Taj Mahal and Indian Railways!!

So...we got a train from Jaipur to Agra meeting at 5am. We were gonna have an early night but me, Nick and James ended up staying up chatting until after midnight so were exhausted. The train journey was a mess from the start with firstly two Indians screaming at each other for about fifteen minutes, Basically some woman had a box that she put on somebody elses seat and expected the poor guy to move. Then, a bunch of Danes (who I originally thought were German) started having a massive go at our group for sitting in their seats (which we weren't), so there was a bit of a shouting match. I had a little rant saying something like "God this fucking German accent is really pissing me off (not that I can talk with my Boro slang) and that I had never seen a group of more hideous people, who are these half men half women monstrosities!!" (honestly they were the ugliest people I had ever set eyes on...the women were so mannish it was scary. I think some of my group found my outburst rather shocking. Oh well.

So we get to Agra..went to a fort (as usual), had lunch then went to the famous Taj Mahal!!! WOW!!! I loved it! It was honestly such a beautiful building set in gorgeous surrounding with a clear skyline behind it. It had a disneylike quality about it and we spent a few hours chilling there (and got lots of photos!!).

We had heard Agra was a bit of a shithole, but we all really liked it. The second day we travelled out of Agra to visit a world heritage site which was an abandoned city which was cool. Then in the evening me, Cat and James went to the back side of the Taj to get a free view.

So we only had one night in Agra and were travelling to our final destination Varanasi on the evening. The train station was an hours drive from our hotel and the train was to set off at 11.30pm so we headed off at 9pm to leave plenty of time. We arrived at a tiny little station in the middle of nowhere and me and James messed about a bit- I got on a cycle rickshaw and James started riding it. The older members of the group find our antics annoying but it keeps us amused!!

Anyway, so our leader Joshi takes us all to this waiting room on the way we see rats running around...not just one or two rats either!!! The room was freezing and bare apart from a few wooden benches and some token Indians. So Joshi then announces to us that our train is SEVEN hours late!!!! We thought he was joking at first...I mean how can a train possibly be that late?!?!?! But it soon emerges that he is telling the truth and that there are no other options but to spend the night in the cold little waiting room. So a train that should arrive at 11.30pm wouldn't come until 6.30am!!!! Can you believe it?!?! Fifteen minutes after sitting in the room a rat is spotted in the same room we were to sleep (the first of many throughout the night!!! Steven had established himself on one wooden bench and me, Nick and James had to share one bench. Lets say we didn't get much sleep, it was disgusting!!!

The train arrives at 9.30am!!! We were then off to a campsite (what we really needed was a nice hotel with a hot shower but nope), so we get to the camp at around 9pm so we had missed out on a whole bloody day!!! The camp was ok, we sat round a fire and chatted, although got a lecture of our leader who said nobody listens to him. Hes the most arrogant person i have ever met. He's an Indian of the highest cast and speaks to everybody as if they are below him. If anybody in our group suggests an alternative to what he has told us to do he gets on his high horse and says "I am telling you, you do not tell me". Nobosy can stand him. Anyway, the tent was freezing and I didn't sleep well (again).Poor James had a stomach problem and was up and down to the toilet (well hole in the ground) all night. The next day we had to leave at 9am. There were some cute kids from a nearby village who wanted their photos with me! They were also harrassing Steven for dollars. Steven is such a tightwad and whenever kids come up asking for rupees me and James always point at Steven saying "go and ask the rich American!!" Steven is like noooo!!! We also make little comments like "oh my god is that a mothball?!" whenever he gets his wallet out!!

So we then had to get a riverboat down the river Ganges to Varanasi. Varanasi is an odd place. It's supposed to be holy and a lot of cremations take place there. People literally burn bodies on fires by the river then put the ashes into the river. It's a bit odd. So we got here yesterday afternoon and have just wandered and also watched two Bollywood films!! One was amazing called SUPERSTAR. But the one we watched today was dire!!! It was bad quality, out of sync and the acting was terrible. We left early!!!! Had a scary experience with a group of kids who surrounded us and started going through my bag. I was like PISS OFF. Then Richard found out that his passport was missing....one of the kids had taken it from his pocket!!! He got it back after shouting at them, but it's a good job he noticed!!! Although why he carries a passport in his pocket is a mystery.

So today was our last full day in thr group, although we never stick in the group. I will really miss James though, I get on so well with him, we are really similar and laugh constantly (much to everyone elses annoyance)!! I love Steven too he is great and Cat is lovely. Richard is also a really cool guy. The others I'm not too fussed about never seeing again. We are all going to have a meal tonight then tomorrow get a train to Delhi. I think it's a ridiculously long journey. Hopefully it will be on time!!!! But who knows with Indian Railways.....

Really missing everybody so much!!! Miss pancakes at Nannas, singing along with Andy, Dad of course!!! But I'm having a brill time and will be off to Thailand soon!!! Woohoo!!! I've loved India though!! I can't explain how crazy it is. The people are great, I've chatted to so many and get told I'm beautiful at least ten times a day by randomers which is always nice!!! I want to stay longer and go to the South but so much to do and so little time...going to Thailand soon yay!!!!

Love you lots

Jaymiii

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