Surrounded by lush green fringes of trees, tracing the perimeter of a small dwelling in the town of Azad Kashmir, I woke up at the usual time the lazy people of my city wake up at. I walked out of the modestly adorned room, the interim abode for my stay, and was caught by the serenity of the picturesque view. Unlike the typical routine of the city, where people are always rushing, this place projected a sense of harmony. Fresh, breathable air, complementing a sight so hypnotising you could spend an intractable amount of time just sitting and losing yourself in the wonders of a place where space and time lost their boundaries. Away from all the raucous of the city and unruly traffic, the sound of birds chirping and leaves ruffling penetrated the air. The simple lifestyle of these villagers is capable of enslaving you in its entirety. We lived with such warm and welcoming hosts who transformed each fleeting moment into an unforgettable memory. Although it was past breakfast hour by the time we freshened up, the table in its magnificence displayed an array of cooked eggs, freshly collected cow’s milk, home-made butter, ghee, cream, yoghurt and whatnot, as our first meal of the day. We settled down, taking in the wholesomeness of each item. Lunch and dinner were equally appealing. The delicacies swelled our spirits. As time passed, the purple hues in the sky, an indication of the approaching night, called all family members, including us, their guests, to the courtyard that they readied with seating arrangements, for us to settle down and converse freely. The squeaking of crickets permeated the gushing wind, which, I confess, scared me off for a while. But before late, I was lost in the evening lit under the naked sky, showing off its shiny jewels we call stars. In the meantime, the hosts would bring roasted corn kernels and green tea, both of which came from their own fields. With this, a sense of realisation dawned upon me that while we are at odds with our roots, fighting to lead the race, these people are strangely satisfied with whatever is served to them, whilst enjoying each moment in the company of each other. And while the rhythms of our daily lives were driven by incompatible habits, they had breakfasts and lunches together. During the one week we spent there, they accompanied us to different touristic spots and when they didn’t, they arranged transportation for us. I would fall short of breath every time we would step out of the house through the lengthy fields, fenced with the green vegetation, and as I would look up I would find the hosts walking as fast as their feet could carry them, as if showing off the stamina villagers possess. The two most unforgettable places that we visited were the Banjosa lake – an artificial lake and touristic resort surrounded by dense pine forest and mountains – and Toli peer – the highest mountainous location in the northeastern area of Rawalakot district of Azad Kashmir. It is the point of origin of three different mountain ridges. We could hardly hike to the first peak. Witnessing the relative novice, we were left behind so far so as to become mere spectators. As our last day was approaching, we were taught the correct way of using maswak, a twig made from the Salvadora persica tree that requires being chewed on to clean teeth. They also demonstrated their proficient skills of milking cows and taming goats and chicken, which was quite amusing to an amateurish person like me. With all the positive energy that their home emanated and all the warm hospitality that Kashmir was suffused in, we took the happening experience and basic skills with us on our way back to Karachi. The bumpy roads, precarious routes and treacherous landscape of the journey, that prompted us at the beginning of our road trip to rethink our decision of visiting the place, were actually worth it. Although we were vigilant throughout the entire journey with our senses heightened, half expecting a mishap, the destination not only compensated for it but also created life-long, unforgettable memories for us.