After discussion with my friend I was told to avoid Chilum-Josh (Kalash spring festival) due to stampede of visitors. I was strictly told by the aficionado not to put my car to a test whether it could climb Kalash, yet I took the challenge. It was getting dark and the road as we travelled was getting worse while it rained cats-n-dogs and we reached a point where the road took app 50 degrees steep uphill turn. The uphill road was very narrow, carved into loose previously land-slided debris/stones. It rose my eyebrows and took opinion of my passenger friend (wife) whether we should risk our souls and continue our journey or should we make a U-turn?? Soon she pointed with her index figure to the falling rocks (few in number) app hundred feet ahead of us; I wasn?t convinced yet decided to take a U-Turn and soon noticed car?s lights right behind our car, I stopped to inquire about Kalash road condition?? It was a Jeep, the driver said that the place where we made U-turn had landsliding, He too wants to get to Kalash as his soul-mate is ill.
The road was closed to Kalash, our trip and enthusiasm was taking a steep down-turn, family members were more enthusiastic to visit the cultural tank, after 2 hours conversation/analysis, we decided to visit the valley on foot, so we hired a porter to carry my 3 years old daughter and the bag and continued our journey. There were app 8 land slidings in app 4Km with one casualty i.e. one soul was lifted from earth when a rock hit a car?s top. I realised the risk I took the previous day. On arrival, our 15 minutes rest ended in 2 hours sleep; when we woke up, the guide took us to the nearby village by foot.
The place was very calm; I felt like I was living in 18th century, a very basic life standard they were living in. While having discussion with locals, government was never cursed, foreign brands were alien, guests were served with dried-fruits and nuts instead of Pepsi.
Next day was Garam Chashma, As we drove towards our destination, the weather was very pleasant, the air was fraught with fragrant breeze and clouds were all over; an ideal weather for photography (cloudy day). As we drove through the zigzag roads, almost at every turn our jaws were dropped to the plethora of picturesque. There were frequent stops for photo-shoots; while walking in the valleys, all of us were touched by the serenity.
I was simply amazed with the amiable characteristics of Chitralis. While coming from Garam Chashma, a bike was descending from the very wrong side of the road; it was dusk time and our driver never saw him until 15 ft away. Our driver got a bit tempered while there was nothing on the biker's face but smile. The few seconds argument ended in laughter from either sides, and friendly words were exchanged between the two; unlike in urban environment where the 'curse' lasts for minutes creating uneasy tempered environment...