Archive for the 'Agra' Category

The ride from Agra to Jaipur was around 3 hours and our driver definitely kept us entertained with his interesting command of the English language.  The following video is of us entering the city limits of Jaipur.

I mentioned in my last post that I had a “special date” awaiting me.  It turns out that one of my dear friends, Connie, whom I had met through Couchsurfing years ago, was traveling through India and our paths just so happened to cross in Jaipur.  Because it was terribly hot outside, we decided to first meet for some ice cream.  Once we were adequately refreshed and updated on each others travel adventures, we went off on search for jewelry!

Me and Connie in front of the jewelry store where I bought 5 pairs of earrings for less than $10 (score!).

After our successful shopping mission, we said goodbye to Connie and wished her an extraordinary journey in Nepal, as she was headed there next, and decided to take our 1st rickshaw of the trip back to the hotel.  When I was in Thailand I took a lot of these and I found them to definitely be the best mode of transportation.  They were quick and cheap, plus they afforded you a great view of the city, as seen in the following video.

Back at the hotel, I showed off my new purchases to our tour guide.  However, I mentioned that I was still looking for an unique piece of fine jewelry.  He said that he knew the perfect place and would take us there immediately.  The second I walked into the jewelry store I felt like a princess.  I had about 5 people attending to my needs, bringing me fruit and chai, and the charming owner let me try on anything I desired in the store.  And trust me I desired a lot!

Me with a million dollar diamond necklace/earring set. It was love at 1st sight!

Do not worry, I did not buy the jewelry in the above picture, but I did end up finding the necklace of my dreams (make sure to read the next post to see what it looks like).  Our tour guide then brought us back to our hotel and we invited him and his friend to dine with us at the hotel’s restaurant on the roof.

The hotel's pool on the roof at night.

The heat had dissipated finally and it was the perfect temperature for dining al fresco.  I really enjoyed talking with my tour guide in depth about his country and hearing a native’s perspective.  At the end of the evening we were surprised with a fireworks show!  The best way to end an evening in my opinion.

Since my friend was still not feeling well and I too woke up with the dreaded “Delhi belly,” we decided to eschew the bus ride that our tour company had arranged for us and instead booked our own private taxi, which would save us about 3 hours of driving time from Agra to Jaipur.  Yeah, I am a bit of princess sometimes!

The traffic we faced while trying to leave Agra was a nightmare, as is the case for pretty much everywhere in the country.  I think if I had to drive on a regular basis in India I would probably become an alcoholic from the stress.

A typical street in India.

I looove the following video I took while stuck in the midst of one of the various traffic jams.  It’s just SO India!

Along the way we saw lots and lots of water buffalo.  Apparently, their milk is highly desired.

They also happen to cause major traffic problems too!

Since pink is my favorite color I was super excited to see “the pink city,” otherwise known as Jaipur.  I had a feeling that I was in for some adventures there, especially since the next day I would be riding my favorite animal through an ancient fort, but first I had a special date lined up for later in the day. . .

Sadly, my friend who I was traveling with was not feeling well, but we wanted to do something special for our last night in Agra and to celebrate our extraordinary day at the Taj Mahal.  While lounging by the hotel pool, we decided to watch the sunset at the Agra Fort and then to have dinner and drinks at The Oberoi, which is considered one of the most luxurious hotel’s in all of India.

We were warned by the concierge at our hotel that the Agra Fort would be closed by the time we arrived at 6PM, however his warning was completely inaccurate.  It did not close for at least another hour and I believe that we went at the perfect time.  The weather had cooled down and there were hardly any people there.  Normally, I am a planner and researcher when it comes to all things travel, but I must admit that I knew nothing about the Agra Fort before we arrived.  I must also admit that it was quite thrilling to not know what to expect (this is something I never thought I would say)!

The entrance into the Agra Fort.

The fort stretched for miles and while it was no Taj Mahal it definitely was worth the visit.  Between the way the light illuminated the amber color of the fort and the monkeys jumping from tree to tree, it felt like we were in another world.

Why don’t I take you for a stroll through this other world. . .

I was already enchanted enough with the Agra Fort, but imagine my surprise when I discovered that from one of the rooms I could see the Taj Mahal in all its glory!

In the midst of me trying to get the perfect photo, I overheard a guide tell the people in his group that the smoke surrounding the Taj Mahal was from a cremation that was taking place.  It felt like such a holy moment that I just had to put down my camera to honor it.

Then the sun began to set, turning the sky into a rich amber color almost matching the Amber Fort perfectly.  It was as if everything became one.

I could have easily stayed there for hours contemplating the oneness, except our driver was expecting us to return to the car.  On our drive to The Oberoi we happened to get quick glance at 1 of the 2 elephants that roams the streets of Agra.  He is considered to be the city’s pet (I love this idea by the way).

As our car pulled up to the hotel, I was instantly taken aback by the opulence.  It was without a doubt one of the most stunning hotels I have ever seen.  I think it would be impossible to not feel like royalty if you stayed there.

