May 25, 2005 A FLOATING HOLIDAY IN KASHMIR by Antonia Leslie IF YOU ARE FED UP WITH ALL KNOWN HOLIDAYS,TRY KASHMIR WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS AND IS NOW OPEN AGAIN.WE STAYED ON A HOUSEBOAT THAT HAD BEEN BUILT BY THE BRITISH FOR CARGO, LATER TAKEN OVER BY THE KASHMIRIS AND CHANGED INTO A HOME.THERE ARE AN ICREDIBLE 4000 OF THEM AND SOME OT THEM ARE AVAILABLE FOR RENTING.THEY ARE A PERMANENT FEATURE OF THE LAKES IN SRINIGAR AND ALL HAVE GREAT NAMES LIKE THE NEW HILTON OR THE NEW MELBOURNE,WHICH IS THE ONE WE STAYED ON.THE FOOD IS PROVIDED BY THE FAMILY AND IS EXCELLENT.YOU CAN EAT IN THE MORNING LOOKING AT THE FOOTHILLS OF THE HIMALAYAS WHICH ARE ONLY AN HOURS DRIVE.ALL YOUR SHOPPING IS DONE BY BOAT OR IN OTHER BOATS EVEN THE POSTCARDS AND FILM ARE DELIVERED BY THE KODAK BOAT.THE POEPLE ARE VERY KIND AND YOU ARE TREATED LIKE KINGS NEW MELBOURNE HOUSEBOAT