Day 3 saw us getting up at the butt crack of dawn to head to the train station. 5am is very quiet in Delhi , barely anyone around until you get to the train station where it was rather busy!
We had a 2 hour train ride to Agra , we were in one of the fancier class of trains that included breakfast and snacks for our journey. I accepted the food more so I could have a squiz at what was on the tray, but didn’t eat any of it. Curry samosas is not really all that ideal at 6.30 in the morning! As we chugged along the sun started to rise making for a very pretty viewing for those with window seats. I myself was one of the lucky few.
Apart from the pretty sunrise one also got to see many a person coping a squat on the side of the tracks. Nothing says good morning like a royal bum salute.
We arrive in Agra to chaos. The train station is full of touts who wants to carry your bag for you for money. After the 10th time of firmly saying NO all you want to do is put your pack on your front and charge at them like a bowling ball and knock them all to the ground.
We make it to the bus and head off to our first destination. It is 8.30 am and already its hot enough to sweat up a storm. Our first stop is the Red Fort. Standing out the front of the Red Fort you can see to your right not too far off in the distance the Taj. Ooooo exciting!!
The Red Fort was the residence of the King who built the Taj, it also towards the end of his life become his prison. The Red Fort is amazing. The architecture and detailing of the time is just amazing. We have a lovely little old man as our guide and he is very knowledgeable, its not just a job for him but something he finds great passion in. I love the Red Fort, not only do I blend right into the walls because im wearing a pink top and my face is bright pink, but because it is just magnificent. The size of it and the detailing is just beautiful.
Pinko - (Redo!) blending in at the Red Fort!
After our tour we head to our hotel to unpack and freshen up before lunch. After lunch we stopped off at a local carpet manufacturer and wholesaler. It is a government supported business, the government has given of 3000 carpet looms to families and communities around India , this in turn gives work to women in and around their homes. Without the looms they would either have no source of income or would have to travel really far to work leaving their families alone at home. The carpets are all hand made and are all just stunning to see and touch. Mum along with two others in our group buy carpets/rugs. The one mum buys is beautiful!
After the rug place we head out to the Taj. Our ticket price includes free shoe covers and a bottle of water. The shoe covers are rather funny, all the locals have to remove their shoes and leave them outside the Taj, I guess too many tourists were having their shoes stolen! Tourists do pay 10 to 20 times more than the local person, so in turn there is always the local Indian line and then a separate line for the tourists to just walk on in. In some ways this is a little unfair, but then in terms of price and what we pay it is a little fare not to have to wait in the hot sun in a line.
The Taj is just beautiful. It is really impressive to stand in front of. I was rather amused at all the locals standing and holding their hands up for photos so it looked like they were holding it. We arrived at the Taj around 4pm so we could stay and see the sunset there, unfortunately it was also the hottest time of the day to be there, and on a 43 degree day I really noticed the heat! We make it all the way up and inside to see the tombs, im standing there in front of them with sweat pouring from my body. I have never felt so hot and sweaty in my life, the air is so thick and hot its hard to breath inside it. We make our exit and find a nice spot to sit on one of the ledges in the shade and cool down while enjoying the display of beautiful saris stream past us.
1 out of every 3 people that walked past us stopped to take my photo. It was rather amusing, they would take my photo and then I would take their photo. I have never had my photo taken so often by so many different people!
After the Taj we head back to our hotel to freshen up. I had never looked forward to a cold shower more in all of my life!
Dinner was at an out door restaurant, unfortunately in my mind focusing on the cold shower I did not listen to the outdoor part of our dinner and wore a skirt, thus resulting in being attacked by mosquitoes for the entire evening. I have no idea how I managed to leave that night with any blood left in my body!
Dinner was lovely, nice atmosphere. There was Indian music playing, dancers, a magic show (Yes! A magic show!) a palm reader and a henna painter. I was up and ready to go for the palm reader. He was lovely, over charged me to which my leader was angry at and went to get my money back, but he was interesting. Apparently I will get married at 33, my husband will be under the thumb, I will have 2 children, 1 girl who will be very smart, and 1 boy who will be not so smart. I was the only one in our group who was told that would have a dumbass son. We all had fun with a competition to see who would live the longest. I came in 4th at 86.
After my palm reading I very excitedly had some henna painting done. I have wanted this done for so long! I had two, one on my hand and one of my foot and leg. Its kinda tickly to get done, and it goes on all puff paint like, you let it dry for an hour or two and then pick it off leaving the pattern underneath. The picking off part was fun!
You totally should make a book called.. "People who took photos of me at The Taj"
ReplyDeleteAnd LOL @ dumbass son
Awesome!