3 of 3: Taj Mahal!

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Just in time for the Taj Mahal!

Time is running short on this cross country journey.

The Taj Mahal was only slightly out of the way from the track I was on and I was told that there is nothing much to do in Agra, besides see the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort, but that it was well worth the extra travel.

Of course, I can't be in Northern India without seeing the Taj Mahal!


My train from Varanasi arrived at about 9 am and my train from Agra to my next destination left at 7 pm. Just enough time to ‘be there, do that, and take some photos’. And that is just what I did.


On the train ride to Agra, a young guy had the upper bunk across from me. As the only two white people anywhere in the vicinity, we were obliged to make conversation. OOOH, also a Portlander! We shared some stories and agreed to do the one day tourist trek through Agra together. We could share rickshaws and take turns negotiating prices.



The Taj Mahal is ever bit as enchanting as the books say. As the biggest LOVE icon in the world, I spent the day wondering if the dude that had this build in memory of his wife because he loved her so much, was just nuts or what. The Taj is beautiful and if I ever die, I would be honored to have something like that build in my memory, but come on!!!! This is one of the poorest countries and Agra is no different. Climbing to the top of the great monument, the poverty can be seen from 360 degrees.

Call me a cynic; it was just a little difficult to enjoy that kind of beauty when it is surrounded by so much suffering. Enjoy the photos, try not to think of the starving children.

Oh yeah, I went to the Agra Fort, it was cool.

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Comments

[carl]

:)
Looks like you got that perma-glow tan going. I bet the Taj had something to do with that ;)