Taj Mahal
Trip Start
Jan 02, 2008
1
5
75
Trip End
Jun 17, 2008
Agra,
India
Saturday, January 5, 2008
I got up early to go to the Taj Mahal. I was there by 7.30am and stayed until early afternoon. The architecture is amazing and I really enjoyed wandering around appreciating it and taking hundreds of pictures (I think I need to by a new memory card for my camera now!) Throughout the day the colour of the white marble bricks changes. I thought it was most impressive first thing in the morning when it was misty and the sun was low in the sky. There were also alot less crowds than later on.
You are not aloud to take guidebooks or sketchbooks into the Taj Mahal. Silly rule...I don't see why you cant sketch when you can take photos. Anyway, I managed to get 1 of my sketchbooks and the torn out pages of my Rough Guide past security, despite my bag being thoroughly searched. So I did a bit of sketching, which the people around me found very fascinating and I constantly had people looking over my shoulder. Then a group of boys came and sat next to me and asked if they could have their picture taken with me. So one by one they had their photo taken next to me and then they walked away. I thought this was a little strange the first time it happened, but then another group of boys did exactly the same. And then a family, where I had individual pictures with the kids and their mother. And then another family! I was beginning to feel like more of an attraction than the Taj Mahal! Slightly weird!
This afternoon I started to stress a little about where to go next. I have to leave my hotel tomorrow morning and I haven't made any plans. I have discovered that trains aren't always that frequent and they can get fully booked, so booking in advance is a good idea. So I tried to plan ahead for the next week. I came up with my route and was thinking of booking several train journeys, but I just met an Australian couple and they suggested going to somewhere I hadn't even thought about, so now I'm considering going there. It's so difficult to plan ahead...maybe I'll just risk leaving things to last minute!
Comments
Adventures
Wow Kate....you've only been gone for a few days and already sounds like you're having all sorts of adventures!...and turning into some sort of celebrity by the sounds of it!!! Enjoy yourself!
H xxx
Hello Dear Tayka
I read your profile and experience in India. Dear I know that it is so hard to survive as a traveller in India for a single girl or group of girls. I suggest you please always come with your friends (there must be 4-5 boys) or family if you are coming to India. 99% Indians want to rape the foreign girls. They always looking for a chance to touch her, hug, kiss or make physical relation with foriegn girls. Indians boys are more dangeraous than a fire. Please ignore if some one ask to go with him anywhere.
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Have a nice time..... take care....