Kashmir! Waiting to welcome you...

I am so pleased that I have renewed my interlude with Kashmir, a favourite place of mine, next only to Kerala. If the latter is God's Own Country, the former could only be God's Forsaken Country. So beleaguered it has been, now for three decades, with not a glimmer of hope in sight for its hapless denizens.

But you know what, God may have his reasons for doing what He does, but what is ours for not going there and enjoying all its charms. Kashmir is beautiful, indeed a paradise on earth, what then stops us. Fear? Of what, a bullet? A hurling stone? Militants?

Humbug, so much of reality is twisted. Granted, there are sporadic situations of law and order, which must be curbed, but it is seriously not as bad as it is made out to be. Go see for yourself.

As for fear for your life, you could just as well slip on a banana peel, doesn't mean you stop walking on the streets. Or have a bridge come crashing on your head, like it has been happening in our grand city, or slip between the platform and the train pulling out of the station. Or get mugged in broad daylight... the options are many. Remember you go only when your time is done.

I have just returned from Kashmir, second time in six months and the refrain I hear is, "Really!! Ohhhhh I am simply dying to go to Kashmir," And I say, don't die, live, go visit Kashmir, at least once.

Look at the picture alongside. Isn't the shepherd lovely? Look at his demeanour, so engaging. I was on my way to Aru Valley in Pahalgam when I saw the entourage coming uphill; the shepherd leading sheep and cattle, a few children, a couple of women, three dogs. I stopped the car, waited until they reached me and asked if I could shoot him. He nodded ever so briefly and stood still for my picture, which I took in just a jiffy. Another nod and he was on his way. Why do I feel, it is moments like these that give you a feeling of time standing still. Such a special thrill.

I can so easily relate with Asif Burza, another remarkable Kashmiri I met, a well-to-do, well-connected, well-educated young man who owns among other businesses, a clutch of hotels, who with every blessing God can bestow, is so in tune with nature, wishes he was born a shepherd and living in the woods, a simple, uncomplicated life.

Well, its autumn in Kashmir now, winter will follow, then spring and summer. It's beautiful all four seasons, take it from a veteran and plan a visit soon. It's been four failed tourist seasons, Kashmir needs you.

As for the other articles in this issue, there are plenty. International chefs of great repute making their presence felt in Bombay certainly means India is on the international culinary circuit. If it's raining chefs, it's also mushrooming restaurants in Bombay. The latest to launch is Rue Du Liban. Fortunately in South Bombay, in the charming Kala Ghoda district. Of international standard both in d&eacutecor and quality of food. The cuisine here is Eastern Mediterranean with a rather respectable menu. I loved it.

There is ballroom dancer Sandip Soparrkar, Prateik Babbar and then there is Chitrangda Singh, the Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi actor from who the world expects much in terms of acting, likening her to the late Smita Patil. She is charming... go on savour...