Advertisement
Published: July 16th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Indian woman
Asked us to take photo then asked for money As we write this blog we are sitting on Lucky’s Restaurant rooftop with an unobstructed view of the magnificent Taj Mahal, imposing itself on the horizon. This is almost at the end of our tour in India, only two more nights.
A week ago we arrived in Delhi, and found the streets (round Main Bazaar rd, where all the backpackers stay) a shithole. The following morning we get to the railway station, destination Jaipur, with plenty of time to spare only to find out it’s unfortunately the wrong station! So we dash across town to the correct one. Only just make it as the train begins to depart. Lucky.
We meet our tour/auto driver Ashik at Jaipur station - He’s working hard to earn money for his Belgium girlfriend who will arrive in just a few days. The following day, Tue 8th, we headed north into the Pink City to an astronomy garden which resembled an Esher painting with sundials 5 stories high and constellation monuments representing each of the 12 star signs. Ashik took us to a Royal family’s tomb, with heavily detailed marble engraving - impressive! From here we went shopping at the textiles factory and bought
lots of wonderfully cheap and tailored silk clothing - Torin was the happiest man alive. Ashik had a great sense of humor and many jokes were had until we got to the top of monkey temple. While Torin feed the monkeys nuts, Andrea was viciously attacked by a snarling hissing agro juvenile, clawing the back of her knee. Andrea made a hasty retreat, further injuring her already strained foot and sought medical assistance - never a dull day in India.
Wednesday started slow with flooding in Jaipur, and a 45min wait for coffee. The highlight of the day was the Amber Palace which stands grandly in the hills - words to not describe the remarkable sheer size of the palace and fort - another place we’d like to spend more time at. At the City Palace Museum we viewed intricately embroidered textiles and ancient crystal and jade handled weapons. The evening was spent with Ashik over a beer and dinner, a like minded individual who sometimes only had one thing on his mind - his girlfriend…we knew the feeling.
An early train journey in general class (below sleeper class), what should have been a 4 hour journey turned
into a 6 hour very sore backside ride, to Agra. Home of more than the famous Taj Mahal. That evening Gobi our auto driver took us around to see Baby Taj, built as a template for the big one, and to a secret romantic spot on the north side of the river to watch the sun illuminate its golden rays upon the Taj’s marble surface - Torin got a wucked photo. A splendidly tasteful (as with most meals in India) dinner was in a tranquil garden under the moon and stars. Afterwards, we had yet another Indian sales job done on us - and again Andrea got sucked in.
Friday, with the Taj closed, we headed to Fatephur Sikri, a Muslim city built in red sandstone. Imposing gateways and palaces were built by Emperor Akbar to commemorate the birth of his son within this fortified city, only to be abandoned a few years later due to failure of getting water to the city….dumb. The Muslim king had three wives - one Muslim, one Hindu and one Christian, but only a son with the Muslim wife. We arrived during a 4 day Muslim festival, which gave the old city an
Tomb
Jaipur electric atmosphere.
Upon our return to Agra we had lunch at Lucky’s Restaurant, the wait for the food was well worth it! With Bob Marley playing in the background we had a ‘special’ lassi, sitting on the rooftop watching the sun set behind the Taj. To the right of us was a tree full of monkey’s big and small, playing, eating and occasionally farting at each other - ha ha. Many children were flying small plastic-bag kites from the roof-tops in the gentle humid breeze. As the sun vanished and the birds retired for the evening, the bats emerged from the trees swooping above us. While downstairs for dinner, a wedding parade lead by a Punjabi sound machine came rolling past. Within seconds Torin was grabbed into the moving dance area and started busting out some drum n bass moves - ha ha ha!! The wedding party and Harry, the restaurant owner, were well impressed.
Oh Ala - the TAJ MAHAL!! We made it - the number one reason we came to this part of India. Impressive. Surreal. WOOOOW!!
The ticket price of 750R covers all of Agra’s main attractions, so get it first to save rupees.
So that’s India for us.
We got asked “Hello, hello?” “Need rickshaw?” “You are from?” “Your name?” “You buy…Madam you buy?” about 50 times a day. This constant attention can get a little intense but always a friendly welcome when they find out we are from NZ….CRICKET GOOD! Andrea enjoyed being called madam everyday. The service is 100 times better than what we are used to back home - Indian’s care for their customers, and overall are honest and trustworthy.
It’s a dirty country, effluent and waste pile up around towns, people discard rubbish over their fence and don’t care….even use the waste pile as a toilet. Time for some recycling we think.
Train to Delhi tomorrow and then flight to KL, Malaysia on Monday 14th.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.046s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 12; qc: 22; dbt: 0.0253s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb