Embarking on our Bali adventure today. The journey followed the familiar ritual of airports: standing in endless queues, navigating immigration, and dutifully completing forms that seemingly vanish into administrative oblivion. Despite the travel fatigue, the promise of Bali’s lush landscapes and vibrant culture made every tedious moment worthwhile. However, after traveling via Singapore, when I landed in Denpasar airport in Bali, I was immediately struck by the contrast. Instead of the sterile international airport experience, Denpasar welcomed me with stunning traditional artwork adorning the walls, an absence of the usual luxury retail bombardment, and the gentle, mesmerizing sounds of live Balinese gamelan music floating through the terminal. This authentic cultural immersion began right at the airport gates, signalling that perhaps Bali would be a journey unlike any other. Then I visited the toilet and a different kind of surprise awaited me – no attendant, moderately dirty and a paucity of stalls, something that I am not accustomed to anymore because the
India
Visiting Heaven On Earth – Kashmir Valley – Part IV – Gulmarg
Visiting Gulmarg was the pièce de résistance for us. After visiting Sonamarg, we were told that Gulmarg held more promises – beautiful mountains that is aptly called as the Switzerland of India. Our interest was not as much in the skiing as we can’t even play the sport, but more due to its proximity to the neighbouring country, and the cable cars, which are aptly called the Gondolas. Gulmarg boasts of Asia’s highest and longest cable car project, the Gulmarg Gondola. The two-stage rope way ferries about 600 people per hour to and from Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (4,200 m (13,780 ft)). The idea of going up to 13,780 feet by rope way was a very exciting thought for us. Therefore armed with a one night hotel booking at the famous Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa, we reached Gulmarg around 11 in the morning. It took us approximately 2.5 hours from Srinagar. The road was beautiful, the weather was
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