Bhutan and India (2006)

Agra, India

Finally, the reason we're in India -- the Taj Mahal. As impressive the second time as the first. Here we hired a guide and it was worthwhile. We took our time to truly appreciate the building. Then back to the hotel in a carriage for a few hours of rest and realization before making the journey back to New Delhi.

Perhaps because it wasn't tainted by the horrendous drive through New Delhi, I appreciated the drive back at least a bit more. We were almost caught in a sit-in strike in Agra before passing by the semi-nomadic Indians in Utter Pradesh. The stick and mud huts, flocks of sheep at times blocking the road, camels pulling huge, huge loads, women with urns and piles of grain on their heads, and even the passing elephant all looked more pastoral. We asked the driver to stop in Murthra, but he didn't -- he pretended not to understand but I think he just wanted to get home.

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shoshtrvls on September 2, 2006 from Agra, India

from the travel blog: Bhutan and India (2006)

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New Delhi, India

The honking of horns, the extreme filth and poverty roadside and the eventual din of New Delhi, flooded roads and all, reminded me constantly of what a horrid country this really is. Not stopping at Murthra might have been a good thing because thanks to all that traffic we didn't arrive at our oasis of a hotel until after 6 p.m.

We went window and carpet shopping in the hotel and had a nice Italian dinner before turning in.

written by

shoshtrvls on September 2, 2006 from New Delhi, India

from the travel blog: Bhutan and India (2006)

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New Delhi, India

This last day was a blur. After a lazy morning at the hotel and after I bought the most beautiful carpet I've ever seen, we hired a driver, a good one this time, and drove all over New Delhi. A stop at Masjid-i-Jahan Numa was well worth it, except we were cautioned not to walk around in the area so we were quite restricted in what we could see of the bazaar. Then the Red Fort was closed, and we spent an excruciating few hours in the sweltering heat at the zoo and the old fort. We saw Humayan's Tomb and drove by the India Gate and through the government buildings before going to the airport and heading home.

Bhutan and India (2006)

a travel blog by shoshtrvls

Day 13

Agra, India

Day 13 (Continued)

New Delhi, India

Day 14

New Delhi, India