Back to Delhi today – about time really. I think we’re anxious to move on because every new place proves that time is moving on, + if time is moving on we’ll be home soon. Sultan got us up in good time, produced a fine breakfast to set us up for the day, + accepted the money I gave him without even counting it, saying that, at a time of parting, money should not be considered. I had given him enough to cover everything, of course, + then a little (tho’ by no means an excessive amount) but his attitude, especially in money-hungry India, was very refreshing. He is by no means a naïve + unsophisticated businessman, but he is also very kind + considerate.
We arrived at the bus stn in plenty of time, + the only difficulty we encountered there was me having a fierce argy-bargy with an Indian bloke who shoved Val while she was trying to discover the no. of our bus at the enquiry counter. The ride itself was long enough, but comfortable as such rides go, + we had good seats. Not the ones we’d been assigned – a kindly anglophile had somehow rearranged things to our benefit. We arrived at the stn at a good hour, allowing us enough time to buy our tickets, book our seats, have a meal, + then stroll onto the platform + find our berth.
And back to Delhi, hopefully to receive our Iranian visas. But it has not been a waste of time to explore Kashmir, quite the reverse.
