bed. She sat up and greeted me happily when she saw me.She seems to be fine, the old man's medicine is unknown and can't be taken. I took out the Tylenol cold medicine that Joan brought with me and asked her to take it and sleep peacefully.Please come out and inquire about the cause of the disease before you know what's going on. It turned out that when Joan was brought to the houseboat by the bearded man yesterday, he had arranged the journey in a muddle-headed way: at the cost of two hundred dollars a week, he traveled in the mountains of Kashmir and looked for ancient sites. This kind of mountain trekking is called Trekking, which is popular in the Himalayas and Kashmir.Usually a group of three or five people hire guides and porters to travel together for two weeks to one month. The cost depends on the number of people, ranging from about one hundred to several hundred dollars.Unless there are special cases, very few girls dare to walk alone. Early this morning, Joan packed his bags, and accompanied by three strong men, he planned to walk the mountain trails every day, sleep in tents at night, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of famous mountains. Not long after setting off in the morning, there was a heavy rain in the mountains. After getting wet, Joan suffered from the wind and cold, felt unwell, and developed a high fever. The three strong men hurriedly carried her back.Not long after I arrived, I happened to come to take care of me in time. A girl who goes far away from home, accidentally encounters danger or falls ill, will definitely be in unimaginable danger and needs to be taken care of. There is a Chinese saying: Rely on friends abroad. Travelers have a principle: they are friends outside, and helping them is equal to helping themselves.Helping others is the bounden duty of a self-help traveler. There is warmth everywhere in the world, not to mention Shangri-La in the world. There are no strangers here, all who come here are friends.There is no war here, everyone laughs enough to drive away the shadow of war! Honestly, in Kashmir, while I'm here, I'm saying: War, you don't go. Honestly, in Kashmir, in my absence, I sincerely hope and pray that peace in Kashmir will come soon! (End of the book)