While the dinner my friend and I enjoyed at the hotel was not the best culinary experience of my life to date, it certainly was delicious and it was the perfect setting to honor the incredibly memorable day we had experienced and would never, ever forget.

Before I entered the Taj Mahal I took a look at the grounds from a different angle.  I think no matter where you stand it is impossible to not be impressed.  Though the thing that impressed me most were the details; everything from the patterns in the marble to the lawn were so well thought out and just, for a lack of a better word, perfect!

Oh, and I was asked to have my photo taken yet again.  Of course I could not say no to these 2 cuties.

I was all set to spend the next hour wandering around the insides of the Taj Mahal, however I quickly discovered that the majority of it was closed off and because the lighting was so poor I was unable to take any decent photos.  Thus,  before I even realized I was inside of it, I was back outside…taking more photos with strangers.

I even received a marriage proposal!  I joked around with the guy that asked my hand in marriage, though I am not sure if he understood what I was saying?  In Morocco I was offered 10,000 camels  and in Bolivia I was offered 20,000 llamas.  So, I asked him what he willing to offer me.  Would it be 30,000 elephants?  Or how about a pink palace (since that is my favorite color) that was even more beautiful than the Taj Mahal?  He eventually just walked away shaking his head.

Before leaving, I took a couple of more photos and videos of the magnificent grounds.

I gazed adoringly at the Taj Mahal one last time and I was filled with a rush of emotion that can best be described as pure contentment.  I knew in that moment that I was on the right path in life.

Knowing that I was following the “road less traveled” filled my heart with joy and further encouraged me to continue to bravely forge my own unique path.

As I left the Taj Mahal I was leaving a trail of happiness behind me.

Now how was I possibly going to celebrate this spectacular day I had in the evening?

Note: I am splitting up this post into 2 parts; the 1st detailing the events before entering the Taj Mahal and the 2nd detailing the events after entering it.

I am beyond fortunate to have witnessed incredible beauty both natural and human-made around the world and I am proud to say that I have yet to become jaded in the slightest bit.

As my eyes first laid sight upon the beloved white palace, they immediately teared up with excitement, awe, and gratitude.

The Taj Mahal is of course breathtakingly beautiful, but it is so much more than that; it is the ultimate memorial to love, it is 1 of the 7 Wonders of the World that has inspired travelers to cross continents to visit, and it is an architectural gem.  In the 17th Century, the ruler Shahjahan decided to build a memorial to his Queen in honor of his love for her.  He wanted the world to never forget her, and well, he certainly succeeded.

As I stood on the first platform after walking through the arches, I was in a state of bliss.  I did not know whether to take photos or to continue gazing at the monument.  Within minutes, however, my bliss was interrupted by hoards of people asking to have their picture taken with me.  I am not quite sure why these people thought I was a celebrity, but I am not exaggerating when I say that during my time at the Taj Mahal I was stopped by at least several hundred people.  It was almost to the point of absurdity, as  I could not walk about 5 steps without being asked.  And because I am too nice, I would always agree.   Though 1 photo would turn into 2 photos which would turn into 10 photos.

Finally my guide came and rescued me, so that I could continue walking closer to the Taj Mahal.  Between the intense heat and my personal space being invaded, I was starting to feel a little sick.

But just when I thought I was safe, another crowd gathered around me!

My girlfriend, Kristen, made a joke and said, “I wonder how many Christmas cards you are going to be on this year?”  I laughed and while I was frustrated that I could not enjoy the Taj Mahal to the fullest, I had to admit to myself that it was a pretty humorous situation.

Once we made it to the final platform before entering the Taj Mahal, we were required to either take off our shoes or to put slippers over them.  Kristen and I chose the latter.

To be continued…

Warning: Prepare yourself for photo overload over the next couple of posts.

The day had finally arrived for me to visit the Taj Mahal and to say that I was excited would be a gigantic understatement!  There are many reasons why one could be completely enamored by it; one could love history or architecture or crazy romantic gestures, I however loved the fact that 2 decades ago my father had been to see it.  I am blessed with 2 extraordinary parents, but sadly they do not travel, nor do they understand my insatiable desire to see the world.  And at times I find it incredibly frustrating to not be able to connect with them on this level since it is an essential part of who I am.  Thus, knowing that I was finally given the rare opportunity to walk in the footsteps of my father in such a meaningful place was incredibly sacred to me.  He was definitely in my thoughts on this day.

My father had come to India for business matters and his guide told him that during his free time he must visit several places, one being the Taj Mahal.  I remember as a little girl looking at the exotic photos from his trip in awe.  There were pictures of him riding elephants and feeding monkeys in the streets, as well as barely fitting inside the monuments since he is 6’6″.  Of course the photos that most captivated me were the ones of him at the Taj Mahal.  They left such an impression on my young heart.

Me arriving in style!

