15 brown trout. That was Nicolas’ haul today at the Wangat River in Kashmir, India.

Of course, I wasn’t there, so the only photos I got off his camera are of him and his guides and the fish.

This was the only photo I could find that showed a bit of scenery:

So, tonight, on our last night in Srinagar, we had a feast of Kashmiri food – with the addition of trout prepared two ways: Kashmiri style and the French way ℅ Nicolas (pan-seared in butter).

From left to right: Nicolas, me, our hosts and newfound friends, Manzoor and Neelofar, who is originally from Sydney, Australia; Nayim, their son and my new playmate; Chef Amin, and another new friend, Muzzafar, whom we met at the airport. He was at the check-in line behind us and saw Nicolas’ fishing rods. He turned out to be an angler as well and, later, assisted Nicolas in getting his permits, in buying more fishing gear, and went fishing with us at the Aharbal Hill Station. Tonight, he came to The Oasis Srinagar to join us for dinner. Before he left, he gave Nicolas and me presents and invited us to stay with him should we ever return to Kashmir.

And where was I when all that fish was being caught today?

I was unsuccessfully haggling at the markets…

Man, those Kashmiris won’t go down a single rupee! Alas, there will be no copper pots in my luggage for now.

They wouldn’t budge at the spice shop either. But I bought cardamom, cinnamon and saffron for my Kashmiri tea anyway.

I was stuffing my face with Kashmiri food…

Lahabi Kabab. Lamb mutton koftas cooked in a yogurt-based sauce. At Ahdoo’s. I lunched there two days in a row.

I was stuck in traffic and taking photos…

I didn’t know The Four Seasons had a hotel here! And just a few doors down from Butt’s Clinic too!

I was checking out the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden which, I was told, was the largest tulip garden in Asia…

You mean there are more???

… by this lady while she interviewed me for television…

She interviewed this couple right after me.

So, yeah, he had a better day than I did, but I’m not complaining. I got to eat some trout!