The Taj

Queen Victoria on Princess Diana's bench


My hosts insisted (and rightly so) that I must not leave India before going to the Taj Mahal. Seeing that my trip is getting booked up, they hired a car and took me out to see it today. Pictures to be posted when I get to my friend Faruq's place.

It was a four hour drive to Agra, where the Taj is located. I got to see some of the countryside and the various people who live here. The roads are something else to behold ... they don't look any different than North American roads, white line in the middle, paved and all that. The difference is that roads in Canada and the US are not shared with camels and cows. And people drive in one lane instead of the middle. Here, they drive in one lane when it is convenient, and in the middle of the road when it's not. Occasionally you will even see a car or a truck, or a horse, turn around and drive straight towards you. Because they missed their turn, I guess. I am glad I am not driving anywhere here. It's bedlam.

The Taj Mahal is incredible. To think that it was built in the 1600's without any equipment except animal and people power. It is truly amazing. Got lots of good pictures.

I'm feeling a little tired .. I saw an awful lot today and it was rather noisy. Drivers don't use signal lights, they use car horns. I got great sounds of traffic so I will have to do something which focusses on traffic. No great stretch there ... transportation is a big issue everywhere in the world these days.

Tomorrow I am hooking up with a couple of people I need to interview in Delhi, and then I am on an 8:00 flight to Kathmandu. I will be there until next Monday, then back to Delhi.

Thanks to everybody who is leaving comments. Your emails help make me feel closer to home. I do get a little bit homesick at times.