There are actually many ways one can get to the entrance of the Taj Mahal, here is another mode of transportation:

You can also walk or take a tram.  If you choose to walk, it is about a 10 minute stroll from the main gate.  I would have preferred to walk, although the tour I was on wanted us all to arrive at the same time and the rest of my group had decided upon taking the tram.  Before actually entering the grounds of the Taj Mahal, there are some awesome photo opportunities, so do not be in too much of a rush to see the white palace.

I would not consider the following photo to be an “awesome photo opportunity,” more like an example of India’s dichotomy that I constantly witnessed.  That is, the mixture of such overwhelming beauty with such heartbreaking sadness.  I know this dichotomy exists everywhere, but I had yet to encounter it on such a grand scale before.

I was already beyond excited, but when I had my first sighting of the Taj Mahal I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest!!!

Surrounding the Taj Mahal is another architectural wonder in itself.  The amber color of it against the white of the Taj Mahal is the perfect color combination.  In fact, that is one of my favorite things about India, the colors.  I could easily create a book about them!

Me moments away from the Taj Mahal.

The month leading up to my journey to India happened to be one of the most stressful months in my life to date.  I very much wanted to return home having let go of the lingering stress that I was holding on to and I thought what better place to do that in than here?  So, before I walked through the arches that were separating me from the Taj Mahal I said a silent prayer to the Universe as I took a couple of deep breaths.  And then, I walked through the arches letting go of the past and welcoming the present. . .

The next part of our tour was to the heart of New Delhi.  We first stopped at the enormous India Gate.  It is the national monument of India and commemorates the loss of 90,000 Indian soldiers.

The roads that extend from it are the most important in the nation, as they lead to both the Parliament House and the Presidential Palace.  Very few cars are allowed on these roads due to terrorist threats in the past.

And to the right, a view of the Parliament House and the Presidential Palace.

We then visited the Parliament House and the Presidential Palace.  Being there felt like we had temporarily left India.  There were hardly any people or cars; 2 things that are synonymous with the country.

The grounds were beautifully landscaped with flowers and fountains.

Then while the others made a quick stop at a carpet store to shop, I made friends with an auto-rickshaw driver drinking his afternoon chai.

Afterwards, we began our drive to Agra, the next city on our itinerary.  However, before we could leave, the local monkeys came out to say goodbye.

My last memory of Delhi was the the Bahá’í House of Worship, otherwise known as the Lotus Temple, which we drove by as we departed the city.  It truly is an architectural work of art!  Bahá’í temples are open to people of any faith, thus my kind of place (and apparently for many others as well, because it is one of the most visited monuments in the world having attracted over 50 million visitors).  When I return to Delhi in the future, one of the first things I will do is to have lunch there.  I heard the vegetarian meals served are delicious.

Obviously, a day and a half in the pulsing capitol is simply not enough time.  While, Delhi is an ancient and historical city with more than 60,000 identifiable monuments, it is also quiet modern and I really enjoyed that mix.

The drive from Delhi to Agra is around 5 hours of stop and go traffic.  Not really conducive to sleeping or reading.

But that was okay, as I just entertained myself with thoughts of tomorrow, since tomorrow I would be seeing THE Taj Mahal!!!

In a couple of hours I will board my flight to JFK, which is where I will board another flight that will take me to India.  As I write this post my heart is aflutter.

India has been #1 on my “dream destination list” for over a decade, so this trip truly is a dream-come-true for me.

Why have I waited this long to visit the country?  Its simple, as I have always felt, and still feel, that India deserves at least a month to really experience it.  And so as the years went by and I never found myself with a month of free time due to College, then Graduate School, and then owning my own business, my dream never materialized.  Well, about 6 months ago a girlfriend of mine suggested, after seeing an incredible deal offered by Gate 1 Travel, that I finally complete my dream with her.  I thought about it for a couple of days and came to the conclusion that it was now or never.  My life seems to only get more busy by the day and I tend to repeat countries anyway, thus I agreed to the trip!

At first I was hesitant to go through a tour company, though I will say that I have used Gate 1 Travel before on my trip to Morocco 4 years ago and I was thoroughly impressed.  However, now that I consider myself to be a more of an expert when it comes to traveling, I shy away from tours, because I like to be in complete control of my travel plans.  Since we only had a short amount of time though and wanted to see as many cities as we could, we both thought it was best to go on a tour.  Not to mention that the price was unbelievable.

Of course we are doing the tour Andi-style!  We are not going on any of the optional paid tours, rather we will explore each city on our own.  I have also contacted Couchsurfers in each city to meet along the way.

The itinerary is as follows: March 31-April 2 Delhi, April 2-4 Agra, April 4-6 Jaipur, April 6-8 Kochi, and April 8-10 Mumbai.

Our route in India.

I will not be blogging about India while I am away, as I am a firm believer in disconnecting to get the most out of my trip.  However, I have some posts finishing my tale of Brasil that are scheduled to go live  over the next 11 days, so until I return ~NAMASTE~!