Agra to Jaipur
Yesterday afternoon, we went to the Red Fort, pictured here. The red sand stone has held up much better than the stones of Ankgor Wat.
We had two tours this morning -- the Taj Mahal and Akbar's fortified city nearby. At noon we took off for the 5 hour trip to Jaipur (of Marigold Hotel fame) and are now ensconced in our lovely Indian room that is far nicer that last night's room. It still does not feel like Christmas and as I write you, dear reader, are all still dreaming of sugar plums.
I am very curious to read what Jimmy writes about the Taj Mahal because this was his dream come true and it was dreamy all right, just not the way we had envisioned it. There was so much fog yesterday that we saw nothing but the highway on the 5 hour trip from Delhi to Agra. Last night we could not see anything but the outline of the Taj Mahal and the trip to and from that view point was the most harrowing driving I've ever been part of. Our driver is a saint! As two roads converged at the entrance of a two lane bridge at least 100 cars and motorcycles and bicycles and lorries maneuvered to get into the space of one vehicle. 3 inches from the tires of our car two women squatted beside a piece of cloth, sorting the remains of their nut-selling day. Sometimes a bicycle squeezed between them and us! Subhash was patient (outwardly) and skilled to get us through that tangle of metal and humanity!
Today we could not see much of fhe Taj Mahal until we walked right up to it! No reflection in the pool and no dome from any angle. Jim did seem to grin and bear it, but I can't tell how disappointed he is. It became a joke -- our guide kept saying -- if it wasn't foggy, you could see...
I am now tired of looking at architecture, struggling to understand what's being said, and keeping track of history trying to make sense between what was happening here in India and what was happening in Europe or eventually, the US. We've been so tired every night that we are in bed by 8 and sleeping until 5 or 6. It's sort of like camping -- when it gets dark, there's nothing to do and tiredness wins over ingenuity!
Tomorrow we're going to the bazaar to look at stuff and then to a textile shop. In the late afternoon we go to the elephant safari with dinner on the estate in the evening. The cooking class in the following day.
We were freezing this morning. I wore my fleece shirt and down vest and I was chilly. Jim wore his suede jacket and long sleeved shirt and he was freezing. Now, five hours away it's in the 70s and the swimming pool looks inviting. Tonight this hotel is having a banquet of sorts with fire pits set up between the tables outside.
The poverty continues to amaze me -- how can so many people be so poor -- and all over the world. Of all the developing countried we've visited over the years, India is the most impoverished. Life here for millions is very hard. I don't think there is anywhere in the US that is as poor as most of the people we see along the roads.
On a happier note, I love seeing some of the animals, monkeys are everywhere in Agra -- the camel carts, the ox carts, the horse carts all surprised me. The horses are small and spritely. There are water buffalo everywhere, sometimes even inside houses. I didn't think there would be camels here but they are quite prevalent. I have yet to get a photo -- I hope I can on the next trip back to Delhi. (In this city, the animals are absent.)
The sacred cows are very common when we are out of the city. They just roam around and, like the packs of dogs, eat from the ubiquitous trash heaps. A very few people feed the cows but frankly, I think this is no way to treat an animal you consider sacred -- any more than making elephants (also sacred in Buddhism and Hinduism) a trained entertainer or a working beast. It's just odd or even cruel.
Well, Merry Christmas -- I hope Santa is good to you one and all!
I am now tired of looking at architecture, struggling to understand what's being said, and keeping track of history trying to make sense between what was happening here in India and what was happening in Europe or eventually, the US. We've been so tired every night that we are in bed by 8 and sleeping until 5 or 6. It's sort of like camping -- when it gets dark, there's nothing to do and tiredness wins over ingenuity!
Tomorrow we're going to the bazaar to look at stuff and then to a textile shop. In the late afternoon we go to the elephant safari with dinner on the estate in the evening. The cooking class in the following day.
We were freezing this morning. I wore my fleece shirt and down vest and I was chilly. Jim wore his suede jacket and long sleeved shirt and he was freezing. Now, five hours away it's in the 70s and the swimming pool looks inviting. Tonight this hotel is having a banquet of sorts with fire pits set up between the tables outside.
The poverty continues to amaze me -- how can so many people be so poor -- and all over the world. Of all the developing countried we've visited over the years, India is the most impoverished. Life here for millions is very hard. I don't think there is anywhere in the US that is as poor as most of the people we see along the roads.
The sacred cows are very common when we are out of the city. They just roam around and, like the packs of dogs, eat from the ubiquitous trash heaps. A very few people feed the cows but frankly, I think this is no way to treat an animal you consider sacred -- any more than making elephants (also sacred in Buddhism and Hinduism) a trained entertainer or a working beast. It's just odd or even cruel.
Well, Merry Christmas -- I hope Santa is good to you one and all!
The picture actually shows a marble structure with the red sandstone visible below.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I am now speaking as the locals We were greeting.... rather than greeted. I'm not a good proofreader in the best of conditions, you can tell.