For this I need a lot of money. No bank will loan me money when the future of tourism in Kashmir is so uncertain. I had a little land which I sold off to raise money, he says. He doesn't listen, he said. Selling land and investing in the houseboat is so risky.
Every small incident reverses the tourism clock by years.
Two years ago our cousins who own a houseboat did some business. But the Kargil war destroyed everything. The words of caution, however, mean little to Joo. This houseboat is already creaking because of neglect. It's now or never.