Hotel Sakura Agra

... Agra. Further on toward Delhi we also stopped at Akbar’s mausoleum, which again was a sizable complex with antelope grazing in the grounds surrounding his central mausoleum which was guarded by 4 very impressive gate towers.

The drive back was grueling. We made the mistake of returning on the Muslim festival holy day of Eid and there was a big mosque on the road from Agra to Delhi which backed ...

... the question answer platform 10. Darn it the platform furthest away! Porter offered to carry my bag off he went before we could agree a price. On way I manged to see guidelines for costs of porters so when he asked for 4 times the nomal proce I could tell him no and bargain my way down. He wasnt happy as he hought he had found another tourist to fleece but nope that this time matey!

Checked reservation list on train to make sure I was on it ...

... for Varanasi. Our first experience of the Indian rail system didn't disappoint...the train arrived half an hour late, our seats did not exist and the conductor we found placed us in seats already occupied by sleeping Nepalese men. Thank god for Barack Obama- who's reflections on adolescence helped me overcome the heat and discomfort of this journey and allowed me to drift off for much of the 14 hours before arriving alongside the river Ganges.

... 4.5 hours ahead of you over here).



We
went to Choki Dani a place recommended to me by my doctor in Wigan and
its just loads fo differnt stalls, dancers, henna tatooists - which
Caroline had one done but it lasted all of two days, and typical
Rajasthan as much as you like self servce buffet. OBvioulsy a red rag
to a bull so filled my boots and fortunately didnot fill anythign else.



On
Monday night we went to the cinema ...

Die Nacht im Zug war ok. Schlafwagen 2. Klasse http://www.seat61.com/India.htm
runt erscrollen - AC2 heisst die Klasse.

Etwas Verspätung... aber die hatten wir schon bei der Abfahrt...
Nacder Ankunft hab ich mal meinen Rucksack bei der Gepäckaufbewahrung verstaut - dann der Spiessrutenlauf vorbei an den "touts" - das ist echt mühsam hier... jeder mag dich mit seinem Taxi oder TucTuc chauffieren.... ist ihre Arbeit , ok, aber nach dem 500. "no ...

... shower and scroll through my pictures. Next I made my way to Agra Fort. The rich maroon walls of the fort were visible from miles away and as I got closer, the size of the structure surprised me as much as the Taj had. Inside were numerous mosques and palaces. A lovely spot was where the Maharaja had requested a room be built for him and his wife to sit and observe the Taj Mahal in the distance. The room was designed so that the wind could enter from 3 sides, resulting ...

... I have seen this trip in our room. I'm ignoring them and hopefully they will ignore me too! Today we wandered... one of my favorite travel activities, wandering...just taking in the sights sounds and smells of the city. We wandered along the Ganges, people bathing, cows bathing...not seen any burning bodies yet though! Had a curry for breakfast, we are playing curry lottery...order something you have never heard of and see ...