Where was I? Oh yes I remember, totally obsessed with KASHMIR. So the story totally thickens, like thickens more than arrow root or gelatin. Apparently we have got ourselves caught up with the Kashmiri Mafia.
I'll leave this moment for your jaw to drop.
Yes, the Kashmiri Mafia.
As far as I can put it together, it goes like this. India has a caste system (duh) and so does Kashmir. The caste system in a very, very crude nutshell is basically that you are born into a family (like the weavers) and that is who you are. Kashmir saw families known as the 'lake people' who were always very wealthy because many tourists came to Kashmir as it is very beautiful.
The Pakistani/Indian war started in like 1947 as far as I can gather. (TOTALLY SKIP THE HISTORY IF YOU ARE BORED, the next p will be the rest of the story) It was explained to me that when the British left, Pakistan and India fought for Kashmir over it's beauty. That was how a local told it. In any case in the 90's guerilla activity began (oh boy don't we love that stuff). People stopped coming to Kashmir because of the danger. Even now there are soldiers posted all over the town, it looks like Israel (but absolutely NO COMPARISON because these dudes a slightly scary and uncoordinated). The soldiers are of the Indian Army (duh). However and interesting thing is that cricket here is very very big. When you ask a Kashmiri who should win if India played Pakistan, they will vehemently support Pakistan, not India. They also say they aren't used to the guns...
Okay enough history of random gathered information..
So the lake people suffered in the 90's with next to no tourism. This meant that they went from extreme wealth to poverty. One Kashmiri here in Mcleod Ganj said that his father told him stories of the lake people smoking cigarettes in rupie notes. Totally exorbitant wealth.
Now this family that we dealt with had ventures in other parts of India, so their wealth stayed with them. The concocted all these plans to get people from Delhi to Srinigar and then forced them to buy a tour or something. They cheat people. You ask any Kashmiri here and they all shake their heads knowingly. They told us that if someone complains, they go to the head honcho (the guy we dealt with) and he bribes them off. Truly it is like the Mafia.
Anyways, how did we get away with it? Simply because men want three things: Power, Money and Women. Our guy had money - filthy, glutinously (this isn't a word but you get the idea) rich. Therefore he had power, lots and bloody lots of it. Now all he needed was the women.. And he is SO unattractive. So we played the women card very well, like in a James bond movie.
So now you get the picture about our Srinigar obsession? Everyone here knows them, everyone here hears bad stories...
I think I need to let go...
Also I went to Chabad for Rosh Hashana but it was totally horrible, freezing and preaching. Two un-Rosh-Hashana sentiments.
I also want to shout out to all those who read my blog - I appreciate the comments and the interest. (AND ROSA!!!).
May the new year bring us all this much fun and adventure.
that was corny but I had to put it in..
I'll leave this moment for your jaw to drop.
Yes, the Kashmiri Mafia.
As far as I can put it together, it goes like this. India has a caste system (duh) and so does Kashmir. The caste system in a very, very crude nutshell is basically that you are born into a family (like the weavers) and that is who you are. Kashmir saw families known as the 'lake people' who were always very wealthy because many tourists came to Kashmir as it is very beautiful.
The Pakistani/Indian war started in like 1947 as far as I can gather. (TOTALLY SKIP THE HISTORY IF YOU ARE BORED, the next p will be the rest of the story) It was explained to me that when the British left, Pakistan and India fought for Kashmir over it's beauty. That was how a local told it. In any case in the 90's guerilla activity began (oh boy don't we love that stuff). People stopped coming to Kashmir because of the danger. Even now there are soldiers posted all over the town, it looks like Israel (but absolutely NO COMPARISON because these dudes a slightly scary and uncoordinated). The soldiers are of the Indian Army (duh). However and interesting thing is that cricket here is very very big. When you ask a Kashmiri who should win if India played Pakistan, they will vehemently support Pakistan, not India. They also say they aren't used to the guns...
Okay enough history of random gathered information..
So the lake people suffered in the 90's with next to no tourism. This meant that they went from extreme wealth to poverty. One Kashmiri here in Mcleod Ganj said that his father told him stories of the lake people smoking cigarettes in rupie notes. Totally exorbitant wealth.
Now this family that we dealt with had ventures in other parts of India, so their wealth stayed with them. The concocted all these plans to get people from Delhi to Srinigar and then forced them to buy a tour or something. They cheat people. You ask any Kashmiri here and they all shake their heads knowingly. They told us that if someone complains, they go to the head honcho (the guy we dealt with) and he bribes them off. Truly it is like the Mafia.
Anyways, how did we get away with it? Simply because men want three things: Power, Money and Women. Our guy had money - filthy, glutinously (this isn't a word but you get the idea) rich. Therefore he had power, lots and bloody lots of it. Now all he needed was the women.. And he is SO unattractive. So we played the women card very well, like in a James bond movie.
So now you get the picture about our Srinigar obsession? Everyone here knows them, everyone here hears bad stories...
I think I need to let go...
Also I went to Chabad for Rosh Hashana but it was totally horrible, freezing and preaching. Two un-Rosh-Hashana sentiments.
I also want to shout out to all those who read my blog - I appreciate the comments and the interest. (AND ROSA!!!).
May the new year bring us all this much fun and adventure.
that was corny but I had to put it in..
1 comment:
You know, its just like you to go to india and get involved with the marfia.
And come out without a scratch.
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