Taj View Agra

... haze which detracts from long range photos.

If you’re in the North of India it’s almost obligatory to visit the Taj but we found it to be an over-rated experience and we enjoyed other sites more. But visiting the North and not visiting the Taj would almost seem sacrilegious so we have no regrets about going to see it. It’s just that now we’ve moved on we’re so pleased to have done the Taj and left Agra behind!

... minibus with half a dozen random other tourists, we waved Komy farewell, and I fell straight asleep. Millie would come to find remarkable my ability to do so with such speed for every leg of our ride; in my defense I hadn't had a proper night's rest since Gezer (as nice as the roof terrace view in Jerusalem was, it got frigid at night).

So we saw some temple thing (maybe it was a fortress), then the Taj Mahal, then a gift shop selling some nice ...

... to the Taj Mahal a mere 5 minute walk from the hotel. It was 7.30am and even then there were crowds. Tight security checks here meant I had to take mu tiny torch and Swiss army knife to the lockers 500m from the security check at the gate. The entry fee is relative extortion for tourists compared to Indians. Foreigners pay 750 rupees ( about $19 Aus ) whereas locals pay 20 rupees (50 cents). With the cover fee foreigners get 500ml bottled water and disposable shoe covers for ...

... most people just go for they day, and I must admit we were tempted to just pass through as well. Along the way to dinner the night we arrive we met a cycle rickshaw driver who begged to cycle us to dinner. It was just down the street, but seeing the desperation in his eyes, we just couldn't say no thank you any longer. He then became our permanent rickshaw driver during our time in Agra. We learned from him that ...

... familjes, janė mbledhur para se tė vijė dhėndri. Nė njė dhomė tė mbushur me gra, tė reja dhe tė moshuara, tė gjitha janė tė ulura nė dysheme. Gratė kanė veshur sari ngjyrė bojėqelli, tė kuqe dhe tė verdha. "Deepa ėshtė me fat", mė tregon njė grua. Disa nuse u premtohen burrave qė jetojnė nė fshatra tė largėt dhe qė shpesh nuk e shohin mė familjen e tyre. Shandan, burri i ardhshėm, jeton afėr dhe Deepa do tė ketė mundėsinė qė t‘i vizitojė shpesh tė afėrmit e saj. "Kėndojnė sepse janė t ...

... day started with an almost fruitless jeep safari. we had been sold this as an extra upon arrival, with the promise tha it would 'increase our chances of seeing the wildlife. the reality was not so, and about half an hour into the safari we realised we had been sold a dud. of course, the sound of the engine would scare any smaller animals off, and we couldnt go in search of the bigger ones because it was too dangerous.
a little jaded, we headed back to the hotel, stopping of at the ...

... building an imperial capital in Agra. The result was the Agra Fort, which not only served military purposes, but was also the royal residence. Most of the buildings within the precincts of this magnificent Red Fort

However, in the course of time, Akbar decided to shift his capital to Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Akbar used to visit the hamlet of Sikri to take the blessings of the great Sufi saint Salim Chisti in order to have an heir to his throne. Akbar ...

... shanti lodge has a rooftop restaurant from which there are excellent views of the Taj Mahal so we sat in the restaurant watching the sun set view of the Taj and eating a gorgeous dinner - much better than being stuck at work! 4th We got up at 4am and were at Joney's Place restaurant for a quick bite to eat as soon as it opened before going to the Taj. You can't bring food in and the ...

... my back to the kitchen area and they cooked everything freshly we should be safe - hmmmm.

Anyway it just goes to show that every minute really does count and certainly India offers food for thought on a daily basis.

Off we walked up the street towards the Taj at 630am to the shear horror of the locals and pretty soon we had a full gang of rickshaws and bicycle rickshaws fulling us up the street now we know ...

... bare minimum for me e.g - "We go now to Taj Mahal, cost is 750 rupees (about $20)" that's about it. This time however, I was the only westerner on the tour and no one really spoke any english. The guy sitting beside me was very sweet and we managed a bit of conversation with the small amount of english that he did know. I was a bit of a celebrity on the tour being the only white chick ...