Taj Mahal magic!

Hello everybody and greetings from Agra!

Got here on Saturday morning after my first Indian train journey, and got to the guest house alright. Really cool, with a green courtyard and a bit of peace and quiet from the general chaos that is Agra.

Decided to do only a little bit of sightseeing on Saturday and went to Akbar's mausoleum with a girl I met at the guest house, from UK. The tomb is quite impressive, has a garden with monkeys and deer in it (I fed a monkey!) and a snake charmer sat outside, with two cobras. Coooooool... had a lot of tea in the guest house as well as my first hot shower in India - great! And proper sunshine finally, not smog grey sky, but blue sky!

The next morning, we got up very early (we is me plus another girl from the US, also met her at the guest house) and set off to the Taj in time for sunrise. Got there for 7am, when it was all pale pink, then it turned pale yellow, gold and finally cream then white. Amazing! We just sat in the same spot for about 1.5 hours, staring, then moved a bit closer and just sat for another hour or so at least. It is without doubt the most marvellous thing I have ever seen! If you think people praising the Taj are going over the top, exaggerating, what have you not, I tell you they're not exaggerating at all, it is beautiful. In fact, it is perfect. I want one.

In total I spent 8 hours in the Taj and grounds. I only left because I got too hungry (you're not allowed to bring rucksacks in, nor books, nor food really, so had to leave all these rather useful items outside). I would have happily stayed all day. It is truly superb - in fact, it is the most perfect building in the world ever, I reckon.

Went for food in Taj Ganj, the maze of streets just next to the Taj, and sat on a rooftop terrace, cause I refused to not see the Taj. We also spotted kabooshar baz, that's pigeon fanciers who fly pigeons around, and the birds react to their calls and whistles.

Had a relatively early night, cause was all Taj-ed out...

Went to Agra Fort today, which was well chilled out too! And rather large. Then went past the fort, walked across a rather rickety railway bridge into the little village across the river. And along the river to see the Taj from there. Beautiful. The kids along there are all very sweet, although they are after you're money in the end. Or pens. None of which I was willing to give them of course (as you shouldn't encourage them!). But they were sweet and liked looking at the pictures I took of the Taj on my camera. On the way back I was followed by this little kid of 13-14 who could only say I love you and I am your boyfriend, so I had to tell him off at some point, cause it got really annoying. Agra on the way back was mad, so much noise and everybody wanted to give me a rickshaw ride and I didn't want one, until I realised that I actually had taken the wrong turn, and didn't quite know where I was, so had to take one after all. Poo. And he wanted to take me to the shops first, but I had a go at him, so he didn't (it's what they do, they drop you off against your will at shops and get commission).

So, and now I send this before the next power cut!

Monni