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Published: December 14th 2010
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The Eiffel Tower
Nope, sorry. The Taj Mahal. Trains in India get booked up months in advance, especially during the Indian holiday (December & January - the months we’re visiting). So with waiting lists well in to their 100s we decided on taking a bus to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. A mere 3hrs the sales man said (we know their game and sneakily added on another 2hrs). Ha, little did we know that 3 hrs actually means 7 hrs.
After a 5am start and being forgotten about, we were eventually picked up by a speedy guy who led us through a maze of alley ways, one of which had what looked like a wedding in full swing. It was quite complicated navigating hoards of people with our bags who were in some kind of food frenzy but we eventually ended up on a main road with our speedy guy looking for our bus or a bus, we couldn‘t quite tell. Ten minutes later we were shoved on to an already very full bus where we had to cling on as we were on the steps with the door open and big bag on our back. There was a little niggle that maybe he was intending us
to stay here for our ‘3 hr’ journey.
Luckily he didn’t and a little way down the road we caught up with our proper bus (which had left without us). With no seats left we were bundled in to the front cabin with the young driver and two of his friends (plus another couple who were wedged behind the drivers seat). This was ok, but with sitting sideways and with the baking sun coming through the front window, the novelty soon wore off.
The driver was fairly good. His main problem seemed to be staying on the road. At one point there was a traffic jam ahead (we were on a motorway) so he followed the car in front and crossed over the central reservation to continue up the wrong side of the road. We did fairly well, missing all the oncoming traffic, until the cars ahead started threading back to the correct side of the road.
From nowhere three big men stepped in front of our bus with three massive sticks and started shaking them at us. They clocked my very white skin through the window which seemed to stop them doing what they intended and
instead started screaming at the driver to get out. Well after a few seconds (which seemed like a life time) a very worried looking friend of the driver stepped off the bus. Just as he did the lorry behind us decided to make a break for it and over took us therefore blocking the whole motorway. This took the heat off us as the men with the sticks started smashing up the lorry, breaking windows and trying very hard to whack the people (many people) sitting on top of the cabin. Our guy jumped back on the bus and we sped off to safety. We were shocked.
Well, we made it in one piece with another few close calls; another off road experience and an illegal right turn on to a duel carriage way. We were caught by another (less angry) man with another big stick. Instead of smashing us up he made the bus reverse back across four lines of traffic to teach us a lesson. .
When we arrived in Agra everyone jumped off the bus and as I edged myself out of my ‘seat’ behind the driver my foot went clean through the floor. Oops!
We ran as fast as two people with five heavy bags could run, hopped in an auto rickshaw and scooted to the safety of a lovely guest house. With a roof top café we had a view of the Taj Mahal, loads of monkeys, camels, cows, goats and endless cups of chai to drink. Everything worked out in the end.
The Taj Mahal is spectacular, photos don’t do it justice. The detail is quite unbelievable, especially in the mausoleum where semi-precious stones have been inlaid in the marble, unfortunately you can’t take photos. Our guide showed us a fancy trick with a torch where the light makes the stones glow from behind.
As Shah Jaham’s favourite wife was lying on her death bed, he took her last request to heart ‘show the world how much we love one another’. The Taj Mahal took 22 years to build - he certainly fulfilled her request.
Our little area in Agra was just outside the Taj Mahal and was made up of crumbling, colourful buildings all set around a central square, which last night had a party. This party was still going this morning at 4.30am (full, penetrating volume)
when we had to get up to catch our train (YAY a train) to Jaipur.
With little sleep, lots of travelling and a bit of food we’re now chilling out in a sunny, dusty town ready for the next instalment India decides to throw our way. Everyday is an adventure here.
A Taj Mahal full of love
S&S
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M&D
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The Real India
That's the India I remember and love!! Fantastic blog, super photos and videos - the music is all part of it isn't it? have fun, lots of love xxxxxxx