Agra

I haven't posted for a few days. I am ill again. It seems that most of this trip I have been ailing to some degree. The only time not was in the desert. I don't have my notes with me so will give only a brief reporting. We trained to Delhi and walked to our hotel in a zone popular with tourists. The most desirable and preferred hotel was fully booked so we picked another from our travel guide. We stayed there three nites, despite the fact that it was probably the worst yet experienced in India as the street noise, including nightly Hari Krishna singing permeated like there were no walls. Besides walking around, we went on a city bus tour that takes in the highlighted tourist scenes including the red Fort. It was the usual type tour of temples, one of which was quite unique.

It was a Hindu temple built by some wealthy family and was very large over a big piece of property. Inside were many inscriptions in English about the faith.

Also we were taken to an ultra modern Bhai' (?) temple that reminded me somewhat like the Sidney Opera House. It is non denominational but appears to me to be fairly cultish and is based on some prophets (profits) from the 1800's.













We took the train to Agra on a fairly high speed and comfortable coach. This is our 4th day here. Travel arrangements are quite difficult ( to Varanasi, our next stop) due to demand by tourists. Finally we agreed for our hotel to make arrangement as they promised they could get us tickets and to ignore what we were hearing from others (for eg. one couple told us they couldn't get tickets because trains were fully booked for six days. There used to be air service but that has been discontinued.

So of course the attraction here is the Taj Mahal and it is truly impressive. I predict it will last another 495 year. LOL It is being degraded by pollution and there are reports that the minarets are starting to run the risk of toppling due to the foundations weakening from water.


Here it is!










One building along one of the streets was a place for Muslim women to view parades since they were not allowed to be seen in public





Our guest house here is nice and pleasant but has a quite limited veggie menu. Yesterday we ate at Zorba the Buddha. The best meal yet in India and a very trustworthy restaurant. I had Mugai Sadzi with rice.

Today we are waiting on our train for tonite. Pedro is back at the Taj and I am at this internet.